Skip to main content

Porto

We arrived in Porto by 12 and promptly followed the arrows in the wrong direction to get to our albergue (Hostel aeroporto)! A kind man set us straight so that we could dump our bags and go exploring.



We caught the tram into town and pretended to be tourists for the day.




We saw a lot of Portugal's Cockerels but these were my favourite hiding down a back street for us to find.




 The view from the river is amazing and you can see these boats near where the port distilleries are - I think that they used to transport the port up and down the river.





Porto's Cathedral - up a hill, it took us a while to find it. Inside it's quite dark as there are few windows as it has been squeezed into a small space. It's a defensive Cathedral where citizens could go for shelter if the city was attacked (I'm not sure when or if it was used for this).



Walking around we saw both blue and yellow arrows but, unlike on the Camino Frances, the blue arrows don't indicate the path back from Santiago but rather the Pilgrimage to Fatima.



We'll be on our way properly tomorrow but before then just one last picture, my first sello on the Camino Portuguese!




Ultreia! 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Route Napoleon closures: November-March

For anyone thinking of setting off on the Camino anytime soon just a reminder that the Navarrese Govenmnet closes the Route Napoleon over the Pyrenees from November 1st - March 31st each year (and longer if need be). Roncenvalles in the snow The official notification for this (from last year) is below.
Post a Comment
Read more

The Camino Primitivo

The Camino Primitivo (or the Original Way) is reportedly the very first Camino Way to Santiago in the 9 th century when most of Spain was under the control of the Moors and it runs from near the city of Ovideo in Asturias as it starts in Villavicosa (which also lies on the Camino Norte so many people follow this Way from   Basque city of San Sebastian (Donosti in Basque) or in from the French border at Irun ( this route then hugs the Bay of Biscay passing through Guernica, Bilbao, Santander, Llanes before going under the Picos de Europa and then heads along the coast to Ovideo) before branching off onto the Primitivo which goes across the mountains and through the city of Lugo before joining the Frances at Melide. The route is 320km long. Image taken from https://viaalpina2013.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/camino-del-norte-camino-primitivo/
1 comment
Read more

Pilgrim Prayer - Columba

Columba was an Irish monk (who founded several monasteries in Ireland) who sailed with 12 others to the island of Iona just off the west coast of Scotland. The Abbey he funded became one of the powerhouses of Mediaeval Christendom. He lived from 7th December 521 until 9th June 597. Alone with none but thee, my God, I journey on my way. What need I fear, when thou art near O king of night and day? More safe am I within thy hand Than if a host did round me stand. Be thou a bright flame before me, Be thou a guiding star above me, Be thou a smooth path below me, Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me, Today, tonight and forever.
Post a Comment
Read more