24 May 2014
Total distance walked 540.5 km
Average daily distance 23.50 km
I’m quite afronted as I write this, but I shall explain why later.
I slept a very comfortable night at albergue Ninho in Rubiães. I felt a little negative about the place last night because the wifi wasn’t working, the owner tried to rectify the problem by calling someone in, but alas it wasn’t to be. This means that I have to get the blog uploaded in a bar or restaurant. Almost all bars and cafés now seem to have wifi, even the ones you would least imagine to have it. But uploading all the photos is quite time consuming, and I don’t get a chance to answer comments if my time is limited. So apologies for all the typos in yesterday’s post. I just didn’t have time to proof read thoroughly.
I suspect I shall encounter a lot more pilgrims today. The Aussies stopped off at the municipal albergue first yesterday and didn’t stay because the only beds available were two top bunks – the place was packed, as was the restaurant last night. This town is an end of stage in the Brierly book, and lots of people keep to the prescribed stages. I think I shall plough on today and walk over the spanish border and halway across the next stage to avoid the crowds.
The first picture shows the maize stored in an horreo.
The walking environment has been good again today, but hard under foot with yet more cobbles and stoney paths.
Another pile of pilgrim torture waiting to be laid
The village gardens continue to be an absolute delight. The Portuguese in this area seem to be very fond of topiary, and bushes that have not yet been trimmed to a very precise shape are just waiting to be big enough to follow in their garden-fellow footsteps. There are also many ‘cloud’ trees in evidence – mostly olives. Quite beautiful.
There has been an abundance of wisteria all along the route, which unfortunately had already finished flowering by the time I passed through. It must have been an amazing sight six weeks ago. And it is also an area filled with hydrangeas, not many in flower yet, but those I have seen in colour are a beautiful lavender blue or creamy white. So I am between seasons for two of my favourite cultivated plants, but bang on time for the wonderful roses that tumble over every garden wall. I just love the Portuguese gardens, both the flower and vegetable variety.
And I want to voice gratitude for the humble fox glove, that has been my constant companion practically every day of my walk, even when every other wild flower deserted me, the digitalis was ever present and always reminds me of my cottage garden in England.
I stopped at 15 km for a boots off break. I can feel a possible hotspot on my heel and want to investigate. This is the first dry day since arriving in Porto and it is difficult to take breaks when it is damp, unless there is a strategically placed bar.
Entry into Valença (population 14,000) was not unpleasant, the suburbs are not a chore to walk through and I soon enter the city and walk through pedestrian shopping streets to the castle wall where there is a lovely view of the surrounding countryside. The arrows direct me through a long and very dark tunnel to the other side of the wall and then on a magical mystery tour through the outer grounds.
Then I am walking over a long expanse of bridge high above the Minho / Miño river. A pedestrian walkway runs alongside the vehicle access with a train line running above. Then bridge is such a vast length that I feel a bit disorientated crossing it. I can see a view of the cathedral in Tui through the criss-cross of the structure and below the clouds are reflected in the wide waters of the river.
And then I walk off the other end of the bridge and I am in Spain. It feels very peculiar and a bit of an anti-climax. I didn’t really want to leave Portugal but the arrows have led me across the border.
I had thought I would walk another 16+ km’s to Porriño but after a couple of 30+ days I am feeling quite tired today and decide to stop in Tui.
I call into the information office for a stamp in my credencial and am given directions to the municipal albergue, which I manage to completely miss and have to retrace my steps back to the cathedral, where I eventually find the albergue discretely tucked away. It feels a bit like what I imagine checking into a detention centre would be. I am issued with a disposable sheet and pillow case, am read the riot act about closing time and directed to read the rules of the house. I am one of the early arrivals luckily and am allocated a bottom bunk. The place is a newly converted ancient building, very nicely presented and very clean. My shock comes when I go to take a shower in the ladies’ only bathroom and find that the showers are totally communal, no division between the four shower heads and not even a curtain between the shower area and the toilet facilities. I am fortunate that no-one else wants to use the shower whilst I am in it. I find this treatment totally disrespectful. I can’t imagine that anyone of any age wants to be seen taking a shower. I think it is outrageous and shall certainly enquire about facilities in other municipal albergues before committing to them. It makes private albergues seem cheap at twice the 6 euro price for the municipal.
Rant of the day over
I managed to wash and dry one set of t-shirt, pants and socks yesterday. (Pants, for those non English readers means knickers. I know a lot of you call knickers panties, but that word has rather risqué connotations for me, and believe me there is absolutely nothing risqué about my merino wool walking knickers!)
My clothes were threatening to carry on walking on their own as it had been a few days since I had been able to do any washing with even a chance of it getting dry. I have to say that merino wool is very forgiving, and can actually go for days of wear without getting any tell-tale signs. But enough is enough and I took the chance yesterday afternoon and was rewarded with fresh clothing today. I have washed the other set today. But I don’t dare wash my trousers as I only have one pair. I shall have to wait until there are drying facilities of the electrical kind.
I am now sitting an the Museu Cafe, where the charming barman keeps up a lively conversation in a mixture of spanish and English (although he is French) and he provides me with some delicious tapas on the house.
This is the third plate of goodies that this lovely man has served me. What a star he is.
I finally left the bar and popped into a supermarket to buy some healthy salad ingredients for supper. I just hope that the albergue bye-laws allow me to eat it. And having bar-hopped to a sunny cafe I shall now commit my post to the blogosphere.
Trepidatious traveller - camino blog 
I blog voice is great Maggie. It feels like a really interesting conversation with a friend. I too would have been deeply unimpressed by the showers. Love foxgloves too. Annie x
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That’s because you are a friend Annie xx
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I= your. Oops.
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Reading your posts each day is like taking a mini trip to Portugal (and now Spain) – I love it! Thank you for your diligence in writing each day. I would worry about you if you missed a day now. Susan
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Thanks Susan, I really appreciate your support.
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Clean and sparkly, but totally impersonal. I didn’t even do communal shows at school, I most definitely don’t want to start now! xx
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Bienvenido a España, Maggie! No wonder you felt affronted by the communal shower set-up – I agree, most disrespectful.
Very pretty flower photos – and delicious looking tapas 🙂
Take care x
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6 euros for three glasses of wine and three mini meals. And about two hours of free internet access to boot! ….. Priceless.
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Sounds a bit like Bar Centro in Torre del Mar! 😉
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Is that where the photo group meet. I will have to see if I can join – U3A I presume?
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Yes, the photo group is U3A – but not where we meet!
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I wouldn’t take communal showers when I was younger either. This sounds like the Olympic bathrooms in Russia. 😀 Two side-by-side thrones. Count me out.
Nice tapas and wine a.n.d. WiFi. Wow. Nice.
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another awesome blog. welcome to spain! the gardens sounds really lovely. the tapas looked yummy. wonder how your aussie friend Elly is doing? any contact with her since you went solo? you are pretty amazing!
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No, I can’t text for some reason, and Elly keeps her phone turned off, do no contact yet.
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Hi Maggie
I agree with your friend Annie, you write like we are having a conversation. Good reading.
Flowers are beautiful. Looks like the larger array of flowers in spring.
You are a realistic with regard rain and washing. You have to accept what life presents. Que sera sera! We ozzies have the same language as you- re calling knickers ‘pants’ or possibly it is just my generation or what part of oz I grew up in (we come from uk heritage of some variety though – most of the older ones). And the other word panties has the same connotations to me.
Although I only walked from Porto, I’m sure I bumped into 2 such showers as u described . It was quite a shock, but it meant you got in and out very fast, hoping to finish before another person needed it, (didn’t happen, had to just turn back.
You have me wondering tho, what u are dressed in, when you wash your only pair of trousers?
Buen camino (you’re now in Spain, so guess I can spell it that way ).
Annie
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I have to admit Annie that the trousers haven’t been washed very often. Every time they get muddy the rain washes it off. They seem to be self-cleaning! And the merino wool pants work wonders.
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Well done Magwood!! You have walked the whole of Portugal……now for the home run into Santiago!! My mind is made up..Portugues Camino for me next year. thankyou!!
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You will love it Lyn
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Brought back memories of doorless loos in 1970s moscow – hilarious
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Haha
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I think it must be hellish sleeping amongst a mixture of strangers let alone the possibility of showering with them !!! Your blogs and pictures are still a daily delight, and your stamina is awesome. Enjoy the remainder of your camino, hopefully you will see Elly again at some point.xx
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Not sure that we will meet up pat, unfortunately. I have pressed on and will probably be back home by the time Elly reaches Santiago. I am sure we will be in touch in the future though.
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I’ve missed your blogs over the last few days so hearing of crowds sounds like a major culture shock. You’re doing well. Are you looking forward to arriving in Santiago or dreading the end?
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Looking forward to it, as of today!
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I am enjoying your experience…I walked the Frances 3 years ago and am seriously thinking of the route you are busy walking……warm wishes from Cape Town South Africa
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Thanks Corinne, you would love the Portuguese route.
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I have been enjoying your blog and photos. What type of camera are you using?
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Hi Kaylene, the camera is a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1
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Hi Magwood,
I had the same experience with the same ‘Lady’. I arrived soaked to the skin after walking over 40Km in heavy rain. Firstly, she made me strip down to the basics outside the door in the rain. On admission, she read me the riot act about drinking alcohol and door closing times. She kills the place and it ranks with the Albergue in Punta de Lima as the worst places to stay on the Route. In Punta they put you on a plastic mattress-with no pillow, no sheets and no blankets. Prison would be better.
Regards,
Sean
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I thought all the Xunta albergues in Galicia that I used were entirely soul-less. Luckily there were plenty of good accommodations to counter the negative experiences. ‘Dragon lady’ should change her job!
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I had such a good giggle at your comments about panties/knickers. I love the word knickers and use it frequently 🙂
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A lot of Brits use ‘knickers’ as a mild swear word. A good down to earth term, suitable for hiking pants. To me, ‘panties’ conjures up images of very small, frilly things!
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