Walking allows one to experience so much. I loved the walk from Porto to the Portuguese-Spanish border More places to see. The sea has shaped the life of Portugal. A fisherman waiting. An older fisherman preparing? Enjoying the sea rather than working the sea. The trail veered inland occasionally. Everyday I saw evidence of covid's …
Continue reading 117. Northern Portugal: Meeting People, Seeing Places, Noticing Culture
I never know who I'm going to meet. I inevitably find fascinating people. In a way, I find everybody is fascinating if I give them time to disclose themselves! I meet Min while I'm having coffee. Min is an older woman hiker, currently walking by herself. As a Vietnamese boat refugee decades ago, she has …
I remember when my mom acquired a credit card. While I was in high school in the late 60's, she showed the card to me. She was so excited. There was one catch. Since she had no credit history, the card was in dad's name. She simply shared his account. I am confident that the …
She is not the usual person that I meet on the Camino. She is five-months pregnant. And hiking from Porto to Santiago! Like other walkers, I find an alternating life-style on the Camino. I allow my solitary walking to be filled in ways that are renewing. I listen to the sounds around me; I find …
I thoroughly enjoy meeting fellow walkers. Because walking a Camino takes time, many of the walkers are older and retired. Yet, since the Portuguese Camino has several nice, shorter stretches, some of the walkes are younger who can take a week or two to walk the coastal Camino. One nineteen-year old is Emily from Hamburg. …
I'm in a Roman Catholic majority country. It is not hard to forget that with all the churches, crosses, and statues. Although the patron saint of Portugal is Anthony of Padua, and not St. James, I don't forget that they honor St. James. The ways of honoring St James are endless. Besides statues and paintings, …
Slow travel is a way of encountering local people on their own turf. I thoroughly enjoy taking photos of local people, asking permission at times, spontaneous photos at other times. Slow travel also allows one to take photos of scenes not on the usual tourist path. Sometimes the photos simply ask to be taken.
The ocean and the Portuguese go hand-in-hand. While I know that combination, I have a greater appreciation since I'm walking along the Portuguese coast. I'm especially learning the Portuguese love for cod! In Viana do Castelo, I see the Gil Eannes, a large ship permanently docked. Although it is closed for the day and it …
Continue reading 110. Learning about the Surroundings: Maritime Portugal
I am anxious about my first trip to Portugal. I am anxious about traveling after tearing my meniscus. I am anxious about traveling after Covid-19. On June 15, 2021, air travel between the United States and Portugal reopens. On July 13th, I purchase my Delta tickets from Atlanta to New York, New York to Lisbon. …
I did decide to go to Porto today. Since the day began with rain, I took a taxi to Ovar and then caught a train, 1.85 euros with senior discount. Yeah!! I can afford these kind of train rides! Going to take it easy, let the feet rest. My favorite color is blue. My eyes are blue. …
