So we were both awake trying to figure out the plan: should we journey on to the next town and walk from there? Or wait until this hotel gives us an answer? Which route should we take? The coastal? Or the established central? How should we get out of town? Taxi? Metro? How far should we walk?
And then some self doubt. Can I do this? Is age catching me or is the thought of how old I am catching me?
I couldn’t go back to sleep.
Fast forward to morning. A shower. Coffee. Breakfast on the horizon.
Decision: Bruno at the front desk is so helpful and English speaking. By 10 am he will know whether there is "room at the inn." If not, he will find us another hotel to stay at tonight. We will stay here in this beautiful town one more night. Wander as we planned on the boardwalk without packs and get a sense of the coastal. Then plan our next couple of days on the Central, make our reservations and begin our Camino.
So... travel does not solve all of llfe’s problems. And as Craig wisely commented: we probably have glorified the day to day experience in our minds and others.
So now it’s back to the moment and trusting my/our experience and judgment.
Mortality. It’s real. No escape.
Stay tuned!
And now the happy ending:
We are staying right here in the same room one more day! Elena at the front desk arranged it all and even provided us with breakfast buffet gratis!
We have our plan for tomorrow and our hotel in Vila do Condo reserved. As well as Casa Fernanda for the following night. More about that after the experience but know fernanda is famous on the Camino for her hospitality.
Lesson learned? Our travel muse has returned.
And these wise words from John:
"Hope Bruno came through for you! Remember - if things don't always go the way you planned, there's always the chance that the disruption will present you with surprises and opportunities that you otherwise would have missed."
👍
Without packs we rode the metro to the Cathedral stop. Had our cred Brian’s stamped inside and walked down to the river to begin walking Matsinhos - our plan for the day. The walk takes us from the river turning north along the coast. We didn’t see any other peregrines , identified of course by packs but did char with a woman who is starting today.
Ocean walk with many cafes and delighted weekenders enjoying a sunny day at the beach.
We lingered in parks, talked a lot the way we do to understand some of the unleashed emotion from the previously described circumstances.
The world turns. Steady on its axis.
Some observations- merely observations
Mobile phones tether everyone. It is the way now. Young and older alike. People are so very friendly. The Portuguese say this about themselves. They take pride in helping us and English is widely spoken and well spoken. As well as French and Spanish. 3 times now when we ask for directions, the person walks with us to the destination, chatting like long time friends. I love it.
Children are cherished. I believe one can tell a lot about a culture by the way children are treated. No tantrums in public and definitely no yelling or spanking goes on. I won’t share where I’ve seen this occur the most. And I did provide major entertainment for some in a playground today as I attempted to go down a slide and got stuck. There is a video !
This is a university town. As is Coombes, Lisbon and some others. We kept seeing young people dressed in black with robes and found out that it is the symbolic uniform of university and this is some kind of celebration week- serious events during the day and carousing at night!
It’s a bit strange to pass so many gelato places and not document Craig eating ice cream. Perhaps this will change....
Pastel de nata however is a worthy substitute.
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