Day 54. Thursday 1 May.

1 May is a traditional ‘start of spring’ holiday in Portugal and a day for protecting homes from evil for the year ahead by packing sprigs of yellow broom into doors and windows to ward off the devil for the rest of the year.

So having the devil sorted out, for us, today was to be something of a rest day: a bit of shopping for dinner, washing clothes, planning for days to come, relaxing…..

A walk to the Atlantic beach was on the agenda, so off we set at about midday. Followed the cobblestone roads in a generally Westerly direction, and came across a couple of unique wooden sail windmills, taken over and preserved by the local municipality.

A narrowing track from there led down to a walking path above the shoreline. There were some very informative billboards about the geology – lots of it in scientific terms a bit beyond us. Interesting that the first one discussed four changes in the landscape over millennia caused by naturally occurring climatic cycles (in simple terms: glacial era followed by warming, followed by glacial era…) – no mention of anthropomorphic influence. Meandered along, enjoying the views, the rocks, the flowers, the occasional little green guy…

Met several walking groups & solos on the Camino route (this section from Porto to Santiago about 200 kms).Chatted to two German ladies of a certain age relishing the walking on this coastline; the weather & colours were outstanding. When we commented on yesterday’s conditions they laughed; they’d spent the day in luxury in a spa hotel, ‘a gift from my friend’ – the other one. They were each carrying 10 kg backpacks as their only luggage, mostly water,  but had no pre-bookings each night: made it up as they went along. The night without power had been a torch & bread.

On the return leg of our Camino we noticed some folk enjoying lunch and a drink at a modest beachside restaurant, so decided ‘why not?’ (D was hoping for a bowl of chips).Ordered beers and a serving of the clams to share ( he’d seen or imagined some customers with clams and chips). Ours came with bread, but all was delicious & Camino travelers also called in. So engrossed forgot to take a before photo, so this is after

So our rest day was not so restful – about 9k steps. Weather was perfect after the rain yesterday, and the evening is peaceful.

Dinner. Portuguese baby Calamari, adapted…