We are right now sitting in a small lounge at a campground, steps away from a boat ride that will take us from Portugal to Spain. It is a gorgeous spot and it is pouring outside!!!!! ... so I sit here to catch up on our blog. I apologize because my memories of the days are not as fresh since I am not posting daily. I hope some pictures can make up for it.
We left Rabacal and the wonderful auberge a little later than all the other pilgrims. O’Bonito is a wonderful spot! I know I shared about the best shower on the Camino, but this family is also a very sweet family. We got fresh squeezed orange juice, bought wonderful local cheese from her attached restaurant and while we didn’t do dinner here last night we were told it was awesome!!!!
Today would be a long walk, with a nice diverse landscape, shepherdess sheep, goats and bossy dogs. Unless you’ve done such a walk it might be difficult to understand these dogs. On my forum, one member said these Portuguese dogs are more aggressive than the Spanish. Oddly I disagree, but then I noticed his post was made 6 years ago and I’m thinking they are all old now- lol!!!! In fact, I am amazed at all of the old dogs serving as watch dogs. I love OLD dogs!!!! Been guilty of adopting dogs just because they are old (& blind, deaf..etc...)
Today we passed an a delightful sounding waterfall, I rarely video but I had to capture its thunderous roar under us as we passed over a bridge. We came to a nice restaurant within ear shot. We were at a location of a Roman ruin site and a tour bus filled the inside. We had to sit outside with a limited menu and still felt like queens! Great salad, nice company as a table of English tourist sat beside us.
Then a hilarious thing happened. The inside tour group was only separated from us by huge glass windows. There was a tourist man seated inside with his back to us who pulled out a blue Touareg headscarf and started putting it on his head Touareg style. We too have Touareg headscarves (bought in Morocco), they mean the World to me, and we use them as towels when traveling now. Keep in mind he couldn’t see us... but his full bus of tourist (with the exception of a handful) could! So while he was playing with his headscarf, Aynsleigh quickly got hers out of her backpack and was putting hers on. The whole restaurant started laughing! He turned around and came outside to get some pictures!
I have posted one topic on my Camino Forum since being here. It was a thanks to the “trail angels” who had marked the RV so beautifully! Imagine today when a pickup pulls up in front of us and stops with two young men hopping out on a mission. These two young men were putting route markers to Fatima up. They let the girls help them with this one marker! I told them how we had done the RV and they both shared they marked that trail too!!!! Amazing, awesome coincidence, and a chance to thank them in person!
Tonight we would arrive to Coimbra and stay at the Monastery. This was right before the beautiful Coimbra city, right before the bridge. We had enough energy to go grocery shopping, but not to cross the bridge.
Our host was Victor!!!!!! A bright eyed, true angel of pilgrims, filled with energy who could answer all questions!!!! Upon talking to him, I realized Coimbra should not be missed and while we can’t stay in a pilgrim auberge two nights he hooked us up with the best view the next night across the bridge in Coimbra!!!!
Oswaldo from Italy is here but we’d barely see him as we are just too tired to communicate. I think group of gals from our Camino friends/bubble/family are here at the youth hostel.
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