This morning was cool and misty – what a boon! Much of the way today was on an original Roman road – see photo below. (This was exciting for me as I inherited my father’s appreciation for prehistoric burial grounds and Roman roads!)
The way was well signed – another boon!
On the way I passed the monastery at Grijo (a respite for pilgrims in the Middle Ages) – first passing the monastery walls, then peeking through the gateway at the monastery buildings, walking through the monastery grounds – a respite from the road – to see the church, and then back out through the gateway, to continue on the Camino.
On to Perozinho and a much needed cafe! And then, surprisingly as we were so near to Porto, the most beautiful part of the Camino so far – stretches of the original medieval pilgrim route – peaceful footpaths winding through ferns and woodland.
And then, suddenly, I was overlooking Porto. VERY fortunately, Kenneth and I have friends in Porto – Hamid and Isti da Silva. Hamid had just returned from Jakarta the day before and offered to pick me up from the outskirts of Porto – saving me from a maze of motorways and main roads – and took me to their apartment in the center of Porto where I spent the next 48 hours basking in Portuguese hospitality!
My first sight of Porto.
Fatijah's Camino Portugués 2016 