Hi, I enjoyed walking the Camino de Santiago, Camino Frances, so much last year that this year I am planning to walk the Camino Portugues. Last year I walked alone and loved the experience of meeting new people and re-connecting with other walkers as our paths crossed throughout the six weeks of walking. The large roomed Albergues were a great place to meet people from all nationalities and the shared meals delicious and relaxing at the end of a long day. So of course I would like to repeat the magical experience but know that a different Camino may been interesting, informative and beautiful in other ways.
My plan is to start walking in Lisbon and walk to Santiago do Compestela. A friend plans to meet me in Porto and walk the last two weeks with me. Probably I will start the walk in mid April.
My questions are:
From reading John Brierley's Camino Portugues, I see that the first part of the Camino from Lisbon to Porto is not widely walked. Whilst I am happy to walk alone, I am wondering about safety, accommodation availability and generally a feeling of community around this first part of the walk?
Secondly would people who have walked this route, recommend taking walking poles as this complicates baggage on flights but now doubt poles can be purchased in Lisbon.
I do like the already known differences of this walk, longer walks so I plan to factor in some additional rest days in the early part and also that I have already visited both Lisbon and Porto and found them beautiful, welcoming cities so feel that this walk is going to be another amazing experience, just wanting a bit of reassurance!
Many thanks for any advice
Heather
My plan is to start walking in Lisbon and walk to Santiago do Compestela. A friend plans to meet me in Porto and walk the last two weeks with me. Probably I will start the walk in mid April.
My questions are:
From reading John Brierley's Camino Portugues, I see that the first part of the Camino from Lisbon to Porto is not widely walked. Whilst I am happy to walk alone, I am wondering about safety, accommodation availability and generally a feeling of community around this first part of the walk?
Secondly would people who have walked this route, recommend taking walking poles as this complicates baggage on flights but now doubt poles can be purchased in Lisbon.
I do like the already known differences of this walk, longer walks so I plan to factor in some additional rest days in the early part and also that I have already visited both Lisbon and Porto and found them beautiful, welcoming cities so feel that this walk is going to be another amazing experience, just wanting a bit of reassurance!
Many thanks for any advice
Heather