- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances (2017 and 2022), Portugues (2023)
Bom Caminho everyone!
Today (Sunday 21 May 2023) I walked from Lisbon's Se Cathedral to Santa Iria, around a 23 kilometer distance. I'd like to share some updates with you, as a way to give back for all the great advice I've received from Ivar and many forum posters over the years. These notes are in chronological order starting at the Cathedral, and will be split into a few posts.
1. The Cathedral sells Credencials when they're open (generally weekdays 0930-1800, Saturdays 1000-1800, closed Sundays, hours may be reduced in winter). For 1 extra Euro, they sell a transparent plastic cover to protect the Credencial, a great idea! You must bring cash, as they will not accept credit/debit cards. They also greatly prefer small bills/coins.
2. The Cathedral is currently being renovated, so a gray work screen covers the initial yellow Camino arrow on its southwest corner. To start your Camino, as you face the Cathedral, keep it on your left side, and walk east down the street with green lampposts, trees, and an iron fence on your right.
3. The volunteers (Via Lusitania?) have done an excellent job overall signposting the Camino, but there are some tricky areas as you work your way out of Lisbon. This isn't like the Camino Frances, with seashells in the pavement and yellow arrows aplenty. It's very helpful that the Camino to Fatima (the main Portuguese pilgrimage route) and the Camino Portugues share the same path here. So if you see blue arrows, and/or a sign to Fatima, you're on the right track! Guidebooks, apps, and Google Maps are all good sources to find the path(s).
4. But there are a few specific spots where a pilgrim could lose confidence. I respectfully suggest that arrows be added (or freshened up) at:
a. where Rua do Paraiso enters Largo Gomes, instructing pilgrims to continue straight northeast;
b. along the serpentine crossing before and after Rua Mirante crosses Rua Diogo do Couto;
c. where Rua Calcada da Cruz dead-ends at Colegio Dona Maria Pia, there should be an arrow/sign telling the pilgrim to bear right onto Rua Me. Deus.
d. at the spot where Rua do Acucar dead-ends near the Marvilla Art District, there's a barely discernable arrow on the right bend on Rua Fernando Palha; please touch up this forlorn arrow;
e. the redeveloped section between Passieo do Baltico and Passeio Adamastor. Lots of development happening here, so the Camino is in flux, e.g., the pedestrian footbridge over Alameda dos Oceanos was chained off.
Again, I put forth these suggestions positively, and with great respect for all the volunteers' hard work.
5. When you reach the Tagus River, make sure to turn left on the Passeio de Neptuno bike path (by the Bike Shop Cafe); do not continue east past the parked cars onto the wharf, as the path north from there along the jetty is under construction.
(Continued next post)
Today (Sunday 21 May 2023) I walked from Lisbon's Se Cathedral to Santa Iria, around a 23 kilometer distance. I'd like to share some updates with you, as a way to give back for all the great advice I've received from Ivar and many forum posters over the years. These notes are in chronological order starting at the Cathedral, and will be split into a few posts.
1. The Cathedral sells Credencials when they're open (generally weekdays 0930-1800, Saturdays 1000-1800, closed Sundays, hours may be reduced in winter). For 1 extra Euro, they sell a transparent plastic cover to protect the Credencial, a great idea! You must bring cash, as they will not accept credit/debit cards. They also greatly prefer small bills/coins.
2. The Cathedral is currently being renovated, so a gray work screen covers the initial yellow Camino arrow on its southwest corner. To start your Camino, as you face the Cathedral, keep it on your left side, and walk east down the street with green lampposts, trees, and an iron fence on your right.
3. The volunteers (Via Lusitania?) have done an excellent job overall signposting the Camino, but there are some tricky areas as you work your way out of Lisbon. This isn't like the Camino Frances, with seashells in the pavement and yellow arrows aplenty. It's very helpful that the Camino to Fatima (the main Portuguese pilgrimage route) and the Camino Portugues share the same path here. So if you see blue arrows, and/or a sign to Fatima, you're on the right track! Guidebooks, apps, and Google Maps are all good sources to find the path(s).
4. But there are a few specific spots where a pilgrim could lose confidence. I respectfully suggest that arrows be added (or freshened up) at:
a. where Rua do Paraiso enters Largo Gomes, instructing pilgrims to continue straight northeast;
b. along the serpentine crossing before and after Rua Mirante crosses Rua Diogo do Couto;
c. where Rua Calcada da Cruz dead-ends at Colegio Dona Maria Pia, there should be an arrow/sign telling the pilgrim to bear right onto Rua Me. Deus.
d. at the spot where Rua do Acucar dead-ends near the Marvilla Art District, there's a barely discernable arrow on the right bend on Rua Fernando Palha; please touch up this forlorn arrow;
e. the redeveloped section between Passieo do Baltico and Passeio Adamastor. Lots of development happening here, so the Camino is in flux, e.g., the pedestrian footbridge over Alameda dos Oceanos was chained off.
Again, I put forth these suggestions positively, and with great respect for all the volunteers' hard work.
5. When you reach the Tagus River, make sure to turn left on the Passeio de Neptuno bike path (by the Bike Shop Cafe); do not continue east past the parked cars onto the wharf, as the path north from there along the jetty is under construction.
(Continued next post)
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