Day 2 Vilarinho to Barcelos 30.5 km

Long day on cobblestones! This was a mixed day of walking. Some boring roads, some great views, every so often a little bit of dirt, lots of cafés, and many many cobblestones. It was supposed to rain, but it didn’t. I think the highest the temperature got was about 18 or 19, but to someone who was walking in snow a few days ago, that felt very hot.

Saw lots of people today. Probably a dozen people walked by while I was having coffee in Vilarinho. Leap-frogged with Niko from Holland. And then a few others - Joe and Joan from Ireland, Florence from Hong Kong and her friend Yuning from Taiwan. There were lots of breaks - one for coffee, one for a pesto sandwich, one for some kind of fizzy juice and a salty snack. Beer before coming up to the room.

Part of today felt very rural but even in the small places there were still a lot of cars. When they drive fast on the cobblestones (which is often), it sounds like a jet. I am up for a bit more quiet tomorrow.

Cool little park with found object art display and poems and a rooster, which is a thing for Barcelos.

Lots of draped crosses, which I assume is an Easter thing??? At one church they were putting out palm fronds, and they had not just draped the crosses, but they had also wrapped purple cloth around the outdoor lights too. What’s that about?

Walking into Barcelinos you go under a highway, alongside a big cloverleaf. Something was very wrong. Cars were backed up in every direction not moving. Motorcycle police. People getting out of their cars to look. There must’ve been an accident. The car chaos was something! Hard not to think that walking was the better choice.

I have my annual not terrible blister. I’ll wear sandals tomorrow.

I’m staying in a private room in a house owned by a hotel. It’s almost like an albergue. There is a big shared kitchen. A few people cooked. I went out for excellent tapas and a very good glass of wine instead. Hung out with them for a little while when I got back.

Longer day tomorrow. I’m hoping for a bit of dirt!Baca lagi