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jeff001 said:Actually the bus is very easy. The #602 bus that leaves from Praca Cordoaria stops directly on the Camino in Araujo.
peregrina nicole said:We haven't yet decided on the coastal versus normal route.
I am going to stay in the AirPorto hostel for two nights (€13 via Booking.com) less than 15 minutes walking from the airport. After breakfast I am taking the metro to metro station Sao Bento on walking distance of the cathedral and I will collect my stamp in the pilgrims pass there (pilgrim passes available in the cathedral!!). Then I will start my camino from the cathedral along the river Douro to the Atlantic Ocean and I will follow the coastal road for a while. I will catch the metro in Matosinhos (12 km from the cathedral) (= metro station Mercado) back to the hostel. I walk this day without backpack!! The backpack will stay in the AirPorto hostel. The other day after breakfast I will take the metro back to Matosinhos to continue my camino from there (in Vilar do Conde I will leave the coastal road in direction of RATES, to join the historical camino). I prefer to walk all the way from the cathedral and not to scip any part of the camino. Near the Atlantic at the end of the road along the river Douro (at the end of tram line nr. 1) is a very good simple take away restaurant, where you can eat also inside (no real tables inside, only some desks at the wall. Very good food! Vegetable home made soup for €1,65)An alternative to consider is taking either the bus or metro to Araujo and starting from there, thus avoiding several miles of city streets. I took the bus and went on to Vila do Conde where there are several hotels. On the way I discovered that the Metro actually goes all the way to Conde from downtown Porto.
If I may, I would not recommend the coastal route. I went all the way from Porto to Tui on it and found the marking extremely deficient if existent. 95% is on paved roads and soon make your feet pay the price. Pilgrim accommodation doesn't exist, although there are plenty of nice and low cost hostals and pensions.
On the bright side, you're never far from the sea with its attractive small villages, sandy beaches, scenic views and relaxed atmosphere.
Concerning languages, from my experience, you will have more success with your ''broken'' Portuguese and English than with Spanish. In general, the Portuguese are not very warm toward the Spanish language (historic and cultural reasons) and I would resort to it only as a last instance. Although fluent in French, English and Spanish, I took along a small portuguese phrase book that allowed me to receive very warm welcomes everywhere I went while making the trip that much more interesting culturally.
Bom caminho
Jean-Marc
The metro (line B) goes even till Póvoa de Varzim, not only to Vila do Conde. And metro line C goes until Maia (metro station Castêlo da Maia).An alternative to consider is taking either the bus or metro to Araujo and starting from there, thus avoiding several miles of city streets. I took the bus and went on to Vila do Conde where there are several hotels. On the way I discovered that the Metro actually goes all the way to Conde from downtown Porto.
Are you Portugese, living in Holland ? Where do you live in Holland ?The metro (line B) goes even till Póvoa de Varzim, not only to Vila do Conde. And metro line C goes until Maia (metro station Castêlo da Maia).
For pilgrims heading for Vilarinho (accommodation: Casa da Laura) or Vairão (albergue in the monasterio) take metro line B until metro station Modivas Centro.
Or walk/cycle from the cathedral via the river Douro (beautiful road + flat) and follow the Atlantic coast until Matosinhos (metro station Mercado) and return back by metro to your hostel in beautiful Porto. Continue the other day from Matosinhos along the coast to scip teh traffic and the industrial areas north of Porto. That first day you van leave your backpack in the hostel!
Recommendation for your accommodation in Porto:
* AirPorto Hostel (15 minutes walk from the airport)
(dormitories for 4-6 persons + double rooms with bunk beds)
http://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/airporto-hostel.nl.html
http://www.airportohostel.com/
* Jualis Guest House (dormitoriy of 9 persons, as well as 2-, 3- and 4-persons rooms with own shower/toilet):
http://www.booking.com/hotel/pt/jualis-guest-house.nl.html
(single pilgrims can better call or send an e-mail to Jualis Guest House - tell that you are a pilgrim since via the bookings sites you cannot order a single bed)
Are you Portugese, living in Holland ? Where do you live in Holland ?
Hi there, I'm arriving in Porto and have reserved beds in a Hostel in Vilar da Conde for our first night. My friend and I want to visit the Cathedral i Porto and plan to take the Metro to Matosinhos. Walking on the coast to Vilar da Conde. Does anyone know how many hours this first walk will take? We dont want to walk too long. our first day, as we want to start off visiting the Cathedral. Thankful for any suggestions on how to plan our first day!I am Dutch (and I live not far from Amsterdam) and I have visited Portugal July 2014 for the first time for vacation:
Porto - Guimaraes - Braga - Bom de Jesus site -Coimbra - Lagos - Faro - Albufeira - Sagres - Sinta - Lisbon
Next time will be mid of September 2014 to start my camino from lovely Porto. I feel I go home, such a nice country!
Hi there, I'm arriving in Porto and have reserved beds in a Hostel in Vilar da Conde for our first night. My friend and I want to visit the Cathedral i Porto and plan to take the Metro to Matosinhos. Walking on the coast to Vilar da Conde. Does anyone know how many hours this first walk will take? We dont want to walk too long. our first day, as we want to start off visiting the Cathedral. Thankful for any suggestions on how to plan our first day!
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