Camino Portugues de Porto 2024

Camino #2, and this time, traveling with my sweet pal, Desiree! We start in Porto and plan for a 14 day trip with an extra night in Caldas de Reis. After Santiago, off to Finesterre for 2 days, then to Madrid for 4 nights. Read more

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Trip start
September 15, 2024
Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Thursday, September 12, 2024 at 5:01 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 46 ft
United States Calcon Hook (historical)39.8738, -75.25194839°52’26” N 75°15’7” W
First Stop, Philly
September 12, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Sitting in the airport in Philidelphia, waiting with fingers crossed, hoping that they'll have seats for us on this next flight, Philly to Madrid. Desi's son is a pilot for American Airlines, so we're flying at a reduced rate, but on standby. Cross your fingers for us - it's gonna be close!!Read more
Kathy ThielenWe've made the standby flight!!
9/12/24Reply
OMG! How exciting! Fingers crossed! [Dianna]
9/12/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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September 13, 2024 at 1:30 PM - September 15, 2024
2 nights
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 285 ft
Portugal Senhora do Porto 41.158318, -8.6324741°9’30” N 8°37’57” W
1.5 Days in Porto
Sep 13–15, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Obviously, 1.5 days in Porto is not neeeeeearly enough, and almost a little heartbreaking for me. Tried to make the best of it nonetheless.

Went to a city wine and food tasting Fri night, came home and slept half the day away. Today (Sat) strolled through a beautiful, centuries (probably thousands) year old cemetery, then went back out to the area we had toured the previous night to do a little shopping, eating and drinking.

Neither of us were big fans of port wine, but both agreed that the vino verde is delicious, and we found some great craft beer as well. Liked the local pork sandwiches, called bifanas, and also enjoyed some thin crust pizza with vino verde on night two.

Need to do some re-packing now to get things squared away for our first official day on the Camino!Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Saturday, September 14, 2024
⛅ 24 °C
Altitude: 33 ft
Portugal Municipal Museum of Esposende 41.530907, -8.78167441°31’51” N 8°46’54” W
Porto Buildings
September 14, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C
Portugal has tile on many of its buildings. They're very pretty. These pics are all still in Porto. Throwing in a little street art here too.
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 1–2
September 15, 2024 at 12:08 AM - September 16, 2024
1 night
🌙 15 °C
Altitude: 59 ft
Portugal Praia do Turismo 41.351728, -8.75223141°21’6” N 8°45’8” W
Day 1: Porto to Vila do Conde
Sep 15–16, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 15 °C
First walking day was a little tough. Started out from Porto Cathedral and took several miles and a couple of hours, winding through city streets before making it out to the coast to head north. There, we encountered throngs of people for the half marathon and volleyball tournament taking place. Very crowded!

Finally made it through, but being a Sunday, the boardwalk and beaches were still very busy. We walked 14 miles, and after realizing we had completely miss-calculated the distance to our endpoint for the day, we called a driver (Bolt is the app) and let them take us the final 7 miles to our hostle.

The beaches were gorgeous. At one point, there was a swimming pool built into the ocean! The beautiful lighthouse pictured is Farol da Boa Nova Lighthouse, near the outskirts of Porto.

We reached our hostel, cleaned up and had dinner at a great little neighborhood Gastropub, just around the block from us. The food was delicious and included a salad with greens and a combo of fruits and vegetables I'd never seen mixed all together before. Hooray for new things. 🙂Read more
goor girl😄 [Antonio]
9/17/24Reply
*good [Antonio]
9/17/24Reply
Kathy Thielen😂
9/17/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 1
Sunday, September 15, 2024 at 4:31 AM
🌙 14 °C
Altitude: 266 ft
Portugal Massarelos 41.155699, -8.63008141°9’21” N 8°37’48” W
Contact Me Via WhatsApp
September 15, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
Hi friends and family! If you want to communicate with me outside of this travel platform, please use WhatsApp. It works much better than texting. 🙂
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 2–3
September 16, 2024 - September 17, 2024
1 night
☀️ 24 °C
Altitude: 52 ft
Portugal Praia das Pedras Negras 41.423023, -8.78271941°25’23” N 8°46’58” W
Day 2: Vila do Conde to Esposende
Sep 16–17, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C
Got an early start and walked 2 quick blocks back to the ocean to head north for 15 miles. At about 1/3 of the way in, we cut more inland (probably about 1/3 sooner than we should have), leaving the boardwalk and moving into farmland. The sun was strong and at 82°f/ 27.8c (I know, AZ family, that's nothing to you, but that's why I moved away over 20 years ago!), it started weighing heavy on us. Even Desi, who is much more heat tolerant than I, was feeling it. Finally stopped for a bite to eat and cool water, then made it on to our night's destination.

Before leaving the shoreline, we passed a fun momento stand, where pilgrims left a little something behind to represent themselves or where they were from. I added a Portland keyring. 😊 Can you find it?Read more
TravelerGreat photo!
9/17/24Reply
TravelerVery good location for the keyring! Found it immediately 👌
9/22/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 2–3
September 16, 2024 - September 17, 2024
1 night
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 115 ft
Portugal Feital 41.596262, -8.782941°35’47” N 8°46’58” W
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Day 2 Continued: Shoreline & Seaweed
Sep 16–17, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
The beaches were beautiful, but the water is cold! Even the locals weren't really having it.

I haven't yet found out what they're doing with it, but workers were out, actively raking up the seaweed and putting it into big heaps.Read more
Absolutely gorgeous weather!! 😎 [Sheri]
9/18/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 2–3
September 16, 2024 - September 17, 2024
1 night
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 95 ft
Portugal Feital 41.596225, -8.78321141°35’46” N 8°46’60” W
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1 1 2
Day 2 Cont: Inland & On the River
Sep 16–17, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
Once we shifted a bit inland, we walked through a lot of farmland (mostly corn, kale, spinach and some pumpkins), and it got toasty. We, along with quite a few other pilgrims found respite in a cool church - some even realized that the stone on the ground outside the church was a cool relief. Desi and I had to resist the urge to lay down on the marble floor inside the church. 😅

We then continued on and back toward the coast a bit to our hostel, which was just across from the Cávado River. There, we watched some kite surfers and a gorgeous sunset.Read more
Barbie Shannon Love this pic
9/17/24Reply
Barbie Shannon And of course this pic!
9/17/24Reply
🙏🏽🥰 [Sheri]
9/18/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 3–4
September 17, 2024 at 8:39 PM - September 18, 2024
1 night
🌙 19 °C
Altitude: 108 ft
Portugal Feital 41.596402, -8.783241°35’47” N 8°46’60” W
2 1 2 1
Day 3: Esposende to Antas
Sep 17–18, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 19 °C
Simple Simon day! We walked ~6miles today to Antas Guest House. It has a beautiful, private backyard with a swimming pool, and we literally had it all to ourselves from 11am-3:30pm today. There were dove coo-ing, calling g to each other, and flying about all day. It was a lovely day of rest that we both really enjoyed.

Leaving our hostel this morning (first pic), the air was pretty heavy with smoke. Lots of wildfires all around (but no danger to us, just smoke). Still, very sad. Firefighters from 3 neighboring countries have been flown in to help.

The second couple of pics are of a cool art piece on our way out of town. Tony Gorman, I need you here to act as my historian and deliver the details in a concise manner! We passed a mural timeline yesterday with a lot of people laboring, and it included women doing g all the same manual work as the men. This sculpture captured that too (she's in the very front).

Took lots of pics along the short walk today, making it take longer than needed. Included is a pic of a little bit of the wildlife we saw along the way in the last pic. 😅Read more
TravelerYou’re doing great Kathy! Your pictures say it all.
9/17/24Reply
What a beautiful pictures, hermana! Besos y abrazos! [Inés]
9/17/24Reply
Kathy ThielenI wish you could be here, querida hermana. ¡Te extraño!!
9/17/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 4–5
September 18, 2024 at 10:58 PM - September 19, 2024
1 night
🌙 17 °C
Altitude: 217 ft
Spain Plaza San Fernando 42.046707, -8.6446242°2’48” N 8°38’41” W
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Day 4 Cont: Wildlife
Sep 18–19, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
A few more domestic critters were the closest contact we had with the local wildlife (outside of the doves who seem to love the area and all the trees). They've been with us for the past couple of days, cooing and cawing to each other.Read more
TravelerHi Kathy. Hope everything is going okay. Just wanted to wish you well for the rest of your camino.
9/25/24Reply
Kathy ThielenThanks Tony!! 🥰
9/25/24Reply
♥️ [Patty]
9/26/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 4–5
September 18, 2024 at 10:23 PM - September 19, 2024
1 night
🌙 17 °C
Altitude: 272 ft
Portugal Castelo do Neiva 41.62426, -8.78851741°37’27” N 8°47’19” W
Day 4: Antas to Viana do Costelo
Sep 18–19, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
Rrrrg, I suspected I wasn't going to be able to keep up very well with updates on this. Ah, well . . .

We did another 10 mile walk on this day and reached Albergue Santa Luzia, sitting right next to the Cathedral Santa Luzia, majestically perched at the top of a hill in Viana do Costelo . . . via a 660 step staircase. We survived and made it!

The route we took was all inland, through small towns, an estuary, and stretches of beautiful woodland trails. Near the end, begore coming to our 660 steps to the albergue, we cross over the Rio Lima on a large bridge, busy with both foot and car traffic.Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 4–5
September 18, 2024 at 11:09 PM - September 19, 2024
1 night
🌙 17 °C
Altitude: 75 ft
Portugal Viana do Castelo 41.694867, -8.83108841°41’42” N 8°49’52” W
2 1
Day 4 Cont: Cathedral Santa Luzia
Sep 18–19, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 17 °C
Rio Lima, stairs, smokey skies, and rest.
Santa Luzia is my mom's patron saint (Lucia).
Barbie Shannon I am so sorry you still have smoke, I thought you were walking away from the fires & smoke.
9/20/24Reply
Kathy ThielenApparently, they are all over the place. We had some rain yesterday and I think it has helped.
9/21/24Reply
TravelerI hope it is really not too dangerous with all the smoke and fire around you! Please take good care and get every information you can 🤗
9/22/24Reply
Stunning architecture!! [Sheri]
10/4/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 5–6
September 19, 2024 at 4:06 PM - September 20, 2024
1 night
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 56 ft
Portugal Rio Âncora 41.813537, -8.86246841°48’49” N 8°51’45” W
Day 5: to Vila Praia de Âncora
Sep 19–20, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Beautiful 10 mile walk, mostly along the coast with a few sections just a bit more inland. This place had a great beachfront with lots of restaurants. We had dinner here with another pilgrim we had met at last night's albergue, Bianca, from northern Germany.Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 6–7
September 20, 2024 at 5:31 PM - September 21, 2024
1 night
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 164 ft
Spain Lavadero antiguo de Riomuiños 42.050138, -8.64664142°3’0” N 8°38’48” W
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Day 6 Cont: Tui, Spain
Sep 20–21, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
Tui was hopping, and we had gotten far north enough of the rain to have beautiful weather again. Lots of other pilgrims and friendly locals. Didn't find any pilgrim priced meals, but the food was delicious and worth every euro. Tui had a lot of beautiful plazas, parks, cathedrals and people watching opprtunities.Read more
Traveler Lovey dovey!
9/29/24Reply
Traveler You look beautiful!
9/30/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 6–7
September 20, 2024 at 5:07 PM - September 21, 2024
1 night
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 33 ft
Portugal Rio Coura 41.87576, -8.83883741°52’33” N 8°50’20” W
Day 6: to Tui, First Night in Spain!
Sep 20–21, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
Short day, 7 miles. We started out, not taking too much heed of the impending rain. We had our ponchos, but I don't think we were mentally prepared for the downpour that came. We had originally planned for a total of 10 miles, and then a taxi ride 12 miles up to Tui, but after a soggy 7, we called for the taxi. No guilt, no regrets.

We left, walking along the coast for a stretch before the trail took us inland, meeting a few sheep, goats, and snails along the way.

This first set of pics is on our path from Vila de Praia Âncora to Caminha, still Portugal.Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 7–8
September 21, 2024 at 10:15 PM - September 22, 2024
1 night
🌙 16 °C
Altitude: 262 ft
Spain Sanguiñeda 42.187993, -8.6262242°11’17” N 8°37’34” W
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Day 7: Tui to Mos
Sep 21–22, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
Tui to Mos was a long, 14 mile day, through a lot of beautiful woodland paths and streams, with a gorgeous garden cafe stop along the way.

Stayed in a rental home that night, which was a couple of km north of the Plaza and festivities in town. Had a great dinner in the Plaza and a peaceful night's sleep, but could hear the faint percussion of the drumming in the Plaza at 5am still the next morning.Read more
Traveler Looks mystic and wild
9/30/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 8
Sunday, September 22, 2024 at 11:07 PM
🌙 14 °C
Altitude: 26 ft
Spain Río Verdugo 42.340411, -8.61066942°20’25” N 8°36’38” W
Day 8: Animals!
September 22, 2024 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 14 °C
This dog in the first 2 pics was fantastic. As we were first approaching, he was in a perfect, upright sitting pose, with a dead rat just off to his side. I'm assuming he had slain the rodent and was quite proud of himself. Kinda bummed that I didn't move fast enough to get that posed shot, but it will be ingrained in my memory for quite some time. 😅Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 8–9
September 22, 2024 - September 23, 2024
1 night
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 26 ft
Spain Río Verdugo 42.340411, -8.61066942°20’25” N 8°36’38” W
Day 8: Mos to Puenta Sampaio
Sep 22–23, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
This was an 11 mile day, but felt longer (to me) because we were more exposed and the sun was strong. I felt as though I was melting, but when I checked the temperature, it was only 68°!

More beautiful scenery and stops through small towns along the way, as well as some gorgeous views of the Ria de Pontevedra, where the North Alantic Ocean and the Lérez River meet.Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 9–10
September 23, 2024 at 11:30 AM - September 24, 2024
1 night
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 92 ft
Spain Museo de Pontevedra 42.431888, -8.64315942°25’55” N 8°38’35” W
Day 9: Taxi to Pontevedra
Sep 23–24, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Desi, like so many other pilgrims (including me on my first trip), has tendinitis, and I've finally convinced her that the only way to heal it is to stay off her leg for a day or two. Begrudgingly, she agreed to a taxi for an 8 mile drive up to Pontevedra.

Pontevedra is a great town! Lot's of great restaurants, shopping, plazas, gardens, people watching, and a university. The Lérez River runs just above the old part of the city, and the university is just north of it, in a more modern setting. There is also a cultural center there.

I milled about a little bit on my own, and later that afternoon, Desi and I did more sightseeing and eating. We ended up spending more than a couple of hours at a great outdoor restaurant, Carabela Gastro Bar, where we had delicious meals, and I lost 4 games of backgammon (Des was rolling doubles left and right! 🤨).Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 10–12
September 24, 2024 at 2:27 PM - September 26, 2024
2 nights
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 115 ft
Spain Río Bermaña 42.604106, -8.64217142°36’15” N 8°38’32” W
Day 10: Pontevedra to Caldas de Reis
Sep 24–26, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
And then there was rain. We stalled until 10:45, waiting to see if it would ease up a little, but then put on our ponchos and started walking. Today was 14 miles. The route took us along open trails as well as through paths in the woods. It's funny how, even though my shoes were soaked through, I still found myself trying to step around puddles. 🤣

At our first cafe break, we got a chance to shake off a bit of the rain and get some food. The place was packed with wet pilgrims. We met a great gal from NY City, Joanna, there, and she ended up walking the rest of the day with us. She instigated some very thoughtful conversations, making the time pass more quickly. 😊Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 10–12
September 24, 2024 at 2:45 PM - September 26, 2024
2 nights
☁️ 19 °C
Altitude: 115 ft
Spain Río Bermaña 42.604106, -8.64217242°36’15” N 8°38’32” W
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Day 10 Cont: After the Rain
Sep 24–26, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
Desi, Joanna, and I made another cafe stop around 4 in the afternoon, and sampled some delicious, flaming chorrizo. As we finished up there, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and we enjoyed the rest of our walk, sans ponchos!

Of course, I took more animal pics along the way from there.Read more
Barbie Shannon Of course he did,,, 😂
10/2/24Reply
Kathy Thielen🥰
10/3/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 10–12
September 24, 2024 at 5:44 PM - September 26, 2024
2 nights
☁️ 20 °C
Altitude: 115 ft
Spain Río Bermaña 42.604106, -8.64217142°36’15” N 8°38’32” W
2 Nights in Caldas de Reis
Sep 24–26, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Had 2 nights in Caldas de Reis, as a friend had recommended hanging out a little longer here, and Desi need some serious icing and down time for her tendinitis.

The first evening was very nice there, but the weather was so crummy the next day and evening that I really didn't do much exploring. Totally missed the healing hot spring waters that the town is named for. 🫤 Next time!!Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 12–13
September 26, 2024 at 11:33 PM - September 27, 2024
1 night
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 92 ft
Spain Museo de Pontevedra 42.431903, -8.64317942°25’55” N 8°38’35” W
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Day 11: Caldas d. Reis to Padrón
Sep 26–27, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
We did 12 miles to Padrón today, with just a little rain in the morning. It was a beautiful walk, beautiful scenery.

Had a fantastic dinner here (food was great, service was a little weird), which included the famous pementos (peppers) de Padrón. They say that about 1 in 20 is spicy hot, but there's no real way to know which one it will be. My very first pepper was one of those 1 in 20. 🤣 No others since then, and I've shared two more plates of them with Des since that first bite. They really are delucious.Read more
Barbie Shannon Very cool
10/2/24Reply
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 13–15
September 27, 2024 at 9:50 AM - September 29, 2024
2 nights
☁️ 8 °C
Altitude: 2,267 ft
Spain Fonsagrada 43.137662, -7.08308243°8’16” N 7°4’59” W
Day 12: Padrón to Santiago
Sep 27–29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C
Final walking day as pilgrims! The distance between these 2 points is just shy of 16 miles - Des' ankle was not going to be able to tolerate that distance, and I just plain didn't feel like doing it! So, we caught a ride up to Milladoiro, and walked an easy 5 miles into Santiago.

I think I took just as many pictures on this short walk as I typically would on a 14 mile day. More gorgeous sights, plenty of pilgrims, and more animals, of course.Read more
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Camino Portugues de Porto 2024 Kathy Thielen
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Day 13–15
September 27, 2024 at 10:20 AM - September 29, 2024
2 nights
☀️ 12 °C
Altitude: 755 ft
Spain Santiago de Compostela 42.876384, -8.53908242°52’35” N 8°32’21” W
Days 12-13: Santiago de Compostela
Sep 27–29, 2024 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
Santiago was even more lovely than I'd remembered it from my first visit, 8 years ago. The Cathedral was beautiful, without all the scaffolding that had been there before.

We took lots of pics, checked into our boutique hotel, cleaned up, and started wandering. We re-connected with a couple of other pilgrims we'd met on the trail earlier on the trip and shared some delicious food and great company.Read more
TravelerLooking forward to seeing more pictures from the upcoming days in Finisterre and Madrid 🤩
9/30/24Reply
muy bien muchacha [Thomas]
10/2/24ReplyTranslate
Kathy ThielenI thought of you and the rest of my first Camino Familia throughout this walk. Wonderful, wonderful memories of then, and very new and different experiences now, with more memories to ponder and new connections made.
10/3/24Reply
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