Gaius' Inn

Sermonde to Porto 9.93 miles

A day when we didn't have to get up too early or feel the need to rush. The walk to Porto was just under 10 miles and we are spending a couple of nights here. Some ambivalence as we are unused to the sheer numbers of people in one place, but interested to visit a new city.

There was a couple of miles of very nice quiet walking along the old Roman road, through woods which gave some cool shade. The rest was on suburban and then outer city roads. In the middle of an ordinary street, I was suddenly overcome with emotion when thinking about my friend Annette and how she would have loved hearing about this trip. The feelings took by surprise but perhaps are part of what this journey is all about.

We visited the Cathedral for a stamp on our Camino passports and walked down to the Douro through tiny colourful streets. Then we had dinner at a very popular vegan buffet restaurant which only let in diners who had brought along proof of their vaccination status.

Tonight we are staying in a hostel and sharing the dormitory room with two young Italian men. They have gone out on the town so I'm going to sleep now before they come back in the wee hours..