Today is a combination of different kinds of paths being offered up by the Camino. We started out on pavement getting out of the town, turned towards the seaside still on pavement, then onto more boardwalks and finally dirt pathways closer to Esposende. The sun is beating down on us early. So it was a hard slog. We still make good time so it is very encouraging.
We thought it may be difficult to get two stamps each day that is required for the Camino certificate. Not so, there are places that would do it for free and cafes and albergues are all equipped to do it. We have been getting three or more stamps each day.
We had the Camino all mapped out but ended up on an official route in between the ones the I knew about. We were following the way markers until we got close to where we needed to cross a bridge. We looked at our Google instructions and figured that the way markers are leading us to the long way. At the end of the day, we thought we didn't need that so we followed Google. We ended on roads with lots of traffic and sidewalks interrupted by parked cars. Eventually we got to the bridge and found that other pilgrims were emerging from a park below the bridge and only needed to come up the stairs to cross the bridge. So lesson learned. Google may seem faster but the Camino will lead you to a safer way.
We are staying in the Sleep&Go just outside of Esposende. That cuts down on the distance to reach the albergue but the downside is that is in a relatively remote site. Supermarket is at least 16 min away. Restaurants can be as close as 7 min. We were offered free use of bicycles to do grocery shopping. Very nice, clean and modern albergue with just about everything except proximity to useful things as I said. The best though is a pool available to anyone. I didn't use it but I am sure many people appreciate it.
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