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Camino (Portuguese) Part Dos
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  • Todd and Ann Zimmel

Camino (Portuguese) Part Dos

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    Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    1Our hotel from the back
    The window with the shutters up is our home for nowAnn slept most of the day so I did some exploring. The bridge behind our hotel1This is Isla de Arousa and is connected by the bridge beside the Camino trailRía (meaning estuary) de Arousa is the water the boat taxi is taking the pilgrimsPaddle boats with water slides! 🛝 🤩 The tides are strong here........this was next day with the tide out 👀1From our hotel we're only 2kms to the water taxi. The tide is in.........next mornings tide picture by pedestrian bridge. INCREDIBLE!! Locals digging for mussels 😋From the pedestrian bridge looking out towards the IslaWhere we were supposed to take the water taxiLooks a bit like the Florida KeysThe view from our hotel room window 👀 🌅1After a rainy morning on Wednesday, the sun came out and gave us another incredible sunsetShimmer shotYou can see faint outline of mountains in the backgroundAs the sun set behind said mountainsA lot of this going on with Front Desk. They have been awesome to us!! Thanks Google Translate 🙏

    CP Day 17 SPIRITUAL to STOP 🛑🫸

    September 10 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Everything was going smoothly. The night before we had the Pilgrims Blessing from the nuns in Armenteira. Nothing can stop us now. We have God on our side. The walk to Terrón was long but we were in good spirits. We were scheduled to take a wonderful 1.5 hour (35km) water taxi ride Wednesday morning to another monastery only 26kms to Santiago!😊
    Our plan was to be at the Cathedral on Friday. And then………BOOM 🤯!!!!
    Woke up and Ann was sick! Sicker than I had ever seen her be. Headache, sore throat, cough and NO energy!! There was no way we could leave.
    Priority was to care for Ann in anyway I could. Most of the day Ann slept. I had never seen her so tired. Thankfully we were well stocked in pain medications. Even still Ann’s headaches were still causing her discomfort.
    I spoke to Diana at the Front Desk to extend our stay by 1 day and luckily they could. Ann could rest up. A young Spanish couple we had met Tuesday night at the hotel turned out to both be nurses and on Wednesday they volunteered their help by getting us medicine and a thermometer. They also offered to drive us to a medical clinic or to Santiago to complete our Camino but Ann was in no shape to travel.
    Ann needed her rest and maybe in a day or 2 she would be well enough to continue.
    Or so we thought….    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Sad to leave the Monastery and the town of Armenteira but we had a difficult 22km hike ahead
    Trail started on a comfortable smooth track2This part of the Camino is called da pedra e da auga; water and rock and it's aptly namedWe followed the banks of the Armenteira River. There was one waterfall ........ after another........& another........and anotherrrrrrrrrrrAlongside the banks were these old mills, now abandonedA well preserved millThis feels like home 🏠Was cool this morning. Nice to see the sun ☀️Cactus plant in someone's yardThis is for you Melissa a Peregrino owl 🦉Pumpkin being grown in this region4Beautiful zinnias in this yardWorkers picking the ripe grapes 🍇 for the vinoSpecial religious celebrations in this town near our home. Fireworks everywhere 🧨Fireworks as we walk. We thought it was to keep birds off grapes by it was for celebration 🎉Religious parade in this town on the Camino on a Tuesday afternoon 🤪Towns folk walking up the mountain during religious celebrationsPus casa tonight. Quite a large hotel by the water but seems very quietOur room is the one with the shutters open. It's nice especially for the price. 🫰4Beautiful sunsets here as well

    CP Day 16 SPIRITUAL to Terrón

    September 9 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C

    This morning the nuns had tea, coffee and cookies available for us before we left at 8am. Our earliest start to date and we needed our head torches as we quickly entered the forest This portion of the Camino is known as the “way of rocks and water” as we follow the Ría Armenteira down the mountain for 6kms through thick forests. It was stunningly beautiful with waterfalls one after another but very slick and dark at the beginning. The head torches were a must and we were grateful we packed them.
    At one point a female pilgrim was coming towards us from the opposite direction. Confused we asked if we were going in the wrong direction but she said there was a dog on its own up ahead and was afraid to walk past without others with her. So we walked together and said hi to this spirited creature without incident.
    The walk was long, 22kms & 5.5 hours but it seemed to go by quickly as we walked a good distance with a Professor from Ireland and his Psychologist wife. Distance seems to fly by when you’re walking and talking with pilgrims from every walk of life. We both find it delightful.
    We arrived at our seaside village called Terrón before check in and waited outside for the hotel to open. Shortly after a nice man arrived and let us in 30 minutes early so we could relax in their eating space.
    Our private room included a bathroom and beautiful views of the waters we will travel tomorrow morning on our water taxi we reserved. Or so we thought…………….    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Morning from Combarro. A magical place! 🥰
    4Views from our home away from homeThe village as we prepare to leave2View from our front door (which is not easy to open and close)1First thing was to leave Ann's bag here to be delivered to our destination today 🙏Hard to leave this place but we are excited to climb Mt. Redondo and stay in a monastery tonightHórreo at sunrise 🌅Pastries 🥐 are a must have on the Camino 😋Streets are so steep they need mirrors so drivers can see who's comingSiamese kitty seeing another cat. Someone's gonna get a whippin'!Some lucky persons view from their backyard on the wayGrapes 🍇 on the vine on our walk today. Soon to be delicious vino tinto 🍷4Unique plant. Incredibly detailed. Saw some on our last Camino but this is the first time here2Ann says I don't care if this way is not the official route, we're going THIS WAY! 🍷6Our Austrian friend is ahead of us and left us this message on the ground. "Come on Todd & Ann". 😂Galicia is known for its rainy weather. The moss is everywhere. Quite beautiful 🤩This view is typical of a Galician trail. Running water, trees and lots of moss.We arrive at our destination. The Monastery in Armentiera. Private room & bathroom.Entrance to the MonasteryChurch entrance1 of the 1000 Ways to Die on the Camino 😝Wow 🤩Cloister in the monasteryThe Pilgrim Blessing was performed by the nuns and was a full house. Was incredible

    CP Day 15 SPIRITUAL to Armenteira

    September 8 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C

    After a beautiful stay in Combarro we embarked on our next stage of the journey. The hike up to Armenteira. Although only 10km, we gained 1200 ft of elevation. There were some steep sections, but mostly it was a gradual incline so not too bad overall. What amazed us most was that we did not see one other pilgrim on this leg. It was so peaceful.
    This hike took us only about 2.5 hours so we arrived on Armenteira around noon.
    We were very lucky to get a room at the Monastery there. Rooms are hard to come by so we must have got a cancellation. We spent the afternoon in the monastery’s gardens enjoying the serenity by a babbling brook. After dinner we participated in Vespers where we received a Pilgrim’s Blessing. The nun’s singing was beautiful. It was a wonderful way to finish our day    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    2Morning cafe con leche & churros w/ milk chocolate 😋 Thanks Cam🇨🇦 for recommendation
    After surviving the party of Pontevedra Ann and I said goodbye to this beautiful Galician cityThe Spiritual route is very well marked which is good because there are fewer pilgrimsWe have added the Spiritual route. Few pilgrims walk it due to timelines or they are not aware of itThe Spiritual is a much quieter way and adds 1-2 days. It is also more difficult with ups and downs⛰️We did meet and walk with a few pilgrims. These 2 are from Italy and met on the Camino.Spains version of a skate park 🛹Still walking along the water. Can never get enough of Palm trees 🌴 🌴Beautiful sunny day on the SpiritualFound our way to the seaside village of Combarro. This is our home tonight. Excited to be here!Not only do we have our own bedroom & bathroom, we have the whole home!!Family room. With lounger 😴A washing machine!! Finally in clean clothes 😀 We are in heavenView from our balcony 👀View from our home. Not sure this power boat is seaworthy. Hope everyone got out.Same boat at low tide. Needs a bit of workThis seaside village is literally right on the water. The dog here walked right into the waterAs Ann demonstrates, there is no room for error walking near the waterCombarro is such a lovely place (but very touristy)Low tide on the Ría de Pontevedra by our home.Is it to scare birds from the grapes 🍇 or another celebration 🎊? Who knows 🤷🏼‍♂️Ann striking a pose for her model shoot. 📸 Beautiful Darling 💋Refreshments by the sea. 👍 Salud 🍺 🍷Hórreos or graineries originated in Combarro and they are prominently display.This village has many crucifixes on display. Jesus on the cross faces water Mary on the other side2Tonight in Spain there was a total lunar eclipse. Not visible in North America

    CP Day 14 Spiritual to Combarro

    September 7 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Before we got on the road today we stopped at a highly recommended coffee and churros bar called Hi. Omg the chocolate churros were to die for. After leaving Pontevedra, which was spotless and clean after the party of the night before, we veered off the path that most pilgrims take. We decided to do the quieter and more rugged spiritual variant. It was bittersweet because we are looking forward to the peace and beauty of it but many of our Camino friends are staying on the Central route or are doing the spiritual variant at a quicker pace. Today we only did 12km over 2.5 hours. A relatively short day. It was a good decision as it was good to give Ann’s feet a bit of a break. We think that blister might be healing up. Yay!
    It was a nice walk. Nothing too challenging. But were we pleasantly surprised when we got to our destination in Combarro. We had our own apartment with a beautiful view of the sea and our very own washing machine!! First thing we did was wash clothes and hung them on a line hanging from our balcony.
    Combarro is a beautiful little fishing village known for its Hórreos and crucifixes. Hórreos were used for storing grain. They are off the ground, keeping the grain water and rodent free. After our chores were done we wondered through the old village and found a nice spot for vino and cerveza. For dinner we went to a cute little bakery and picked up some homemade pizza that we brought back to our place and warmed up in the oven.
    Just before bed we were able to view the lunar eclipse which was not visible in North America.
    A very nice day. Tomorrow will be another short km day but uphill most of the way. Stay tuned …    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Most people in medieval costumes to celebrate their rich history
    Even the Pope was there (or is he the Cardinal) lol3The smell of the BBQ 🍖 was everywhere. Here they are roasting pig. 🐖 The food was delicious 🤤Santiago Cake is a local treat and is very tasty. Mark and Nancy can attest to it. 😋A massive BBQ pit was on display. It looked and smelled heavenly. All kinds of delicious foodA Spanish delicacy, Octopus (or pulpo) was served throughout the cityThe narrow streets were packed with medieval characters 🗡️ 🛡️ & pilgrims who most are also characters🤩2We stayed in a lady's beautiful home. The ceiling was made with Canadian pine 🇨🇦Although they had closed, when Todd said we came from Canada to try they gave us some. Magnificent!!Beautiful chapels in the cityThe party was growing in size. Seemed like everyone was celebrating 🥳2Even these 2 young ladies were enjoying the spectacle 👀Here with all our friends. Spaniards KNOW how to celebrate!! 🎊We met up with our group of pilgrims and shared a drink and some incredible desserts2There was a reenactment of a historical event in the square. Monster looked a bit like Todd. 😆Show in the square. These were going on everywhere in the city.He carried a ENORMOUS Mallet 🔨In the evening we gathered for a drink with US and Netherlands while the party raged on around us8Walking back to our home required us to make our way through this mass of partygoers 🤣

    CP Day 12 cont’d Pontevedra Party

    September 6 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    It so happens that our arrival in Pontevedra was during their Medieval Festival. Ann arrived in Pontevedra early on Saturday as she had the beginning of a blister. Trying to be proactive we thought it best for her to take the day off walking and take a taxi into town while Todd walked the 19km. Our lovely hostel host tried calling a taxi for Ann but no one was responding to her calls so her husband offered to drive Ann into Pontevedra.
    What a happening place Pontevedra was today. We were amazed to see how everyone was dressed in beautiful medieval costumes, men, women, children and even the dogs.
    There was so much delicious food being prepared and served, and of course the beverages were flowing freely.
    Most of friends we have met along the way were also in Pontevedra so we all met up together for drinks this evening
    Tonight we are staying in a woman’s home. She lives there but rents out her extra rooms. She was very kind and informative. It was fun to live with a local.    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Todd flying solo today as Ann has developed a blister and is taking a rest day. She took a taxi 🚕
    Off to our next stop; the city of Pontevedra where there's a weekend Medieval Festival going on.Views of villages by the water. The yellow plant in foreground is fennel. Smells like licoriceThe pilgrims are starting to pile up. The way gets crowded in the last 100kmsMore incredible views. This pilgrim was moving slowly due to knee troublesMet up again with Nina from The Netherlands and walked most of the 19kms together.One of the many ancient bridges (ponte) in Spain 🇪🇸As we climbed we saw this horreo from the past. Still in remarkable shape.First juicing machine of the Camino. Saw them almost everyday on the FrancésPilgrims waiting for a rare stamp made from wax.Nina bought me lunch. A delicious tuna and tomato sandwich with some chips."Food truck" in the forest. Popular with pilgrims. Sat with Holland Australia LuxemburgWho killed Kenny!!!! 🤣 South Park getting a lot of attention these daysThe way took us under a roadway and by a streamNatural canopy. Our peace and serenity are about to be shatteredNina and I as we enter the city limits. Was a challenge to get through the crowdsDoors to our hosts home she will share with us tonight. Doors are made of steelThis was our walk into Pontevedra. Nothing like what we see at home.

    CP Day 12 to Pontevedra 🏰💃🕺

    September 6 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Todd was on his own to walk today as the curse of the blisters struck Ann again. She decided to rest and got a ride to our next stop, Pontevedra.
    Shortly after leaving, Todd ran into Niña from the Netherlands and they decided to walk together.
    The way today was very pleasant through forests which made Todd feel at home. There were more hills today and a bit of walking through villages near the water.
    One entrepreneur set up a makeshift food truck which was very popular for the pilgrims. Nina was nice enough to buy Todd lunch and Todd saw his first OJ maker 🍊 and he enjoyed some fresh squeezed orange juice.
    Finally, after 19kms and 5.5 hours of walking they walked into Pontevedra and its’ loud Medieval festival. 🕺 💃 🏰 🗡️ 🛡️ It’s gonna be a wild n crazy night!!    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Morning cafe con leche at our Hotel and they gave us coffee cake for FREE!!
    Morning sun coming up over the incredible city of Vigo. We will be back!!2This dog waited by the door of this business and would not enter. Waiting for his masterArches along the wayWe were exhausted after a significant climb up a hill outside of Vigo4Hope this gives you a small flavour of going up the hills in Spain 🇪🇸 😰8But our efforts were rewarded with magnificent views of the Spanish coast 👀Villages dotted the hills along the waterfrontBolds colours are common in Spain 🇪🇸 including on their homesMorning glories in the foreground and a large bridge in the background on a blue sky dayFlowers in full bloom everywhereHave been seeing this Dutch couple almost every day and finally we walked with them today.The large square objects in the water are for growing & harvesting mussels 🤤2Ann and Dutch friend walk amongst the shadows. Much needed break from the heat & sunIncreíble vistas from the wayOctopus 🐙 called pulpo in Spain 🇪🇸 are a favourite dishMore uniquely decorated home here. In Spanish colours perhaps?Train overpass which looks like it may have been part of an aqueduct years ago ?Our Casa tonight. Beside a busy roadway but very charmingOur room with old stone walls. 2 beds; very romantic 💘2Modern bath. Indoor plumbing 🤣Old world sink2First Pilgrim dinner with 2 ladies from Holland. Both worked in Special Crimes as Detectives 🕵️ 🕵️

    CP Day 11 to Cesantes

    September 5 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    A 19 km day over 5 hours. What a walk out of Vigo. The problem with walking along the coast is that everywhere else you go is UPHILL. Boy did we go up and they were steep ups. But the views were just spectacular!!! Along the way, we ran into Wilbert and Henny, a lovely couple from the Netherlands. We first met them a week ago in one of our casas. We have run into them almost every day since then. Today we walked with them for a couple of hours and got to know them a little better.
    Tonight we are staying in a private room in a lovely little albergue. We had our first communal dinner of the Camino here. We sat with 2 lively ladies from the Netherlands and a couple of men from France. And dinner was served early, 6 pm which makes for an early night for us tonight. And we are ready for it    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    2Leaving our hotel in Baiona this morning after enjoying Rioja wine last night with fellow pilgrims
    First rainbow 🌈 of the CaminoHoping the tide comes inStatue of a whale 🐳 wearing headphones. All made of recycled materialsOctopus 🐙 is a delicacy in this part of Spain 🇪🇸Looking back on the city of Baiona. Our favourite stop on the Camino Portuguese so farYoung Palm tree beside young AnnWe loved this And ain't it the truth!!Part of today's Camino was walking on beaches. Saw surfer 🏄‍♂️ preparing to go into the waterWalked with a woman from Israel, Einat, now living in New Jersey.We walked along this beach as wellAt the end of our beach walk we had to climb some steep stairsSome video of the stairs we climbed up from the beach. 🏖️ Very steep!! 😮‍💨The sycamore trees are common in Europe and lined our walk here and in several placesVigo is known for its port and also ship building. This is a tribute to those ship buildersMet this man from the Philippines who was the first person we saw wearing a Canadian T-Shirt 🇨🇦👍3Bought another bottle of vino 🍷 tinto from Rioja region of Spain to enjoy on the wayVigo is so vibrant! There are many squares where people come out to meet others and eat and drink2Dinner tonight at a beautiful restaurant in one of the many squares in the incredible city of VigoLava cake with ice creme for dessert 🍨5Dinner with US (Israel), UK and Austrian. Wonderful way to end the day!! Out til midnight

    CP Day 10 To Vigo

    September 4 in Spain ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

    Today we walked 26km over 7.5 hours. It was a beautiful walk from the seaside village of Baiona to the biggest city on this Camiño, Vigo. We walked by beautiful white, sandy beaches. Early on in the walk we met Einat, a woman from Israel who has lived in New Jersey for 15 years. We walked together for almost the entire walk. She was very interesting to speak with. We learned a lot about the Israeli culture. Nina, a young lady from the Netherlands joined us along the way. We both find it so interesting to hear people’s stories.
    Vigo is a big port city in the north of Spain. Walking into the city we walked by the shipyards and saw ships in various stages of being built. We stayed in the old city of Vigo and it was so vibrant, we just loved it. We had delicious dinner in a plaza just around the corner from our hotel. Einat, Johannes from Austria and his friend Melissa joined us for drinks and dessert afterwards. It was beautiful sitting outside and planning our next few days on the Camino. It was our latest night yet. We might be acclimatizing to the Spanish lifestyle.    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    What a difference a night makes. Sunset last night was beautiful and woke up to wet and cool weather
    Some horses in the fields are tied upMare and foal enjoying morning breakfastCamino shrine. Very interesting rock drawingsThis could describe our Camino. Slow like a snail 🐌We loved this one of 2 cats swinging in a treeI wonder if this is to CODE??!! 😳4Rain pelting us but we are happy campers4As pilgrims we must embrace the sufferingThis area experienced wildfires only 3 weeks ago in this area we walked throughFires 🔥 burned the lower sections and many trees turned brown from the flames 🔥Despite the dreary day the views remained spectacular 🤩Lighthouse through the burnt out scrubThe way became wet and slippery and progress was slowOur trail became a pond. Our feet were very wetTodd's reflection in the standing waterHorse came to see us while we passed by. I think he liked Ann 😉2 dogs standing on top of the stone wall watching out for the local cat taunting themLimes 🍋‍🟩 growing in front yards of homes throughout Spain2Met 2 Aussies and he professed he could take a selfie 🤳 He was horrible 😩Inside one of the churches in Baiona where we're staying tonight. Eerily beautifulThe day went from liquid sunshine to incredible sunshine ☀️ Village of Baiona. Our home tonightThe view from our private room tonight. (& the bathroom is all ours!! 🥳)2At our lovely Hostal tonight by the water enjoying sardines from our Austrian friendThis is a sardine from Portugal and this one is for Todd2Getting to know fellow pilgrims from Abbotsford and Victoria BC and our Austrian friend. Great times

    CP Day 9 To Baiona

    September 3 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Today was a 17km day, half of it was in the rain…very heavy at times. It gave Ann a chance to really test out her new rain poncho and it seems to have been a success. We came away from the coast and walked inland through the forest in a muddy and rocky terrain which seemed to go mostly uphill. We walked through a part where forest fires had burned about 3 weeks ago. You can see new growth already sprouting up.
    We walked through a beautiful seaside town called Baiona. We are staying just in the other side of town with beautiful views of the sea and beach. At our hostal, we met two women from British Columbia who just came from hiking the Dolomites….the Camino Portuguese is too easy for them 🙄. We spent a couple of hours with them and our Austrian friend Johannes on the terrace drinking wine and eating sardines. Fun!
    Off to find dinner ….nothing open til 8pm …    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Was raining this morning so we put on the rain gear only to find the rain had stopped 👍
    2Ann's stylish rain poncho she purchased from SpainHad to take the customary sea picture 🌊Todd with our newest American friend from New Orleans named Conley3 of us had picture with a pilgrim from the "stone" age 😀Walked with Johanas from Austria 🇦🇹 as we solved/created many of the worlds problemsBelieve this is a hórreo for grain storage. They are right by the seaLots of beautiful coastline on our walk and the rain has held offInteresting small church on the way. We stopped to have lunch thereThe sea in the distanceWell maintained narrow streets as we came into Oía.Johanas Conley and Todd all sampled the local beer 🍺. Needed a 2nd opinion so we got another roundAll the pilgrims gathered at this drinking establishment to sample the spirits 🍷 🍺View of Oia after leaving. Built on the mountainAfter arriving at our Albergue, showered, cleaned laundry, went to dinner at restaurant by the sea 🌊Had Aperol Spritz, Beer from Spain and some olives and mussels in a seasoning4Enjoyed beautiful dinner by the ocean2And Creme Brûlée for dessertAnd enjoyed the stunning views of the seaSheep grazing behind our albergue.Later that night at our albergue we watched the sunset over the ocean in SpainNice end to a great day. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

    CP Day 8 To Viladesuso

    September 2 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We woke up to a very rainy morning. Luckily our hotel provided breakfast so we had a leisurely meal hoping that the rain would stop before we started our walk, and it did. We left our hotel around 10am with our rain jackets on and packs covered but we did not need them at all as the rain never started up again. It was nice walking under an overcast sky.
    It was a beautiful walk out of A Guarda as the rugged coastline came into view. We met several people today that we had met in previous days so it was fun to catch up with them again.
    We met two new people that we walked with for most of the day, Johanas from Austria and Conley from New Orleans. We stopped at a cute little cafe in Oia where we sampled the local brews 🍻 and wine 🍷. It was filled with a lively crowd of pilgrims. We then made our way to our albergue where it turned out Conley was staying too. The 3 of us went out for dinner at a restaurant across the street and looked out onto the ocean. This was by far our best meal yet, some olives and mussels as appetizers. Ann had a beef curry with chutney and yogurt and coconut and Todd had pork tenderloin with grilled pineapple. We shared creme brûlée for dessert. It was all to die for! A good day all in all.    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    2Today the route required us to take a water taxi from Portugal to Spain. Well here it is SS Minnow 😬
    The train station beside our hostel this morning. We enjoyed all the train activityThe owner of the supermercado near us said he lived in St John's NFLD for several years.🤩One last goodbye to our home last night, Moledo & its' marvellous beach 🏖️2Morning sea in Moledo as we keep moving north into the mountains of SpainPeaceful walk to Caminha this morning. Last village in Portugal of the Littoral Camino before SpainIn the distance is Spain and a more mountainous Camino awaitsThese were our Camino companions on the water taxi. The two were bike riding the Camino!Our group as we were leaving Portugal on water taxiQuick ride across to Spain 🇪🇸 🚤We're now looking at Portugal 🇵🇹 from Spain 🇪🇸. Excited to be back in SpainBit of a quiet day on the water 🌊On our walk, these shapes were on the trees. Can you guess whyBecause when you looked at them just right they make a shape like a wheel 🛞The ocean in Spain was equally stunningOur home tonight was in this hilly village named A Guarda. Our first Spanish home of the CaminoAnn and I resisted the urge to sleep when we arrived. Instead we did laundry 🧺Lots of hills in A Guarda makes for an interesting walk 😓2Stairs everywhere!!2Tonight's dinner all from the supermercadoOur hotel tonight. A very nice room by a square. Guess whether we have our own bathroom? 🚽

    CP Day 7 to A Guarda SPAIN 🇪🇸

    September 1 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    This morning was our last morning in Portugal, at least for the next couple of weeks. We walked into the beautiful town of Caminha and took a little boat across the Rio Mino to Spain. The crossing is only about 1 km but took us an hour and 5 minutes …. We lost an hour due to time change crossing into Spain 🤪. On the boat with us was a couple who are biking the Camino. They are from Spain and Chile but live in the USA ( poor them). From where the boat dropped us off, we had a beautiful flat 7km walk all along the coast to a fishing village called A Guarda. However, once we reached A Guarda we had to climb many, many stairs to get to the top of the village where our hotel was. That was tough after a walk in full sun with packs that seem to get heavier every day!! Dinner tonight came from the grocery store as neither of us felt like staying up to go out for dinner at 7:30pm which is when the restaurants open for dinner here. We picked up some yummy bread, Gouda cheese and ham and lettuce and chocolate pudding for dessert. Our bellies are full and we are ready to sleep.Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    2First stop of the day; cafe con leche croissant 🥐 & pastel de nata also known as Portuguese tart 😋
    Leaving our albergue with the animals in the background having their morning meals2Rain last night made the trail wet and slippery but we trudged on2These bushes are everywhere in this area and they are enormous!Lovely garden area at our first stop right off the trailEnjoying the scenery at our first rest stopBeautiful home on the hillTodd walking and chatting with a pilgrim from SloveniaThe village of Ancora by the sea in the distance. There was some hills on todays CaminoThe yellow arrows point the way ⬆️Good to know these are close by even though Todd doesn't need it...yet2Spent 1:30 at another beautiful beach. Ann is pointing somewhere possibly to Santiago or a bar 🍷Beach was beautiful and the waves were funMore feet therapy. The water was cool but comfortable. Just what we neededAnd of course we enjoyed some vinho tinto on the beachMany different ways to stay hydrated on the Camino. This is our favourite 🍷Sailboat ⛵️ way out in the Atlantic. Could it be Alibi?The sea was nice until it wasn't. Rogue wave 🌊 tried to take us out ☠️ but we trudged onFirst glimpse of China's BYD EV. Watch out Tesla! This is a pretty sharp looking ride 👀Some horses free range feeding by the ocean. No fencesTomorrow we say goodbye to Portugal and enter Spain by water taxi to this mountainOur home tonight is beside this train track and the trains come frequently & very FASTTonight's view from our private room. Just a bit different than last nights horse and sheep show. 🤪8Found a lovely restaurant by the water tonight and enjoyed fish n chips and 🍷. Had crepe for dessert8Last sunset in Portugal 🇵🇹Goodnight from our final Portuguese town, Moledo on the Camino. Spain 🇪🇸 here we come!!

    CP Day 6 to Modelo 16km day

    August 31 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    Despite a very rainy night and horses pulling figs off trees half the night we woke well rested to clearing skies. We had a bit of an uphill walk through forests and villages so we stopped early for a cafe con leche and pastry break to fortify ourselves. It was our first pastel de nata of the trip and it was delicious! We spent some time chatting with a woman from Australia and a family from Slovenia. After our uphill walk, we descended back down towards the coast.
    Since we had a shorter walk today, we decided to enjoy some time on the beach in Praia do Ancora. It was so relaxing enjoying our wine and leftover pizza and watching the surfers.
    Tonight we are staying in a little beach town called Moledo. Our casa is literally beside the train station so instead of horses, we have trains tonight, which we just love. We are only a couple of blocks from the ocean so we enjoyed a beautiful seaside sunset dinner tonight. We topped it off with a chocolate crepe with whipped cream and ice cream. So yummy. Tonight is our last night in Portugal. Spain, here we come.    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    First meeting
    3Not Todd's favourite thing but the horse was very gentlePhew 😮‍💨. We both enjoyed itAnn's done this before 🍏 🐴Reached up and pulled down a fig...Horses eating a fig from the tree outside our back window. Look close she's got a smile on her face2Horses love us

    CP Day 5 cont’d The White Horses

    August 30 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Just had to add another post with all of our horse pictures. These incredible animals have their pasture just behind us. We can hear them as they come up to our window. We’ve enjoyed watching them and they’ve enjoyed us picking and feeding them fresh apples…I think they are apples, but not entirely sure.Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Makeshift shrines can be found throughout Europe. This is one of them
    Walked across Limia River into Viana do Castelo which took 20 minutes to cross with cars racing byExquisite fountain in the square of the city2Children were performing a traditional Portuguese dance in the square. Put Ann and I to shame 💃🕺Cute to see the children dancing around in the square with their traditional clothing3Fado is music created in Portugal. Here 3 performers sing a traditional Fado song behind glassOk actually we were fooled they weren't real, they were AI 🤪Incredible traditional tile work on display on this homeCobblestones a plenty today. Century old stone walls were common on our walkWe walked through towns that had views of the ocean in the background2For our flower loving friends & you know who you are (Carl & Andy 🤪)Narrow pathways today. Praying 🙏 no cars came zooming bySomeone has built metal sculptures of traditional Portuguese scenes. Very well done 👍Widow maker over the trail.Ann praying she sees our albergue after 16kms of hiking2Hydrangea in a purple hueCould this finally be our albergue ?? 😬2Yes it is!! One of the most sought after stops on the Camino 👍 And we got it!!Beautiful grape 🍇 vine hangs over the entrance to this unique placeAnother private room for us tonight.1The inside of our bunkie features 2 beds living room our own bathroom with shower and kitchenette4Plus our own pool 🏊‍♀️Which we both desperately neededPlace features all kinda of animals roaming on the property such as this turtle sunning itself2 horses in our backyard 🤩And 3 sheep 🐑. A real funny farm!6Dinner of ribs chicken rice fries salad and pizza was served. And don't worry we had a bottle of 🍷

    CP Day 5 to Albergue Casa do Sardão

    August 30 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    We enjoyed a slow stroll on the Camino today, 16 km over 5 hours. We walked through villages, along narrow walkways with old stone walls. The ocean was in view in the distance and often we could hear it. It was the best of both worlds.
    We are staying in an incredible albergue tonight, Casa do Sardao in Carreco. It is a farm that has been in the owner’s family for 150 years. We managed to get a private bunkie with our own bathroom that backs onto the horse and sheep pasture. We have a fig tree right behind us that the horses come right up and pull the figs off to eat. So beautiful! We’ve also been picking apples and hand feeding them.
    For dinner tonight, we ordered in from a local restaurant. Pizza, chicken, ribs, fries, rice and salad. Boy was it delicious. Take out came in ceramic dishes. No paper or plastic. We rinsed them out and placed them in a bin that will be collected by the restaurant tomorrow. It might be old world here, but in many ways so far ahead of us.
    The rain has set in for the evening. So cozy to listen to while lying in bed. Grateful to not be walking in it and really hoping it stops before morning.    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Start of today's Camino. In Portugal they say "Bom Caminho". Met up with our German friend Christian
    Streets of Esposende in the morning. What a vibrant cityThank goodness there was a fence between us and the German shepherds. They were viscous!!When doing the Camino Portuguese always, I mean ALWAYS carry wine 🍷NOTE the hat⬆️Todd walking with pilgrims from Germany and Iowa!!They had just picked figs off the tree and offered some to us. It was delicious 🤤One of the many Skinny Camino Portuguese kitty's5Much needed rest stop on the CaminoMet this stone faced pilgrim today. Wouldn't reveal his nationalityUltra modern home. Did not fit in with the other homesFinally we're not walking on cobblestones or boardwalks. Feels like home 😊Dirt is soothing to the feet on long walksPop up Camino shrines honouring loved ones no longer with us.Home on the water along the CaminoTodd walking over a treacherous waterway. He is VERY brave💘2Morning glories grow WILD in Portugal 🇵🇹. We have a hard time getting them to flower in our backyardRain started near the end as Ann views the beautiful homesThings got a little "hairy" on the trail. Thankfully her Spanish poncho worked like a charm 👌Ferns turned red. Not because they were dying just as a change of seasonMelissa, this is for you & they are still in bloom 🌹More Camino kitties 🐱Airing our dirty/clean laundry from our rooms window tonight2Our hostelFirst horreo of the Camino. They stored grain in the olden days & were raised up to keep rodents outMet the owners kitty during our evening wine tasting and she was very happy to see us 😊

    CP Day 4 To Vila Nova Anha

    August 29 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Another long day of walking, 25km over 6.5 hours. It was warm but thankfully not too sunny. We had a light rain for approximately the last hour of our hike. Gave Ann the opportunity to test out her new rain poncho. Seems to have worked!
    We met up with a young guy we first met two days ago, Christian from Germany. We walked with him for a bit. Then we met up with an American, German and Swiss and walked with them for a while.
    Our walk was inland today. Although the ocean was still in our view off in the distance. We really like the inland route as it takes us through small villages off the beaten track. At one point, after walking up a long, steep hill there was a little old Portuguese lady watering her garden. Todd motioned to her that he would like to be sprayed down and she happily hosed us both down. lol. It felt good. We dried up quickly.
    Tonight we are in an old guesthouse with beautiful view. The best part is, the host is making us a yummy breakfast in the morning.
    We had a delicious dinner tonight in town. Fish and chips and salad and Super Bock beer. Just what we needed after our big walk!    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    7:40am start from municipal albergue in Vila do Conde overlooking the cathedral in background
    The Way started by the river and past this beautiful parkVibrant colours and sunrise glistening through the trees made our morningThis ship is a symbol of Vila do Conde's pastThe present day boats not so spectacularOur morning shadows as we approach a fortress protecting the cityBeautifully preservedLarge structure by the water. It was an amazing sightChurch by the waterLargest bird we've ever seen2Tiles represent Portugal and this wall made of tiles displays the city's pastThis is for you Iva and Brad. Walked past a golf course beside the coast ⛳️Had a "linkie" feel to it ⛳️Beautiful church in ApúliaAlong The Way this frame stood for pilgrims to take a picture with. Fâo is our home tonightGood looking sign 🪧Our home tonight. Spot HostelAnd this is why it's called Spot. This cute rescue dog is named Spot Resembles Ginger?Pool was a BIG selling feature!! 👍👍Ann and I needed this swim in it's cool waters after our 24km walk todayMaybe not ALL night. Ann's told me a million times never to exaggerate 😝Why we needed the swim 🏊‍♀️Afterwards we found this old British phone booth in the town square4There was quite a commotion near the square and this is why. Reminded us of an Alfred Hitchcock film

    CP Day 3 To Fâo

    August 28 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Today was our longest walk yet, 24km over 6 hours. And boy were we ready to be done! We walked mostly on boardwalks alongside the ocean and sand dunes. We are amazed at the miles and miles of boardwalk along the coast. We loved them at first but they were never ending and we were quite happy to finally get off of them. We moved inland today as the infrastructure for the Camino is not as good in this area. We really liked getting back into the small, old world villages like those we experienced on the Camino Frances. After 24 km we reached our hostel and were very pleased to see it had a well kept yard and pool which was a nice reward at the end of a hard day. We are staying with some nice hikers from New Zealand, USA and Slovakia (mother and daughter who are mostly camping ⛺️ along the Camino!)Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Earlier start to the day today. Left our home by the beach and beside the Camino at 9am
    There are lounge chairs all along the ocean for people to enjoy 😊Symbol of the liberation of Portugal from tyranny hundreds of years ago.And this is the person who liberated Portugal, Pedro IV (he's in the middle btw) 😃By the beach these tanks are displayed. The Romans used them for fish saltingTrail went through fishing village where many of their equipment was on display2Colourful fishing buildingsWe even saw a real cat fight 😸Beautiful tile work were on display on our walkBeauty everywhereWooden bridge across the river. Even the arches were made of wood!Throughout the walk we saw Libraries by the Ocean.3With a good selection of books for the children & pilgrims to readOld home and large tropical plant were on display as we walked byMonument where it's believed the Vikings came ashoreOld church still stands on cliffs above the sea 🌊Monument to a crash of an Avro 🇨🇦 Lancaster Bomber in 1943. All on board survivedOne of the many kitties on the Portuguese Camino. This one reminds us of LUNAAA!!2For our friend Anna who loves Pilates. Now you can do them by the beach 🏖️ in Portugal 🇵🇹1For all the Aperol Spritz lovers in your life. A new competitor 🍸2Enjoying a drink or 2 and company with new friends at our albergue tonight

    CP Day 2 To Vila do Conde

    August 27 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Today we hiked 17km in 4 hours from Perafita to Vila de Conde. Another pleasant day walking mostly along boardwalks by the ocean. The surf wasn’t as rough as yesterday but waves were still crashing. We stayed in our first pilgrim albergue of the Camino. It’s first come, first served. We arrived shortly after 1pm and were the first pilgrims there so we knew we were going to get a bed….well actually bunk beds. We love the vibe of pilgrim hostels as we are all doing the same thing. This is where you really make connections with other pilgrims. We had a communal dinner tonight with people from Germany, Sweden, Ireland (lives in London) and Russia but she now lives in Manhattan. By far our cheapest day on the Camino, accommodations and dinner for 2 was €40. And we picked up a nice bottle of Portuguese red wine for €1.99. It doesn’t get any better than that.Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    3Leaving the Lost Inn at 10:30am to start our Camino Portuguese.
    Luckily the start was at the Cathedral only a few hundred metres away.We found our first Camino marker and a man who was there to greet us and provide a stamp.4Off we go 👈👉. Unfortunately we started on the wrong route & had to backtrack up hundreds of stairs 😩Finally we found the correct route and commenced the hike (again)Ann making her way down the treacherous steps in Porto 😥5Walking through the narrow streets of the cityNobody said we could take a helicopter to do the Camino?? 🤪Met Cam from Squamish BC and walked with him for 7kms. He's doing it solo.Matosinhos is a fishing community 8 kms from Porto. This gigantic fishing net is a heritage tributeAtlantic is an unforgiving place and many did not make it back from the seaThis statue pays tribute to the men lost at sea and the grieving women & children left behindMatosinhos is known for their delicious BBQ salted cod. We had it last time and it was incredible!Lighthouse along the CaminoPool by the sea 🌊 Looked like the waves could come right over it.Waves today ALMOST reach pool2An old church stands next to the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. Canada 🇨🇦 lies beyond itTaking a much needed restMuch of the walk is on boardwalks that hug the coast. Ann is in the foregroundOur home tonight. Have a room with ensuite and have access to a kitchen and family roomAccommodations by the water and on the Camino. Perfect combination 👍6Reward for a good day of hiking. Vinho tinto 🍷 & Cerveja 🍺

    CP Day 1 Hike - Porto to Cabo do Mundo

    August 26 in Portugal ⋅ 🌬 19 °C

    Today was our first day of walking the Camino. We did approximately 17 km from Porto to Perafita which took about 5 hours in total, with breaks. It was a sunny, breezy and pleasantly warm day. For the most part we walked all along the water, starting with the Douro river out of Porto and then the Atlantic Ocean. How different this first day was from our last Camino’s first day. We had a lot of city walking with many tourists on the street and not many pilgrims to be seen. We did however meet our first Camino friend, Cam from Squamish. We were happy to be finished at the end of the day and enjoy a drink by the ocean watching the waves crash on shoreRead more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    Outside Porto airport
    Our train coming into the statonWe're in Sagres 🍺 country nowOn the metro from the airport in Porto headed to our hostelThe beauty of PortoOur accommodations tonight; The Lost Inn.3Our beautiful room tonight beside the Cathedral where we start the Camino tomorrowNarrow street by hostel means you need to have your head on a swivel or elseCars coming down narrow streetsOur hostel on left from the outside2We stayed in the Sao Bento 2 years ago after our first Camino. And here we are back againVisited The hostel we stayed in in 2023Views of the Douro River and the city from bridgeDouro River runs through PortoOn the bridge over Douro River where the trains run byTrains and people intermingle on bridge. This would never fly back home2The Douro is a very busy waterwayFirst meal in Porto - Margaretta pizza and olives with Aperol Spritz and Sagres beer 🍺Being entertained by a local musician outside the cathedral6Ann enjoying vino tinto 🍷 on the balcony of our room1The cathedral at night from our room

    Day 2 Porto Portugal

    August 25 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We landed on time at noon in Porto. Flight was great. Ann managed to get a decent sleep (1.5 hours), Todd not so much. It was easy to navigate our way from the airport to our hostel, The Lost Inn, by metro. Before checking in we stopped at the Cathedral, the starting point of the Camino, to pick up our pilgrim credentials, we visited the Sao Bento train station, famous for its azul tiles and picked up a Portuguese SIM card.

    We have a private room in our hostel. It has a wonderful balcony with a view of the Cathedral. The best part is they have a free Sangria hour at 9pm…now to stay awake that late. Update…the free sangria was not worth staying up late for.
    We had a nice dinner overlooking the Douro River before heading back to our room to get organized for a first day on the Camino tomorrow.    Read more

  • Todd and Ann ZimmelCamino (Portuguese) Part DosTraveler
    2Arrived at Pearson along with half of the population of Toronto 😩
    Off we go to start our 2nd Camino. Thanks Brad & Monica for holding down the fort 🐈🐕2Ann's bag is a mere 14 pounds!Made it on board....baby steps 👶

    Day 1 of Camino 2!

    August 24 in Canada ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    This evening marks the beginning of our second Camino. This time we are going to walk approximately 300km from Porto, Portugal to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. After that, we hope to walk another 100km to Finisterre, once thought to be the End of the Earth.Read more

    Trip start
    August 24, 2025
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