Day 2: Vila Cha to Póvoa de Varzim (11.9km)
May 23, 2019
28km completed - 234km to go Route Map
As stages go on the Camino, just under 12km is a leisurely stroll and we treated it like that, taking some five hours to reach the albergue in Póvoa de Varzim. We arrived at 12:45. We didn't see very much of the sun, which again made for pleasant walking conditions.
I had no sooner posted yesterday's update before two German peregrinas joined us in our dormitory. By the time we were going to sleep, ten of the twelve bunks were taken and there were at least six people sleeping in the outer dormitory. We visited the nearby bar in the afternoon and paid €1:90 for a glass of wine and a coffee. Dinner for two, with drinks, later came to €24.
Back to today - from the albergue in Vila Cha we had to make our way back down to the sea and then it was more boardwalk for about 5km. That took us into Vila de Conde where we spent a night in 2011 before heading inland to walk the traditional Camino Portugues. In 2011 we tried to get our Credencials stamped in the local church but the priest told us he didn't have a stamp. We decided to try again today and the stamp was sitting there waiting for us. Over the intervening years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of peregrinos on all routes.
From Vila de Conde to Póvoa de Varzim we were away from the seafront, walking through a mostly residential area.
There were twelve people ahead of us when the albergue office opened at 2:00 and we were thinking we'd have to settle for top bunks this time. When our turn came we were handed the key to room number one which turned out to have just two sets of bunk beds and, although a number of people have arrived since, we still have the room to ourselves. We have convinced ourselves that we are not getting this treatment because we look old. Rather, it is because the hospitalero can see our actual ages from our passports 😀
28km completed - 234km to go Route Map
As stages go on the Camino, just under 12km is a leisurely stroll and we treated it like that, taking some five hours to reach the albergue in Póvoa de Varzim. We arrived at 12:45. We didn't see very much of the sun, which again made for pleasant walking conditions.
I had no sooner posted yesterday's update before two German peregrinas joined us in our dormitory. By the time we were going to sleep, ten of the twelve bunks were taken and there were at least six people sleeping in the outer dormitory. We visited the nearby bar in the afternoon and paid €1:90 for a glass of wine and a coffee. Dinner for two, with drinks, later came to €24.
Back to today - from the albergue in Vila Cha we had to make our way back down to the sea and then it was more boardwalk for about 5km. That took us into Vila de Conde where we spent a night in 2011 before heading inland to walk the traditional Camino Portugues. In 2011 we tried to get our Credencials stamped in the local church but the priest told us he didn't have a stamp. We decided to try again today and the stamp was sitting there waiting for us. Over the intervening years there has been a dramatic increase in the number of peregrinos on all routes.
From Vila de Conde to Póvoa de Varzim we were away from the seafront, walking through a mostly residential area.
There were twelve people ahead of us when the albergue office opened at 2:00 and we were thinking we'd have to settle for top bunks this time. When our turn came we were handed the key to room number one which turned out to have just two sets of bunk beds and, although a number of people have arrived since, we still have the room to ourselves. We have convinced ourselves that we are not getting this treatment because we look old. Rather, it is because the hospitalero can see our actual ages from our passports 😀
 |
| Vila de Conde - Convent of Santa Clara from the bridge entering the town |
 |
| Vila de Conde - old town |
 |
| Church in Vila de Conde |
 |
| Vila de Conde town hall |
 |
| They like their tiles in Portugal. Wall at Póvoa de Varzim harbour commemorating sea tragedies |
Comments
Post a Comment