May 15

Day 2

We are so wiped out from yesterday’s 25mile walk we all sleep in until 7:15am. We wake up in a panic that we’ve overslept even though there is no set times on the Camino. We know from experience the earlier we set out the better. By the time we gather our gear and stop by a Farmacia for sunscreen and grocery store for snacks it is 10am. 

    The walk all morning is again very industrial. Train tracks, warehouses, big trucks and power lines adorn the scenery. It is very warm with highs in the eighties and the hot pavement laughs at us as our sticks click along and sweat flows down our quick dry shirts. The breeze from trucks and cars whizzing by us is in a strange way welcoming. 

   When I think today can’t be any worse a beautiful flower bush, butterfly or horse standing in a field catches my attention and I’m quickly reminded that God is here with me just waiting to hear from me along the way. I lift up prayers for all that have asked me to and more. I pray for peace above all in everyone’s circumstances including my very own. It’s amazing how simply talking to God makes everything just a little more manageable in our lives. It’s definitely the stress that gets immediately lifted from the burdens we all carry. My shoulders ache as I pray.

   Today our walk is shorter... a mere 20k and we have a few places where we can stop for a snack and get in the shade. As we enter Villa Nova da Rainha church bells are ringing as to say “come into my village and rest Pilgrims”.  We find a quaint coffee shop where a friendly waiter makes us delicious coffee and tells us his family has owned the shop for 45years. He stamps our credentials and tells us that he is going to Fatima in 2 days. He goes 2or 3 times a year and it’s very special. The Portuguese consider Fatima their Camino more so than Santiago because of the newness of the appearance of The Virgin Mary. They take Fatima very seriously as a Holy Site.  As we sit and have our coffee I realize my shorts are drenched in sweat and arms sunburned. We’ve only covered 7 miles.  Before we leave I go to the restroom and the lights flicker on and off the entire time I’m in there. I silently laugh as it’s reminiscent of the Camino Francis and the “timed lights” in all the restrooms. There’s nothing like sitting on the toilet in the dark in a foreign country!

    We head out for the 2nd half of our walk today and a black cat races in front of us. Michael assures me it’s OK because the cat ran from left to right. Who knew? He says that no bad luck will come to us because of this. I’m relieved. High speed trains pass us at the speed of sound as we walk beside the train tracks.  It seems like we are walking from one train station to another. We cross over the tracks one train station too soon and end up walking alongside a busy highway. I don’t like this at all and don’t feel safe.  Michael points out that one thing he hasn’t seen in this Camino even in villages are benches for people to rest on. 

     As we enter our village for the evening we are excited because Michael has called ahead and reserved 4 beds at an Alburgue. The town is precious with music playing in the streets. Michael guides us to Abrigo do Perrigrino Shelter where we are greeted by the sweetest man. There are beds available and when there aren’t any left they let overflow sleep at the church. As usual I have a top bunk. We have Germans, a Hungarian, Netherlands and French staying with us.  The first thing we do is pick out bunks, shower and wash our clothes outside and hang up on a line to dry. Washing clothes is key for our day to day living. Before we came I ordered a “Scrubba” bag on Amazon. It very cool and easy as all you do is put your dirty clothes in it, add water and soap, close top and let the air out from the side. You gently massage the clothes inside then rinse with water again. It’s as good as a washing machine and easy!   Last night I tried it out for the first time and because it was so late my clothes never dried so this morning  I safety pinned them all on my backpack to dry in the hot sun and breeze. It worked!   Several of us gather for a drink where Michael has an appetizer of Tripe and Richard tries not only that dish but snails for the first time. He likes them both and we decline. Afterwards we head to a Pilgrim dinner which consist of soup, chicken or fish, rice, potatoes, green beans, salad and dessert. Every bite is fulfilling and delicious. 

     We walk back to our Alburgue at 9pm and the door is locked. After a few light taps on the door someone lets us in and we all scramble to get ready for bed. I’m on my top bunk typing out my blog without any lights, using one finger as the German lady below me keeps snorting as if to say “Lights Out Lady”.  So its goodnight now.... frustration of the day has been getting my google photos archived to download onto my blog and it’s not working. You know me..... I’ll keep trying so lighten up German lady..... I’m not making a sound!