El Caminho

The forecast was for rain in the coming week, but we decided to try, especially given that the first day was sunny. So we set out on our walk from Porto. Many other pilgrims passed us …the old ladies are slow and Taunya, not as old, has a foot issue. 

After 4 miles we stopped at a restaurant that turned out to be local and had soup (1.60 euro) and coffee. Crazy low prices.

Stopping on the trail…

We managed to do the entire 8 miles and stayed at a pretty nice hotel in Matamohinas. We went to. ‘tapas’ restaurant managed by a nazi waitress/owner who accused Jenny and Taunya of being complicated and me as simple. Although I was able to order a plate of sardines, the atmosphere to me was oppressive with the waitress’ outsized personality and I was happy to leave.

Next day we set out walking but at mile 4, in the rain, Taunya discovered a giant blister on top of her sore foot.

This photo was taken for a gay friend of Taunya’s….men in speedos.

So, after only four miles of walking, we took the Uber option and paid for a 10-minute ride to our lodgings for the night. This was our worst lodging of the trip, but it did expose us to Portuguese camping. We rented a ‘cabin,’ a tiny prefab box with three rooms and two beds but no bathroom. The beds were vinyl. The bathroom was relatively close, yet so far, but the bathroom compound did have ironing stations!

Here we are enjoying some refreshments outside our prefab.

Outdoor ironing station.

We were required to wear an id tag while in the campground.