- Time of past OR future Camino
- Via Gebennensis (2018)
Via Podiensis (2018)
Voie Nive Bidassoa (2018)
Camino Del Norte (2018)
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How wonderful for you! You will love this route, whether you are starting in Lisbon or Porto.
We just received these credencials in the post.
We're excited, just 160 days before we start walking our Caminho Português (and a few variations).
Bom Caminho !
I hope that you really enjoy your Caminho and Portugal. It is a beautiful and peaceful country. Make sure you include Fatima on the route. Walk it, don't simply catch the bus. It will make your special Caminho, even more special.We just received these credencials in the post.
We're excited, just 160 days before we start walking our Caminho Português (and a few variations).
Bom Caminho !
AJ, at some point, it would be great to see your long list of stages and places to stay. I know you have worked out a fantabulous itinerary of short stages, lovely detours, and special stops.
And just a quick question — how did you order the Portuguese credentials?
I hope that you really enjoy your Caminho and Portugal. It is a beautiful and peaceful country. Make sure you include Fatima on the route. Walk it, don't simply catch the bus. It will make your special Caminho, even more special.
Bom caminho.
Yes! How did you?!
We're excited, just 160 days before we start walking our Caminho Português
https://www.alberguedebarcelos.com/category/credencial
I guess I could have bought these in Portugal, buying them before our departure from Australia just makes it more convenient.
Hello Laurie,
I haven't quite finished my planning (looking after a 2 year old ), but I'll definitely share it when it's done.
I actually bought these credentials online: https://www.alberguedebarcelos.com/category/credencial
Delivered to Australia, and it helps the Albergue in Barcelos.
Did this in April - ominous start with torrential rain in Porto but the weather improved but still some rain all the way - was a great trip despite this - intend to start in Lisbon next year
What date are you starting your walk? My husband and I are also doing the same one starting just after EasterWe just received these credencials in the post.
We're excited, just 160 days before we start walking our Caminho Português (and a few variations).
Bom Caminho !
What date are you starting your walk? My husband and I are also doing the same one starting just after Easter
We are starting in Lisboa mid April so will have just finished when you head off.We're starting from Lisbon on 24 May.
We are starting in Lisboa mid April so will have just finished when you head off.
Just wondering how far and where do you plan to stay the first night out.
AJ, at some point, it would be great to see your long list of stages and places to stay. I know you have worked out a fantabulous itinerary of short stages, lovely detours, and special stops.
Wow is about the only word that comes to mine. You are a masterful planner, AJ. I know this can’t have been easy. Did you have to plot a lot of alternative walking routes to manage this? It will be a lot of fun to follow along (will you use the same web program as last time?), but even more fun to walk it.
You will be the forum trailblazer on some of this route, I think — particularly between Sintra and Fatima.
Bom caminho and muito obrigada, this is a tremendous resource for the forum.
I don’t know if you want all my touristic suggestions, but I can’t resist! And maybe some other forum members will find them helpful. Starting from the beginning —
1. Praia das Maçcas
There is a cute little train from Sintra to Praia das Maças, but it doesn’t run too frequently. It does take a nice route down to the beach or up to Sintra from the beach.
2. Sintra
IMO, the mobs that now plague the Palacio da Pena have turned it into an exhausting and frustrating visit. Seeing the exterior and walking through the (nearly empty) gardens could be more relaxing. Sintra has a bunch of other very nice attractions — I especially like the Convento dos capuchos, a monastery whose tiny rooms are made of cork, and the Palacio Montserrate. The English language website has a lot of information on all the other places to see — click on the link over on the left for a dropdown that lists them all. But by far, for me anyway, the nicest part of Sintra is walking through the old Little town at night when all the tourist shops are closed and all the tourists are gone! If you have a sweet tooth, try the local pastry specialty, the travesseiro.
3. Seafood in Praia das Maças
I have eaten in lots of restaurants on the coast near Sintra, and though my favorite, Restaurante d'Adraga, is not on your route, (at least I don't think it is), there's a good substitute right in Praia das Maças, the Neptuno. But with all those kms on the ocean, you are going to have so many opportunities to eat what I think is the best meal in Portugal. Fresh grilled fish, a boiled vegetable like broccoli, carrots, or my favorite, couve (some kind of bitter greens, cooked in garlic, yum), and boiled potatoes. Until I went to Portugal I didn't know that there were "good potatoes" and "bad potatoes." There were just potatoes. But Portuguese potatoes are delicious and put US grocery store potatoes to shame.
4. Alcobaça
The monastery in Alcobaça is probabaly not as famous as the Monastery in Batalha, but I like it more. Less touristy, very nice visit.
5. Bemposta
Your place in Bemposta looks fabulous! I remember taking a little detour off caminho to go up to the small "old town" of Bemposta, and it is very pretty though nothing dramatically exceptional.
6. Sao Joao da Madeira
In Sao Joao da Madeira, in an old hat factory, there is now a Hat Museum. It is on the way out of town, so I didn´t see it till I was leaving. The statue outside is very evocative. I learned that when hatmaking was done by hand, it involved a lot of exposure to mercury, arsenic and other toxins. That's the origin of the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland, I was told (your silly trivia fact for the day).
7. Viana do Castelo
Great little main square, which you will of course see, lots of cafes and restaurants, church, but one place I never visited till recently was the Museu do Traje. I was there with a friend who love traditional clothing, fabrics, etc, and she insisted we go there. I was, frankly, surprised how much I like it. Viana do Castelo also is the home of the gold filigree jewelry The Heart of Viana I am not much of a jewelry person, and it is very elaborate and maybe not your style, but it is worn by women all over the Minho, very traditional.
No need to focus on the last part of the caminho from Valenca do Minho, but I thought that since you were going into more or less "uncharted territory", I would drop a few suggestions. It is just going to be an amazing trip for you and your wife, AJ. Congratulations on having done such a great planning job. Bom caminho, Laurie