So this is day one in the land of Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, Christopher Columbus and Portuguese Tarts and the unofficial start of our Camino Portuguese. We are looking down the barrel of 32 degree days and 27 km as our first walk tomorrow…and we have to say that it is not looking as inviting heading out through the industrial areas of a capital city as it was on the first day in the Pyrenees in 2018. However, the upside is that we have had a day to wander around Lisbon and test out our location service in our Camino app. We have discovered that the Portuguese Camino is not as well marked as the Spanish Camino and is acknoweldged as being the less travelled Camino. Mercifully, the app looks like it works well but we will probably miss most of the view while staring at the screen on our mobile phone following the blue dot out of the city. Lisbon looks very much like other Mediteranean seaside cities (albeit being on the Atlantic, I suspect winter wouldn’t be much fun). Loads of tourists, loads of seafood restaurants, LOADS of Portuguese Tart suppliers and amazingly organised tinned sardine shops (see photo above). We walked down the tree lined boulevards, grateful for the shade and cool and headed out in search of the Cathedral where our walk commences. The heat has firmed our decision – we are heading out early tomorrow in an effort to skip the heat and will skip breakfast in exchange for an early start. We managed a 15 km warm up walk today and we are as ready as we are going to be (both of us acknowledging that this is no where as ready as we were phyiscally last year) so much so that we chose to TUK TUK back from the end of our walk rather than turning it in a 30km trek….this is a luxury we wont have from tomorrow on. So, back in the hotel, shower and out for a meal and the journey to Santiago begins tomorrow.
Wishing you both very happy travels… xx
Really looking forward to the blog and the amazing pics!
Portuguese tarts… yum!
AJME…today was a challenge – but we made it (I hope Lori is alive next door) and so a cup of tea and a good night’s sleep and we do it all again
Thank you for creating this window onto your adventures, Allan. I wish you joyful contemplation in the iambic rhythms of your pilgrimage. May your track be mostly green and dappled sunshine.
Hey Karren thanks for the good wishes – we are REALLY looking forward to green and ANY kind of dapple would help!
As a man just starting out on a pilgrimage I think you should stay away from Portuguese “tarts” as any dalliance will lose you some plenary indulgences. Have a great Camino both of you. xxx Susan
Trust me that would be the last thing on my mind – but I did have TWO and have now put myself on a ration – I a day at most…..
Allan
Your poetic & inspired descriptions and stunning photos from the previous Camino have filled me with a sense of anticipation for your start. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling, but don’t know anyone more prepared than you and Lori. Good luck to you both, and we’re looking forward to vicariously sharing your journey!
Hey Chris – well, after today…I have my doubts. Anyway, we did make it and we are showered and I’m having a cup of tea (don’t go nowhere without a kettle) and feeling better already. So, let’s see how tomorrow goes….missing the mountains – but it will be the reward at the end as we head in through Galicia into Santiago…