Porto to Santiagio in May: Alexwalker and Jurgen

[alexwalker]

My Jurgen friend and I plan for a couple of days in Lisboa first: Then bus to Porto for a couple of days; and then on the road to ScD, We will take it slow; no rush to get there. 'I have printed out ohe CSJ free guide and will use that on the way. We'll have a couple of strong sticks for dog protection, and then we'll see how it will work out. We start at the end of April. I suspect Finisterre/Muxia will be on our plan as well? Will arrive in SdC about May 20th.

 

[Stephen Nicholls]

I made that camino [Porto to SdC] in 2011 - a truly happy pilgrimage! You can see my diary and photo's on my web site.
This May I'm just thinking of walking Lisbon to Porto..... it will be mid May onwards.
Good luck, Alexwalker, and buen camino to you and Jurgen!

Stephen.
http://www.calig.co.uk/camino_de_santiago.htm

 

[alexwalker]

Stephen,
Thanks! I read some of your website: Not bad at all (I am/was a Computer Engineer).
Do not be discouraged that you had to "throw in the towel" on VdPlata last year: Jurgen and I walked from Salamanca and to SdC in that same month of May - There were a few times we wanted to quit: The weather was horrible all the way; rain and wind. EVERY day, except 2 days in the very end. On the highest mountain pass we had a snow blizzard for 1 hour. Luckily there was a hotel with a bar right over the top: We stayed there for 2 hours :lol:
23 days of walking in total: 19 days of wind and rain, 2 days of wind and snow, and 2 days partly clouded. I never used my shorts on the whole trip. And this was MAY 2012!!!

PS: By judging the photo of your feet, your only option was to stop walking. We often met a 3rd man (old) who we frequently had to help with plastering and warming up his feet, but who eventually had to stop only 60 kms from Santiago and go straight to hospital, with bleeding wounds on both feet. He got the Compostela in SdC, though, when he explained what had happened, and actually showed them his feet!

I was originally considering starting from Lisboa, but after reading a few posts here, Porto will be our starting point. Just walking slow, not be tempted by 30 kms/day, but live "in the mood" if you understand.

BTW: It is not a good idea to ask people to download .doc files: They may be a source of virus to people. If you get them converted to .pdf, then they are safe to download and read for everyone.

PS: Stephen, thanks for nice photos: It seems that at least from Porto, the waymarking is very good? DS:

Buen camino!

 

[alexwalker]

Then it's settled: Jurgen and I will team up in Lisboa on April 26th. Spend 2-3 days in Lisboa (touristing), then a bus to Porto, stay a little there and then start walking. From Santiago we go by bus to relax in Finisterre for a few days, then starting our journey home: He to Germany, I to Norway.

All as a result of becoming camino friends on the VdlP last year, struggling together and finally reaching SdC after 3 weeks of walking in rain and snow (!) last May...

The Camino is indeed a rewarding journey...

 

[scruffy1]

I personally like Porto much more then Lisbon but thats no matter-Lisbon is much bigger and hopefully by May the many many homeless have left-during winter and early spring the city is often infested with beggars, louts, and never-do-wells from all over Europe since the weather is much more pleasant. Do look for one of the locals, he may be found floating 30 centimeters above the pavement in the nicer downtown areas. Well worth an Euro to help him out.
http://frankmilburn.blogspot.co.il/2011/09/lisbon-street-performer.html
S

 

[scruffy1]

And now for The real reason I wanted to write: in Lisbon I heartily recommend the "Lisbon Poets Hostel" very friendly staff, clean, central, free breakfast, kitchen etc..true there are other friendly clean places in Lisbon however the Lisbon Poets place also has a sister/brother hostel in Porto which gives a nice discount if you are coming from the other place. Find it here
http://www.lisbonpoetshostel.com/
located next to the statue of Passoa on Rua Nova da Trinidade in Chiado
Bom Caminho

 

[alexwalker]

Scruffy,

That was very helpful: Thanks a lot!

 

[pywackit]

HI,
I plan to walk from Porto to Santiago from mid April to June, however long it takes me. I walked it before in 2010 and I want to revisit my many friends along the way. I also hope to make new friends too. I love the "way less traveled".

 

[LieutCol.Ret.]

Hi Alex and Jurgen,

Me and my wife are going to start on May 11 from Porto and reach SDC on May 20, 2013. I think we will have a lot of chances to say “Buen Camino” to each other. God bless you and good luck!

Sincerely,
Oleg