tomatoes all the Way

CAMINO PORTUGUES Day 5

Well.. I think I have seen more tomatoes today than in the whole of the rest of my life!

It began to get light in Azambuja just before 7am and starlings were chattering in the park next door. We had a quick breakfast of hummus, olives, bananas, coffee and apple juice, all left over from last night's supper, and then went on our way again.

Today's route took us along roads and through fields and fields of tomatoes. As you can see, they are low growing and harvested by a machine which separates them from the leafy part and then sends them up an elevator into a trailer which drives alongside. Trucks full of tomatoes passed us at regular intervals, spilling out tomatoes onto the road.

The path eventually joined the Tejo river and ran along the concrete flood barrier which separates it from the town. It has been a hot and sweaty day for walking, with some annoying flies, but the 10.5 miles passed quite quickly and by 2.30 we had arrived on the outskirts of Porto de Muge, where we are staying in a beautiful equestrian centre called Casa Marchanta.

There is a saying that "the Camino provides" and tonight the owner has offered to provide dinner :-)