Another extraordinary (but common) camino experience!

[peregrina2000]

Last night, on this thread, https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/forum-updates-for-lisbon-guide.46710/, I reported that I had gotten an email from a pilgrim walking from Lisbon who wanted to share some updates. He told me that he was staying in a great new albergue in Rabacal, among other things.

Today was my day to drive to Lisbon from a few days I spent up in northern Spain thanks to @BrienC (but that's another story). I realized that it had been more than a decade since I had visited the Roman ruins in Conímbriga and that a stop would be a nice way to break up the drive. As I started to walk towards the ticket office, I saw someone who just had to be a pilgrim, and I thought, hmm, Rabacal yesterday, so today .... So I went up to him and asked if by any chance his name was Morten. He looked surprised, and then I asked him if he by chance had written me an email last night!

We spent a nice couple of hours walking through the ruins and the museum, both glad for some company and shaking our heads with incredulity but at the same time realizing that this sort of thing is pretty commonplace when you get going on a Camino. What a nice way to break up a long drive to Lisboa!

Bom caminho, Laurie

 

[jsalt]

the Roman ruins in Conímbriga

Also, I would like to say that the ruins are well worth a visit. The mosaics are incredible. So many pilgrims walk past them, heads down, not realising what they are missing. There are places to stay in Condeixa-a-Nova, just off-route, so no need to rush on by.
Jill

 

[KinkyOne]

Last night, on this thread, https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/forum-updates-for-lisbon-guide.46710/, I reported that I had gotten an email from a pilgrim walking from Lisbon who wanted to share some updates. He told me that he was staying in a great new albergue in Rabacal, among other things.

Today was my day to drive to Lisbon from a few days I spent up in northern Spain thanks to @BrienC (but that's another story). I realized that it had been more than a decade since I had visited the Roman ruins in Conímbriga and that a stop would be a nice way to break up the drive. As I started to walk towards the ticket office, I saw someone who just had to be a pilgrim, and I thought, hmm, Rabacal yesterday, so today .... So I went up to him and asked if by any chance his name was Morten. He looked surprised, and then I asked him if he by chance had written me an email last night!

We spent a nice couple of hours walking through the ruins and the museum, both glad for some company and shaking our heads with incredulity but at the same time realizing that this sort of thing is pretty commonplace when you get going on a Camino. What a nice way to break up a long drive to Lisboa!

Bom caminho, Laurie

Ah, that's so nice!
Reminds me of our (not planned) meet-up last summer on the corridor in hotel in Leon

 

[HeidiL]

Yeah, I liked Conimbriga. That's where we stopped the last time in Portugal, now we just need to walk from there to Porto...

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Last night, on this thread, https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/forum-updates-for-lisbon-guide.46710/, I reported that I had gotten an email from a pilgrim walking from Lisbon who wanted to share some updates. He told me that he was staying in a great new albergue in Rabacal, among other things.

Today was my day to drive to Lisbon from a few days I spent up in northern Spain thanks to @BrienC (but that's another story). I realized that it had been more than a decade since I had visited the Roman ruins in Conímbriga and that a stop would be a nice way to break up the drive. As I started to walk towards the ticket office, I saw someone who just had to be a pilgrim, and I thought, hmm, Rabacal yesterday, so today .... So I went up to him and asked if by any chance his name was Morten. He looked surprised, and then I asked him if he by chance had written me an email last night!

We spent a nice couple of hours walking through the ruins and the museum, both glad for some company and shaking our heads with incredulity but at the same time realizing that this sort of thing is pretty commonplace when you get going on a Camino. What a nice way to break up a long drive to Lisboa!

Bom caminho, Laurie

What a serendipitous meeting! I love hearing about those special unexpected Camino happenings. Thanks for sharing!

 

[notion900]

Similar thing happened to me last time I walked on the VDLP - I sent some updates to the guidebook writer, and she replied with her thanks and wrote 'I think you had dinner with my friend Mr X (French man) in such and such a village'. She was in England the whole time.

 

[susanawee]

There is so much Serendipity surrounding all our Camino Journeys......such a lovely feeling.

 

[t2andreo]

Yup! There's old Saint James working in strange and sometimes downright weird ways...again...go figure...

 

[OLDBIKERIDER]

I find this to be true in my entire life, but it takes paying attention to the people and creation around you. As jsalt said above, some walk by with their heads down and miss some blessings.
Thank you for sharing this story.

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”― Martin Buber

 

[susanawee]

Also, I would like to say that the ruins are well worth a visit. The mosaics are incredible. So many pilgrims walk past them, heads down, not realising what they are missing. There are places to stay in Condeixa-a-Nova, just off-route, so no need to rush on by.
Jill

Just asking, but, did you happen to take any photos of the mosaics there and if so, would you be prepared to share them please.....

 

[jsalt]

Just asking, but, did you happen to take any photos of the mosaics there and if so, would you be prepared to share them please.....

Hi, here are a couple.



Jill

 

[susanawee]

Hi, here are a couple.
View attachment 32888

View attachment 32889
Jill

Thankyou....they are really lovely.

 

[peregrina2000]

Just asking, but, did you happen to take any photos of the mosaics there and if so, would you be prepared to share them please.....

I'm glad Jill was able to post, they are a great sampling of what you will see. One of my projects for April is to try to figure out my photo situation. The last four years of pictures are on my phone, I have no good computer storage system, and I am going to get help to sort this out!

And p.s., I was surprised to see that one of the villas that has been excavated occupied a whopping 39,000 sq. ft! That's 3600 sq. meters and makes our McMansion phenomenon seem quite restrained.