Sandy Beaches and a Sunny Day

We woke up this morning and took off so excited for our first day of actual hiking! At days end we had covered 17+ sunny miles of hiking- mostly along a wooden boardwalk while enjoying a succession of beaches and beautiful maritime landscapes. There were points where the boardwalk was covered in deep sand so there was some trudging involved as well as the hiking 😂 The beginning of the hike was a bit somber as we passed the beachside sculpture in the village of Matosinhos commemorating a sea disaster where many sailors were lost. The “Tragédia no Mar” is a very emotional piece! We passed fishing villages with bright colored houses, fishing nets and boats, tidal pools, salt tanks in stone dating from Roman times, ancient chapels, memorial obelisks and many friendly Portuguese! We also made friends with pilgrims from Australia and Slovenia today. I guess we stick out as there are four of us sisters together and we all have our phones out ready to shoot the next beautiful wave. Bom Caminho was on everyone’s lips today! We had a picnic by the sea for lunch with fresh fruit and cheese and warm baguettes. This evening it was sardines in garlic sauce with rice and beans and a little house wine- delicious! As we got to town tonight (Vila do Conde) we were able to visit the amazing Igreja Matriz dedicated to St. John the Baptist (S Joâo Baptista) and pray a Rosary- what a wonderful bonding experience we are having! This is fun but tiring so I’ll head to sleep- tomorrow will be another long day! A final thought- Jenna and Blaise both turned 40 years old this week and so I’m praying for them as they reach their milestone birthdays. My friends and family are always in my prayers but somehow while outside surrounded by God’s beautiful nature I feel more compelled to thank Him for all the graces, family and friends I have been given. ❤️Les mer