Camino Portugues INTERIOR from VISEU - my blog

[surya8]

Hi fellow walkers! I've finally managed to write about our experience on Camino Portugues Interior from Viseu - CPI - in my blog. Google Chrome translates everything now - very handy - if you can't read Russian Anyway, there are some pics there that look multilingual Bom Caminho to everyone! Begining is here:

Portugues Interior. День 1: Viseu - Calde/Almagerm, 17км

Перед Камино: В это мое третье Камино я собиралась не спонтанно, а аж целых пару-тройку месяцев мы с моим спутником потихоньку рассуждали о разных путях, но больше отвлеченно, в теории. А мне даже не особо идти тогда хотелось, вернее, в предыдущие Камино меня какая-то высшая сила на них…

anna-camino1.livejournal.com

 

[Elle Bieling]

@surya8 this is wonderful. I will bookmark it for reference, since I'd love to walk this route one day. I must say, Google translate does not do a very good job with Russian. I wish it were better! ❤❤ Thank you for the hard work you put into this

 

[surya8]

Google translate does not do a very good job with Russian.

Hm, I should have guessed it! Google is not up to translating very emotional, colloquial, adventure travel writing Well, maybe should start writing in English Thanks, Elle!

 

[amancio]

Google Translate is... just what it is!
Dear Surya, what is your general impression on this camino? Is it well signposted? Is it easy to find accommodation?
Gracias!!

 

[surya8]

what is your general impression on this camino? Is it well signposted? Is it easy to find accommodation?

This is my description of the CPI in English: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...port-from-portugues-interior-june-2018.56758/
There is also an active FB group now for this Camino which might be of great help - when we walked it there was none and the organisation that was behind it had very limited resources and info available. Now it's much better.
Anyway, as we walked without any maps, apps, internet or gadgets and managed to find the way around it means it's rather walkable. Markings depend on the municipality, in some it's well marked in others less frequent. There were a couple of spots where we got lost but that was ok. Accommodation: we walked on a budget and tried to stay in the municipal albergues when available, so if your budget is more flexible then there are more options available. If only we called the municipalities at least 1 day in adavance informing we are coming tomorrow then I guess more of them could have been ready to host us in municapal albergues.
General impression: friendly people who always try to help you, not necessarity in the know about this Camino, little asphalt in comparison to other Caminos in Portugal, more nature, slightly different/colder as it is in the mountains. Actually expected much more strenious walk, but that wasnt bad, as the altitudes most of the way are between 500 and 1000m. Not a social walk, rather solitary as there may not be any more pilgrims at the same time till you cross over to Spain. Very beautiful nature, wish we had better weather to see it all! Nice towns on the way to explore as well, so a good mix there. Bom Caminho!

 

[amancio]

This is my description of the CPI in English: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...port-from-portugues-interior-june-2018.56758/
There is also an active FB group now for this Camino which might be of great help - when we walked it there was none and the organisation that was behind it had very limited resources and info available. Now it's much better.
Anyway, as we walked without any maps, apps, internet or gadgets and managed to find the way around it means it's rather walkable. Markings depend on the municipality, in some it's well marked in others less frequent. There were a couple of spots where we got lost but that was ok. Accommodation: we walked on a budget and tried to stay in the municipal albergues when available, so if your budget is more flexible then there are more options available. If only we called the municipalities at least 1 day in adavance informing we are coming tomorrow then I guess more of them could have been ready to host us in municapal albergues.
General impression: friendly people who always try to help you, not necessarity in the know about this Camino, little asphalt in comparison to other Caminos in Portugal, more nature, slightly different/colder as it is in the mountains. Actually expected much more strenious walk, but that wasnt bad, as the altitudes most of the way are between 500 and 1000m. Not a social walk, rather solitary as there may not be any more pilgrims at the same time till you cross over to Spain. Very beautiful nature, wish we had better weather to see it all! Nice towns on the way to explore as well, so a good mix there. Bom Caminho!

Thanks a million, it is the little push I needed! I am planning on going with my childhood friends, 6 or 8 men in their very early fifties, the accommodation would be my main issue, it is not always easy to find place for a relatively large group
Do you know any web page with information about accommodation? I have the tracks for the GPS, we have that sorted.
GRACIAS!!!

 

[surya8]

I am planning on going with my childhood friends, 6 or 8 men in their very early fifties, the accommodation would be my main issue, it is not always easy to find place for a relatively large groupe
Do you know any web page with information about accommodation?

Atually all the municipal albergues we stayed in on the route are quite spacy, so could accommodate large groups/10+ people, so you may try them as well, they are of good quality. The firemen headquarters/bombeiros in Vidago was a pleasant surprise as well, well, apart from thier blankets Re other accommodation options try asking in the FB group: https://www.facebook.com/cpisantiago/ and it seems there is another one now: https://www.facebook.com/groups/caminhoportuguesinteriorsantiago/

 

[surya8]

a map with some albergues. better to check it with the FB groups now as smth might have changed since I walked there last summer

 

[amancio]

a map with some albergues. better to check it with the FB groups now as smth might have changed since I walked there last summer

Hi, Surya!
how about availability of bars/restaurants or places to eat, or shops to buy food? Do albergues have kitchens?
It is starting to look feasible... Gracias!!!

 

[surya8]

Hi, Surya!
how about availability of bars/restaurants or places to eat, or shops to buy food? Do albergues have kitchens?
It is starting to look feasible... Gracias!!!

yes, all the albergues we stayed in had excellent kitchens, very well equipped. We had a self-catering Camino, I decided to try it out for the first time and mostly cooked on the way in the albergues. We only eat out in Chaves on CPI, so we shopped before starting the way and carried food for the first couple of days till Lamego, then shopped again in Vila Real and Chaves, for us was enough. There are bars and small shops on the way as well, in towsns and small villages if you fancy, though you need to check at the particular locations you are planning to stop. There were so many cherries there in June that we never felt hungry on the road You might find some more relevent info in my another post here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...port-from-portugues-interior-june-2018.56758/

 

[amancio]

gracias, peregrina!!!! looking forward to being there!!!