And we are heading home!

That’s it! All done! Weare on the plane now, heading back to the UK, courtesy of TAP.

Enforced time offline is a good time to reflect on the trip as a whole and think over what I learnt, how I grew (as a person) and how I have challenged myself.

So what did I learn? That I can walk multiple days without injury and even the minor niggles are totally manageable. That I enjoy doing very long walks, although I suspect having a certificate at the end to celebrate is, undeniably, a factor!

Realising that things, especially on the continent, aren’t always what they seem on the surface. So many places we stayed or ate at had such disheveled outsides but incredible interiors, and that growing sense of ‘oh no’ can be dispelled until you’ve really experienced it!

That I need to listen to my body - I really do get ‘hangry’ and when tired can be very irritable (and irritating) and to acknowledge that and actively addressing it when it happens.

That Michaela and I can have amazing moments working as a team; those are moments to cherish and hold on to.

Challenges; oh so many! Keeping a positive mindset even when you have 25km to walk in the driving rain. Pushing the feet one foot in front of another despite the body really wanting a long rest.

Not a learning point, but this trip has been good confirmation that I still really love Portugal, the people are helpful, funny, enthusiastic and generally so very effervescent. It’s a place that I’ve grown very fond of and I’ll take more effort to learn (and use) the language - thanks for bearing with me Portugal!

Anyway it’s for now I sign off and say ‘Adeus’, but maybe it would be more appropriate to say ‘Até já’ (see you soon!)

Beijinhos meus amigos!
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