To Vila’ Cha

We left our cushy hotel in Porto and set out for the bus stop to get us out of the city center, it was about a 12 minute ride to an area on the beach, path heading north.  The ‘path’ was a promenade used by walkers, bikers, strollers, runners, and pilgrims.  For most of the day we walked either on a paved promenade, road, or on boardwalk along the beach.  The breeze was challenging!

  

Walked 20km, about 13 miles.  At about 15 km we stopped for lunch at one of MANY beach restaurants, waiter was the best restaurant salesman I’ve ever seen.  We had an amazing lunch of this morning’s catch of sardines and mackerel, along with a rice and bean dish, salad, and potatoes, 60 euros for all 4 of us ($67.00)!  

We are staying in a municipal albuergue (hostel) in Vila’ Cha.  It is donativo (donation) for the room, so we gave 20€ for our four bottom bunks.  Showered, washed sweaty clothes and hung them to dry, had a short nap, then strolled out into the village to enjoy a beer or sangria, followed by another fresh fish dinner.  It was glorious!  

The coolest things I saw today were the huge blades for wind turbines ready for shipping at the port at Leixoes,  the cruise terminal at this same port that looks like an enormous (ladies) hat, the pan of fresh - caught fish that was brought to the table  for our choosing at dinner, and finally the beautiful, crashing waves rolling in among the rocks along the shore, cheered on by a brisk 20 - 25 mph wind in our faces.  Hard to walk against but kept us comfortably cool!

Prayers for calm and safety are requested as my brother Jeff flies to California with my mom tomorrow, thanks, all!