I am fairly sure that Emilio, the hospitalero in Vilanova, told me that it is €20. My memory is bad and there were insufficient pilgrims at the beginning of July this year so I had to walk. Depending on when you plan to go the price may be immaterial!
Ultreia!
I flew into Vigo last weekend and I was astonished at the number of coaches and group leaders waiting for passengers, maybe this is a new craze, connected to cheap flights into Vigo airport. Probably just for September, but it is the luck of the drawer as I had a bad time on the Sanabres from...
It's funny but reading these comments I wonder if I walked the same caminos to everyone else:confused:
The only problems I had on the Frances were to do with snow and ice after Roncesvalles but I distinctly remember a stretch on the Portugues, near Ponte de Lima I think, where the hill was steep...
We walked from Matoshinos to Vila do Conde but then went inland and met up with others, that was in October 2011, I think the routes are much busier now. On a completely different track I also did most of the Portuguese route from Zamora to Verin but that is another story and I was completely alone.
I had a wonderful Portuguese camino, we were a very mixed, but great group of people and we had some great communal meals in the albergues. The meals weren't organised as such it started because there were friendly people who said 'how about eating together'! Most people are happy to muck in...
It may not be the best for you. I'm not sure where Bulkington is but depending on where you are you may prefer to fly into Oporto and out of Santiago.
There are busses from Oporto airport to Valenca and Tui at: 9.45; 12.45; 16.45; 19;45 Monday to Friday: Saturday 09.45 and Sunday 19.45.
Porugal...
Probably flying into Santiago is best. There are buses every hour from Santiago bus station to Vigo (Monbus) and every hour from Vigo to Tui (ATSA).
For Monbus you need to buy the ticket from the ticket office upstairs, I don't know about ATSA.
There are also buses from Vigo to Valenca, though...
smelling sardines was one of my best memories of my first day on the Portugues. Unfortunately I passed them all at about 10am, I promised myself sardines for lunch but when I was ready for lunch there were no sardines :( Monday I will be in Porto, I am going to find that lady :)
Written Portuguese is similar to written Galician but when spoken it it very different. Galicians speak Spanish when they go to Portugal. You can usually get by with Spanish but it is worthwhile learning things like; Good morning, please and thank you- these being; Bom dia, faz favor and obrigado.
Hi Vasco,
You don't say where you are starting. In Porto you can get the credential at the Cathedral,theyhave them at the info desk just inside. I don't think it was different.
If you are starting in Lisbon someone else willhave to answer you.
Bom camino
Sue
Having not done it :D There were suggestions that there are major roads to contend with. Those who have done it, and posted here, have generally said that it is not a major issue. For me it had more to do with the distance to the first albergue. It's like walking in and out of any big town...
Hi efdoucette
I would second this as sound advice if you don't want to walk through Oporto. The only reason we walked from Vila do Conde is that we took the metro to Matosinhos and walked up the coast to Vila do Conde. The inland route is excellently marked, once you are on it, and the John...
Hi, welcome and bom caminho!
If you are getting the metro to Vila do Conde I would suggest that you walk to Rates, not Vilarinho. When I walked, last October, there were roadworks coming out of Vila do Conde but the 'metro' was almost on the end of these, I'm not sure if that is the stop you...
Hi Heavenlee!
You don't say where you plan to start??
I have only done the Portugues from Oporto, which is fairly uncomplicated, if you are thinking of starting from Lisbon I think it is a little more difficult.
Now I am well over 24 and had frequently travelled alone but I had never...
The camino Portugues has some beautiful bits. Generally speaking it is probably not too hard. I reckon war vets have a degree of will and stamina that will manage most of the route. I have my doubts about the steep incline after Ponte de Lima, this is not only steeply up but very rocky, with...
There is a more northern coastal route that starts about Rates, it goes through: Esposende;Viana de Castelo and Via Nova de Cerveira before arriving at Valenca. There is a good thread here:
http://www.caminodesantiago.me/board/el-camino-portugues/topic11175.html
Sue
There is an enormous market at Vila Nova de Cerveira on Saturdays, I've just spent the day there and it has all sorts of stuff.
Vila Nova de Cerveira is on the River Mino and not too far from Valenca, it has a train station, i'm sure if you ask in Valenca they will be able to point you in the...
There are also buses.
Autna run buses from Vigo: 09.00;12.00;16.00 and 19.00 they go through Valenca at 08.25;11.25;15.25 and 18.25 (Portugal time is an hour behind Spain)
Alsa has a bus at 12.30 from Vigo, 13.10 from Tui. I am almost certain that the Alsa bus goes from Santiago.
The bus station...
Hi Bob M
The relentless rain doesn't seem to have affected your optimism, I'm sure that walk into O Porrino, through the industrial estate, was 10-12km! It certainly felt like it.
I'm sorry you're walking in the rain, sorry for anyone walking in the rain at the moment, but Galicia does...
Hi DOWNIESNPD,
Welcome to the forum.
The albergue in Caldas de Rei is just across the roman bridge, there are pictures of it somewhere on the forum but I'm not clever enough to post a link.
Sue
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