I walked this route in 2014 and followed the arrows leaving Caminha. There was a short stretch along the highway, but then the arrows took me up into the hills until shortly past Vila Nova de Cerveira where it joined the river side path. There were nice views across the river to Spain, at...
Welcome Kristof!
I walked the Portuguese route in late May, 2014. Let me try to answer your questions.
Feet swelling varies by individual. I had no problems with my feet swelling. I was used to walking every day in my boots before I started my Camino. I put my feet up as high as I could...
I got my first carimbo from a gentleman who was selling credentials, postcards, etc., inside the Se. I think it was a right turn after entering the main door.
The Poet's Inn looks to be about ten minutes walk to the Sao Bento train station or Porto Cathedral, 15 to the famous bridge over the Douro, and five minutes to the Livaria Lello bookstore. You may want to make a list of what sites you want to see, then put them into Google Maps and see what is...
I second all the recommendations for taking time in Porto.
I believe CanPete is referring to the Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina. I ran into it while doing some unintentional sightseeing (being lost, but enjoying it).
As Albertinho said, there several options and I'm not sure there is a bad choice. I walked the coast until Caminha and really enjoyed it. A friend walked the coast to Vigo and I'm sure he would recommend it, too. It may depend on how much company you want. The coast will be quieter than the...
I walked solo from Porto along the coast to Caminha, then followed the river to Valenca/Tui and the central route. It was my first Camino and I speak neither Portuguese nor Spanish. Traffic was not a big issue on my walk. I second Magwood's recommendation of sturdy boots to deal with the...
I walked the river and coast from Porto Se and loved it.
I followed the first arrow in front of the cathedral, got to a street, heard what sounded like a street market or fair, followed the sounds down hill, found the river and turned right. I found old men fishing, a family heading out...
Boardwalk! Ah, boardwalk! I think I actually started giggling after finding boardwalk where I was expecting pavement. Thanks for bringing back that memory.
The route is well signed from Caminha to Valenca. If you want a shorter day there is an albergue in Vila Nova de Cerveira, but I don't know when it is opened. I walked Caminha to Valenca in one day, but would stop at VNdC if I did it again.
Between Valenca and Santiago there was only one climb that I remember. It was shortly after Arcade. Take it slow, stop for water breaks if it is warm.
The way is well signed, but I would still recommend a guidebook. You can download one (by a fellow forum member) using the Camino Resources...
I carried both Brierley and the guide downloadable from this forum. Brierley stayed in my pack most of the time. However, having come up the coast I didn't join the Central route until Valenca so had limited time to use either guide. I found the forum guide more useful for the way I walked...
I agree with the prior suggestions of space for six carimbos per page and accordion fold. I like the idea of the Cross of Christ. I was taken with the Portuguese coat of arms/flag and wouldn't mind seeing them included, maybe with equivalent heraldry from Galicia. I'm not sure what else...
I walked solo late May/early June last year. I met up with the same group of people in the evenings, but pretty much walked by myself during the days. You can find the social chats if/when you want them, but there is plenty of opportunity for reflection, too.
Sorry, but you're not done with the pavement yet.
I had been warned that there was a lot of pavement walking on the Portuguese route north of Porto. The only one I really remember was a long pavement slog coming into Pontevedra. The map said it was just supposed to be a few km, but it seemed...
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