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  1. Nick MJ

    Two pilgrims trapped in tree by a cow

    I walked past gado bravo signs a couple of times and all the bulls were safely behind decent fences so not a problem. Perhaps fighting bulls are too valuable to risk them charging at random pilgrims! The bull that saw me off was not a fighting bull (and it was after Viana, @jungleboy ) but...
  2. Nick MJ

    Two pilgrims trapped in tree by a cow

    I was on the Nascente last week and came across a field full of cows - possibly the same place. Blithely started walking through them (I’ve lived in the countryside all my life and am used to cattle) and then spotted the bull watching me walking among his girls. And pawing the ground and...
  3. Nick MJ

    Starting in A Guarda but how to get there?

    I've used the CP App multiple times without any problem and you can set the language to English in settings. The only thing to watch is that one can't book a train too far in the future - one has to wait for the date to become bookable.
  4. Nick MJ

    How to address an Advancing Dog ..in Español please!!

    I've been attacked twice by large dogs while on the Camino - a Rottweiler on the Invierno and a feral dog on the Camino Portugues Interior. These were not barking to protect property - they came running straight to the attack (both attacks were reported at the time to the police). Can I just...
  5. Nick MJ

    From Viseu to Santiago

    I received a Compostela for walking the Camino Portugues Interior from Coimbra. The distance marked on my distance certificate is 397km - the central route on the Wise Pilgrim App has Coimbra as 367km from Santiago so that would imply they used the CPI. In any event no-one at the Pilgrim...
  6. Nick MJ

    FYI: Cash vs credit card on the Camino Frances in 2023

    Merchant fees (the percentage of the amount one has paid with a card that goes to the bank) range widely but there can also be a minimum charge, which is why you will sometimes see signs requesting that payments below a certain value (5 or 10 euros) are made in cash. Hence a preference for cash...
  7. Nick MJ

    Is there a bag transport service at stops on Camino Finisterre.

    I used Caminofacil for members of a group last year. Very good and efficient service.
  8. Nick MJ

    Don’t forget your driver’s license!

    Just for info, I hired a car from Hertz at Madrid airport with just my U.K. photo card licence three weeks ago. Absolutely no problem.
  9. Nick MJ

    Albergue in Mesquita

    Just walked the first few days on the Nascente from Tavira to Beja. A wonderful route, unspoilt and beautiful. However I could not get into the albergue at Mesquita - emails and phone went unanswered and when I arrived the place was closed. Does anyone know if the albergue is permanently...
  10. Nick MJ

    Gronze Stage 38B - Cea to O Castro (Dozon)

    I’ve done both routes and if this was my first time, I’d do as others have suggested and go via Oseira. The other route is fine but the monastery is definitely one of the highlights of the Sanabres.
  11. Nick MJ

    bordeaux to SJPP

    I caught a train from Bordeaux to Bayonne but had missed the connecting train to StJPP. Instead I shared a taxi to StJPP with a couple of other pilgrims that I met at Bayonne station. Not the cheapest option but certainly cheaper than an extra night in Bayonne.
  12. Nick MJ

    Spiritual variant - is it worth it?

    I’ve done both the VE (twice) and the inland route through Caldas. They are both very pleasant but I would rate the VE as being a bit different to much of what you will see on the CP. The climb from Combarro, the monastery in Armenteira (would definitely recommend staying there if you can get a...
  13. Nick MJ

    Portuguese route from Tui Weather in October / November

    Walked this route from Tui, with the variante espirituel, late October last year. Everywhere with the exception of one hotel in Armenteira was open; we may have been lucky but only on one day out of 7 (we took our time :) ) did we have significant rain on the trail. One other day there was...
  14. Nick MJ

    Atonement? Is that what it’s about?

    We are all complex beings and, yes, many of us will have caused pain to others, sometimes not even realising what we have done. One of the characteristics of modern life is that we frequently don't deal with our past; we prefer to brush things under our mental carpet and "press on" - I know that...
  15. Nick MJ

    Best App for Variante Espiritual ?

    Likewise, I wouldn’t be discouraged. I’ve walked this route twice and it’s been superb both times. Sample highlights have been; lunch by the water in the centre of old Combarro; the views back over the bay on the climb to Armenteira; seeing wild horses including a cute foal in the woods...
  16. Nick MJ

    Any 2022 Updates from the Coastal and Spiritual Routes?

    That's interesting. When I caught the early morning boat in Vilanova at the end of October 21, it was packed with pilgrims! Perhaps there is more than one boat? I booked and paid in advance at https://www.labarcadelperegrino.com and it was very easy and efficient.
  17. Nick MJ

    Any 2022 Updates from the Coastal and Spiritual Routes?

    If you're interested, I used Camino Facil for luggage transfer on the Portugues last October. I don't know how they compare on pricing but the service was excellent.
  18. Nick MJ

    Cash Is King?

    I walked the Portugues last month. Most “official” places like museums had little signs saying that contactless was preferred and contactless was accepted pretty well everywhere. Knowing however the charges that banks make for small transactions and the pressures many small businesses have been...
  19. Nick MJ

    Be careful on Espiritual Variant

    Thank you for posting this. I’ll be walking that way with my wife in a few weeks time so I’ll be sure to keep her in sight. Appreciate the heads-up.
  20. Nick MJ

    From Viseu to Santiago

    I walked the CPI from Coimbra to Lamego this summer and I can heartily agree this is a very special route and so much more rural than the Lisbon-Porto way. The waymarking is pretty good; it does need a bit of planning though as many of the cafes and places to stay have been closed by the...

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