Not having tested the extent of my mobility for FOUR WEEKS, I somewhat guiltily booked myself ‘special assistsnce’ on my flight from Málaga to Porto. The easyJet employee I spoke to was extremely helpful and supportive and upgraded my booking to priority boarding with a seat in the front row. I duly reported to the assistance desk and after a short wait was invited to climb aboard the wally trolly that wove through the heavily crowded airport.
I sat next to the driver who was patience personified. A charming young man who navigated every type of non-observant person. Those who only had eyes for their phone, others who looked directly at the buggy but took no avoiding action whatsoever, those who were in an end-of-holiday daze and saw nothing at all, others who were intent on looking high above at the directional signs and had no idea what was happening at ground level, and those adorable scraps whirling around in an attempt to make themselves totally dizzy and falling to the ground in our path. My driver was a saint in the making and delivered me to my departure gate just as it was being opened and I was ushered through as number one passenger. Well, there has to be some advantage to this tendonitis business.
It’s very nice to be in Porto again. Such a beautiful city with a fabulous atmosphere. I took the 602 bus from the airport to the end of the line – quite a long journey for just 2 euros.
The bus was driven by a woman who seemed to be in a bit of a hurry. As we reached the outskirts of the city there was suddenly a severe rattling vibration, it felt as though I was operating a Kango hammer (what I imagine operating a kango hammer feels like, I should say). I should have realised…this was my welcome to Portugal – the land of cobbles – roads, pavements – you name it, they lay cobbles on it. I remember them so well from walking the camino Portuguese, and not for a good reason, although they do look very charming!
I saw a few sights that I remember from my previous visit in 2014, but it was all too brief and all too wet to take in many sights. I have decided to take the advice of the wise ones who suggested I use the tourist bus to see more of the city tomorrow.
On alighting the airport bus I embarked upon the longest walk I have taken in 28 days, which was not much of a record as I doubt I have walked more than 100 metres on any occasion since my ‘incident’. Google maps indicated that the walk to my chosen hostel should take 12 minutes. It took me considerably longer. I normally walk faster than google suggests, but certainly not at the moment.
At Hostel Gallery I have a place in a 6 bed female dormitory, 23 euros per night. The hostel is in a charming period property with high ceilings and beautiful wall tiles, very friendly and helpful staff, breakfast included with lots of things I can eat, loads of places to sit and relax, including a roof terrace, a bar and restaurant, where they serve communal meals a few times a week. My room is spacious and the bathroom facilities are perfect, two showers, two loos and two basins. The other women are from the USA, Australia, Switzerland, Asia and Manchester. A delightful and friendly bunch, who are all on the right side of 35, vibrant young things. We exchange travel stories and I totally forget that they are probably younger than my daughters. My pensioner status is irrelevant in such situations.
I consult the App ‘happy cow’ to discover what vegan eating options I have in the area of the hostel. I am happy to discover that there is a well reviewed bar just around the corner ‘Apuro Vegan Bar’. The place is entirely vegan and organic including the wine and beer! It’s very casual, polished concrete on all surfaces and has a resident mog. I order nuggets, hummus and fries. Not as good as the reviews led me to believe, but quite acceptable and a very comfortable ambience. And the wine is very acceptable. I’ve not negotiated crutch con vino yet – it could be an interesting stagger back to the hostel!
I decided at the last minute not to bring my camera. Mistake! My phone isn’t very reliable. A rather dated iPhone 6 which has been on a recent trip down the loo. I am using my camino backpack but with very little weight, probably no more than five kilos, but I should have made allowance for my already much missed camera. So apologies for any poor quality photos I post in the coming days.
The aptly named Hostel Gallery is situated in a road full of, guess what?, art galleries! On my return, I passed a restaurant with a neon sign within…“fuck art, let’s eat”. Made me chuckle!
(Header image taken from google as I had nothing suitable)
Trepidatious traveller - camino blog 
Glad to hear that you are on the move…even if it is only slowly!! Enjoy Porto – a magical city. Go to the McDonalds right in the city centre – not to eat – just to enjoy the art deco/nouveau architecture. Melx
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Hi Mel, hopefully the bus will take me that way. I shall check it out.
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Ooh wow! You are so brave Maggie. I’m sure you won’t overdo it though. Enjoy slow saunters (or hops?) and some wonderful vinho verde for us girls downunder (hi Mel) in the midst of winter.
Cheers, Grace
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Well Grace, I shall raise a glass to you and Mel this evening. I feel duty bound to drink wine now, when I had planned to stick to water 😉
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Hi Maggie,
A wonderful restaurant to eat at is the restaurant DaTerra. Everyone in Porto knows it (everyone vegan or vegetarian that is…lol). €7.50 buffet. Can’t go wrong and they have the freshest of ingredients. Take care. 😊😊😊
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Yes, I’ve already got that one on my horizon Aida. One of my room mates ate there and recommended it. Thanks.
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I do recall that my thick soled boots felt paper thin after s few miles of cobblestone. I also recall that if it wasn’t the original Roman road, which was giant stones, it was paved in cobblestone . Love the ariel view of Eiffels bridge.
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Best of luck Maggie. I had an Achilles problem that lasted for ages so I feel your frustration. Buen Camino. G. x
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It’s good to hear from you Maggie and I’m delighted you are walking again even if progress is very slow. Porto sounds beautiful. Enjoy your time in the UK and I’m sure the children will be” little angels” for their Granny. Buen Camino and much love xx
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Hola Mary. Thank you for all your support along my camino. You are so kind to take the time to comment every day and I really appreciate it. Love back to you xx
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Glad you’re out and about Maggie. The city lights in the evening,after rain and along the Douro are beautiful. Stay safe.
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Hi Alan. Don’t wish the rain for me – I had that on my last visit!
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After several weeks I have just found you again! So sorry you had curtail(?) your camino! Thought a lot about you when I was walking with my daughters in the dry river beds from Almeria towards Granada at the end of April….
I trust you will be alright again soon! Buen camino whichever and whenever it will be!
Ina
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Hi Ina. Lovely to hear from you. How was your camino Mozárabe. So special to be walking with family, even if it is in the river beds! I’m much better now, almost back to normal
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Hi Maggie, Missing your posts since Porto- and wondering about your recovery.. Your caminos’, – the descriptions, the images, your perceptions and the distances you covered were an inspiration to me and I think many others. SO I’m wondering how you are doing.
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Sorry for the long absence. I will post an update soon. Many thanks for your concern.
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We are just back from the Norte. We walked from Irun and had to give up after 4.5 days as the dreaded tendonitis recurred. I see you have had it too. I now realise on reflection that it’s caused in my case by going uphill for a long time. Have you any tips? We were terribly disappointed that we had to give up.
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Hi Vanessa. So sorry for the huge delay In responding. I hope you have recovered from tendonitis. Mine is still hanging around a bit. I have no tips except to make sure you rest properly and don’t treat it lightly. And yes, I was totally gutted to have to stop walking and bid farewell to my camiga. I think this camino definitely didn’t want me to walk it – first the appalling weather and then the injury. But there are many more caminos and hopefully many more years to walk them.
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