Stage 31: Valença - Mos, 25 kms, sunny, 23

It Was All About The Morning Start...

Last night we had our last evening in Portugal in a small restaurant, centre of the fortress. Very nice!

Caught the sunset...

Then Neil and Sarah walked back to Spain and we walked out of the fortress in the pitch dark. Very cool!

It was kind of different.

This morning we walked into Spain! Always puts me in a happy place to be in Spain! The sunrise didn't hurt wait her.

Annemarie hit the bridge, and didn't stop until she was on the other side! 

As the title suggests, it was all about the walk into Tui. Stunning! 

The dividing line...note the flag colours.

And before you know it you're there! I can speak to the locals again...nice!

We walked towards town to meet our pals.

And met at the cathedral on the top of the old city.

We went inside to get a stamp in our credentials and found a pretty nice interior with unusual cross braces to hold the walls. Must be considerable pressure although this is a Romanesque church.

Then we were off!

Oops, another church to look inside.

Ok, then we were on our way! Getting closer.

Believe it or not, there was a Roman bridge.

After all, we are on a Roman road.

And who knew? Another Roman bridge!

Self explanatory.

All of this was very nice, but the last third of the trail, not so much. Annemarie broke her pole so I hurried off to find wifi and I contacted the makers in the UK . They are putting a new middle section in the mail to Santiago. Maybe it will even make it?!  Rob, I told them that I've helped to sell many of their poles...he had a good chuckle when I told him about the sales I've generated for him. We will be talking!

In an albergue in a small village tonight...it's on the map above. That's about it from here. Will now try to post this? Happy Friday.

Buen Camino!!

Stage 30: Rubiaes - Valenca, 21 kms, Sun, 26

A Short Hop To The Spanish Frontier!

After staying in different spots a few kilometres apart, the four of us linked up today for breakfast and headed out on the trail. I didn't take too many photos as we walked as it was short and frankly not too much that was different from the other days. So I just enjoyed the walk with Neil as we had a nice chat.  There was some scenery though.

And again some very ripe grapes just hanging there just over our heads as we walked.

Also the requisite Roman bridge...

And a cool cork tree that had turned brown where the bark was removed for corks. I've never seen this colour. In Spain the trunks are black underneath.

 Of course there is always of coffee break, but today we missed the turn into an albergue run by a couple from Canada. Not sure how that happened, but was sorry that it did. I've heard good things. However, when we did stop, I knew we were just a few kilometres from Spain!

My first in almost two weeks! I've been suffering:)  life's tough! A major moment today when we went into this little church to get a stamp in our credentials...Neil almost lost his hat when he walked away without it! He ran back...pack on...to get it. Drop the pack Neil!! Hat safe!

Tonight we are staying in Valença which is centered around a beautifully preserved XII century fortress. What a fortress! It's quite extensive and intimidating, placed on the river looking across to Spain.

The albergue is closed for maintenance, perhaps clearing out a bed bug infestation, forcing Neil and Sarah across the bridge and into Tui, Spain...one hour ahead of those of us still in Portugal! We have a very cheap little place booked, thus freeing up beds in the albergue for younger peregrinos on a little more of a budget. We walked down to the bridge as Annemarie wanted to see Tui, but when she got there...

and saw the narrowish path across...

I knew I'd soon be sitting in a bar with a cold drink writing the blog...which I'm presently doing!

I think one crossing in the morning will be quite enough for my girl. On the other hand, I went out to take a few pictures...getting good at this!

We will see Tui in the morning on our way through.

We will meet for dinner tonight, so we went back up to the fortress for a brief look.

A pretty cool spot, and hey, just look at that flowing beard:)

We walk into Spain in the morning. Looking forward to understanding the language again. I've been a bit of a fish out of water. I'll post this then head off to do some planning for post Portugese. We think we might have a plan for the following two weeks if we can make it work...planes, trains and buses! One door closes...

another opens.

Bom Caminho!