Sunrise over the back yard of our Albergue

Entering Portugal, just 2 km from Almeida

Felipe drove me to the next town because of my blister and we stopped for coffee at Vale da Mula

As a border town, Almeida is full of historic defensive fortifications

A big bicycle race just happened to be going through town on the same day that we arrived

Defensive fortifications as seen through the cannon turret

Roel checking his camera on the defensive berm

Significant Napoleonic battles were fought here and are still reenacted every year

Clearly, there's been a lot of investment in maintaining this old fort

This watchtower stands near the ruins of a castle destroyed in 1810

Looking down at Almeida from the castle ruins

Puppies in the old cemetery next to the castle ruins

We had to walk through a set of two gates to reach our lodging inside the walls

Video shows most of the cyclist and a couple of their support vehicles

Entering Portugal (Almeida)

May 3, 2024 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 46 °F

Today was Roel‘s birthday, 74th!! Fortunately we were able to plan a short day because there was a town about 10 to 12 km away where we could go and therefore shorten tomorrow also since this is a 34 km stage. (we mostly know our limits and anything past 25 km is past that limit!)

But today I didn’t walk anyway, because my blister had re-emerged and the extremely hospitable hospitalero in Alda Del Obispo, Felipe, volunteered to drive me to the 10 km destination so I could wait there and give my blister the day off. In fact, he drove me to the first town in Portugal, where Roel and Connie had just arrived and we stopped to have coffee with them before we headed on, it was very nice!

I had reserved a nicer lodging in honor of Roel‘s birthday. It was a two bedroom house in the center of the old town, gorgeous place in a great location! The owners, Americo and Grace, are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. They met me there and let me in early while they cleaned from the last tenant and then gave me all sorts of helpful information. Lovely people, I would not hesitate to return there just to visit them.

The last town in Spain, Aldea del Obispo, had a defensive fortification that we had not weren’t able to see because it was closed. The first town in Portugal, Almeida, also had a defensive fortification, this one we visited. Both towns touted their forts for their roles in the Napoleonic invasions rather than their original role (against each other).Read more