So many excellent images of Saint James can be found along The Way, but this is one of my favorites. On the main Praza do Obradoiro, this ancient carved stone image on the Colexio de Fonseca, faces out to greet every pilgrim as she approaches the cathedral. The signs of time and wear and tear are as evident on his face as is felt by many pilgrims after completing their Camino.
One of the real "treats" of walking any Camino is the food. It is outstanding in both Spain and Portugal! From a very simple torta or pie to a fancy seafood dinner, one can eat very well both on the Camino and at the end of the day once the walking shoes are off. Almost every café/bar offers some sort of tasty torta or sandwich to get the pilgrim through mid-day. We never packed a lunch, but instead looked forward to finding a café/bar to take a well earned break and enjoy some of the food hikers as well as locals consumed with gusto. One doesn't want to overdo it mid-day with many more kilometers yet to walk, but a slice of tortilla de potato, a torta, or even a sandwich with their delicious Iberian ham is enough before trekking on to find that night's albergue.
When leaving Porto, the pilgrim has several options. Although our plan was to follow the Central Route north, we were also aware that leaving the city via the industrial zone was less than pleasant. Therefore, after getting our Credencial at the cathedral that morning, we headed for the coast. Here, too, options exist! As it was now pushing 10 am (the cathedral doesn't open until 9), we shortened our walk by beginning at the Matosinhos Market a few kilometers up the coast, but still in Porto, instead of the city center. Shortly after starting out, one comes across the Farol or lighthouse. From here, straight north, we walked along an extensive network of wooden boardwalks until some 22 km later we arrive in Vila do Conde where we had reservations for the night. It was a beautiful day along the beach and a great first day on the Camino! The next morning, we would connect with the Caminho Central in Arcos.
We found it very hard, if not impossible, to get lost on the Camino Portugués! It is so well signed with yellow arrows or scallop shells that making it to Santiago was a certainty. Once in Spain, the pillar type signage begins as you see in this photo. In addition to being pointed, by way of the fingers of the shell, in the correct direction, you can also follow your progression counting down the kilometers as the distance to Santiago is posted on each one (unless it has been stolen)! Beginning in Porto, we had a journey of about 250 kilometers in order to reach the cathedral. Here at 90 km out, we are near Mos and just a few kilometers short of Redondela where we would stop for the day.
