LP and VQT

 Posted by LP Beautiful sedum tumbling over wall, framed by very blue sky Oranges growing in someone’s garden LP meets goat A green (very nice shade) door  VQT next to wall with host of angel trumpets in full bloom We passed a field with goats, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys, peacocks, geese and guinea fowl, such wonderful entertainment - here are a two large pigs lying in the sun with a couple of chickens nearby :) It was a good afternoon, however we walked a “little” longer than planned, in fact we walked to tomorrow’s night’s destination, not tonight’s……oops! 

 Posted by VT Beautiful day on the Camino.  We planned shorter walking distances but the best made plans…first we found ourselves on the Camino Central instead of the Camino Coastal.  No problem we’d just take the split at the concrete cross about 3.5 miles out and connect to the Coastal Camino .  Connecting and being on the Coastal route was important because our accommodations were booked in towns on the Coastal route.   LP at stone cross.   We walked and walked.  Saw several churches.   Small church we passed.   Interior of church.  VT at entrance to church.  We got a Camino stamp here.  We stopped for lunch at a cafe.  Had a nice meal.  Checked google maps and were happy to see we’d be at our accommodation in an hour.   Back on the Camino we started walking again - still not on Coastal Camino.  It never dawned on us we were past our intended destination.  Hours later we realized there was a problem when another google map search showed we had another 2 hours to walk.  What??? At th

 Posted by LP We’ve spent the last 5 hours walking out of Porto….along the way we’ve seen: LP drinking tea - the first “official Camino”refreshment  stop  VQT outside a wonderfully colorful garden Giant snail on wall of cafe  VQT at the stone cross that indicated the turn off for the Coastal Camino  The first green door of this Camino (expect more from LP) Graffiti on underpass (cartoon character holding flower)  Wonderful shade of green tiles on house as we walk out of Porto (all houses should be this green!)

 Posted by VT Wall shrine.  LP at large metal Santiago de Compostela sign Orange & purple birds of paradise.  Santiago de Compostela sign with 7 air conditioners hovering about it.  Blue cat mural.   Of course it’s uphill.  LP headed up.  LP and VQT at Camino starting marker.   Of course we ended up on Central Camino.  Definitely was not scenic.  Was not well marked.  Only saw a few other pilgrims on route.  We did find a wonderful cafe to stop at.  We think we are close to our destination- maybe 3 miles away.  Beautiful sunny day   

 Posted by VT First Camino stamp.   Today we start walking.  Headed to Perafita about 17k.  Multiple routes leave Porto - Coastal, Coastal Alternative (scenic) and Central.  Our goal is to find and walk the Coastal Alternative route.  We can be logistically challenged but somehow we end up getting where we should be.   Buen Camino.  We have our first stamp in our Credencial.  

 Posted by VT Pigeons enjoying leftovers.   Porto is very crowded.   Camino sign outside Cathedral.  Busy day.  Went on a walking tour.  Guide was very talkative and he exceeded my listening skills.  City has a major transit metro station construction project that impedes traffic in a large area.  Very few locals live in Old Town due to difficulty of getting around.   Sitting outside at a cafe - we’ve ordered a glass of wine.  

 Posted by VT View from bedroom window.  Government building.  Nice Way - accommodation for 2 nights.  LP and 2 new friends.  A from Brazil and J from Germany.   Arrived at Nice Way around 8:30 pm.  It’s located in an old building on the edge of the Old Town.  First impression opening the street door we felt a little apprehensive.  But, up 3 flights of stairs we found a glass door opening into a bar reception area that welcomed these 2 weary travelers into a wonderful place of hospitality.  Our private room and bath (another 2 flights of stairs up - of course “up”) are very acceptable.   Today we go on a walking tour of the Old Town.  Contact a good friend of our friends D & J of ATL, arrange tomorrow’s baggage transport for our duffle, drink some wine and enjoy Porto.  

 Posted by LP Apparently the Lisbon train station is next to the site of the 1998 Lisbon World Fair, so that is what we explored: VQT on gondola ride (water, bridge and park in background) LP next to very large cartoon-ish figure (the mascot of the 1998 Lisbon World Fair) LP next to the very large figure of a cat created with recycled materials  Photo of dozens of colorful tins of sardines (we went into supermarket for a few supplies…..not including sardines) Thank you Lisbon for a few hours of recreation :)

 Posted by LP VTC sitting in cafe in the sunshine with beer in hand  Plate of fries/chips Plate of salad (tomatoes, eggs, olives, etc) The train was cancelled! - we thought we were doing very well, booking train tickets ahead, finding a hotel near the station, getting up in time and so on, BUT we didn’t know that train strikes were happening here - we are now booked on a train later in the day, so what did we do with our extra time?….we found a cafe with outdoor seating and enjoyed a beer (Super Bock is a local larger) and salad and chips/fries (which in our experience is gastronomy for vegetarians  on the Camino!) PS - we are trying to be as accessible as possible, hence the photo descriptions, etc.

Photo of LP’s green back pack - note the Union Jack, yellow Camino arrow and Camino shell patches  Photo of VQT’s blue back pack with Camino shell hanging from side and patches (including Big Bend National Park), etc. We like to personalize! - Posted by LP

Posted by VT LP outside Lisbon train station  Hotel in case next photo of hotel room view caused concern.     View from hotel window After a very long travel day that included a 10 hour International flight, a 6 hour layover and a 3 hour flight we arrived in Lisbon.   We intentionally wanted to book a hotel in Lisbon near the train station but we didn’t necessarily need a hotel as close as the photo shows.   Oh, well the unexpected fun of travel.  Our hotel room is nice and very quiet which we needed after a 24 hour day of travel.   No sightseeing in Lisbon for us.  We will stroll across the street and board a 12:00 pm train and head to Porto.  We stay 2 nights (Friday and Saturday) in Porto.  On Sunday we start walking.   

VQT and LP with airport display promoting Ted Turner aka Captain Courageous  A martini cold enough to skate across.   VQT and LP pre flight at airport.    Posted by VQT Journeys should begin with a martini and first class accommodations.  Have the martini, comfort plus seats on Delta but after that we will be in Camino accommodations - definitely not first class except for the people we will meet.  Cheers from the airport.