Countdown to the Caminho Português

In just a week’s time, I’ll be embarking on my next long walk.

This time I’m aiming to walk 250km (or 155 miles) on the Caminho Português (the Portuguese Way). I’ll be starting at the Sé catedral in Porto, Portugal and am aiming to finish a fortnight later, once again at the catedral in Santiago de Compostela, in northwest Spain.

This will be my second time on the Camino de Santiago or the Way of St James. Once again I will be following in the footsteps of the countless pilgrims who have, since the 12th century, walked across at least Spain and Portugal (and often elsewhere in Europe too) to pay homage to what are said to be the remains of St James or (in Spanish) Sant Iago, buried in this corner of Spain in the 9th century.

However, for me, and at least some of those I’m likely to meet on the Way, this adventure is less about St James and more about walking with James’s Lord and Master, Jesus. I see this very much as a continuing journey of pilgrimage, which others have, aptly, described as a “journey with God and in search of God”. I hope once more to share a little of my discoveries about what this means for me as I walk towards Santiago over the next couple of weeks.

As the days count down to my flight to Porto on Friday evening, I’m excited and, at the same time, slightly nervous about what these weeks will hold. How I will find walking day after day, 2 years after my time on the Camino Frances in the autumn of 2024. (Newer followers can read about my previous adventures on the Camino here: https://findpenguins.com/0ey8lwjktji9k/trip/661…)

The Caminho Português will, I am sure, be both similar and yet different to that experience. I’m looking forward equally to the new experiences as well as some that I am sure will be more familiar.

You are most welcome to join me once more on the Way of St James, by following my progress on this platform.

I’d better start packing soon…

In the meantime, “Bom caminho!”Read more