lozelizabeth
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- French (2020)
Portuguese way (2020)
Portuguese coastal way (2020)
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It's very easy to meet fellow pilgrims along the Camino, you just start walking with them. You definitely don't need to spend money on a tour package to do so.
Definitely fewer pilgrims on the Portuguese than the Francés - at least in a normal year. But this is not a normal year, so it's hard to say.Thanks. I just wasn't sure about the amount of traffic along this route compared with the CF. Total newbie over here.
Thanks. I just wasn't sure about the amount of traffic along this route compared with the CF.
We are all newbies when it comes to traveling and the Camino during or after a pandemic.Total newbie over here.
We are all newbies when it comes to traveling and the Camino during or after a pandemic.
That's in a normal year. This is not a normal year.You'll meet lots of pilgrims and within days you'll be in good company.
I also think that if you don't speak Spanish you will have a harder time communicating with other pilgrims this year.That's in a normal year. This is not a normal year.
I have walked both, although I started at Tui for my short Portugués Camino. You mention having 4 to 5 weeks,Hi all,
I am currently in the process of planning my Camino last minute. I am a solo traveller (F 33) looking to meet new people along the way. I had considered doing the French way ( even part of it if not the full) for the social element but the Portuguese route looks appealing. I have found some companies offering self-guided/guided tours but part of me wants to do it on my own and meet up with fellow pilgrims as I go.
I am unsure if I do it alone how to meet up with others and whether to start from Lisbon or do the coastal route from Porto. I have 4- 5 weeks free and would like to take some time to explore Porto and other towns and not rush the journey. I also wondered where people stay - if they book ahead of just find a place to stay as they go.
Has anyone done both the French and Portuguese coastal route and have pros and cons of each?
Is anyone else planning on doing this in August?
Any advice at all would be super helpful. Thank you guys!
I have walked the French route from SJPP to Fisterra and a short version of the Portuguese route, starting from Tui, via the spiritual variant after Pontevedra to Santiago.Hi all,
I am currently in the process of planning my Camino last minute. I am a solo traveller (F 33) looking to meet new people along the way. I had considered doing the French way ( even part of it if not the full) for the social element but the Portuguese route looks appealing. I have found some companies offering self-guided/guided tours but part of me wants to do it on my own and meet up with fellow pilgrims as I go.
I am unsure if I do it alone how to meet up with others and whether to start from Lisbon or do the coastal route from Porto. I have 4- 5 weeks free and would like to take some time to explore Porto and other towns and not rush the journey. I also wondered where people stay - if they book ahead of just find a place to stay as they go.
Has anyone done both the French and Portuguese coastal route and have pros and cons of each?
Is anyone else planning on doing this in August?
Any advice at all would be super helpful. Thank you guys!
I'm trying hard to find the Monastery on a map - any more help would be appreciated!We (my partner and I) did the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon last year, and the section between Lisbon and Coimbra particularly was quiet. We walked most of the way with one other person we met on the second day, and most nights there were 5-10 other pilgrims in the albergues (though occasionally just one). That said, we met one pilgrim after Porto who had also walked from Lisbon, starting one day later than us, and hadn't met anyone until Porto. This isn't really a problem if you're okay with being on your own as the infrastructure is good enough, but he was an experienced walker so it might be different if it's your first time. After Porto it was very busy last year - booking a day or two in advance would probably still be a good idea, especially if you'd like to take the days slowly.
There are lots of beautiful places on the way, especially from Porto - we'd especially recommend Casa do Sardao in Carreco as a place to stop and even take a day to rest (https://www.facebook.com/casadosardao). Coimbra and Baiona were great places to stop, and the Monastery at Herbon is an amazing place to spend the night. We did the coastal and espiritual variants and the espiritual was incredible (plus you get a cool boat ride!).
We're planning to walk the Frances this year - each Camino is a different experience, so just know that whatever way you choose to walk there isn't a wrong choice as long as you're safe and happy! Any questions let us know
I'm trying hard to find the Monastery on a map - any more help would be appreciated!
Thank you so much, I assume that monastery is the red spot marked "Herbón" - couldn't find anything mentioning that location had a monastery or was once a monastery!Of course - here's a photo of the page in the Wise Pilgrim guide book (a really great option for the Portuguese as it includes all of the different variants!). The Monastery it about 3km or so before Padron, and if you take the Espiritual variant (marked with the red line up the river on this map) you can walk straight to Herbon on the day you catch the boat from Vilanova de Arousa - about 5k. Makes it a nice short day including the boat ride! But it's an amazing place to relax, very peaceful indeed and there is one bar in the village (another km or two from the monastery). Communal dinner on offer was great, and if I remember right they did breakfast too. They also offer a tour of the monastery which was well worth it, and you can attend Pilgrim Mass if you like.
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And a link to the site with an interactive map: https://www.wisepilgrim.com/camino-portugues/herbon. You can buy the guide book of this site tooHope that helps!
Also - does anyone know if US citizens can fly into Portugal now? I see mixed comments.
Thank you!Yes, per the EU’s reopening site:
Only allowed for: nationals of EU27, Schengen Area countries (Liechsteinsten, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland) and their family members, passengers on flights from UK, Brazil and CPLP, USA, Canada, Venezuela and South-Africa. Suspension of visa processing for the remaining countries.
Last update: 23-06-2020
I find the wording of that statement unclear. It's my understanding that until the US, Brazil and some other countries have the virus under control that residents of those countries will not be allowed into the EU.Yes, per the EU’s reopening site:
Only allowed for: nationals of EU27, Schengen Area countries (Liechsteinsten, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland) and their family members, passengers on flights from UK, Brazil and CPLP, USA, Canada, Venezuela and South-Africa. Suspension of visa processing for the remaining countries.
Last update: 23-06-2020
@trecile is right. The EU’s reopening site is a very useful site but don't take what you read there for the law. Always check an official national site, like a website from the Portugal government or similar before you make plans and buy a airplane ticket. During the last two to three months, Portugal did not suspend all flights to countries that have a strong Portuguese community, like the USA or Brazil. That's all that this text means. It doesn't mean that anyone can go on such a flight and enter Portugal. Not yet.I find the wording of that statement unclear. It's my understanding that until the US, Brazil and some other countries have the virus under control that residents of those countries will not be allowed into the EU
@trecile is right. The EU’s reopening site is a very useful site but don't take what you read there for the law. Always check an official national site, like a website from the Portugal government or similar before you make plans and buy a airplane ticket. Portugal did not suspend all flights to countries that have a strong Portuguese community, like the USA or Brazil. That's all that this text means. It doesn't mean that anyone can go on such a flight and enter Portugal. Not yet.
You also have to think about your medical insurance for travel. Does your health insurance cover you in foreign countries? Do they have language about coverage during a pandemic or travel against US government recommendations?For me, this part is the deal-killer!
"Only the following persons are authorised to enter the national territory by air:
.....
"To passengers of the Portuguese-speaking countries, from South Africa, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom under the transitional arrangement and Venezuela, as long as the principle of reciprocity is ensured in those countries to the Portuguese citizens".....
It doesn't look like I'll be able to sneak in before the EU entirely shuts down US citizens from entering. Where is my cry emoji, lol.
I suspect that you are misreading what is written on that site. It is in two parts. The first part says only Schengen nationals and family are currently permitted to enter. The second part refers to flights from certain countries. The second part does not extend the first part, it simply states which countries that Schengen nationals can enter from.Yes, per the EU’s reopening site:
Only allowed for: nationals of EU27, Schengen Area countries (Liechsteinsten, Norway, Switzerland and Iceland) and their family members, passengers on flights from UK, Brazil and CPLP, USA, Canada, Venezuela and South-Africa. Suspension of visa processing for the remaining countries.
Last update: 23-06-2020
This EU site may be a less confusing source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work...rus-pandemic/travel-and-eu-during-pandemic_enFor me, this part is the deal-killer!
"Only the following persons are authorised to enter the national territory by air:
.....
"To passengers of the Portuguese-speaking countries, from South Africa, Canada, the United States of America, the United Kingdom under the transitional arrangement and Venezuela, as long as the principle of reciprocity is ensured in those countries to the Portuguese citizens".....
It doesn't look like I'll be able to sneak in before the EU entirely shuts down US citizens from entering. Where is my cry emoji, lol.
Those rules don’t sound like they allow international tourism at all? Am I misunderstanding that? I’m a dual national (IT- US) residing in the US, and it doesn’t look like even I could come to Europe, because I’m not “returning home.”This EU site may be a less confusing source: https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work...rus-pandemic/travel-and-eu-during-pandemic_en
What @Doughnut NZ says. You must not hang on every word that you read on these informational webpages, not even when it's a European Commission webpage. They merely issued legally non-binding recommendations to the EU member states. What counts, are the legal dispositions of the country where you reside or whose nationality you have. I don't know about Italy. But I know for certain that several EU countries allow everyone of their nationals entry into their country.Those rules don’t sound like they allow international tourism at all? Am I misunderstanding that? I’m a dual national (IT- US) residing in the US, and it doesn’t look like even I could come to Europe, because I’m not “returning home.”
As an EU national, you always have the right to enter (providing you use your EU passport). But wait a couple of days because the rules are changing very soon, so that the new rules can be in place for the 1st July.
Things seem to be changing daily so hopefully you'll get to Europe this summer. I'm trying as well and I'm only a meager US citizen. Doesn't this article suggest if someone is a tourist in the UK, they can enter Spain?Well, I doubt I would be turned back at the airport, Because probably no one would ask. They would assume I was an EU resident and was returning home. But the rules seem to currently say that I can’t come back unless I’m returning home. Below is a copy and paste from the link you offered. And perhaps that will change after July 1, as you said.
The following are exempt from the temporary travel restriction to the EU+ area
Edit: I didn’t realize those were European Union recommendations. I understand. I’d have to check what the rules were in whatever country I wanted to travel to. No plans to walk the Camino this year, but I dislike the possibilities that I wouldn’t be able to go to Europe.
- all EU citizens and citizens of the Schengen Associated States, and their family members for the purposes of returning home.
Things seem to be changing daily so hopefully you'll get to Europe this summer. I'm trying as well and I'm only a meager US citizen. Doesn't this article suggest if someone is a tourist in the UK, they can enter Spain?
Spain Plans to Reopen Borders for Some Non-EU Countries From June 30
From June 30, people from several countries outside the European Union and Schengen Zone, where the Coronavirus infection rates are lower, will be permitted to fly to Spain for non-essential purposes, Spain’s government has announced. Sources from Spain’s Interior and Foreign ministries’ told El...www.schengenvisainfo.com
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