• Hiker Holly
  • Hiker Holly

Camino Portuguese

Costal and Espirtitual Variante - We are doing another Camino!! ❤️❤️ Læs mere
  • Start på rejsen
    21. august 2025
  • Povoa de Varzim

    25.–26. aug. 2025, Portugal ⋅ 🌙 66 °F

    Only 14km today. I love the beaches and seeing the surfers, all the restaurants; the whole beach ares vibe as we walk through! But going through the towns is so enlightening also!
    Street sweepers here are actually one person with a broom and a trash can walking through sections sweeping! Hard workers!!!
    The board walks give as we walk, there are also missing boards to watch for. To be fair there are very new sections.
    Days are gif, long walks! Night!!
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  • Marinhas, Portugal

    26.–27. aug. 2025, Portugal ⋅ 🌬 73 °F

    24.5km
    The morning was hazy, breezy and had a bit of a chill. We started with leggings and jackets on a board walk.
    Ended on up in villages and towns on cobble stones streets in t-shirts, shorts, sun glasses and hats.
    This Camino is much less populated with pilgrims. Walkers and bikers, a plenty, but they are locals who live on the beach or surrounding areas.
    We did meet Hannah from Toronto. She had a full pack and blisters. 😞. She was thinking of porting her back pack tomorrow. 👍
    We saw 2 Windmills, long out of use once used for milling grains, etc. Also, a tree on a wooded path on which pilgrims have left thoughts or items..
    Some areas have age old structures on one side of a road, then a field with modern buildings on the other.
    In the tiny town of Fao, along the street headed out of town, a ‘house’ has both doors open to the street. What was inside touched me, I can’t even say why exactly…
    What was inside was a beautiful chapel wide open to all. Who built it and why, I don’t know. I included a photo.
    There are four different photos of the varying paths we walked, just today.
    I feel like now on day 3, we are beginning to break in our Camino legs. I am feeling it! By the time we finished today….. I was done.✅. 😄
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  • Viana do Castelo

    27. august 2025, Portugal ⋅ ☁️ 72 °F

    24.6km today and the equivalent of 34 flights of stairs! A good day!! Today was inland, not along the beach. Forests, technical trails- we definitely needed our poles!
    Great villages, history and peaceful walking! Lots of types of terrain/paths/trails. So many churches!
    As we first left last nights town, the parishioners were breaking down street a festival. So many, ‘floats’ well those that 4 people would carry. It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm for the celebration! There was one with my ‘Patron Saint’.
    The end of the day, tune got a shower and laundry.
    All is well, but we are on the third floor….. no elevators. My feet were sad. 🤣🤣🤣
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  • Oia, Portugal

    29.–30. aug. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 66 °F

    8am to 3:30pm 20+km and The equivalent of 24 flights of stairs . We had some good holds/ good ups! A mountain, and a few foot hills. Gorgeous beaches, rain ☔️, a heavy heart for walking but then up lifting sights that help so much!
    Got hopeful news in my evening. So this is what this Camino is for….. Tracking feelings, searching out games plans, looking at life.
    So thankful for this Camino!
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  • Baiona,Spain

    30.–31. aug. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 68 °F

    I missed a ‘foot print due to no internet. So this is from yesterday: Hello Mougas, Spain! We started on a water taxi. Climbed over a mountain, walked the coast, dirt paths, asphalt, stones. The diversity is wonderful. These photos are at the bottom of the photos.
    Then onto today, we have arrived in Baiona, Spain
    🇪🇸
    We started the day near the coast. Went over a mountain through a bit of a burn scared area from this years summer fire and on into Mougas. Short day! 13.5km but ‘39 flights of stairs’!
    The seas breezes as always are very welcome!! We have an incredible place to stay a pre-planned treat to us, the Parador, Mougas.
    Laundry will wait!
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  • Vigo,Spain

    31. aug.–2. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 64 °F

    I am wiped! 16.32 miles, this is a 3rd long day. Instead of trying to be the first in the shower, Tammy and I were trying to get the other to go first so we didn’t have to stand up again.,🤣
    Ended up finding a great restaurant with amazing food after the rain let up.
    We walked Vigo the next day enjoying sips and architecture e found an amazing party ship with goodies I could eat!! Happy Holly!!
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  • Redondela,Spain

    2.–3. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ 🌧 63 °F

    Today we only walked 11+ miles or about 17km. Up some STEEP hills and now DOWN into Rebondela, Spain 🇪🇸
    It rained. It stopped. It rained. It stopped. Put on the rain gear, get hot like a sauna, take it off, enjoy the breeze!! 🤣. Repeat.
    We walked through wooded areas mostly. Lovely ‘NW green’. We had a view of a famous bridge.
    And if you Zoom in on the photo just after the bridge, you’ll see wooden rafts, oysters are cultivated on large these wooden rafts called bateas that float in the estuary in Vigo, Spain.
    The oysters are grown on ropes that hang from these rafts, allowing them to filter feed from the rich waters below. There’s your class for the day. 😄
    As we near Santiago we are seeing more pilgrims. We will be separating to go on the Espiritual Camino trail and loose most of the crowd as it takes longer.
    I also thought in a photo of one of the older houses along the trail/road portion today.
    Oh, there day started with the best breakfast on GF bread!! Tomatoes ( fresh puree) on toasted gluten free bread they make, Olive oil, Spanish ham, a small bowl of seasonings to sprinkle over all, and avocado. Delicious!! Don’t forget hot Oatmilk for my morning drink topped with cinnamon. I snuck in some of my cocoa. 😄
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  • Pontevedra, Spain

    3.–4. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 72 °F

    Left at 8am did 21km by 2:30 pm
    Two big hills one in the first 5 miles. ( small mountains? 😜
    Rained almost all day. At the end we could walk in 71 degrees and dry out our shoes. 👍
    We are in Galacia, Spain and my favorite structure,, the age old Horios ( grain keepers) are abundant again. 👍👍. It’s the little things…..😄
    Rather than wait until 8pm, we grabbed dinner at 3:30pm before the restaurants close until 8pm. We will be showing by 8pm. Hehe
    Amazing scallops and amazing Calamari. Probably the best I am likely to ever have! 😎
    Alborino (white) Wine, the local wine. American wineries are starting to produce it. Really, good!!!
    Hugs to all!!
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  • Armentera, Spain

    4.–5. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ 🌧 61 °F

    Churches, country, trails, all kinds of terrain. Of course RAIN, breezes 💕, big ‘Ups’/hills. It reminded us of the Del Norte, Camino a bit.
    We had a break and lunch in a town that was so ‘cute-Combarro.’ I hate to use cute-. But traditional, small, cozy, on the water, AND it had Horrios!! As far as I am concerned that nails it but perfection in Galacia! Done✅
    The photo didn’t turn out of about 6 in a row!! Next opportunity!! 😎😎
    End result for today, is approximately 15 miles ( 24km) and the equivalent of 73 flights of stairs.
    Hugs to all
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  • Ria de Arousa, Spain

    5.–6. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 54 °F

    Today was so incredible! We started in a Nature preserve walking by babbling brooks, walking by centuries old structures., greenery, really, it felt magical or mystical (?), can’t decide.. 💛
    The terrain was technical, lots of roots and very narrow ‘ animal’ paths. Slippery, rock paths. Upside, we saw centuries old ( covered in moss) stone wheels against the buildings. Amazing!!

    We walked paved streets, hot and it was so yuck in that it was next to a Highway. Not the vibe!! Then into wine country! And great towns, no fuss.. dang! But, I love the homes.
    Then we can into a small village. A lady stored off the curb a head of us and yelled’ stamp’ “Do you want a stamp’ (we all need’ stamps’ in our ‘’passports’ cashed credentials for the Camino’
    It was a snap church, Billy by a gentlemanthe seed into m by the village. The gentle had just passed a few months ago at 92(?) yrs. old. The gal who stamped our ‘credentials’ , beautiful stamp, asked if they could’ give’ us a song. Something that wouldn’t weigh down our back packs. I was doubtful, but sat. After they sang a song that shock bright tears to my eyes, didn’t want them…. Ali, 60yrs+ from England and her husband from Germany said, ‘sometimes on the Camino we leave something behind we don’t need and continues we take something home because we have a need.
    That struck home with me!! The guest Camino, dealt with a family member.. a lot of pain and angst. I left it behind never to be revisited.
    This Camino, I have a family member I hold close. 🩷💗💔. I need inspiration, strength, peace, and hope. The love I already have. I feel, now the second week into this Camino I am beginning to piece together finding all of that. ‘The Camino provided is what is said. I need that this year in a different way, then I works have ever thought.
    Switching gears…….
    Then after many miles, probably 5, but hey, we’re walk’g… We came back to THE most beautiful beaches and water. No people, to speak of, so peaceful! 🩵🩵
    We met a great man who wanted to practice English. He walked with us a few miles. He works for Ford in Spain. 🇪🇸. Lots of knowledge. Nice man. A fun exchange of conversation. 😊
    We have met Danish, Germans, Swedish, pilgrims and. a gal originally from Russia now living in NYC. 😎 pilgrims and oddly several folks from Washington and one from Oregon. Pilgrims from other states also.
    Then of course back to reality… showers, laundry then a bottle of Albrino to sweeten the day… 😎
    Family is still in flux but no decision on what is needed. I will fly home as soon as more is known. So far all is’ well’. …..
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  • Padrón

    6.–7. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ☁️ 73 °F

    We started on a Boat to take us 28km to Padron. Home of Padron peppers. Amazing good!🙂
    The captain took us through the 2,300 rafts out on the water to raise Mussels. He stopped to say hi to his neighbor who was farming the mussels.
    The captain gave us, not just a ride but told us about what we were seeing. He was entertaining and informative!!
    We walked though, again wonderful terrain, are Padron peppers, had fun with a group of gals from the boat. They had found a musician/singer and called us over. 👍😊. Hooting and hollering as the singer sang songs in English. Fun time! Fun gals!
    It was a 2km walk day but as we walked the town we clocked over 5 miles. 👍
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  • Santiago de Compostela,Spain

    7.–8. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    We did it!!! 280km Porto to Santiago in the Portuguese Coastal and Espiritual Variant. So incredible!!
    Big surprise , we started in rain. ☔️ Not flooding, thank Heaven…. rather lite rain. We walked through beautiful landscape. Some roads, LOTS of ups! ( hills)
    We were dragging ourselves in to Santiago this Sunday. Far more people then I recall from my first Camino.
    We each took a photo in front of the Cathedral. 🩷
    Headed (Zoom in to see single shots of each of us-bedraggled as we are!). to get our Compostelas at the Office of Peregrinos ( pilgrims) and a certificate of miles! Then the of course, showers, head to the laundromat ( where are clothes took forever to dry!?) then called home and headed out for much needed food!! .
    Today was: 17 miles(27+ km), with ( the equivalent of ) 29 flights of stairs.
    Tammy’s watch always has more miles and our flights don’t always agree…. We are together all day. ( Yes, I fall behind, only a few feet, but I am still doing the same path as she is). Go figure!? 😅. I am 4 inches shorter. Isn’t this crazy? 😂😂
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  • A Coruña,Spain

    8.–10. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ☀️ 66 °F

    A full and a half day off before we begin the Ingles Camino! Another 100+ km
    Miracle worker Tammy found a €70.00/night place:( clean, twin beds, great view and check out the beach across the street!! OMG! Miles of beach!!
    More tomorrow!
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  • Santiago de Compostela,Spain

    16.–19. sep. 2025, Spanien ⋅ ⛅ 77 °F

    We are in Santiago!! It feels emotional! This Camino took us through the archway where bagpipes play! My eyes tesred up listening as we walked out of the archway into the great cathedral Plaza. Pilgrims were milling around, taking photos of the arrival in front of the cathedral, as one does, or just sitting on the warm stones on this beautiful day leaning on their back packs as we later did to people watch.
    People were soaking up the atmosphere, enjoying the plaza, their achievement, reflecting and living the moment. All arriving from different Camino’s.
    Examples: Primitivo, Del Norte, Frances, Inglese,etc. All walking for many reasons. Arriving finding the journey wasn’t the journey they thought they started. The Camino allows you to leave the unwanted behind, to let go. The Camino can give, something you didn’t know you needed….
    Later, sitting on the warm stones of the Plaza facing the incredible Cathedral, we hear, ‘No way! NO WAY!’ English spoken by a Spanish speaking voice.
    This familiar face raced on, “I saw you 2 years ago on the Norte, you met the Estonian gal!”( Meelika) I can’t believe your here!!
    Her smile was so big! It was so incredible to run into her!! *Tammy has only just relaid such a story about Natalie, from Belgium ( I got to meet her when we walked the Norte 🩷❤️, Natalie has run into a Pilgrim she has met on a different Camino in this place also! Great memories!!.
    2 thoughts 1) if you wait and just let life hold you for a moment in the Plaza you will mostly likely meet someone from another of your Caminos ! 2) There is obviously something to be said for not updating my hiking ‘wardrobe’. 😅😅
    The Camino brought us in through a classic section of the old city. Then onto the cathedral!
    Photos on the plaza!!!! On to the official building to pick up the Compostela!
    We are treating ourselves to our own rooms- bathroom, shower to ourselves, yes!!
    The fountain in the tiny plaza out my window. Many Cafes! Restaurants and people watching as I write this.
    Santiago is a wonderful city, to walk to food find and enjoy people watching!
    ****Only 18.8km or 11.3 miles this day, but at the end of 545+km or 339 miles. We felt we’d walked further. 😊
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    Slut på rejsen
    16. september 2025