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Portugal/Spain Camino
  • Holly Jespersen
  • Liz Byrne
  • Holly Jespersen
  • Liz Byrne

Portugal/Spain Camino

Walking with 8 friends from Noroton Presbyterian Church. This is a private tour we organized on our own, but we happen to all worship together. Leggi altro
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  • Inizio del viaggio
    13 aprile 2024
    Portugal/Spain Camino

    Porto

    14–15 apr 2024, Portogallo ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F

    Just settling in after our evening flight to Porto. Liz, Louise and I arrived at 11 am Porto time. We had Sergio waiting to take us to our hotel which is located in the heart of Porto’s downtown. Showered and met up with Karen, Rod and Katy. Louise and I just had a delicious lunch. The weather is incredible. Very happy to be here.Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
    Piero and Miguel1At the Porto train station

    Porto/Barcelos

    15–16 apr 2024, Portogallo ⋅ ☀️ 68 °F

    Wonderful morning in Porto. Delicious brunch at the Majestic and then some shopping. We then took the train to Barcelos (1 hour ride) to meet our guides, Piero and Miguel. Had a delicious mango smoothie on the platform. We checked into our hotel, had some down time, a team meeting and then a guide, Hugo, gave us a walking city tour. We then had a terrific dinner in the restaurant next to the hotel. Salad, Roast chicken, cabbage, and an amazing dessert (so many choices and I chose well - petite chocolate cake piece with ice cream. Now to bed. We start our first day of walking tmrw. Love traveling with these terrific friends.Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
    Our accommodations for tonight

    Day One Camino

    16–17 apr 2024, Portogallo ⋅ ☀️ 63 °F

    Day one. 11 miles. Beautiful day. The weather could not be any better. Piero and Miguel had packed picnics for us today for a snack and lunch. Heard lots of roosters, smelled lots of eucalyptus and flowers, saw fields of yellow flowers, waved to farmers, Lots of different terrain from city to side of a road, crossed railroad tracks, walked up and down hills, through the woods, over a brook, etc. God’s great earth. Had our first devotional in the park in Barcelos before we started our walk and walked first hour in silence. Prayed. Listened to the roosters. So grateful. This is why I work hard. What a gift and privilege it is to be able to travel and see this beautiful world. Now to rest awhile.Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
    Leading the devotional
    2A bed on a porch31Our picnic lunchWalking into Ponte de LimaPonte de LimaPost dinner

    Ponte de Lima

    17–18 apr 2024, Portogallo ⋅ ☀️ 64 °F

    Another glorious day. I lead our morning devotional and prayer time which I got to do on the patio overlooking the mountains. God is so good. Another perfect blue sky, fields of calla lily’s , trumpet lily’s, wisteria, honeysuckle— all in major bloom
    as they just had a lot of rain before we came. We spend the first hour in silence. I spent the first two in silence praying over my prayer list. So many to pray for. Also had a praise music sing along and little Broadway walk/sing by myself. I love walking by myself in the sun through the beautiful scenery listening to my favorite broadway tunes and singing out loud. Pure joy. 12.5 miles today. Tomorrow will be our most difficult day. 15 miles and a lot uphill. Listening to the new Anne Lamott book which I’m savoring. Love this crew. Night night.    Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
    Looking fresh before the walk
    About to conquer the hills3They do not look as bad as they wereAt the topOur inn for tonight1Messing around the day before

    Day three walking

    18–19 apr 2024, Portogallo ⋅ ☀️ 72 °F

    Honestly do not know what town we are in, but it is in Portugal. Today was a long one. We started walking at 9 and did not get to hotel till close to 5. 14 miles I think and three were uphill and treacherous. But we did it!!! My Apple Watch said I did 45 flights of stairs. I did not feel bad eating an ice cream bar before the last three miles. Staying at a farmhouse type of inn. I’m utterly exhausted. Went in the pool and hot tub post shower and could barely get out of bed for our meeting and dinner. Tomorrow is a new day. I’m enjoying my Spotify playlists and listening to the new Anne Lamott book. I cannot do all silence all day as my head is not a great neighborhood and I also can’t talk to people all day so the audio books, music and podcasts are great. I was happy to listen to Agne from Brisbane on Sobercast this morning. Missing my morning time with my anonymous friends. I’m a routine gal and while I’m loving being off social, email and text it’s been nice to check-in with some of my support from back home on what’s app. I could never do the entire Camino and stay at the Auberges. I’d lose my mind. God bless those people, but my self care, need for my routine, downtime, sleep hygiene, daily meetings, my gym, etc. are my keys to the healthy life I lead today of balance. Night night!Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino

    Day 4 walking

    19 aprile 2024, Portogallo ⋅ ☀️ 61 °F

    12 miles today (roughly). Much easier than yesterday. Had time off in Valenca, Portugal which has a very large fortress that surrounds the city. Happy to have a salad with tuna and a Coke Zero at a cute cafe. Then we walked into Tui, Spain via a bridge that I did not love. My suitcase zipper is having issues so that’s not great but we will figure something out. I jammed it one too many times and this morning it had it. I’ve got one working zipper and hope to be able to find some luggage straps to get me home. 🙏 but that’s a long time from now and you all know I’m all about being where my feet are! Louise and I did laundry today which was awesome. I’m on the 4th floor in essentially the attic room tonight - up a spiral staircase so Piero and Miguel will have fun getting my suitcase down to the floor below where the elevator is. Had great times of silence today. Another beautiful blue sky. Had to buy more sunscreen today as I have used a whole tube, but have managed to avoid sunburn. Listened to a wonderful Tim Keller sermon and my praise mix which I find really helps me to connect with God and have my prayer time. We had dinner at 8 at a fun tapas restaurant. But that’s so late for me. The town square is hopping. Kids on scooters that light up and parents enjoying dinner and drinks outside. No one seems to be tired, but us! Night night.Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
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    Day 5 walking to Porrino, 🇪🇸

    20–21 apr 2024, Spagna ⋅ ☁️ 52 °F

    11 miles today. Mostly flat and along rivers. Another gorgeous day. Wonderful time of silence in the morning and listening to a great podcast of experience, strength and hope that had me laughing out loud (thanks, Lorna K.). We arrived in the sweet town of Porrino at maybe 3 and went on the hunt for salads. Tricky to find a place with a kitchen open at this time, but we found one. Tonight is a big fashion show in the square and it’s happening. Had dinner at the hotel. Then Adriana, Gus and I went to find gelato and check out the fashion show. It was rocking, but I’m exhausted. Tmrw we are walking in time to see the sunrise (7:40 am) so we will walk out of our hotel at 7:15. The hotel has provided boxed breakfasts for us tonight that we put in our fridges. We bought cold Starbucks and other pre made iced lattes at the grocery store this afternoon to have in the morning. Tmrw night is our last dinner with Miguel who is our guide and driver. After Monday we will use a luggage transfer service which has a 33 pound weight limit so I will have to put some “extra” stuff in the van each day so I meet the weight requirement. The great thing this trip is that we are walking from every destination to our next destination and when we arrive at our accommodations Piero or Miguel have pre delivered our luggage. They also carry it to the van from outside our hotel rooms every morning. It’s so wonderful. Our group of 8 is a great size. I would not recommend doing in any larger group. The Camino is a very intimate experience and you want to walk together cohesively for the most part, etc. Tmrw Louise and I are going to be totally silent for the entire 11 miles. It will be challenging, but what I need. It’s hard for me to spend too much time in my head so this is about all I can handle. I’ll report back tomorrow. 🙏🥰Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
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    6th day walking

    21–22 apr 2024, Spagna ⋅ 🌙 61 °F

    13 miles and then beach. Did the entire walk in silence and it was glorious. Piero made us veggie paella for lunch. Yum! Too tired to type more, but the beach afternoon was one that will go down in the books for me. So awesome! Night. p.s. observation at the beach was how women here seem to embrace their bodies and not pick themselves apart. Piero said about Americans, “you all worry too much about that.” It seems like here the women I observed were embracing their curves, their sensuality, and have a real sense of freedom. They are not picking apart their bodies. They were all shapes and sizes wearing bikinis or topless, etc. It was inspiring to observe. 👙Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
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    Day 7 walking

    22–24 apr 2024, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 48 °F

    Walked from Rondella (sp) to Pontevedra today. Last night we stayed in a beautiful inn on a farm. The rooster was in full force. Delicious breakfast. I love the yogurt here and cafe de leche of course. Also the fresh orange juice, bread and boiled eggs. Europe knows how to do breakfast. Split a ham and cheese sandwich on French crusty bread for lunch with a Coke Zero (which also tastes way better than home). Oh and a smoothie that a very handsome man in a food truck made me in the woods. So many good looking men here. Walked into Pontevedra via a nice river walk at the end. Listened to some good tunes and a podcast part of the way. Checked into hotel and then walked around. Went to the Flying Tiger Copenhagen store which I love! It’s like a Danish dollar store and it’s amazing. Then gelato and a rest. 6 pm we did a city tour with the lovely Margarina and then dinner at 8. Tomorrow we have a day off and I’m going to the beach with Piero. No one else wants to come. We will enjoy! You know I never pass up the beach. Night! Praying for so many of you!! 🤗🙏Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
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    Beach was amazing

    23 aprile 2024, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 50 °F

    Still pinching myself over this morning 🩷 Croissant for breakfast and scallops for lunch. Now shopping and gelato. This is living sober! 🙏

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino

    Day off afternoon- Pontevedra

    23 aprile 2024, Spagna ⋅ ☀️ 70 °F

    Wonderful afternoon having delicious scallops, shopping at Zara and other spots, drinks in the square and a delicious dinner at a wonderful restaurant. I had monkfish and it was excellent. Topped it off with two scoops of gelato. We closed the gelato shop down. Night night. Lots of friends to pray for tmrw. 🙏Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
    2Market in Pontevedra
    1Typical cafe along the Camino if you do not buy food you pay to use restroom.Waterfalls1Zara! At dins on the river

    Day 8 walking

    24–25 apr 2024, Spagna ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    Walked 14.6 miles today. My knee is hurting, but I’m stretching and doing my exercises before I walk and at night. We walked from Pontevedra to Caldas de Reiss. Nice hotel. Exhausted. Dinner was not great. Basically ate bread and French fries and gelato on the way home. Cold tonight. Turned on the heat in my room. I’m happy to be sleeping in a queen bed tonight. My room has a nice skylight. Luggage service picked up our bags today and no issues. We put extra poundage in the van. Three more days of walking. Night. We continue to pray for so many prayers. Loving the new Anne Lamott book on audio and also started Remarkably Bright Creatures on audio. Also listened to NPC sermon from Sunday and Chelsea Handler’s podcast with Monica Lewinsky. Both great listens. Thanks for following along.Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
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    Day 9 walking

    25–26 apr 2024, Spagna ⋅ ⛅ 50 °F

    11 miles today. Pretty tired. So I’m keeping this short. Our first cloudy day. Rained a little. Music made my day-listened to some late 80’s alternative and my book, The Hundred Years of Lenny and Margot, and Polly K. on Sobercast. I think I’ve hit a bit of a wall and my knee hurts. I’ll be fine. Had delicious homemade yogurt with honey and nuts for lunch. Grateful ☺️Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino

    Day 10 walking

    26–27 apr 2024, Spagna ⋅ ☁️ 50 °F

    Walked 9.5 miles today. Tomorrow we walk into Santiago de Compestella. I’m exhausted 😴 Today it poured for the last two minutes of our walk. We have been beyond blessed with the incredible weather. Cloudy yesterday and today for a lot, but that’s okay. Charming hotel tonight where we will eat dinner. Had a lovely lunch today. Drinking my fill of cafe con leche’s. Walked through beautiful windy cobblestone villages today. Lots of roosters, cats, the bread delivery van which leaves your fresh bread on your gate and of course flowers. So pretty and simple. It’s doing my soul so good to be taking a two week hiatus from social media, news. Netflix, email, etc. My brain needed this detox. I’ve filled it with lots of good music, books and my sober podcast that I’ve enjoyed listening to some incredible stories of recovery (Lyle P. The inspiration for the movie, Flight, today). Wow! I am so grateful to be able to unplug. The world has continued on just fine without me tuning in. Been a huge gift to myself and has helped me to stay super present. The group knows my motto, “be where your feet are!”.Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino

    Final walking Day

    27–28 apr 2024, Spagna ⋅ 🌧 43 °F

    We made it the final ten miles today to Santiago de Compostela. Beautiful cloudy walk. Had a great breakfast and devotional by Liz on prayer. Lots of up and down hills today. My knee made it. Got to Santiago around 1 in the pouring rain and had lunch. Then the sun came out and we got to check into the gorgeous Paradore hotel on the Cathedral square. What a treat to have our final two nights here. It’s an old hospital turned into hotel. I’ll do another post just on tonight. We are very proud of our journey. 150 miles!!! A wonderful team of 8 faithful pilgrims. Our fearless leader Piero (Miguel too). God is good.Leggi altro

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  • Portugal/Spain Camino
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    Santiago de Compestela

    27–29 apr 2024, Spagna ⋅ ☁️ 48 °F

    We did it! 150 miles and 11 days walking. Had a great afternoon doing some shopping, eating gelato and then drinks at the hotel bar before Piero came to bring us our pilgrim certificates of completion. We had a little ceremony in the lobby and then had an incredible farewell dinner at St. Jaime. We had salads, grilled veggies, fried squid, mussels, scallops, steak and Piero’s homemade tiramisu. Wow! We did one final toast, gave Piero our little farewell thank you gift and walked through the Cathedral square that’s buzzing as there was a 10k race. It’s a party outside, but we are in bed. Karen and Louise leave early in the morning. We have one more final day tomorrow. Sweet dreams.Leggi altro

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