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Coastal Camino
  • Holly Jespersen
  • Holly Jespersen

Coastal Camino

Will be walking from Porto, Portugal to Pontevedra, Spain with seven amazing women from 10/11-10/19 Read more
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  • Trip start
    October 9, 2025
    Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler
    1

    Day 1: Porto

    October 10, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Landed in Porto at 10:30 am. Slept most of the plane ride. We all met up from our various flights at the airport. Cathy and Elizabeth had 24 hours in Amsterdam & Louise Raleigh to EWR to Porto. So happy to see my Louise. I saw her in the passport control line and had to duck under to go hug her 🤗 We got our luggage and made our way to our hotel. Too early to check into hotel, but we were able to leave our luggage. Took an Uber to Benamôr 1925 the perfume store I sorely regretted not purchasing their bestseller Verbena scent from in April ‘24. Lunch at our fave on the main walking street— great people watching. I was starving and needed protein so got a burger & Coke Zero 💯. We were pretty exhausted, but forced ourselves to keep moving. Louise & I wanted to visit the gorgeous clothing store that we did not have enough time in last year - exquisite clothing. The fabrics are just beautiful. A few of us decided to walk the world’s largest pedestrian suspension bridge. It was quite a hill to get there, but worth it once we got to actually walk the bridge. Incredible view of the city. After that came back to hotel- got into our rooms, showered, etc. Met up for dinner - went to a wonderful seafood spot on the River. Had sea bass with a traditional fish roe side thing. Delish. Found gelato on our walk home and visited the incredible Porto train station. Surprisingly, did not get to bed till 11 pm. Slept till 7 and now getting myself up for walk day 1. We depart at 9 to start our 9 mile walk. 🙌Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Apúlia

    Oct 11–12, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 64 °F

    Piero and Savi (our other guide) met us at our hotel this morning with the van. I was so happy to see Piero again. This my third Camino with him and he has become a friend. We both turned 50 this year. We met Lydia who has done another trip with Piero and is joining us. She’s a lovely addition to our group. She’s from Dana Point, CA. We took the van a few miles and then started our Camino outside of the city. We did the first hour in silence. I listened to Gary’s sermon from last week. This walk is incredible because it is all along the coast. Got really got quickly - high 70’s and lots of sunscreen. We walked almost 10 miles today from 10 am - 2ish when we got here. We stop around every hour to get water bottles refilled in the van - have fruit or nuts and use the bathroom. It was just so beautiful walking by the water or at least always having it in view. Loving my time with these women and most of all this time to clear my head, bask in the sunshine, breathe in nature, and fully unplug. Not even tempted to look at social media/news or email. This break is a huge gift to myself and I do not want to miss it. I am a huge work/life balance person. I work hard so I can take a two week vacation abroad every year and I am super grateful that I get to do this. Also grateful for my health. A month ago today I had a benign mass removed from my breast. thank you Jesus for my healing and my awesome surgeon, Dr. Cate. This afternoon we had lunch by the ocean and then checked into our hotel. Lovely hotel in this little seaside town. I had a quiet afternoon by myself — went to the beach for a little and then walked around and came back to my room to repack. We had our welcome dinner tonight as a group. Wonderful seafood restaurant. 9:18 and in bed. Breakfast at 730 and then bags in van by 9 to start walking. Tomorrow is 14 miles and the last bit it steep uphill. I will bring my walking pole for the afternoon. Thanks for following along! p.s. had a life of a showgirl solo sing along for some stretch today 😂😴Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Day 2 walking to Viana do Castelo

    October 12, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    14 mile walk day. The last three were a bit challenging, but we all did it. I did the walk in silence - listened to some great AA speakers and a Camino podcast interview, and pure silence in btw. Beautiful day. The weather is incredible. The sky is so blue. Lovely dinner in the city square - pizza & salads and gelato for me on the walk home. Feeling such gratitude 🙏 Being in Europe and outside in the sun with fresh air is just what my soul needed (plus the digital detox).Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Day 3 walking

    Oct 13–14, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 59 °F

    Had to take a day off today- thought my incision was infected but I am just being a super hypochondriac and went on Google last night and got myself all freaked out. But I had a quiet morning alone in Vianna de Castelo — went to pharmacy, then had another cafe con leche, green juice and soft boiled eggs on avocado toast and did a little shopping. The group met me back for a delish grilled chicken with pir pir lunch and then they went on their way. Piero drove me & the luggage to the next town - a beautiful surf town- and I enjoyed the beach by myself. The girls arrived at 4:30 after another 14 mile day and I met them for drinks in the square and then dinner. Dinner was a bit difficult bc language difficulties but we managed to get some delicious clams, shrimp, hake, etc. Exhausted. 😴Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Day 4 : Walking

    Oct 14–15, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 57 °F

    Walked 15 miles today. Too tired to write much. In Caminha, Portugal and tomorrow we will take a little boat across the sound into 🇪🇸. Love our group. Everyone is chill and enjoying each other, but also each of us are having our own Camino. Got on a Zoom meeting today with my little bird ladies and that was good for me. This walk was just so beautiful today. Villages, forests, coast line….magical here. So grateful to be in nature and unplugged. I forgot how much I love taking pictures. The flowers are unbelievable here.Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler
    11

    Day 4 : a few more

    October 14, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    I love thinking about the fact that pilgrims have been walking this route for hundreds of years— like since the Middle Ages!!!!! Also Mary is so important to the Catholic culture here. She’s everywhere. Also there is the Fatima path that goes the other direction. Today was a pay attention to the yellow arrows day bc if not you could easily have gotten off the Camino.Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Day 5: Oai

    Oct 15–16, 2025 in Portugal ⋅ 🌙 61 °F

    Took a boat across the bay to Spain this morning. Took like five minutes. Another beautiful day with blue skies. Walked 11 miles today. Hotel has a pool and we got here by 2 so nice to chill. Had delicious mussels and scallops and crème brûlée today. 😴 it’s an hour time difference here from Portugal. Did another zoom meeting today which was awesome- an English speaking on in Sweden. Grateful. So glad to be with these amazing women. I had Cyrena FaceTime us today bc Alison went to her high school in Pasadena. So fun!Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Day six: walking

    Oct 16–17, 2025 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 57 °F

    8:19 pm and going to bed. Walked 13 miles today. Too tired to write. In Baiona, Spain tonight…walking to Vigo tomorrow. Did a great Zoom with my ladies in London. So welcoming.
    p.s. picture of the big boat in the Harbor is a replica of the Pinta boat (Columbus) that returned to Baiona after coming to the new land.Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Day 7 walking: Vigo

    Oct 17–18, 2025 in Spain ⋅ 🌙 54 °F

    Slept 9 hours last night. Started my morning with a perfectly toasted butter croissant and cafe con leche Walked 11 miles today — very foggy morning. Joined some fellows on Zoom in Leichhardt, NSW, Australia. Pretty cool! Also listened to Lectio365 app as I do daily morning & night (or at least do here). Beautiful coastal walk. Went through Cies which is some chic beach town. Got to Vigo by 2 and checked into our lovely hotel. Vigo is a beautiful small city. I love it. Lots of yachts and boats in the marina. Had lunch next store - awesome salads and egg tortilla. Lydia & I shopped after and then I went looking for this cool vintage store. Did not buy anything there. 6:15 met the girls for a drink in the hotel bar & shared our afternoon adventures. I then went to Zara and had luck. Got gelato on the way home and now to bed. Tomorrow may be our last walk day as supposed to pour on Sunday.Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Day 8: final walk day

    Oct 18–19, 2025 in Spain ⋅ ☁️ 64 °F

    Walked 11.5 (I think) today. Sun does not come up here till 8:50 am. Beautiful walk. I joined some more Aussies on Zoom this morning. Just love that. Also listened to a great Tim Keller sermon on friendship. Have really been filling my ears with positive sermons, podcasts, speaker talks and meditations. Listening to Broken Country at night and still crazy about “Life of a Showgirl”. We had lunch at the hotel and then I went to the beach by myself and soaked up some sun and had an ice cream bar. Came back to hotel and took shower and rested. Had drinks on the patio before dinner. Our guide Savi’s beautiful Dutch wife and adorable 6 year old son, Santi, joined us for dinner. She’s an archaeologist (smart, beautiful and kind) and the little boy speaks like four languages already. Wonderful group dinner that Piero organized for us at a new restaurant. Tomorrow it will rain so we will get up and most of the group will take the train to Santiago de Compostela (45 min from Pontevedra) and then Louise & I will have a chill day in Pontevedra. We are staying at the Parador tomorrow night and so excited.Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler

    Day in Pontevedra & final evening

    Oct 19–20, 2025 ⋅ 🌧 64 °F

    Pouring all day. It seriously rained in Spain. Took folks going to Santiago for the day to the train. Louise & I did laundry and then had coffee & the largest chocolate croissant I have ever seen. We then were able to check into the Parador (15th Century palace)…huge rooms. Bathtub for me. We had lunch with Piero. I was so exhausted after but did not fall asleep. Took a bath and then walked to ATM to get $ for their tips. Found an open store (very rare on a Sunday) and bought cards for Piero & Savi. Met gals for a drink before dinner. Did some more pharmacy shopping today. Delicious farewell dinner. Exhausted 😴Read more

  • Holly JespersenCoastal CaminoTraveler
    1

    Final day

    October 20, 2025 in Spain ⋅ 🌧 59 °F

    Lovely stay at the Parador in Pontevedra. The breakfast is always so lovely. Louise, Lydia and Elizabeth left this morning to go back to Porto in a car that Piero arranged. Louise is flying to Lisbon for a few days and Lydia meeting George in Porto and Elizabeth meeting Stephen and heading to mission trip in Budapest, Croatia, etc. We visited the Carhedral today and then I shopped. Alison, Allegra, Cathy and I taking car at 2:30 to Porto airport. Cathy meeting Jack en route to Porto via JFK-Amsterdam-Geneva- Porto (flight cancelled as bomb threat at jfk)- they are eventually spending a few days in the Druro Valley region. Alison, Allegra & I are on a 6 pm flight home to EWR landing at 9;05 pm EST. We had a nice lunch and then got our bags from Parador. Now in car and exhausted 😴Read more

    Trip end
    October 20, 2025
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