walking now!

estrella · Sep 11, 2006

Hi everybody

Well I am walking the camino right now and it has been wonderful so far! (for the dutch I have a website http://www.geocities.com/weernaarsantiago)
I met up with another pilgrim Pierre from Canada.. sorry Pierre French Canada, Quebed and he knew me because of this forum

The weather has been great, not too warm and we are now staying in Barcelos after staying at the albergue in Rates last night. The night before we missed the way to Vilar do Pinheiro. Just kept following the yellow arrows and we were half way to Vilarinho. Normally they let you stay in the gym there, but it was now under construction. After some looking around for a bed, Francisco from the bakery brought us to his boss' house who was so nice to give us a bed and a great meal!!
The only thing I do not like so much is that they drive like maniacs here and they do not really go aside when they see pedestrians walking (even if they are pilgrims

but this is not spoiling any of the fun!
Tomorrow the long etappe to Ponte de Lima.
Greetings to all!!
Estrella

estrella · Oct 10, 2006

Hello all!

Well I am just back two weeks now and I had a great time walking the camino portugese. From Oporto there were not many other pilgrims, but from Tui I met 10 other pilgrims. I slept in the albergues if there was one, but in Portugal there were not many, but in Rates and Rubiaes (a very new one, just opened in may). My experience was that mostly the albergues were closed and sometimes I was send from here to there to find the key.
Before I asked the question if it would be dangerous to walk this camino alone. I don't think it is dangerous, but the first day, early morning in Porto I was followed by someone that did not make me feel so at ease! And the last day there was a man masturbating in the woods. I was happy I had a stick with me, but I can imagine other women being really afraid by these kind of things. I did not have any of such experiences on the camino frances.
In Portugal I found that they were not really used to pelgrims. The closer I came to Spain the more the pilgrimage became alive. I have enjoyed my camino very much. I loved walking alone, but I now know that the meeting with other pilgrims in the albergues was also what made the camino frances so special for me. I did meet a lot of special people. People that without thinking offered a bed and food when I did not have a place to sleep.. an old lady that threw oranges out the window (for us nt to hit us!

because we needed our strength if we wanted to walk all the way to Santiago).. people that gave grapes and grapes and grapes (it was picking weekend!) how special is that?!
I was lucky and I had great weather. The day after I arrived in Santiago Gordon came by and brought rain and winds, but that was about all the rain I saw in two weeks.
I made a lot of pictures, but I don't know how to download them here. Ivar, could you give me some instructions please?

greetings Estrella