Along the Portuguese Coast

In 2011 I walked the Camino Portuguese with my sister in law- Janey, and our friend from the Camino Frances, Sussi (The mad Finn). 

Setting out from Porto we decided to take the coastal route to Vila Do Conde, instead of the inland route to Vilarinho. Admittedly it didn't at first seem as well organised as the Camino Frances but the views were just as stunning, and the path marked sufficiently for us to find the way with ease.

With a slight wind blowing in of the Atlantic coast we were kept cool, despite the fact that we were walking mid-June. 

Fortunately the Yellow arrows were our constant friends, and usually pointed in the same direction - Up - meaning it as all straight on up the coast.

There were cafes along the way where we were able to catch up with breakfast.None of us spoke any Portuguese, but it didn't seem to matter  a lot -we worked out what this sign meant...

A lot of the route was along boardwalks which were springy and comfortable to walk on, even though in places they weren't perfectly maintained - but if we were looking for perfection we wouldn't have set out in the first place. . .The Camino isn't about perfection it's about.... well just about anything you want it to be about. 

We met no other pilgrims along this stretch of our walk, but Janey did make a friend at this wayside bar. We also met some Australian walkers (Peter and Hugh) on arrival in Vila Do Conde. 

Happily there were wilder tracks too with all the beauty one expects of a Camino. And some ancient monuments and dwellings to see as we walked.

 The coastline was at once rugged and spectacular. What more could we have wanted on our first day out on the Camino Portuguese?