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  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    Day 33

    Camino Torres day 9: to Pinhel

    May 4 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 59 °F

    This day for some reason we had thought was going to be 15 km but I had obviously written it down wrong, it turned into about 23 or 24 km. Roel got about 10 km in and wasn’t feeling too well so he decided to have his short day and taxied to check into our hotel.

    We passed through a village that had a small market at about that time and we decided to buy a drink and snacks. The market was closed, but the proprietor opened it up for us and let us buy what we needed and then opened a closed café and told us to stay as long as we wanted to eat our snacks. he even offered to give Roel a ride into Pinhel, but by that time the taxi was already on the way. We have found that you can’t beat Portugal and Spain for helpful and friendly people!!

    Connie and I continued on and did not arrive into Pinhel until 6 PM. There were lots of ups and downs on the road but overall it wasn’t too difficult, I think we were just being a bit slow, plus Connie’s leg was bothering her.

    That evening we stopped at a bar that used to have a restaurant but found it was closed. The bar owner left his bar to drive us to a burger place that was about 800 m away since we were so tired. Another hero!!

    Tomorrow is a rest day for us. It is a 34 km stage that cannot be broken into smaller stages so we are going to Taxi all the way to Trancoso. All of us could use the break for the day anyway.    Read more

  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    Day 32

    Entering Portugal (Almeida)

    May 3 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

  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    Day 31

    Camino Torres to Aldea del Obispo

    May 2 in Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 54 °F
  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    2
    Day 30

    To Gallegos de Argañon - Camino Torres

    May 1 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 43 °F

    Another cold day on this Camino and another day without any intermediary towns or villages, but we only had 17 km to walk today so it was not a big deal. My blister, well covered with moleskin, didn’t bother me much today, but I could still feel it. Still hoping it heals without me having to take an entire day off.

    When we arrived at Gallegos, they had just had a town festival, but it was finished and the people were all gone. Finally, we found the hospitalero and he showed us to the very nice albergue which is located in the back of a nice old house in town. There’s a bar next to it where we were able to order a dinner even though they don’t usually serve dinner. The wife was the cook and what a cook she was! Julia provided us with the most delicious food we’ve had so far. I had a great salad and a French cheese omelette with delicious fries.    Read more

  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    111
    Day 29

    Camino Torres to Cuidad Rodrigo

    April 30 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    Today was a short day for me, but Roel and Connie walked the entire stage. I had to quit after the first 8 km when we got to the village of Bocacara. We stopped there for some café con Leche, and the blister on the ball of my left foot prevented me from going further - I’m hoping it will recover and I will be able to walk the entire distance tomorrow. I took a cab and also the backpacks of Roel and Connie to our hotel in Cuidad Rodrigo and they continued walking. So some of the pictures I’m posting today are pictures that Connie took along the route.
    Cuidad Rodrigo is quite a beautiful place! With a population of only about 12,000, it seems like a much bigger city. It has quite a history as a defensive fortification near the border with Portugal. In particular it has history with some Napoleonic battles.    Read more

  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    31
    Day 28

    Day 4 of Camino Torres to Alba de Yeltes

    April 29 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Today was supposed to be a day of 24 km with zero population and the possibility of three water crossings, which we could have gotten very wet feet if we didn’t find the right ways to go around. Also, we didn’t have any possibility for breakfast this morning and we wouldn’t have an opportunity for food until tonight. Add to that scenario that Roel had a big blister under the sole of his foot and we decided to make alternate plans. We took off from San Muñoz and headed toward a town that was 12 km away, it had a bar where we could get food and drink and take a rest. From there we planned to take a taxi to a town that was ~6 km away from our final destination. it all worked as planned, we were able to start out the first several kilometers on the Camino and end the last little ways also on the Camino. And in between we got food and drink and kept our feet intact. Unfortunately, I developed a blister today, but we’ll see how that goes! in Alba de Yeltes, we met Aurora, the hospitalera, and we had a delightful dinner at the bar. This bar will also make us sandwiches for tomorrow, so that’s great, and the Albergue has coffee!Read more

  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    2
    Day 27

    Day 3 Camino Torres to San Muñoz

    April 28 in Spain ⋅ ⛅ 54 °F

    The day before had been very rainy, so we were warned to take the route for the wet season, which avoids walking through knee deep water for period of time. We were happy to do that!
    After walking from Robliza de Cojos to the local gas station for coffee, we headed on the highway route and then decided to go a bit further to try to a town with a bar AND to avoid a second water crossing and ended up turning back towards the Camino at Aldehuela de la Bóveda. We stopped there for a very welcome but small meal before we journeyed back toward the Camino, first on several kms of a small paved road, and then several more kms of a rocky, sandy track.
    We arrived late in San Muñoz and found Prudence, the hospitalera, who told us that the Ukrainian refugees would let us into the Albergue. She showed us around their local church & town & then stayed with us at the bar until almost 10 PM when we were finally able to get some delicious food.
    San Muñoz is a gorgeous little town, wanting for more residents and hoping the Camino will help them increase.    Read more

  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    Day 26

    Second day on Camino Torres

    April 27 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 45 °F

    Our second day of walking was pretty rough because the weather is very cold for this time of year and it rained and hailed most of the day. Also, there were blustery winds so we were pretty cold. (That makes us enjoy the Alberque more!)
    Since we stayed in La Rad last night, our days walk was only about 23 km. It would’ve been less, but we initially went most of the way to Cojos de Robliza instead of Robliza de Cojos.. It’s confusing because the first one is actually on the Camino Torres (but does not have the Albergue) and the town where the Albergue is, is not on the Torres at all, it’s over a kilometer away!
    Today’s walk was mostly going through a coupleof ranches, right alongside some cows with their calves and at least one bull, but they were all shy of us. We had to be careful crossing the cattle guards because they were wet and slippery.
    When we arrived into town, we ran into several very helpful people, one of whom brought us some amazing coffee to the Albergue!!
    My main take away from this day is that I would have died for a bench somewhere along the way to sit and change into dry socks or just rest my feet. It was not a good day for finding a place to sit mainly because of the rain and lack of walls or stumps or other places to take a rest. But the people in Robliza are amazing!!    Read more

  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    42
    Day 25

    Salamanca +1st day on Camino Torres

    April 26 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F
  • Traveler2024: Morocco & Camino Torres
    1212
    Day 17

    Riding camels in the Sahara

    April 18 in Morocco ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    Camel riding in the Sahara Sand dunes was not exactly something I’ve always dreamed of doing, but it was still was beyond my expectations. It was really cool to be able to ride on these majestic animals and experience a sunset in the Sahara desert.
    Then, when we returned to camp and had our dinner, before we retired to our tents, the drivers brought out their musical instruments and started playing and dancing, and before you know it, everyone was up dancing. It was a great evening!    Read more

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