Help with Camino Portuguese

[SandyJean]

Hi Pilgrims!! My adult daughter and I are going to walk our first Camino beginning on September 11, 2023. Although you all probably know what happened on that date in 2001, it is also an important date in the family as it was my mother's birthday,) We will be doing the Portuguese Camino from Porto.
She can only get two weeks off work. That fact and the idea that we figure about 10 miles a day sounds good, we obviously will have to pick and choose the sections we will see. Suggestions?
Also, I've read someone mention the Rituals of the Ending. What are these?
Thankyou, thankyou.

 

[trecile]

it is also an important date in the family as it was my mother's birthday,

It was my grandmother's birthday too.

Rather than skip sections I recommend that you start close enough to Santiago to finish in one continuous walk. It's hard to explain to first time pilgrims, but there's something about starting at point A and walking to Santiago on one's own two feet that's very special. Plus you will probably meet people along the way that you want to socialize with, and it's more difficult to make those connections when you are skipping. And if you skip sections part of your day will be take up with taxi and bus rides.

Starting at Ponte de Lima is about 95 miles to Santiago, and you could possibly also do the Spiritual Variant (I can't remember who many miles/km that adds)

 

[sarahchicago]

trecile is right. Pick a special starting point closer to Santiago and walk continuously.

 

[SandyJean]

It was my grandmother's birthday too.

Rather than skip sections I recommend that you start close enough to Santiago to finish in one continuous walk. It's hard to explain to first time pilgrims, but there's something about starting at point A and walking to Santiago on one's own two feet that's very special. Plus you will probably meet people along the way that you want to socialize with, and it's more difficult to make those connections when you are skipping. And if you skip sections part of your day will be take up with taxi and bus rides.

Starting at Ponte de Lima is about 95 miles to Santiago, and you could possibly also do the Spiritual Variant (I can't remember who many miles/km that adds)

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you. Wish there was a starting point that does not have the greatest ascent on the trail right in front of it! Mmmm-- If we started in Tui....?

 

[SandyJean]

trecile is right. Pick a special starting point closer to Santiago and walk continuously.

The idea of walking continuously appeals to me. Thanks.

 

[SandyJean]

I'll be walking with a knee brace, walking sticks and bringing a bit of knee arthritis with me. Rather than starting out with the first day's walk of our first Camino with a climb,, are there any logical suggestions about a spot further south? Of course, I can study the book about Beluga's, Lugar do Corgo, Vitorino do Plaes, Sacha and Seara but I'd love to hear about any of them specifically if that information might be on this forum. Perhaps there is a hidden gem of a place to break the day between Ponte de Lima and Sao Roque. You know, one with surprising comfort, warm water and the best restaurant in the world. Actually, a we'd settle for a lot less than that!

 

[trecile]

That makes a lot of sense. Thank you. Wish there was a starting point that does not have the greatest ascent on the trail right in front of it! Mmmm-- If we started in Tui....?

Yes, you could start in Tui - or in Valença in Portugal to experience the old walled city and then the walk across the bridge into Spain. If you have extra time after reaching Santiago you could walk on to Finisterre or Muxía on the coast.

 

[Suzannedb]

Yes, you could start in Tui - or in Valença in Portugal to experience the old walled city and then the walk across the bridge into Spain. If you have extra time after reaching Santiago you could walk on to Finisterre or Muxía on the coast.

Is this considered the Portuguese Coastal Route?

 

[David Tallan]

Is this considered the Portuguese Coastal Route?

Valença and Tui are on the Central route. The Central and Coastal join a little after that, at Redondela.