On the Camino...

Last time we said we would look up on Google the "chicken" statue we found in Barcelos.  We learned that the Barcelos Rooster is the unofficial symbol of Portugal. Now we can understand why we have seen it even included on the steeple ironwork on top of churches.

One of my favorite shot on the way to Barcelos! Forgot this in last post.

So we move on from Barcelos!  Moving toward Porto de Lima.  Again, forgive me for a superficial smattering of all we are experiencing!   I want to share some of the pictures that perhaps tell more of the story than any words can do.

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Here is a picture of a picture I took at one of the Albergues. This is the prize, the cathedral at Santiago where we "officially" are received as Pilgrims! Keep you eyes on the prize!

        

Jean snapped this shot of Latona and I coming in for a rest!

                         

The sky carries its own message.

                          

Several things developed major importance for us.  Perhaps the most important is the Cafe.  We stop at least once a day for a coffee and a stamp in our passport book.  Often a pastry, too😄

A great spot to rest during a hot afternoon is the local bus stop shelter.

 

And of course the final stop each day is where we sleep. Here is a hostel where we stayed and we had the best meal of our trip so far.  Han is the owner and the chef and he really treated us well!

There certainly is a quality in life that only happens because of the people you encounter.  Sometimes it develops into a life time friendship ( like those reading this perhaps) or it might be a sweet momentary encounter that provides a special gift of friendship just for a few hours.  Here are some of those gifts - Ursula and Bruno...

Pauline and Marty...

And Magdalena and Josie.

And oh yes, our dear friends Pat and Jean who invited us on this trip and perhaps gave us a special gift we never would have experienced without their kindness to us.

Well, back to the adventure of Portugal. Picking grapes in a small familiar vineyard.

Some of the harvest.

Porto de Lima:  One of the many spots to be reminded to look up, and a medieval bridge leading to the church.

This town, Porto de Lima is considered the oldest town in Portugal and once was a stronghold of the Roman Empire.  This tower is part of the remains of that time.

One of the waterfront statues in the town.  When we have access to the Internet, I want to learn more about this statue.

One of my favorite shots to take.  A fruit market in Ponte de Lima. Isn't that a work of art!

Another statue in the Center of the city.

This morning we hiked out around 6:30.am and headed for our first real climb of the Pilgrimage.

A view from the top...coming on next post😍