Pilgrim_95
Young Pilgrim
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Portugues - 2015
Norte - 2016, 2020
Frances - 2018
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Buen Camino. I want to do this Camino next year so will follow this thread carefully.DAY 0
Here we are, it has been 350 days since my last Camino (Norte/Primitivo) and this year I decided again to post daily updates from our journey as COVID is still omnipresent and information from the place might be useful for many pilgrims planning to walk.
Just a quick reflection: Last year we started on the 16th of July from Santander, the first day when masks were re-introduced in Cantabria. Last year, no tests were required to fly to Spain, only a form and a temperature check.
This year, I have to walk without my English girlfriend as it is basically impossible to get to Portugal right now from the UK.
So, eventually, we are just a group of 3 (me, my mother and her friend). We are flying directly from Vienna to Porto at 5:50. We are starting straight from the airport (walking) and our goal is to reach Póvoa de Varzim (roughly 16 km).
I am fully vaccinated (Johnson & Johnson - one dosage) as my GP can't find enough people, so I got my vaccine 14 days ago as a healthy 23-year-old here in the Czech Republic. My mom is also fully vaccinated (Pfizer). Her friend is not. We all got tested yesterday with PCR. Luckily, here in the Czech Republic, each citizen can get 2 PCR tests and 4 antigens per month for free.
Czechia was also one of the first countries to join the EU digital system, so our results came in the "European" format with the QR code and everything. PCR (72h) or antigen (24h) tests are required to enter Portugal if you are not from the "dangerous" countries.
We are all ready and packed. This year I managed to get within 5kg (excluding water and snacks) into my Osprey Stratos 34. Last year, I carried a light tent and a laptop (work), so I was walking with like 12kg and it was nothing pleasant, especially the Hospitales stage (30+ degrees that day).
The only issue so far is our flight tickets, which were bought via Kiwi. My check-in went smoothly, yet they could not process the other two tickets and we have to deal with it at the airport... and the fees will be refunded by Kiwi as their customer support was unable to deal with it manually either... The tickets dropped to like 30 euros, including a rucksack, so we might just buy a new set.
Looking forward to your daily accounts, I should be there in October. Buen CaminoDAY 0
Here we are, it has been 350 days since my last Camino (Norte/Primitivo) and this year I decided again to post daily updates from our journey as COVID is still omnipresent and information from the place might be useful for many pilgrims planning to walk.
Just a quick reflection: Last year we started on the 16th of July from Santander, the first day when masks were re-introduced in Cantabria. Last year, no tests were required to fly to Spain, only a form and a temperature check.
This year, I have to walk without my English girlfriend as it is basically impossible to get to Portugal right now from the UK.
So, eventually, we are just a group of 3 (me, my mother and her friend). We are flying directly from Vienna to Porto at 5:50. We are starting straight from the airport (walking) and our goal is to reach Póvoa de Varzim (roughly 16 km).
I am fully vaccinated (Johnson & Johnson - one dosage) as my GP can't find enough people, so I got my vaccine 14 days ago as a healthy 23-year-old here in the Czech Republic. My mom is also fully vaccinated (Pfizer). Her friend is not. We all got tested yesterday with PCR. Luckily, here in the Czech Republic, each citizen can get 2 PCR tests and 4 antigens per month for free.
Czechia was also one of the first countries to join the EU digital system, so our results came in the "European" format with the QR code and everything. PCR (72h) or antigen (24h) tests are required to enter Portugal if you are not from the "dangerous" countries.
We are all ready and packed. This year I managed to get within 5kg (excluding water and snacks) into my Osprey Stratos 34. Last year, I carried a light tent and a laptop (work), so I was walking with like 12kg and it was nothing pleasant, especially the Hospitales stage (30+ degrees that day).
The only issue so far is our flight tickets, which were bought via Kiwi. My check-in went smoothly, yet they could not process the other two tickets and we have to deal with it at the airport... and the fees will be refunded by Kiwi as their customer support was unable to deal with it manually either... The tickets dropped to like 30 euros, including a rucksack, so we might just buy a new set.
Have a great trip!DAY 2
First full-day on the camino is behind us. After the flight and everything we called it an early night yesterday and managed to start at 6:30. We had a breakfast at seven and continued walking. We had a picnic lunch sharing local cheese, sausage, veggies and bread near some abandoned watchtower in the middle of nowhere.
Around noon, I called the municipal albergue in Marinhas which is open. There is 6-7 of us and kitchen, showers etc.... Its all open. Price: 10 euros per person.
We managed to walk nearly 30 km with our beach visits and swimming in the ocean. The weather was lovely (25-28 degrees during the peak). The water was surprisingly okay. Not as cold as on the Norte
Now, we are about to have some dinner and watch the EURO football match as Czechia is playing Denmark.
In terms of infrastructure, it seems to be pretty alive, a lot of affordable options as well. Speaking of masks, peole wear them inside and in busy parts of the city, yet most people dont bother wearing them along the beach etc. which I find logical.
Also the locals are happy to see pilgrims as it is a sign that things might be getting slowly back to normal. We have seen around 5-7 pilgrims today during the hike.
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