- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (2019) Camino Portuguese (2022)
This is my first post live from the camino. I hope I posted it correctly
It is a bit long: I separated it by days
Portuguese Coastal Senda Litoral
Day 1 Porto
Before I begin I want to thank
Airfix for posting his journey. after reading his live posts I realized I needed to make changes to my itinerary.
I had planned this trip two years ago and decided on my path back then. Now I realize I was a bit ambitious.
I planned to stay in Porto 3 days walk 14 days including the variant and then 4 days in Lisbon before returning home.
I planned to hike with a friend. We booked out tickets last June!
My friend broke her ankle in February and is still in a brace and a boot.
Reluctantly I decided to walk alone but skip a few parts because she and I will walk the Portuguese in the future.
I arrived in Porto on May 12 2022 by the time I arrived at the Se Catedral hotel it was 17:30
The catedral is just across the street so I dropped off my luggage and went to get my passport stamp.
I still had time to tour the cloister And walk across the bridge and walk through the city before sun down.
Had dinner at the hotel and went to bed at 9:30pm
Day 2
Many of the guides said that I should skip Matosinhos and start the Camino in Villa do Conde so I planned one day of sightseeing in Porto and Day 3 I would take the train to Villa do Conde.
9I went to Matosinhos and walked to the lighthouse and turned back at the beginning of the boardwalk. Walked 10.5 miles
I highly recommend not skipping Matosinhos. When I return I will start from the catedral and walk down the bank of the Douro into Matosinhos.
There are two pilgrim visitor centers one on each side of the bridge by the beach. If I hadnāt walked back I would not have seen the second one.
If you walk this way please stop. The people working at the visitor center told me that they donāt see many pilgrims and their purpose is to support pilgrims.
They gave me a Camino map showing the Camino from Porto to Caminha.
They said when I arrive in Caminha the visitor center there has the equivalent map for Spain.
It was HOT day. I did not plan to walk 10.5 miles.
Note to self: be prepared
I did not take poles/backpack and I only had a 12 oz bottle of water. Needless to say I had to buy water twice!
After my walk I realized I needed a trip to the decathlon to buy a few warm weather items: I only packed smartwool.
Day 3
I used Caminofacil luggage transport on CF and again this trip. It is 8 euro per stage
I got a late start. It was raining so I layered for cool weather and decided to take a very expensive cab to Villa do Conde.
Started walking at 10. The beach walk is beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk until about mile 8.
I walk a lot at home (about 40-50 miles per week) but I only walk on trails. I was not prepared for the boardwalk and cobblestones.
It was really hot again. I reduced layers about mile 4. I carried two liters of water and I had to buy water in Apuilia. I saw so many pilgrims in shorts and teeās burnt to a crisp.
Donāt forget to go the the visitor center at Povoa de Varzimā¦. It is by the casino.
At mile 6.5 there is a little cafe right off the path. I had a huge breakfast so I only stopped for a coke and to use the restroom. It was really Hot by then and I wanted to get to Esposende as soon as possible.
By mile 9 the boardwalk ended. It is away from the beach. It ends on a cobblestone road with no shoulder. I was a bit unsettling. Even the tractors think this narrow road is a race course. I could not believe how fast the cars weāre driving. Be careful.
No signage. The fist fork in the road, stay on the road to the right. Donāt take the dirt path like I did.
When I arrived at the crossroad I crossed the street and followed two pilgrims on bikes.
Note to self: donāt follow bike riders they r on a different path.
After backtracking I made it to Apulia. I had walked 13 miles and I still had 5 miles to go. I gave up: I took a cab to the hotel Sauve Mar
I have a room facing the beach
Room is ok not great, but the view is spectacular. As soon as I arrived I decided to change my itinerary and stay an extra day.
Day 4
Light rain today and breezy but warm. Spring is back. Great day for walking.
I explored Esposende today and so glad I did. It is a cute little town. It is Sunday almost shops are closed., but the locals are out strolling the boardwalk. Very nice people. Some asked if I was walking to Santiago.
I went to the church and walked to the national park.
Met some pilgrims who are on a tour. They just arrived here today. They walked the first two stages in one day (28 miles).
Tomorrow Iām off to Vianna do Castillo
I will post again soon
It is a bit long: I separated it by days
Portuguese Coastal Senda Litoral
Day 1 Porto
Before I begin I want to thank
Airfix for posting his journey. after reading his live posts I realized I needed to make changes to my itinerary.
I had planned this trip two years ago and decided on my path back then. Now I realize I was a bit ambitious.
I planned to stay in Porto 3 days walk 14 days including the variant and then 4 days in Lisbon before returning home.
I planned to hike with a friend. We booked out tickets last June!
My friend broke her ankle in February and is still in a brace and a boot.
Reluctantly I decided to walk alone but skip a few parts because she and I will walk the Portuguese in the future.
I arrived in Porto on May 12 2022 by the time I arrived at the Se Catedral hotel it was 17:30
The catedral is just across the street so I dropped off my luggage and went to get my passport stamp.
I still had time to tour the cloister And walk across the bridge and walk through the city before sun down.
Had dinner at the hotel and went to bed at 9:30pm
Day 2
Many of the guides said that I should skip Matosinhos and start the Camino in Villa do Conde so I planned one day of sightseeing in Porto and Day 3 I would take the train to Villa do Conde.
9I went to Matosinhos and walked to the lighthouse and turned back at the beginning of the boardwalk. Walked 10.5 miles
I highly recommend not skipping Matosinhos. When I return I will start from the catedral and walk down the bank of the Douro into Matosinhos.
There are two pilgrim visitor centers one on each side of the bridge by the beach. If I hadnāt walked back I would not have seen the second one.
If you walk this way please stop. The people working at the visitor center told me that they donāt see many pilgrims and their purpose is to support pilgrims.
They gave me a Camino map showing the Camino from Porto to Caminha.
They said when I arrive in Caminha the visitor center there has the equivalent map for Spain.
It was HOT day. I did not plan to walk 10.5 miles.
Note to self: be prepared
I did not take poles/backpack and I only had a 12 oz bottle of water. Needless to say I had to buy water twice!
After my walk I realized I needed a trip to the decathlon to buy a few warm weather items: I only packed smartwool.
Day 3
I used Caminofacil luggage transport on CF and again this trip. It is 8 euro per stage
I got a late start. It was raining so I layered for cool weather and decided to take a very expensive cab to Villa do Conde.
Started walking at 10. The beach walk is beautiful. I thoroughly enjoyed the walk until about mile 8.
I walk a lot at home (about 40-50 miles per week) but I only walk on trails. I was not prepared for the boardwalk and cobblestones.
It was really hot again. I reduced layers about mile 4. I carried two liters of water and I had to buy water in Apuilia. I saw so many pilgrims in shorts and teeās burnt to a crisp.
Donāt forget to go the the visitor center at Povoa de Varzimā¦. It is by the casino.
At mile 6.5 there is a little cafe right off the path. I had a huge breakfast so I only stopped for a coke and to use the restroom. It was really Hot by then and I wanted to get to Esposende as soon as possible.
By mile 9 the boardwalk ended. It is away from the beach. It ends on a cobblestone road with no shoulder. I was a bit unsettling. Even the tractors think this narrow road is a race course. I could not believe how fast the cars weāre driving. Be careful.
No signage. The fist fork in the road, stay on the road to the right. Donāt take the dirt path like I did.
When I arrived at the crossroad I crossed the street and followed two pilgrims on bikes.
Note to self: donāt follow bike riders they r on a different path.
After backtracking I made it to Apulia. I had walked 13 miles and I still had 5 miles to go. I gave up: I took a cab to the hotel Sauve Mar
I have a room facing the beach
Room is ok not great, but the view is spectacular. As soon as I arrived I decided to change my itinerary and stay an extra day.
Day 4
Light rain today and breezy but warm. Spring is back. Great day for walking.
I explored Esposende today and so glad I did. It is a cute little town. It is Sunday almost shops are closed., but the locals are out strolling the boardwalk. Very nice people. Some asked if I was walking to Santiago.
I went to the church and walked to the national park.
Met some pilgrims who are on a tour. They just arrived here today. They walked the first two stages in one day (28 miles).
Tomorrow Iām off to Vianna do Castillo
I will post again soon
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I am arriving Porto ā¦ from Lisbonā¦ a very hard camino of nearly 400kmā¦ need to rest before pushing onā¦
i am arriving Porto from Lisbon .. a really tough and arduous track of 400 km.. need to rest a few daysā¦ thought I would walk to Matosinhos but looks like itās wet and windy for the next days ..
