- Time of past OR future Camino
- Some in the past; more in the future!
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Yes, we’re looking to arrive in Santiago around 5 June. Bom caminho on the coastal!Glad to see you are walking again. Are you going all the way to SDC??? I start the CP Coastal/Littoral on Sunday 22 May from Porto.
It certainly does! If you’re looking for a quiet, nature-based route, the CPI is definitely a good choice.I am more into not too busy ways and the Interior seems to fullfil my expectations.
CPI Day 1: Viseu - Almargem: ~15km
A short day today as we eased our way back into the rhythm of the camino. The first 6km were on asphalt as we exited Viseu but after that it was mostly dirt paths through a forest of ferns, pine trees and eucalyptus, which was very pleasant.
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It wasn’t a spectacular stage but it was great to be back on the camino. Other than the forest, some other highlights were a lavadouro with a nice and new (2017) azulejo at Bassar, and traces of a Roman road towards the end of the stage.
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We are the only pilgrims at the albergue in Almargem, where it’s €3 for a bed (!), and we saw on the register that there has only been one other in the last two weeks.(@nmont?). There’s a basic restaurant in town but we brought food from Viseu to cook in the albergue kitchen just in case.
Onwards and upwards (literally, from the sounds of it) tomorrow!
The arrows have been very good so far. Today there was one turn that we missed because the arrow must have been removed, but other than that they have been very clear. We have tracks as a backup.Are you using GPS tracks or just following the arrows?
We saw that too. It’s a bit of a time issue. We had the choice of either starting in Coimbra or continuing to Muxía and chose the latter. My impression is that the Coimbra extension is pretty undeveloped (though happy to be corrected on that) and I’m surprised Gronze used it as their starting point. They even say at one point that Viseu makes the most sense as the starting point.I see that Gronze shows that you can start in Coimbra and head up to Viseu in 4 stages. Did you consider that or is it a time issue?
All we are using is Gronze, @gracethepilgrim’s notes in the resources section here and contact details from this document. It’s working out so far!And maybe not a question for now, but at some point could you let us know what resources you found most helpful?
Bus from Lisbon (3hrs 30mins). I read once that Viseu is the largest city in the European Union that isn’t served by train.What kind of transportation did you use to reach Viseu ?
Thank you! We contacted Isabel in advance. She also owns the A Giesta restaurant in Bigorne and her personal number is the same as the one listed for the restaurant on Google Maps.I'm enjoying your posts ! Are you able to share the contact info of the woman in Bigorne who rents rooms? Did you book with her ahead of time or find her by happy coincidence?
And I’d like a complete ranking of Torres, Interior, Geira, and all the other Portuguese routes you’ve walked!Wonderful.
Once you are done I'd be interested to know which you preferred - the Torres or the Interior.
Once you are done I'd be interested to know which you preferred - the Torres or the Interior.
And I’d like a complete ranking of Torres, Interior, Geira, and all the other Portuguese routes you’ve walked!
Wow, what a view Nick! If I didn't know better, I would assume that picture was captured with a drone!the view back down the valley from Assento was still the highlight of our short stage.
It is listed as temporarily closed on Gronze (presumably Covid-related). We stayed in a budget hotel, also on the main square.Oh I loved this town. I believe I stayed in the monastery right on the main square. Is that still an option??
Imagine the climb to get there!Wow, what a view Nick! If I didn't know better, I would assume that picture was captured with a drone!
Thank you and sorry!!The trouble with all your terrific travelogues is that they cause those of us with squirrel like attention spans to lose focus of our intended plans and want to follow in your footsteps.
The daily route finding trail bulletins, the erudite cultural information and the light hearted tone makes me wonder how you find time to walk. Is it true the 2 of you travel by e-bike giving you ample time in the afternoons to write?
Thank you very much on both fronts!Jungle boy,
I am in admiration of your beautiful photos. Continued Buen Camino, as you and Wendy transition into Galicia!
We did it on our first trip there. And yesterday I took a couple of steps across for old time’s sake!In Chaves, did you walk all the way across the river on the giant stones? It was an eery experience being right out in the middle of the river - walking ‘on’ water.
The Interior, with the caveat that we only walked about half the Torres (Trancoso-Braga). The Torres had its moments but there was so much asphalt and the last few days were quite urban. The CPI is more rural and the actual walking was more enjoyable.Once you are done I'd be interested to know which you preferred - the Torres or the Interior.
I am still weighing up whether I liked the CPI or the Geira more. So while we all wait with baited breath for that decisionAnd I’d like a complete ranking of Torres, Interior, Geira, and all the other Portuguese routes you’ve walked!
Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos, @jungleboy ! Obrigado! ¡Gracias!Thanks to everyone for following along!
Thank you for all your support on all platforms!Thank you for sharing your wonderful photos, @jungleboy ! Obrigado! ¡Gracias!
Thank you for all your support on all platforms!
Now that I am home, I am sorting through photos and I just created a Flickr album of 50 favourites from the CPI. Here it is for anyone interested: Caminho Português Interior 2022.
Nick and Wendy - this is a super collection of photos. You certainly have an eye ! Thanks for taking the time to put this together and share.Thank you for all your support on all platforms!
Now that I am home, I am sorting through photos and I just created a Flickr album of 50 favourites from the CPI. Here it is for anyone interested: Caminho Português Interior 2022.
Amazing photos! Muito obrigado @jungleboy !Thank you for all your support on all platforms!
Now that I am home, I am sorting through photos and I just created a Flickr album of 50 favourites from the CPI. Here it is for anyone interested: Caminho Português Interior 2022.
Do you ha e any sort of contact information about how to reach this woman? Gronze has no accommodation info listed so I'm looking at possibly stopping soonerCPI Day 3: Ribolhos - Bigorne: ~20km
Today was such a glorious day, the best stage of this young camino so far. It had a bit of everything, from grapevines and olive trees in the early morning to several great river crossings to a riot of spring colour. There was more asphalt than yesterday (mostly the country lanes of the first 8km or so) but less elevation change, so overall I’d have to agree with the Gronze ratings on difficulty/scenery compared with yesterday.
The highlight of the day was the stepping stone crossing of the Rio Paiva. We’ve crossed rivers this way on camino before, of course, but I can’t remember any of them being as atmospheric as this one. The greenery, the wildflowers, the shimmering water, the roughly hewn stones, the sound of birdsong and of the gushing river - it all represented an idyllic countryside scene that made us feel as though we were in the Shire from Tolkien’s world. I absolutely loved it.
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Later, we walked over an ‘old bridge’ as part of another river crossing, which was also very picturesque. But the most enduring feature of the second half of the stage was the explosion of yellow all over the valley emanating from ‘broom’ shrubs that were right alongside the trail for several kilometres.
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There is conflicting information about accommodation in Bigorne. There is no albergue, but a local woman rents a room to pilgrims, so we are staying with her. There’s also an adjacent restaurant with bottles of wine starting from €3.50, so we’re all set for the night!
You can call the A Giesta restaurant. The number is +351 934 034 685.Do you ha e any sort of contact information about how to reach this woman? Gronze has no accommodation info listed so I'm looking at possibly stopping sooner
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