![]() Based on how clean and new the shoes appear to be, I suspect that someone bought themselves a new pair of solid-looking hiking boots just before starting the Camino. I don’t know what happened in this particular case. If you don’t, you won’t know how they, and you, will perform when your pilgrimage actually begins. You have to walked whole days across various terrain while wearing the shoes you consider bringing to the Camino. It doesn’t matter that you’ve worn your shoes at home while doing just everything you normally do. It doesn’t matter how nice the shoes feel like in the shop. ![]() It doesn’t matter how many hours you spend on-line reading reviews and recommendations. Many pilgrims develop a strained relationship with their most intimate partner on their journey their walking shoes. Locals come here around sunset to play, talk and generally just round off every day in a friendly way. I especially like the small park, Paseo Do Espolón, on the river bank. Whether you believe all that or not, Padrón is a lovely town to visit. Here the boat was moored to a Roman altar stone down by the river, and the remains of Saint James were transported from here to Santiago by land.Īn altar stone of the kind in the story is known as a Pedrón, and that’s how the town got its name. From there the boat either sailed itself or was sailed by disciples to what is present day Padrón. Now, the next part of the story is a bit fuzzy, but apparently some angels loaded both his head and his body onto a rudderless boat near Jerusalem. On a trip back to Jerusalem he got beheaded by King Herod, basically for being an associate of Jesus. None of this may be true, but legend has it that after Jesus left this world, Saint James went to Spain to preach his gospel. It’s a cozy town, playing a major part in the history of Saint James and Santiago. Padrón is the last stop before Santiago for most pilgrims coming in from the south. A pilgrim’s life doesn’t always have to be challenging. So I spend the night in O Porriño, where I devour a giant pizza and have a hot shower before I fade out into a deep sleep in a soft bed. A lot of my walking has been just sight-seeing detours off the trail, and now the sun is setting. I walk as fast as I can to the city center of O Porriño.ĭespite having walked the entire day, I’m only about 20 kilometers closer to Santiago now than I was when I woke up. Myself, I’m less enthusiastic about giant parking lots and industrial dust. If you’re into car, granite and battery production, this will be your favorite part of this Camino. I have been given many wonderful views today, so I gracefully accept that the trail now leads me into what must be the ugliest section of Camino Portugues since I left the outskirts of Lisbon. Semi-hiding the mural are other Camino-related paintings. Painted straight onto the wall is a large mural showing a famous part of the cathedral in Santigao, the Portico de la Gloria, “The Portal to Glory”. Local artist Xai Óscar uses this wall as a gallery. With its sunny climate, gorgeous beaches, picturesque towns, historic sites and delicious food, the Portuguese Camino is the perfect destination to hike, feast, dance and relax.As if a bench wasn’t reason enough to stop at this junction near Orbenlle, there’s some art to look at as well. There is some walking alongside the road, especially when walking into Vigo and also into Santiago on the last day but for the most part footpaths, tracks and beaches. The coastal route offers a choice of two paths and if you take the seashore path you will be walking on coastal tracks, beaches, old Roman roads and forest tracks crossing old villages and cities born from the Camino trail. You will find slightly less signage (until you enter Redondela – where the coastal track joins with the traditional Portuguese route and becomes well signed) and fewer fellow pilgrims than on the Spanish Camino. The locals are very friendly and willing to help! ![]() The Portuguese Coastal Camino route is ideal for those who love coastal scenery as well as for the more adventurous walker. The lesser walked Camino along the Atlantic coast
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