Day 8: Casa Fernanda to Ponte de Lima, Northern Portugal
After an amazing afternoon and evening at Casa Fernanda with our amazing hosts, Fernanda and Jocinto, we awake to a full breakfast inside their home. How they continue to provide this level of care every day for the past 15+ years is truly the miracle.
I have been up since 5 am with my mind racing with all the stories heard, shared and some to be kept close. I write down my thoughts on just the last day and feel I that one could write a book about. Don’t worry, I am just trying to get it to be a blog size bit. It may take another day to get there before I post the edited version.
Everyone was concerned about expected rains and thunderstorms, so all are donning rain pants, ponchos and Siri has her umbrella. I actually offer mine to a Canadian woman whose poncho is one step up from a plastic bag and not suited for the torrential rains. She says she regrets not trying out her gear first. She is happy to receive this gift of the Camino.
Today was an easier day and probably the most beautiful scenery so far. We felt truly part of the Portuguese countryside with trellises of grapes, newly planted potato plants just poking out, and flowers that have bloomed all around, much earlier than Seattle. We come upon water fountains every few mile that were built centuries ago to assist pilgrims along their journey to refill and refresh.
After yesterday’s extravert’s dream, it is time to reenergize the introvert’s batteries, so we choose to walk more by ourselves and catch up with other pilgrims while only stopping at the couple coffee shops along the way.
It is peaceful and we are refreshed.
We are welcomed into the ‘oldest city of Portgual’ by a picuresque Roman Bridge and walk through an avenue of tall trees – of course after passing a church and a chapel.
We are glad to have arrived in Ponte de Lima just after 1 pm, so we have time to eat, relax and explore. Others of our new found friends continue on and we say what may be a short or much longer good-bye
Tomorrow we hike up the first big hill while it is supposed to rain one or two inches. Our first real test of the weather and preparedness. Siri has joined others and purchased a sturdy rain poncho/jacket to go over her bag and down to her ankles.
We will see.
We will focus on what we can control – the walking. And the weather – well, it will take care of itself. And maybe there will be a cafe just in time to wait out the worst of it.
Siri and David Adventures 