A Day At The Beach, Sort Of

It's July 2, 2016. Today I walked 28.3 km (17.5 mi) getting myself from Porto to Vila do Conde, Portugal. 

I hadn't slept much the night before, because the room was so noisy. Last night I slept like a log, until 5am. Then I was awake and excited to get started walking. It was still dark as I left the hostel and made my way to the Metro to get to my starting point. I had forgotten what happens on week ends during the summer in Spain, and I guess Portugal too. The young folks go the the center of the city or the beach and party all night long. So I encountered some who were still drunk, some who looked bedraggled, some who just looked tired, and one young man who looked like he got punched in the face. Several exuberant young men offered to share their drink with me when I was walking to the station. I had to decline their generous offer. 

There were lots of young people in the metro station and on the train I took. I got off the Metro and walked down to the beach to begin the days walk along a board walk on the beach. Believe it or not the various municipalities have built a boardwalk, mostly of wood, but some cement, about 15 miles long. Amazing!

 I passed a couple of small fishing communities with boats and nets and traps. Here is a picture from the start of my stroll. 

And here is an interesting idea. It was a swimming pool and wading pool created among the rocks with water from the ocean. 

Before I got to the beach I stopped for cafe and what I thought was a croissant. It was stuffed with some sort of cold hamburger mixture. It was about 6:30 or 7am, way to early for that treat. So I drank my cafe and headed out. Later during my walk I had a egg type roll with a lemon cream filling. Very yummy. I stopped a couple of more times for cafe, but no food more food until I got to Vila de Conde about 2pm. The Albergue didn't open until 3pm, so I decided to have a bite. I went to the restaurant next to the Albergue and met this lovely man who spoke more English than I did Portuguese. He went over the menu with me, but seemed disappointed by my selection. So I asked him what he liked. He pointed to a dish but couldn't explain all of it in English, except he said it had rice. I thought "what the heck, once more into the breach." I said fine I would have that, whatever it was. Leea always tells me, rather disgustedly, that I will eat anything. He decided he would bring a sample for me to try. It was squid in a yummy sauce. I tried it and it tasted good, if I just didn't focus on the curly little tentacles. So I ordered it and ate it, along with a Coca Cola Zero. I never drink soda at home, only on the Camino. I have no idea how that happens. 

After I finished eating he stamped my credential and brought me this big book that Pilgrim's from all over the world had written. He handed me a pen to add my comments and asked if he could take a picture of me for his Facebook page. Then he gave me the name of the page so I could check it out. What a delightful lunch. 

The Albergue opened and I checked in and got a bed. It is new and quite nice. They even have big warm blankets. And, they have a washing machine and dryer, which I put to good use. My hostel in Porto didn't have a washer or dryer or any facilities for hand washing. I was in danger of getting stinky. 

The beach walk had been beautiful, but it was very windy today. The combination of sun, wind and walking with a pack, left me tired. I think I will sleep well tonight. 

Here are some of the sights from today. 

And my lunch