Hi Denver Bob. I wal;ked Porto to SDC last year starting late April arriving SDC May 9. First the food is wonderful in Portugal, the portions are huge and the prices are low. You must try the Francesinha and at least one Baclau recipe. Not so easy to find a Pilgrim's menu but you don't really need to, most places serve good food at low prices. Beware when walking by the side of the road - if there is a side of the road! - that, as others have noted, while the Portuguese are so friendly when you meet them, when behind the wheel of a car they seem to transform into wanting to run you into a ditch - if there is a ditch!
most people speak English but a few phrases will get you by, the young people wouldn't let me try out my dreadful Portuguese as they wanted to practise their English.
Not so many albergues, and there can be long distances between places so pack snacks. far fewer fountains, so carry enough water to keep you hydrated.
The albergue at Rates and the Amigos DaMontanha just before the bridge into Barcelos is very good. The Albergue de Peregrino at Ponte de Lima is excellent but has plastic, squeaky mattresses. You must stay at Casa Fernanda - see other posts on this subject re appropriate donation and how to contact to reserve a bed - and if you want to stay in private accommodation before crossing into Spain the next day, Portas do Sol in Tui is very good, right in the centre of the old town. It was very hot when I was walking, hitting 32 degrees in Pontevedra, this really slowed me down, but the weather can be variable.
The Amigos Dos Camino albergue in Pontevedra was very good EXCEPT for the fact that many younger people stayed up until the small hours, coming into the dormitory to make up their beds using high intensity torches at almost 3am. The railway station next door to the albergue has a cafe serving breakfast with good coffee from around 5am. Bom Caminho!
