To Vila Praia De Ancora

We had rain all night and woke up to a foggy morning at our hostel in the clouds on the monte San Luzia. We were high above the city and the ocean but the visibility was unfortunately poor so we couldn’t enjoy the views but we did make a point to visit the beautiful Santuário do Sagrado Coração de Jesus. It has an immense crystal chandelier, a huge rose window of stained glass and a painted dome- very lovely. You are invited to climb the stairs to the top but we knew what was in store for us today on our hike so we tried to save our energy! We did light candles and say a prayer for our new little expected babies 💕 and the ones already here 💕and we admired the statue of Nossa Senhora da Abadia. We packed up and rode the funiculaire down the mountain (again trying to limit stairs and save our legs!) and hiked out of Viana do Castelo on busy roads that led us to cobblestone paths that wound through a maze of rock walls crowned with vines, ferns and purple morning glory flowers. We pass ornate closed gates periodically and if by chance one is open, it’s fun to peer in and see the landscaped courtyards within and imagine living here! We spent a lot of today climbing and it was difficult. The weather was very humid and it was hard to keep up with fluids- we ended up with about 15 miles of hiking. We were mostly on cobblestone paths (ouch!) and soft dirt/ muddy paths (a little easier on the feet! ) We saw a lot of little shrines today and saw tiled religious scenes on sides of houses- it was a good reminder of religious devotion in Portugal. We also saw many of the pilgrim’s rock piles where spontaneous memorials appear as people make their way and leave remembrances- cards, ribbons, and inscribed stones. On the paths we often pass locals out and about with their daily business or walking their dogs and housewives and grandmas returning home with bags of groceries. It’s good to see the life that’s here! People are very friendly to us and we even were offered a handmade bracelet (for a euro ha!) by a sweet little girl, a budding entrepreneur who set up shop on top of a stone wall. I forgot to ask her name darn! In the town of Afife we happened upon a small oasis next to the stone bridge that’s never been opened when I’ve passed it before. It was the old monastery São João de Cabanas that was renovated into a complex in the woods and included the old church, lodging where the cloisters must have been and outdoor dining. We had a delicious lunch with zucchini quiche, salad, a caprese focaccia and cake! All very civilized until we left and immediately had to climb a long long way straight up a broken boulder path- oh my goodness it was hard! We powered on for several more miles through Ancora and then ended up in Vila Praia de Ancora and immediately hit a grocery store for some yougurt and some fruit and water. VP de Ancora has a beautiful church full of blue and white tiles and the special statue of Nossa Senhora da Bonança- she holds baby Jesus in one arm and a boat in the other hand! Her festival will be in town over the first of September and the town is preparing with posters and advertisements. The church sits on a city plaza and it was full this evening with lots of locals chatting and visiting. We had planned to keep hiking until Caminha today but we were tired and my feet ached so we pivoted and got a room here. Luke did laundry so we’re ready for tomorrow and Spain!Baca lagi