Flying High Now!

So what do you do on a rainy day when on the camino? Walk in the freezing rain? Tour the Cathedral in Coimbra and Uber to Mealhada? Or walk up a thousand steps (ok, only 125 to be exact) for a third time. I felt like Rocky 7 x 70(+2) times.

Google ai suggested not to walk and to stay sheltered. For once, I agreed with Ai.

Yep, I walked those steps again for the third time and visited the local cathedral near campus after breakfast at Nau Coffee. Yesterday, it was busy at the cathedral with lots of people roaming around inside. Today is completely empty. I was the only person in the cathedral! It was built in 1573 as part of the Jesuit University. Then, in 1759, the jesuit order was banned from Portugal. It was then remodeled with a heavy baroque style.

Once I checked into Residential Hilario in Mealhada, I Googled a wine shop. What else is there to do on a rainy day?

Lo and behold, there was one! An Uber costing 3 euros took 20 minutes to arrive and took me there. The owner, Rueben, spoke English and had a good variety of wine. As we talked, he invited me to lunch that he was preparing for his staff and friends. He does this almost daily. It was a feast! Papa frites, pork marinated in red wine, steak, shrimp, traditional cod dish which is mixed with potatoes and cream, caprese salad, bread, green salad, red wine, with kumquats for dessert along with a portuguese dessert wine followed by espresso.

OK, best portuguese meal I’ve had thus far. Most of the guests had never eaten or even heard of what a kumquat is. We all had several and enjoyed them. We actually have a kumquat tree in Chula 6 I’ve never had one from our tree. I’ll have to compare. These were good - not sweet, almost like a sour tangerine.

I felt blessed to be invited and be a part of a traditional Portuguese meal. I’ll continue my Camino tomorrow, which brings me directly past the wine shop - Bohemios.

It is another holiday in Portugal tomorrow - Labour Day, so I expect most places to be closed.

Just Living life on The Camino!Lue lisää