Camino de Santiago

Route Map…

(My Camino…)

Today I spent hours trying to remember and piece together all the places I passed on my Camino journey. Hours and hours… When I finally finished, and retraced the entire incredible route in my mind, I wished I were there again. Yes. Now I know. I will return someday.

I loved the scent of the ocean and the steps along the wooden planks by the shore. There was something strangely appealing about walking from town to town. I just wished I had more time to explore a bit more along the way.

So I decided to share the map with you. I wish I could share the scent of the ocean too, but that, you’ll have to experience yourself. For now, I’m sharing my impressions here, and sharing the seashells I collected from the beach with friends: Praia Da Langosteira

Map

We set off from Porto.

We flew in from Belgrade and stayed at The Central House Porto Ribeira
The hostel is quite, quite decent—let’s say a solid 9. We spent the rest of the day exploring Porto, that magical city, which certainly deserves its own post.

The next morning we set off very early, really early, towards Labruge. It was a decent distance with backpacks on our backs. In Labruge, we stayed at Albergue São Tiago de Labruge .

I’m not entirely sure, but I think it counts as a state—or as some call it, public—albergi. It’s a large albergi, clean, with huge rooms and no barriers between sleepers. That’s where I first encountered paper bedding and a questionable blanket, as I had been warned. Luckily, I had my sleeping bag. Overall, on a scale of 1 to 10, this albergi scored a solid 5.

The next morning was my birthday.🎉🎈🍰 How wonderful to have such a day happen on the Camino!

We were supposed to reach accommodation right on the beach. We walked and walked… Alongside us, vast beaches, waves upon waves… I noticed almost no one was swimming. And how could they? The water was freezing, and the waves were far from friendly. We finally arrived at Albergue de Aguçadoura . Quite decent. In fact, there was real bedding. That’s when I started dividing my life into days with and without bedding 😊. I spent the rest of the day on the beach, trying to make friends with the ocean. But, no luck—it was a stubborn guy and refused to grant my birthday wish.

However, that wonderful place did its best and gave us a breathtaking sunset.

In the morning, it was time to move on. Again the ocean, again the beautiful path… and Hostel Costa Selvagem with its lovely, comfortable rooms and cheerful courtyard that enchanted us. I decided this would be my afternoon for rest and didn’t go exploring the town.

As if I had known. At the albergi, a wonderful Marisa arrived.💓 Marisa is a massage therapist, and with a donation-based session of an hour of foot massage, she makes you feel like you’re in heaven. Oh, thank you, thank you Marisa, wherever you are.

That break was much needed, because tough and unpleasant accommodation days awaited us. The next place was Albergue de Peregrinos Sao Joao dos Caminhos Whew. That says it all.

A huge albergi. Dark. Depressing. Its heavy energy reminded me of the dreadful stories about the Inquisition. I literally dropped my backpack and went outside in my slippers. The town itself is beautiful and definitely worth exploring. I did—up and down, street by street. I returned just before bed, just in time to be eaten alive by mosquitoes.

In the morning, the plan was to set off at 3:30. Those who read my previous posts know I mentioned an albergi where we had to arrive first, because as a large group we wouldn’t have had enough beds. That is Caminha Pilgrims' Hostel . My advice? Visit it at a wide berth, if at all possible. From angry staff to bedbugs, we experienced it all. That’s all I’ll say here.

The night passed, and in the morning, Spain awaited us. But more on that in the next post. link Spain, good morning…

Buen Camino.

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