We left the airport in Greensboro, NC at 7pm and flew 3500+ miles across the ocean, landing in Porto, Portugal at 9:30am the next day (5 hour time difference).
I didn’t sleep much at all, and I also made sure the people around me didn’t sleep either. Can they pack people in any tighter on planes?! I did manage to doze off long enough, with my head on the back of the seat in front of me, to leave a bruise on my forehead. No joke.
I didn’t sleep much at all, and I also made sure the people around me didn’t sleep either. Can they pack people in any tighter on planes?! I did manage to doze off long enough, with my head on the back of the seat in front of me, to leave a bruise on my forehead. No joke.
Mass was at 11am at the Cathedral in Porto and we actually thought we might make it in time. Through customs, determine which train to take and which side of the tracks to get on… in Portuguese. We didn’t even come close. But we did figure out the metro.
“There’s no shame in taking the train,” someone said to me before we left. Indeed. If we had endless time (we don’t) it would have been nice to get a hotel in Porto, have a nice meal and get a good night sleep.
Instead we spent a hectic couple of hours wandering aimlessly around Porto, trying to get our first Camino stamp (you need to get two a day on your credentials to get a Compostela certificate in Santiago), say some prayers in the cathedral and get something to eat.
Instead we spent a hectic couple of hours wandering aimlessly around Porto, trying to get our first Camino stamp (you need to get two a day on your credentials to get a Compostela certificate in Santiago), say some prayers in the cathedral and get something to eat.
Porto is a big touristy city. The cathedral felt like a cattle call. Too noisy, busy. Little bit of a let down. I said this before when I traveled in Rome—Churches have become museums and tourist spots, and museums have become cultural churches. :(
After a nice lunch in Porto we headed back to the metro—we’re pros now—to take the train to a Camino starting point outside of the bustling city. There’s no shame in that.
Well, apparently we overestimated our newfound metro skills. We didn’t notice an x at the end of the metro line name, which apparently stands for “express”—as in: doesn’t stop at all the stops. Aaargh. We got off the metro as soon as we could and tried to figure out where we were, where we needed to go and how to get there. It was a bit of a thing.
Well, apparently we overestimated our newfound metro skills. We didn’t notice an x at the end of the metro line name, which apparently stands for “express”—as in: doesn’t stop at all the stops. Aaargh. We got off the metro as soon as we could and tried to figure out where we were, where we needed to go and how to get there. It was a bit of a thing.
My girlfriend’s decade of scout leader skills served us well. By 3:30 pm we were STARTING the walk for our first day. And you can probably imagine we were already exhausted. The travel day and the first day in Porto ran together like one long 36 hour slog. But we did it. My Fitbit said almost 9 miles today.
At about 6pm we got to the albergue-an 11th century monastery turned into a hostel (are you noticing theme? :(
One thing I was TOTALLY unprepared for was walking on cobblestone. For hours. For miles. Ouch!!
I’m not sure, due to language issues, but I think we got the last two rooms in the hostel. I don’t think I could have walked another mile. There were only 2 private rooms left (30euros total), each with a double bed. Our room is called the Peace Lily Room. God is good, all the time.
Dinner (13 euros) is at 8pm because the town restaurant isn’t open on Mondays. Breakfast between 6am and 8am (6 euros each).
I’m off to take a shower and wash the clothes I’ve been in for two days in a sink. All the time, God is good.
Highs: finding a bathroom or water just when you need it, turning the corner and seeing a breathtaking church, dinner outside with people from Bulgaria, Maine and Australia, just like in the movie The Way!
Lows: Cobblestone!!! Getting lost. Oh my GOODNESS-they drive crazy fast past the pilgrims, and there is no shoulder in many spots. I wonder how many pilgrims get hit by cars a year!
Highs: finding a bathroom or water just when you need it, turning the corner and seeing a breathtaking church, dinner outside with people from Bulgaria, Maine and Australia, just like in the movie The Way!
Lows: Cobblestone!!! Getting lost. Oh my GOODNESS-they drive crazy fast past the pilgrims, and there is no shoulder in many spots. I wonder how many pilgrims get hit by cars a year!
