Leaving Porto 8th June

[annakappa]

We arrived yesterday and spent most of the afternoon and all today visiting various places and generally walking around ( today we walked almost 16 kms)!
The sello is available at the Cathedral, but we could only get it after the 11 o'clock Mass. There is no information posted. You have to hope to find someone.
Our of curiousity, we decided to try and follow the yellow arrows, starting at the Cathedral and our first attempt was a failure! We tried again later in the day and, although there was one "blind spot" with no visible arrow, after walking in what we felt might be the correct direction, we then spotted one. Shortly further on, there was again a doubtful situation, which again called for intuition. In other words, a treasure hunt. We only walked a couple of kms from the Cathedral, but frankly, you really need your wits about you!
Tomorrow we will take the Coastal route out of town.

 

[Former member 42123]

We arrived yesterday and spent most of the afternoon and all today visiting various places and generally walking around ( today we walked almost 16 kms)!
The sello is available at the Cathedral, but we could only get it after the 11 o'clock Mass. There is no information posted. You have to hope to find someone.
Our of curiousity, we decided to try and follow the yellow arrows, starting at the Cathedral and our first attempt was a failure! We tried again later in the day and, although there was one "blind spot" with no visible arrow, after walking in what we felt might be the correct direction, we then spotted one. Shortly further on, there was again a doubtful situation, which again called for intuition. In other words, a treasure hunt. We only walked a couple of kms from the Cathedral, but frankly, you really need your wits about you!
Tomorrow we will take the Coastal route out of town.

I will fly into Porto on Tuesday morning so will be a day behind you,but may catch you up as I hope to start walking same day.I will look out for you.Bom Camino.

 

[Former member 22438]

We arrived yesterday and spent most of the afternoon and all today visiting various places and generally walking around ( today we walked almost 16 kms)!
The sello is available at the Cathedral, but we could only get it after the 11 o'clock Mass. There is no information posted. You have to hope to find someone.
Our of curiousity, we decided to try and follow the yellow arrows, starting at the Cathedral and our first attempt was a failure! We tried again later in the day and, although there was one "blind spot" with no visible arrow, after walking in what we felt might be the correct direction, we then spotted one. Shortly further on, there was again a doubtful situation, which again called for intuition. In other words, a treasure hunt. We only walked a couple of kms from the Cathedral, but frankly, you really need your wits about you!
Tomorrow we will take the Coastal route out of town.

Anna. As long as you keep the river at your right and walk in the direction of the "parque das Naçoes" the former World exhibition area you walk in the right direction. Landmarks are the Santa Apolonia railwaystation and the tilemuseum, museo dos Azulejos, which are nearby and on the caminho so when you ask ,everybody knows these places.
Direction parque das Naçoes you will find the waymarkers direction Sacavèm.


Oops ... you are not in Lisbon but in Porto I see now.

Same here... Keep the river Douro at your left side all the time. Untill you come at the ocean. Here keep the ocean at your left side . The promenade is the caminho.
Arriving in Matosinhos is a bit complcated to find the waymarkers but ask for "metro stop Mercado"
There you see the bridge , walk over the bridge and at the end tun to the left and walk untill you see the ocean again and keep this at your left to Vila do Conde. All waymarked caminho

 

[amorfati1]

We arrived yesterday and spent most of the afternoon and all today visiting various places and generally walking around ( today we walked almost 16 kms)!
The sello is available at the Cathedral, but we could only get it after the 11 o'clock Mass. There is no information posted. You have to hope to find someone.
Our of curiousity, we decided to try and follow the yellow arrows, starting at the Cathedral and our first attempt was a failure! We tried again later in the day and, although there was one "blind spot" with no visible arrow, after walking in what we felt might be the correct direction, we then spotted one. Shortly further on, there was again a doubtful situation, which again called for intuition. In other words, a treasure hunt. We only walked a couple of kms from the Cathedral, but frankly, you really need your wits about you!
Tomorrow we will take the Coastal route out of town.

happy happy trails - bom caminho annakappa and fraluchi!
curious to hear/read about your tales on the portuguese caminho.
wishing you a fine start, well placed steps and good balance and enjoy the marvelous sights

(there is one bit thought along the atlantic bit that features a gas plant/refinery. looks bad and smells even worse.
also hope you won't encounter those tiny, twinky, micro black flies that swarm about in "packs" and are rather pesky. there were on the boardwalk areas - especially around some water puddles/wet soil area. hope that their season is past ... otherwise have a towel or scarf/hanky in hand to swirl/whirl about vigorously to get them off your face and other uncovered body areas.
during that stretch of walk i'd though that an old fashioned tropical expedition suits would have been called for!)

again - bom caminho - enjoy the vinho verde ... very refreshing!
very best wishes!!

 

[Former member 22438]

happy happy trails - bom caminho annakappa and fraluchi!
curious to hear/read about your tales on the portuguese caminho.
wishing you a fine start, well placed steps and good balance and enjoy the marvelous sights

(there is one bit thought along the atlantic bit that features a gas plant/refinery. looks bad and smells even worse.
also hope you won't encounter those tiny, twinky, micro black flies that swarm about in "packs" and are rather pesky. there were on the boardwalk areas - especially around some water puddles/wet soil area. hope that their season is past ... otherwise have a towel or scarf/hanky in hand to swirl/whirl about vigorously to get them off your face and other uncovered body areas.
during that stretch of walk i'd though that an old fashioned tropical expedition suits would have been called for!)

again - bom caminho - enjoy the vinho verde ... very refreshing!
very best wishes!!

Your story about the flies I do remember too on that part as you describe.
Since we have been once at the "Myvatn"' the mosquito lake on Iceland with billions of mosquitos around you we bought mosquito nets there and we allways carry them in our backpacks.it's the kind of net that only covers your head so the weight is almost nothing. It looks a bit weard ,wearing it but it helps .
I am allergic for mosquito bites so also on our last caminho I wore it two or three times during the night to protect me against nasty creatures flying around me .

 

[amorfati1]

Your story about the flies I do rember too on that part as you describe.
Since we have been once at the "Myvatn"' the mosquito lake on Iceland with billions of mosquitos around you we bought mosquito nets there and we allways carry them in our backpacks.it's the kind of net that only covers your head so the weight is almost nothing. It looks a bit weard ,wearing it but it helps .
I am allergic for mosquito bites so also on our last caminho I wore it two or three times during the night to protect me against nasty creatures flying around me .

now here is a wise man

glad you found a solution that works/ed.
(i still wonder why those creatures were created in the first place ... being food for other insects? those mysteries are beyond my capacity to comprehend ...)
best wishes and hope you are still in some sort of 'afterglow' for your recent camino. enjoyed your blog and followed you along.
bedankt!

 

[Former member 22438]

now here is a wise man

glad you found a solution that works/ed.
(i still wonder why those creatures were created in the first place ... being food for other insects? those mysteries are beyond my capacity to comprehend ...)
best wishes and hope you are still in some sort of 'afterglow' for your recent camino. enjoyed your blog and followed you along.
bedankt!

The question of life Claudia !I can't answer this question neither ! The fact is that the nasty creatures are there and where there before you and I were there
So as we say here in "the lowlands of Europe" if the mountain does not come to Mozes, Mozes has to go to the mountain. So be prepared .in this case with a mosquito net.
Mit freundlichen Grüssen .

 

[annakappa]

I will fly into Porto on Tuesday morning so will be a day behind you,but may catch you up as I hope to start walking same day.I will look out for you.Bom Camino.

We will look out for you Philip. At the moment, I'm recognizable as I still have my right arm in a cast. Hope to have it removed by the end of the week!
Anyway, look out for two oldies with white hair!

 

[clearskiescamino]

I will follow your posts also as I hope to walk the coastal route next April.

 

[annakappa]

So today, to scandalize the purists, instead of walking out of Oporto, we took the #500 bus to Matosinos ( instead of taking the metro), like this we travelled down the Douro and then along the coast.
We are now in Vila do Conde.

 

[mspath]

Anna,
A belated Bom caminho to you both! Good luck with your arm and plans. Carpe diem and, as always, Ultreia!
Margaret Meredith

 

[Anniesantiago]

Have a wonderful Camino!

 

[amorfati1]

So today, to scandalize the purists, instead of walking out of Oporto, we took the #500 bus to Matosinos ( instead of taking the metro), like this we travelled down the Douro and then along the coast.
We are now in Vila do Conde.

that's a lovely busride - sensible choice took same bus @ 7am'ish along w/ many commuters. really enjoyed the river views!
bom caminho !

 

[fraluchi]

In the mean time we have crossed inland past Arcos and S. Pedro de Rates to stay at Antonio's place in Pedra Furada. Most horrible road walking: the cobble stones are damaging the best Camino feet! After a nice stay and dinner (only 5 of us), walked past Barcelinhos and Barcelos to Tamel. Fantastic Albergue Municipal with super facilities and friendly staff, good restaurant (2000) just across the main road.
Today to Casa Fernanda, a lazy walk. The path is decidedly pilgrim's feet friendlier after Barcelos. Personally I would skip anything between Porto and Barcelos, unless one keeps to the shore. Avoid the horrible cobble stones and suicide drivers.
Casa Fernanda is an oasis of pilgrim spirit. Small but beautiful in its simple ways.

 

[annakappa]

We are now at Valença. What an interesting town! It's a pity that Pilgrims tend to rush through to stay in Tui. The weather has been cold and wet these last couple of days, but it should be picking up tomorrow, although I'm quite happy to walk without the sun.