I took a blogging rest day given we had to travel from Porto south to Coimbra, reconnect with our Aussie friends and attend a typical Camino gathering to celebrate partings. Our day started as others have with a moon rise...
followed by the sunrise.
After breakfast we pulled on our packs and hoofed it to the train station. The trail ride south was pretty standard, but on arrival we followed the map published in our #£%<*<~?!\ Brierley guide for Coimbra and headed off from the train station in search of our hotel and pals Neil and Sarah. Well, as we walked things seemed a bit off so I asked directions into town. I should have listened to my inner self, but figuring the locals would know the way into this not so big town we reluctantly started off again, down a busy highway. Arrived at a petrol station and asked again. Nope, we'd being walking the wrong way. They confirmed the Brierley map was wrong. So off we went the way we'd come and we asked an older couple who thankfully had a bit of English and they helped to sort us out. Off we went to town, arriving later than planned drenched in sweat. Nice! We climbed up to our accommodation...so high up there was a risk of nose bleeds! Nice find Annemarie. However, we found Neil and Sarah with their Czech buddy coming downhill from the hotel. A lovely reunion followed and We agreed to meet for lunch after Neil had a haircut.
Checked I we descended 1000 meters to town to our rendezvous spot 
only to find a wedding in progress. Too good an opportunity to pass up we drifted inside like everyone else!
Wow! What a special experience...explaining the vintage Mustang outside. No control at the door and it was like we were on the guest list.
We stepped back outside and across the mall came our pals, one looking particularly groomed. He must have known about the wedding?
We waited for the church exit and were not disappointed. The tour groups added to the mix made it look like the paparazzi filming a star, which of course the bride and groom were on the day.
We headed off in full discussion to find a place for lunch and to catch up. Some interesting characters on the way!
We made a reservation for 10 for the evening meal and headed off to get our first stamp in our credential for the Camino Portuguese. It was toasty!
And another climb to achieve that, but worth the view back at the old city.
A few decidedly Camino type markers around.
Time to walk, time to walk!!
Simply enjoying whatever presented itself...
Neil and Sarah had made the de soon to take a two day break in Coimbra, so for them it was a parting of ways with their small cohort. Often a difficult process, on the quieter routes. We've all been through the meeting, connecting and separating process on Camino, but I always find the partings most difficult. So we all gathered for drinks and dinner. For Annemarie and I it felt like an immediate adoption by fellow perigrinos. For Neil and Sarah it must have been a bit bitter sweet. The balance of the cohort walked on today.
We wandered the streets after dinner and stopped for a night cap and dessert. 
We said good night to the dog in the window who looked at me when I whistled.
We also said good night to the locals...
Then hiked back up the mountain and to bed.
This morning I was awake to watch the back end of the sunrise in the west...
Before setting off to see the famous and extremely old Coimbra University library in the old palace. Royalty hung out here for a time. No pictures allowed in the palace, but we were allowed to film elsewhere.
All quite lovely as one would expect. There was fine art displayed. Three originals displayed, or is that four?
Back outside only to witness an aerial tour...one passenger at a time...hmmm?
Who was that masked and noisy man?
I took a few random photos...
Interesting ceiling...drywall would have been cheaper.
Nice city views.Then an important stop for the morning coffee types and a strategic planning session.
A bit of viewing...
Some souvenir shopping...I didn't shop. No surprise there. Can't carry it, don't want to be tempted. But I did find a nice pair of boots available for the taking!
Home up hill, again
...with some nice tasty morsels for lunch.
Coimbra. A nice town and worth a look. For me once is enough, but worth a stop. Tomorrow we walk, finally! Not sure how far or where to. Will there be wifi? Who knows? But we will be walking...in the heat! So excited...will need a long leash tomorrow.
And after a nice bottle of wine we are all vegging out.
Bom Caminho!
The last leg of your walk is almost upon you--I'll bet you're looking forward to it, despite the heat. Looking forward to reading about it.
ReplyDeleteCoimbra looks lovely. Sorry to hear about Brierley's uselessness. He did the same thing to me on the way to Muxia. Just not reliable.
But all's well that ends well.
Bom Caminho!
Ken
Brierley's maps and descriptions are certainly not perfect but I do think he has done us all a service and am grateful for his respect for and encouragement of pilgrimage and these caminho paths. One thing is clear to us after almost bumping into him about three times on this caminho is that he is open to corrections and always looking to improve his offering. That dog photo is a classic, I really thought he was going to jump out of that window. Then again, he had the best seat in the house so why jump??? Happy walking tomorrow, I hope those Aussie renegades don't slow you down too much. Bom caminho, Neil and Sarah
ReplyDeleteYou are far too forgiving. What do you think this is, a Camino spirited walk or something? Very much looking forward to sharing the road, and unfortunately I do mean road, with those Aussie renegades! Should be a hoot!
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