DANGER - Forest Fires - Coimbra and North

[Michael Mattalo]

My wife and I just arrived in Coimbra to learn that the route to Mealhada is closed because of forest fires. I understand an airplane is flying a banner emblazons with FOGO to alert pilgrims and travellers of the danger. You can visit this site www.fogos.pt to see a map of fire locations and level of danger.

If anyone has any further info, please share for the benefit of all.

We are inclined to stay an extra day in Coimbra and possibly re-think our journey north to Porto.

Be safe and Bom Caminho.

Michael

 

[Walking Lover]

Be very careful. 62 people died in the fires in '17.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Jump up into the Francés or another route.

 

[JCLima]

The fires are out.

 

[Isobeljc]

Stay for a day or so. Coimbra is a great place. We had a day there last year before walking.

Take a tuk tuk for a city tour, great guide and very informative. Shared it with a Brazilian couple and halved the price. It saved the big walk up the hill to the University.
Had a fantastic Italian meal made my real Italians.
Would love to go back to explore more another time.

 

[Michael Mattalo]

The fires are out.

The aircraft flying banners warning of forest fires still flew over Coimbra yesterday. First overcast day in 3 weeks so hope that will help. Latest image from www.fogos.pt is attached. Just be alert and safe everyone.

 

[Michael Mattalo]

Stay for a day or so. Coimbra is a great place. We had a day there last year before walking.

Take a tuk tuk for a city tour, great guide and very informative. Shared it with a Brazilian couple and halved the price. It saved the big walk up the hill to the University.
Had a fantastic Italian meal made my real Italians.
Would love to go back to explore more another time.

We took 2 extra days. It is a wonderful city and we had a guided tour of the university yesterday.

 

[Michael Mattalo]

Jump up into the Francés or another route.

We decided to rest in Coimbra after 2 weeks of waking in +40c the. Take rail to Porto to continue. Besides, we have not found all the highway walking at all inspiring or enriching.

 

[surya8]

Yesterday I had a chat with a hospitaliero who works in a donativo albergue Casa Catolico in Branca, that is between Albergaria-a-Velha and Sao Joao da Madeira. He's confirmed that the fires are out and it's safe to walk. They only stopped receiving pilgrims for 1 day, then the normal activities resumed. The wind got down, so did the fires. Hope it helps in planning. Bom Caminho to everyone!

 

[Andorinha]

We decided to rest in Coimbra after 2 weeks of waking in +40c the. Take rail to Porto to continue. Besides, we have not found all the highway walking at all inspiring or enriching.

I "trained it "from Coimbra in the spring, its about 8 euro and one hour on the train, and you just can kind of reset your camino there I might suggest at the Cathedral in Porto.