misty again!

Another cool misty morning, ideal for walking around, but not for going up to the sanctuary as there is no view. I started by walking out to the old fortress, to my surprise there are buildings inside but nothing like Valenca. 

On the walk back I found a sweet little 'Fishermen's Chapel.

Going towards the fortress I found yellow footprints so assumed that these are the signs for the Camino, though yesterday they seemed to be going in the wrong direction.

Then I went up to the Shopping Mall to see if I can find a bar with a Wi-Fi zone. I couldn't, even McDonalalds don't have one!  Then on the way back I found a kind of Cultural Centre with Internet, but it was shut!

Then I found a whole clump of different coloured footprints, just outside the old Council buildings,

I went in and asked but the lady there had no idea about them, I asked her about info on the Camino and she pointed me in the direction of the Tourist Office.

The Tourist Office is in an old hopital and there is a big poster about the Coastal Route of the camino but when I asked she had no information and says there are no signs in town, the footprints are for footpaths around the town.

I also discovered that the funicular runs all day so I decided to see what would happen with the weather. It was sultry but still misty, not a day for sun-bathing. I came up with, what I thought, was a brilliant idea, I would go to Braga by bus, so I went to the bus station and discovered that there was a bus just about to leave, I was sent to get a ticket on the bus, which was just as well as the bus had gone when I got to the stand. Then I checked the times again and found it was nearly a 3 hour journey, so I would have had to turn round almost as soon as I got there. Instead I went up to the Sanctuary, I decided to take pot luck on the mist!

The mist cleared from around the Church but was more reluctant to clear so I could get a good view.

I had a hazy look in the direction of my hotel and then the mist came in again. I waited a while, but not long enough, as the mist cleared for a few minutes just as I was on the way down, even that was not for long though. I returned to the hotel, walking past the potential internet place, but it was still shut. I decided to just relax for a little while, I seemed to have been walking all morning, then after a while the sun came out and I was able to go and sit by the pool again.
In the evening I went out for a meal, I discovered that Portuguese restaurants start serving at 19.00, a nice sensible time, a vast improvement on Spain:)

Thursday, 27th
I got up early and started the journey back so that I could get back for lunch.  I felt that it was nice to be away but nice to return home. That happy feeling lasted an hour or two, until I went to put my car away and I met one of the summer visitors who tooted at me, nearly made me jump out of my skin, then made angry signs at me, God knows what her problem was but roll on September!

Viana do Castelo

Tuesday,
It was cloudy and misty this morning, a sea fret I think. It was cool and pleasant for walking around so I went to look for signs of the Camino. I couldn't find any!  I went to the Youth Hostel, which is the Albergue here, I believe, but there were no signs of arrows, all I can find are different coloured 'footprints.' there are green ones leading to the Youth Hostel and there are blue and yellow ones but I am sure that the yellow ones are going in the wrong direction. I walked some way over the bridge, on the principle that pilgrims must use that to get here. I assumed there would be some sign at this end but there is nothing.
The bridge is one of Eifel's, the road runs on top and the railway underneath.

As I couldn't find any camino I was planning to go up to the Sanctuary but the little railway wasn't running, it was being mended. This was probably just as well as there was still a lot of mist so I would not have had a good view. Instead I went to the Museum of Local Dress and then back to the hotel to sunbathe a bit before lunch.

I had lunch in a nice little restaurant near the hotel, for dessert I had cheese which was served with 'membrillo' (quince jelly) here it is called 'mermelada'! Just another way of confusing us poor Brits.

I am going to have a relaxing evening, all this sun and rest is tiring me out:) On TV I have the choice of news in 5 languages and it is astonishing how news varies between the languages, BBC World News has a very different slant on the Spanish financial crisis than the one I have been getting in Spain, I wonder which one is right!

Holiday! Camino backwards!

I'm on holiday! It seems strange to be excited about a holiday when I am retired and don't do much anyway, but this is a lie by the swimming pool holiday :) Very different from my usual breaks which are hard work, walking or just travelling.
I stopped for a picnic lunch by the Minho and played the summer game of watching the smoke rise! No-one came to put it out so maybe it was meant to be there! It doesn't show well on the photo but it was to the right!


I noticed there was quite a bit of foam along the edge of the river, maybe the Minho is in need of a good clean!



The place I stopped at, in Portugal, had a restaurant and, what looked like, an old bar but both were close and falling into disrepair.  After lunch I carried on but as I passed Caminha I saw signs of a Medieval Fair, so I stopped. Unfortunately the Fair was no more, it was on last week. They were clearing it away.







Caminha is a beautiful little town, I am glad I was given a reason to stop. There were a few tourists, mostly Dutch and Scandinavian. I saw a couple of pilgrims as well. It is strange to drive for a couple of hours over a stretch that takes a week to walk!

After Caminha there was a sign for foreigners to drive off the road, I did so and was asked where I was going, when I said I was only going to Viana I was allowed to continue, just given a leaflet, which, I confess, I have left in the car and haven't read. It isn't normal these days to be stopped for customs between Schengen countries!

It was very hot driving, I have a very red left arm as it was by the window! It was good to get to the hotel and sit by the pool, or even, in the pool. In the evening I went for a walk around the town, it has a lovely old town as well, though not as pretty as Caminha. I was intrigued by the Post Boxes and telephone boxes, I'm sure Britain had no major influence in Portugal, or maybe we did.

There is a sanctuary at the top of the hill, fortunately there is some kind of transport system that goes up there, so that is a trip for tomorrow!