LIVE from the Camino Quiet from Lisbon

[Phil71]

Hi all. Currently 8 days into my Camino, in a lovely hostel in Alvorge. In those 8 days I have seen 2 pilgrims. One was Steve who i think is on this forum?
Route from Lisbon to santarem is hard on the Feet, all tarmac or gravel. Then I walked to Fatima, also tarmac. Then rejoined the Camino in Tomar, my favourite place so far. Very quiet on the route, most shops etc are open, municipal albergues are not. Bom caminho

 

[Turigrino]

I thought it was quiet in Lisbon because of the new lockdown
Delta is hatching in the UK and Portugal.

 

[Jean Ti]

I thought it was quiet in Lisbon because of the new lockdown
Delta is hatching in the UK and Portugal.

You have a very good point. The Delta is spreading rapidly!

 

[Phil71]

Local reports here say 50% of reported infections are foreign tourists! Wonder if they'll close the borders again..... couldn't blame them

 

[Crusty1]

Hi all. Currently 8 days into my Camino, in a lovely hostel in Alvorge. In those 8 days I have seen 2 pilgrims. One was Steve who i think is on this forum?
Route from Lisbon to santarem is hard on the Feet, all tarmac or gravel. Then I walked to Fatima, also tarmac. Then rejoined the Camino in Tomar, my favourite place so far. Very quiet on the route, most shops etc are open, municipal albergues are not. Bom caminho

Same route to Tomar as I took in 2019. Took a cab from Fatima to Tomar. Route gets better as you go. Good luck.

 

[Sean Lad]

I was in Fatima 2 months ago on Pilgrimage
Saw arrows for Tomar and walked the 20km and back next day, bliss
No other pilgrims

 

[Elle Bieling]

Local reports here say 50% of reported infections are foreign tourists! Wonder if they'll close the borders again..... couldn't blame them

Sure is a Catch-22, isn't it? I am making no plans at this time, watching the progress carefully. Maybe once more of Europe gets vaccinated this Delta variant will be conquered. I hope so!

 

[Calisteve]

Hi all. Currently 8 days into my Camino, in a lovely hostel in Alvorge. In those 8 days I have seen 2 pilgrims. One was Steve who i think is on this forum?
Route from Lisbon to santarem is hard on the Feet, all tarmac or gravel. Then I walked to Fatima, also tarmac. Then rejoined the Camino in Tomar, my favourite place so far. Very quiet on the route, most shops etc are open, municipal albergues are not. Bom caminho

Hi Phil - great walking with you this morning. The time definitely flew by. As you say, most cafes etc seem open - except for today as it's Sunday. But it's definitely quiet out there - I had one dorm to myself last night and Ricardo from Barcelona had the other. So there are pros and cons. What I didn't anticipate was the change in weather/temperature - I'm glad I brought my fleece and waterproofs. Safe travels. Oh and Coimbra rivals Lisbon for its hills.

 

[Phil71]

Cheers Steve, I love hills . Yeah the miles flew by this morning, even though I was drenched. Weather should turn warmer again now I think. I stopped about 5km before Coimbra so can be a tourist tomorrow. Safe travels mate.

 

[Phil71]

So a short 2 days from Alvorge to Coimbra so i could have time to see the city. Much better route, off the roads at last, hope it continues. Rained a lot but forecast is better. Coimbra is worth taking the time to see, but you still need your energy as it certainly is hilly! Old cathedral is the highlight for me.

 

[Sean Lad]

So a short 2 days from Alvorge to Coimbra so i could have time to see the city. Much better route, off the roads at last, hope it continues. Rained a lot but forecast is better. Coimbra is worth taking the time to see, but you still need your energy as it certainly is hilly! Old cathedral is the highlight for me.

Are albergues asking for covid test certificates on daily basis
Portugal dodgy with Delta Variant

 

[jungleboy]

Much better route, off the roads at last, hope it continues.

Unfortunately not, there’s a lot of road walking between Coimbra and Porto.

 

[Calisteve]

Are albergues asking for covid test certificates on daily basis
Portugal dodgy with Delta Variant

I'm on day 11 from Lisbon to Porto and outside of the airport and airlines no one has asked to see my vacc cert or negative covid test. I presume they are relying on the fact that to get into Portugal I had to submit a negative test.

 

[Friend from Barquinha]

I'm on day 11 from Lisbon to Porto and outside of the airport and airlines no one has asked to see my vacc cert or negative covid test. I presume they are relying on the fact that to get into Portugal I had to submit a negative test.

This sounds pretty much like local Portuguese bureaucracy/lack thereof....

 

[Phil71]

2 more days done. Coimbra to Agueda. 1st day was pretty good, some forest tracks, less tarmac. Note the alternative route out of Coimbra along the river is closed and looks like it will be for some time. Gronze says 2nd day to Agueda is the worst of all but I disagree. It wasn't great through the industrial estate but it was still better than any day between Lisbon and santarem. Only 3 days left, finish in Porto. Getting that sad end of Camino feel.....

 

[Calisteve]

This sounds pretty much like local Portuguese

2 more days done. Coimbra to Agueda. 1st day was pretty good, some forest tracks, less tarmac. Note the alternative route out of Coimbra along the river is closed and looks like it will be for some time. Gronze says 2nd day to Agueda is the worst of all but I disagree. It wasn't great through the industrial estate but it was still better than any day between Lisbon and santarem. Only 3 days left, finish in Porto. Getting that sad end of Camino feel.....

Time to start planning the next one (well once you've done your return to the UK covid test). Currently in Sao Jaoa - great town (and no outrageous hills). I walk to Porto tomorrow and then home on Friday. Was thinking of you today - there's a lot of road walking! Safe travels.

 

[Renascer]

Hi Phil - great walking with you this morning. The time definitely flew by. As you say, most cafes etc seem open - except for today as it's Sunday. But it's definitely quiet out there - I had one dorm to myself last night and Ricardo from Barcelona had the other. So there are pros and cons. What I didn't anticipate was the change in weather/temperature - I'm glad I brought my fleece and waterproofs. Safe travels. Oh and Coimbra rivals Lisbon for its hills.

Nice to see that you are dealing with the quietness there what is specifically the waterproofs you refer too. I want to make sure i will have not too much weights but also don't freeze there not bringing enough. As that is easy for me. Im always cold.

 

[Calisteve]

Nice to see that you are dealing with the quietness there what is specifically the waterproofs you refer too. I want to make sure i will have not too much weights but also don't freeze there not bringing enough. As that is easy for me. Im always cold.

I pondered whether to bring my light weight over-jacket and over-trousers - but we had 2 days of intermittent rain so I'm glad I did. Same with my light weight fleece - we had a couple of evenings that weren't cold by UK standards but were definitely chilly. Rest of the time blue skies and warm with a few too hot for walking afternoons. Hope this helps.

 

[Bob from L.A. !]

Delta is hatching in the UK and Portugal.

Unfortunately, it appears the new Gamma variant is right on the heels of the Delta now !

 

[Tincatinker]

Unfortunately, it appears the new Gamma variant is right on the heels of the Delta now !

Just waiting for the Omega

 

[nycwalking]

Just waiting for the Omega

Amen!