Camino Portuguese

September - October 2023

Soon I’ll be off to start my second Camino. Read more

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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 15, 2023
- ⛅ 79 °F
- Altitude: 197 ft
- Portugal Santarém Santa Maria Dos Olivais Tomar Levada 39.603968, -8.41273639°36’14” N 8°24’46” W
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Day 11
Day 7 VNDB to Tomar
September 15, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
Day 7 - Vila Nova de Barquinha to Tomar September 15

Started at 7:54 am. Finished at 1:30 pm. 22.9k/14.2m. Walking time 4h32m. Steps 29,016. Calories 1,099.

Left a bit later since it was not supposed to be as warm. I’ve discovered this Caminho so far doesn’t have the shade nor as many little towns along the path. So you have to plan to have your water, snacks, with you. The day turned out to be a mixture of terrain & landscape. I liked the walk today. One thing I’ve been working on is not walking so fast & today I accomplished that. In the end my toes thanked me, but my hips did not!

Started out on city streets, moved to forest/logging roads, county roads and back to city.

There was only one town on the way that had a cafe and it was perfectly positioned- half way point. Just before the stop another pilgrim joined me. Vicky is Hungarian living in Poland. We enjoyed our snacks and drinks together. She went ahead and I happily did not match her pace.

Did a bit of sightseeing and ran into some pilgrims I’ve met over the last 6 days.

Enjoy the photos with captions. I’ll put in two posts

Thank you for going on the journey. Bom CaminhoRead more
Traveler Love the “well done” sign. Good work! That long hill looked….long!
9/16/23Reply
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 15, 2023
- ⛅ 79 °F
- Altitude: 200 ft
- Portugal Santarém Santa Maria Dos Olivais Tomar Levada 39.603398, -8.41207539°36’12” N 8°24’43” W
Day 11
Day 7 more photos
September 15, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
More photos
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 16, 2023
- 🌧 72 °F
- Altitude: 207 ft
- Portugal Santarém Santa Maria Dos Olivais Tomar Levada 39.603505, -8.41204939°36’13” N 8°24’43” W
Day 12
Day 8 Rest Day in Tomar
September 16, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 72 °F
Day 8 Rest Day in Tomar. Saturday, September 16. Sightseeing walked 9.5k/6m

It’s raining! Thunder & lightening too. Ventured out about 9:00. Hit the pharmacy for some foot cream with exfoliate for my rough heels and more tape. Had a healthy breakfast of scrambled eggs, greens and bacon. Got an extra pair of socks, if I decide to start wearing them for my walks.

Pouring Rain Again. Chilled out in my nice big, bright, airy room for a couple hours. Then it was off for a hike up to the Templar Castle & Convent of Christ.

The Templar Castle was built in 1160 in the image of Middle-East castles. I was able to walk around the grounds and the walls. Photos provide an idea of its size.

Convent of Christ (World Heritage site) part of castle grounds and built from the 12th century. It was home to the Order of Christ from the 14c onwards. This place is massive. I took a lot of photos. Just hard to explain the art, tiling, architecture, etc.

Visited a couple churches and back to room to get my pack reorganized. It sure was nice not to have to pack it all up & put it on today! Tomorrow back to the path.

Enjoy the photos and captions. Bom CaminhoRead more
Traveler Hope, your feet are feeling better, we got put out of the 60 tournament, we were 4 and 2, did not place.
9/16/23Reply
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 16, 2023
- 🌧 72 °F
- Altitude: 200 ft
- Portugal Santarém Santa Maria Dos Olivais Tomar Levada 39.603449, -8.4120739°36’12” N 8°24’43” W
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Day 12
Day 8 more Photos
September 16, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 72 °F
More photos of rainy day in Tomar
Traveler Looks like more Templar crosses on the ceiling
9/16/23Reply
Traveler Incredible art and architecture. Thanks for such great photos!
9/16/23Reply
Traveler The church looks like it had Moorish influence. Great pic of you.
9/17/23Reply
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 17, 2023
- 🌧 68 °F
- Altitude: 797 ft
- Portugal Leiria Rego da Murta Cortiça 39.780785, -8.38175839°46’51” N 8°22’54” W
Day 13
Day 9 Tomar to Cortica
September 17, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 68 °F
Day 9 Tomar to Cortica, Sunday, September 17

Started @ 6:57 am. Finished @ 1:45 pm. 26.9k/16.7m. Walking time 5h19m. Steps 34,048. Calories 1,320.

Ready for the rain and it did rain. Rain gear was handy and took it on/off about 4 times.

Start time had high clouds and perfect for short sleeve tee shirt. Put on the rain gear about 11k mark. A couple down pours with light steady rain mixed in. Thankfully no thunder & lightning.

Met more Americans today - 2 - South Carolina, 3 - Oregon, 1 - Minnesota.

The entire day afforded only one place to stop for coffee. Luckily it was at the half way point. Overall had a lot of dirt trails and some small, paved country roads. Beautiful walking through small villages, forested areas. Days like this the miles past by easily.

Enjoy the journey. Photos have captions. Bom Caminho.Read more
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 18, 2023
- ⛅ 72 °F
- Altitude: 686 ft
- Portugal Leiria Ansião 39.911716, -8.43531539°54’42” N 8°26’7” W
Day 14
Day 10 - Cortica to Ansiao
September 18, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
Day 10 - Cortica to Ansiao, Monday, September 18.
Started @ 7:25 am. Finished @ 12:30. 19.5k/12.1 mi. Walking time 4h6m. Steps 25,494. Calories 953.

This was the best day walking so far. Weather was perfect. Path had different varieties (paved, dirt, rocks, cobblestone). Passed through a few small villages and that helped the km/miles go faster.

Lots of vegetation - wild & planted. Tons of olive trees. Saw some critters - cows, dogs,cats.

Came across some pilgrims I met yesterday and walked with them a bit - 2 from Eugene walked with the two Germans, and Pete & Jess from Charleston.

Upon arriving in Ansiao found a nice tapas cafe. Jess & Pete joined me and had good conversation (Camino, presidential candidates, college sports).

I’m staying in a house that is 2k out of town so Olga came to pick me up and she will take me back in the morning. Steve (British) Olga (Portuguese) made me feel very welcome. Fresh baked cookies and cold, filtered water. They have a beautiful nature garden, 2 cats, 2 dogs. I’m the only one here. The other room was not rented out tonight.

Anyway, getting geared up for a long day tomorrow.

Enjoy the journey. Photos have captions. Bom Caminho.Read more
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 18, 2023
- ⛅ 72 °F
- Altitude: 981 ft
- Portugal Leiria Ansião 39.909158, -8.41548939°54’33” N 8°24’56” W
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Day 14
Day 10 - More photos
September 18, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F
More photos.
Traveler I love this photo , love that she’s wearing a mask (but no seatbelt!).
9/18/23Reply
Traveler Hahaha.
9/19/23Reply
Traveler We know this as Autumn Crocus, lovely.
9/19/23Reply
Traveler Thank you. I wasn’t sure but Crocus is right!
9/20/23Reply
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 19, 2023
- ☀️ 77 °F
- Altitude: 390 ft
- Portugal Coimbra Condeixa-A-Nova Condeixa-a-Nova 40.105873, -8.48778640°6’21” N 8°29’16” W
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Day 15
Day 11 Ansiao - Conimbriga
September 19, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ☀️ 77 °F
Day 11 - Ansiao to Conimbriga, Tuesday, September 19.

Started @ 7:51am. Finished @ 4:25pm. 30.8k/29.1m. Walking time 6h24m. Steps 39,424. Calories 1,471.

My host Olga provide me with a great send off for my very long day on the Caminho. Fresh fruit, yogurt, fresh bread, cheese, excellent coffee, juice, homemade marmalade (figs, pears w/carmelized almonds). For the road I took a boiled egg from her chickens & a small roll of bread, which I ended up eating for my supper. Olga then drove me to the edge of town where the Caminho path will lead me to Conimbriga 30+k away. Olga is my Camino Angel for the day.

Chilly & clear morning. Wore my long sleeve tee, but could have unpacked my micro puffy jacket! Anyway an hour in the tee shirt came off!

Great path trails today. Very little paved roads. Mostly on dirt, sometimes rocky country paths through tree, vineyard, garden areas. I even walked on a portion of the old Roman road. Not my favorite or easiest on the feet, toes, legs, but it was only for a short stretch.

Coffee stop Aimee (MN) & Jess/Pete (SC) were just leaving. Met up with J/P a couple more times. Aimee is staying in the same Albergue with me tonight.

Stopped for lunch/supper about 12k from my night stopped. Where I’m going doesn’t have a good place to eat, so this is it for today. P&J arrived as I was leaving.

Just before Conimbriga stopped at Condeixa-A-Velha, the largest best preserved Roman settlement in Portugal. Romans arrived here in 139BC. It was a large complex and wished I wasn’t so tired to take in more.

Arrived at Albergue de Conimbriga and all but one other person had already arrived. Thankfully the owner reserved a bottom bunk for me! So 8 of us in a bunk room, 2 toilets, 2 showers, 1 sink & a small kitchen for those that wanted to cook.

A man from Germany is here. He walked all the way from Germany!!!! Not sure what path that was. He is 69. Also here are 2 from Eugene, 2 German father/son, Tracy from USA/Germany. So 5 Americans & 3 Germans!

Enjoy the journey. Photos gave captions. Bom CaminhoRead more
Traveler Fantastic photo!!!!
9/20/23Reply
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 20, 2023
- ⛅ 73 °F
- Altitude: 141 ft
- Portugal Coimbra Arco Almedina 40.208516, -8.42869440°12’31” N 8°25’43” W
Day 16
Day 12 Conimbriga-Coimbra
September 20, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ ⛅ 73 °F
Day 12 - Conimbriga to Coimbra, September 20, Wednesday

Started at 7:41 am. Finished at 12:30 pm. 17.6k/10.9m. 3h36m walking time. 22,144 steps. 837 calories.

After yesterday’s marathon+ today was a piece of cake. Not sore or hurting after the long day. Today was mostly paved roads. Walked alone first 6k. Stopped for coffee and who did I see - Aimee from MN! She stayed & we walked into Coimbra together the last 11k.

Stopped at Mosteiro de Santa Clara-A-Nova. Got a stamp in my pilgrim passport. Visited the church which was massive. Crossed over the wide Mondego river and into old town.

Stopped to eat and then to our separate accommodations. May be the last time I see Aimee and other pilgrims from the last 3 days. They are continuing on the Camino path tomorrow and I am taking a rest day. Not so much to rest but to be a tourist.

Staying in an ABnB apartment in old town and love it.

Enjoy the journey. Photos have captions. Bom Caminho.Read more
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Traveler Camino Portuguese
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- Sep 21, 2023, 10:38am
- 🌧 64 °F
- Altitude: 115 ft
- Portugal Coimbra Igreja de Santa Cruz 40.210911, -8.4288740°12’39” N 8°25’44” W
Day 17
Day 13 Rest Day
September 21, 2023 in Portugal ⋅ 🌧 64 °F
Day 13 Rest Day in Coimbra, Thursday, September 21. 9.5k/5.9m

Saw quite a few churches today. Most were within 300m of each other.

Also climbed the hill up to the University. It is the oldest in Europe. Wow, to be able to study in such a historical setting.

I went on a Food & Wine Tour that included visiting three places.

Tomorrow I resume my walk to Santiago!

Enjoy. Photos & some captions. Bom Caminho.Read more
Traveler That looks like a fabulous day. I want to study at that university!
9/21/23Reply
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