Our Walk Along the Camino Portuguese

Vinho Tinto and the Camino Portuguese Camino Pilgrimage There was little to recommend about today, except that it got us 25.4 km closer to Santiago, and it gave us a greater appreciation of the nicer portions of the trail we are privileged to be able to walk.   We got up around 6:30 am, finding it very difficult to leave the nice, warm bed in the albergue. We ate the pastries we picked up in town last night and then headed out. The first highlight of the day came almost right away when the trail took us through a eucalyptus forest. The air was still very cool and misty, and there were streams of golden light filtering through the foliage, making everything look magical. After the beautiful section of forest, we emerged into a clear-cut, where everything had been harvested, right down to the soil. It looked like a perfect example of forestry gone awry, although it is possible that a new plantation will soon replace what was removed. The trail then took us around...

Pilgrims and Pastries on Camino Camino Portuguese  Although we got in near midnight last night and weren't able to check out until 9 AM, we nevertheless woke around 7 AM. Outside the city was bathed in the soft light of early morning, and the cathedral on the hill was partially hidden in golden mist. We had a slow start, enjoying hot showers, packing our bags, and heading out to the street below for a breakfast of coffee and rather sticky, sweet chocolate croissants. When all this was done, it was still only 8:45 AM, but the kind hostess let us check out, and we were soon heading up the steep cobblestone main street of Coimbra. The walk out of Coimbra was a bit chaotic. The streets were very busy with cars,  pedestrians on their way to work, and delivery vans loading and unloading merchandise on the sidewalks. Although The Way is well marked, within the city limits the markers are stylish, understated, brass plaques sunk into the cobblestone sidewalks. ...