Albergaria-a-Nova to Hotel Feira Pedra Bela in Malaposta

Today was a hard day, but filled with good encounters. Melissa (from Australia) would share a text to be on the lookout for a black dog once we finish walking the train tracks because it almost bit her! We would send a text back joking with a picture of a sleeping bag dog that didn’t even lift it’s head to us,” this one?” ....

Today we didn’t know what to do.  The stage to Porto tomorrow is long... we love Porto, and we have friends who own a hostel there! I say friends, we stayed there last year for a few days when our Camino was done. They loved my kids, shared about them on their Facebook page, and well we LOVED THEM TOO!!!!

We wanted to give ourselves enough time to enjoy our arrival! We passed the typical ending stage of today’s Camino due to this.

In one town we passed a men’s barber, where one of the guys came out and invited us in to talk. The rain was coming and going, the rock surface was killing me and I thought of our missed conversation with the missed opportunity with the Bomberious the other day and then said,”sure”. So glad we did! We had a coffee there and stopped for about thirty minutes and enjoyed their company so much. Miguel and Ricardo thank you for welcoming us with conversation! 

In Oliveira de Azemeis, we passed a cafeteria style restaurant and had a wonderful lunch!!!! I made a reservation at a hotel and it was one of my best decisions this Camino. I assumed it would be a small little place, it was located behind a busy street and restaurant (where very expensive cars filled the parking lot).  It wasn’t until we were at the doorstep when we realized what a special place this was. We were exhausted!!!!!!

It had bathtubs, sauna, whirlpool, indoor heated pool, bar...

I couldn’t move to enjoy any of it BUT the bath tub..... that I took TWO hot baths within two hours!

The girls would run down to the pool and stay until closing! Melissa is here too, we would exchange text, she was contemplating getting a "massage and then bar for wine” ... I laid in bd almost in a coma. I’m not joking. I actually called the reception desk asking if they had security cameras on the pool and if they could share if  my daughters were fine in the pool. They assured me they were there and fine!!!! Great staff!!!! We needed this!!!!

I gathered the strength to go to the pool till it closed and escorted my mermaids back up the stairs to bed. We slept great!!!!