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Oh, I remember that ascent, Diogo!..... in comparison with the Frances, after talking with people who have done both of them, they say that the Portuguese it's not so hilly has that. The worst mountain section comes after Ponte de Lima, when you go up through 560m of a mountain. It's not a big ascent, the problem it's the way that you go up. Instead of a circular path, you go through out nature self-made steps with a big inclined ascent.
Best Regards
Diogo
Hi Chignecto,I am planning to walk the Camino Portuguese in October 2014. I did the Camino Frances in 2011. I have a couple of preliminary questions:. First of all what is the weather like in September and October on this Camino and secondly how does the terrain on this Camino compare to the Camino Frances? Is it more difficult?
The water was even higher than that, Diogo! Diana (who met up with Sheila and I at Cee, and who walked with each of us on the Camino Frances last year) has a few photos where the trail after Ponte de Lima is up to a guy's chest! Oy oy oy! I'm sure it's drier now... I hope!
(She walked the section only about three days after us; there was water in the fields when we walked, but the trails were clear... Oh wait...there were the sections with knee deep water... How could I forget that--it was so funny!)
We decided to stay one more night in Valenca rather than go sleeping in Tui in Spain.There is only one problem in staying overnight in Valença: you will loose one hour on the day after, because the time schedule in Spain it's GMT +1. So if you cross the border at 09:00 AM you have to change your clock to 10:00 AM (Portugal is GMT +0).
Best Regards
Diogo
I did not know the caminho Portuges is a triathlon !Yeah, I've seen some photos like those. There was once a photo that you could pass only by boat. And I'm being serious!
Tell us more about that knee deep water adventure
Best Regards
Diogo
P.S: With a lot of rain, the ascent of the Labruja it's very similar to a waterfall!
Heather ! We all think it is a touristical trip. Principally the caminho is the way of suffering ,woe and misery and penanceSheila and Sebastian decided to walk along the side of the water and when the pathway ended, Sebastian joined me on the trail above (in the woods) and Sheila decided to walk through the water, Diogo. At some point Sebastian and I had to make our way underneath a grape vine (about 2 m wide!) only to find that the (side of the) field we were going to walk through was also waterlogged! No one escaped alive! (Or at least dry!) I've a photo of my feet...Sheila got out with only being wet. Sebastian and I got wet AND muddy! Not too much later, same thing: a lake instead of the trail. Sebastian and Sheila once again opted for the path along side it (jumping rocks too) while I walked on the trail above. We heard a tractor coming...a farmer using the trail was driving along it, pulling a wagon even wider than his tractor! S & S were squished against the wall of the pathway so he could get through. I urged them to jump into the wagon so they would get a ride, but for some reason, they chose not to! Hahaha! It was hilarious!
Sheila and Sebastian decided to walk along the side of the water and when the pathway ended, Sebastian joined me on the trail above (in the woods) and Sheila decided to walk through the water, Diogo. At some point Sebastian and I had to make our way underneath a grape vine (about 2 m wide!) only to find that the (side of the) field we were going to walk through was also waterlogged! No one escaped alive! (Or at least dry!) I've a photo of my feet...Sheila got out with only being wet. Sebastian and I got wet AND muddy! Not too much later, same thing: a lake instead of the trail. Sebastian and Sheila once again opted for the path along side it (jumping rocks too) while I walked on the trail above. We heard a tractor coming...a farmer using the trail was driving along it, pulling a wagon even wider than his tractor! S & S were squished against the wall of the pathway so he could get through. I urged them to jump into the wagon so they would get a ride, but for some reason, they chose not to! Hahaha! It was hilarious!
We decided to stay one more night in Valenca rather than go sleeping in Tui in Spain.
We liked to enjoy all the good of your Portugal as long as possible Diogo
Stayed in hotel Brasil, just oposite the fortaleza.
I did not know the caminho Portuges is a triathlon !
Did we miss something ?
amigo Diogo !
As you know we are pensionados with all the time of the world so an hour earlier or later does not matter.
We took a quiet day all away to Porriño , a distance - if you smoke-we do not !- of 2 cigarettes (by car ha ha)
We did some "windowshopping at the poligono industrial at Porriño at Citroêns and immediately decided to buy a new Suzuki S Cross after looking around therehas been delivered yet the other day.
So at the end the timedifference did not effect us and we did not suffer any jetlag. So we were happy to stay a last day no su país formidavel !
Gostamos muito de Portugal amigo Diogo
Have a nice day e abracoes disso margem do rio Mosa na Holanda
Albertinho
Don't forget flies, Albertinho; don't forget the flies!Heather ! We all think it is a touristical trip. Principally the caminho is the way of suffering ,woe and misery and penanceyou'll meet all the plagues of Saint James. Heath, coldth, rain,sometimes snow , indunations, steep hills upwards, steep hills downwards, mosquitos, bedbugs ,snoring guys etc.etc The years before we made some exotic sea cruises with all the luxury but since our caminho experience, we prefer the last in spite of all the heavy challenges Saint James offered us !
Or water wings, if not life jackets! Hahaha!I can see that you forgot one item from the autum/winter pilgrim collection: the inflatable boat!
Best Regards
Diogo
Etcetera etcetera Heather. Saint James has no mercy on us! Live is though especially during walking the caminho. But..without struggle no victory after all.Don't forget flies, Albertinho; don't forget the flies!
Sometimes the best going caminhar is NOT going caminhar !Or water wings, if not life jackets! Hahaha!
You, me...and the flies! (Hahahaha!) Saint James is sitting somewhere looking down and laughing at the challenges he puts in place for us...like the flies!Etcetera etcetera Heather. Saint James has no mercy on us! Live is though especially during walking the caminho. But..without struggle no victory after all.
So we are the winners at last
Sometimes the best going caminhar is NOT going caminhar !Ha ha
Hi, Thanks for all your helpful advice. I am from Advocate Harbour originally which is where Cape Chignecto is located. Cape Chignecto is my favourite wilderness hike. I now live in Fredericton, New Brunswick.I just finished the Portuguese trail, Chignecto, if you want to have any questions. We walked mid-Oct to early Nov. From Lisboa to Porto, there were barely any other folks on the road but us three, though we did meet a few people heading TO Lisboa or Fatima. The first eight days are long with 30-34 km of walking on (mostly) asphalt but with some off-road. When it was sunny, the temps were not that high (22-23°C--almost perfect walking temps) but becasue of the angle of the sun, we sweltered. And with the sweltering came flies. The walk heading into Santarum was the most brutal--there is nothing and no where to take a break. Maria from the hostel in Santarum told us that she'll drive along the road/trail to keep a watch out for pilgrims and offer them help: water, food, a rest or a ride, if they need it. Some say no and end up at her hostel in less than a happy state. Some are stocked and get there OK. Be well stocked with water and food and take breaks where you want/can. IF it wasn't sunny, it was raining. And the rain came down--we weren't sure if we were going to see an ark nearby or not!We had a number of great days though, to walk.
As Diogo said, the biggest hill comes after Pont de Lima. It's not so bad, vertically, but because of the recent rain, the soil seems to have eroded off the path, leaving a lot of scree and rocks to manouver around. It was harder than it should have been.
I walked the French Camino last year. I think, in comparison, this one is far more challenging, if only because of the greater distances that have to be walked in order to get to a place to rest/stay and the road surfaces to walk on. Man, that's hard of the feet, legs and back!
We all agreed that the Camino Frances would be the best Camino to start with; this one might scare some people away because it is so intense, especially if someone is walking alone.
That being said, Portugal was gorgeous, the people extremely helpful and friendly, there is more likelihood that you'll find someone who speaks English or French, the accommodations are clean and reasonably priced (esp if you were with someone; not as cheap as the Camino Frances but the cost of food equaled that out), the food quite inexpensive and delicious (I could live on Portuguese vegetable soup!).
I would definitely walk the Portuguese trail again; it was a far different experience than the Frances was.
By the way, are you from Nova Scotia, with a tag name of 'Chignecto'?!
Bom Caminho!
A good Maritimer, no matter where you live!
My mom and my brother went to UNB and a whole swath of relatives and friends went there as well. I know Fredericton well. Haven't been to hike Cape Chignecto yet but it's on the list of things to do in the very near future!
If you have any questions about the Camino Portuguese, as I said; just ask!
Cheers!
Heather
Hi,
I am trying to decide whether to hike from Lisbon or Porto. Time is not an issue for me as I am retired. However, a couple of my friends may only want to hike from Porto. I am afraid if I only walk from Porto it will not seem like a Camino because it will be only 9 or 10 days. Hiking is a meditative experience for me. I loved walking for six weeks on the Camino Frances. Like the books said I "Walked in a Relaxed Manner" and "The Way is Made by Walking". Do you have any comments or suggestions on how I can resolve this dilema?
Thanks for your comments they are very much appreciated.The caminho can not be a dilema in my opinion.
Just go for it ! We did Lisboa Porto and Porto to Santiago. It was great.
We-my wife and I made it in 32 days ,stopping over for a second night in Lisbon, Coimbra, Porto , Barcelos (to see wonderfull Braga) and Santiago.
It was the time of our life ! We travelled all around the world with trains,boats and planes but walking to Santiago de Compostela was the best of all ! We loved the scenery, the local people, the companion peregrinos, THE WAY, the whole atmosphere. Our best experience ever.
Best luck with your decission ! Bom caminho too !
Thanks for your helpful comments and suggestions. I'll keep you posted.To me you will miss much by only ("only") walking from Porto. Porto to Santiago IS a beautiful walk but to do that means you would miss Lisbon, Santarem, Tomar, Coimbra, the chance to walk to Fatima as part of your Caminho and more. The first eight days are challenging but you would make it and, if you walk that part alone (and meet up with your friend in Porto), you would have a brilliant experience. (NOT that it wouldn't be so from Porto...)
Go find Laurie's updated CSJ guide and take that with you instead of Brierly's book. It will serve you better. If you want to take both, Brierly's is good for the historic information.
If you are questioning yourself now, then do what feels right to you: start in Lisbon. Just remember to get out and walk walk walk to train for this one. It's a lot of continuous walking, and a lot of walking on asphalt, so quite different than the Camino Frances.
Sounds great!Thanks for your helpful comments and suggestions. I'll keep you posted.
Oh, I remember that ascent, Diogo!
A camino friend coming up behind me saw me and asked "Are you all right, Stephen?"
"I think I'm dead!" I replied.
It was wonderful reaching the top, and topping up my water from the forester's cottage.
View attachment 6887
...this was the descent going down from the top. My mind went back to some pilgrims I'd seen on bicycles - it would have been VERY difficult.
I took it easy the following day....
But it's a most beautiful camino!
This is a beautiful picture!
According to your website, it took 17 days from Porto to Santiago by foot.
I wonder how fast you were.
Did you take your time, or did you just walk, walk, walk fast?
I'd like to walk Camino Portugues next year but my vacation would not be long enough to go through all the way from Lisbon to Santiago.
I'll probably have to start from Porto, and yet, if it takes abour 17 days...
Since I have about 2 weeks of time(15 max., I think) and coming from the US...
I just can't figure out which route to take or from where to start.
SooYunKim - you will have plenty of time.This is a beautiful picture!
According to your website, it took 17 days from Porto to Santiago by foot. I wonder how fast you were. Did you take your time, or did you just walk, walk, walk fast?
I'd like to walk Camino Portugues next year but my vacation would not be long enough to go through all the way from Lisbon to Santiago.
I'll probably have to start from Porto, and yet, if it takes abour 17 days...Since I have about 2 weeks of time(15 max., I think) and coming from the US...
I just can't figure out which route to take or from where to start.
I am going to start in Porto in late September with three friends. We are planning to hike to Finisterre and Muxia from Santiago as well. Last time I took the bus. I am so excited about doing another pilgrimage I feel transported. This is just what I’m need to service all this snow and freezing rain.To me you will miss much by only ("only") walking from Porto. Porto to Santiago IS a beautiful walk but to do that means you would miss Lisbon, Santarem, Tomar, Coimbra, the chance to walk to Fatima as part of your Caminho and more. The first eight days are challenging but you would make it and, if you walk that part alone (and meet up with your friend in Porto), you would have a brilliant experience. (NOT that it wouldn't be so from Porto...)
Go find Laurie's updated CSJ guide and take that with you instead of Brierly's book. It will serve you better. If you want to take both, Brierly's is good for the historic information.
If you are questioning yourself now, then do what feels right to you: start in Lisbon. Just remember to get out and walk walk walk to train for this one. It's a lot of continuous walking, and a lot of walking on asphalt, so quite different than the Camino Frances.
This thread is so much fun to read! I will check it on a regular basis
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