Casa da Lima-Coimbra-Porto
Paolo is my neigbhour from the white Portuguese mill. Every pilgrim arriving at the dirt road in front of our house takes a picture from this nice ‘postcard’ you see when you are at our house. Paolo also has a house in Matoshinos, the Porto Coastal route and he walks the caminho regularly. He always says that the stretch Coimbra to Porto is not so interesting and you’d better take a bus. Well I didn’t do that but I understand him.
I started from Ribeira de Alcalamouque to Coimbra. Read in my former blog where I slept in Coimbra.
Coimbra is my favourite city in Portugal. I once heard that this is Portugal. When you only saw Lisbon or Porto you were not in Portugal. A Portuguese friend on the caminho told us that the caminho Lisbon is the caminho Portuguese. If you start in Porto, it is not really Portuguese anymore.
Coimbra-Mealhada-Sernadelo 24 km
I walked from Coimbra to Sernadelo 24 km (Hostel Hilario with restaurant). the people in the hostel were friendly, there was a big garden where I put my chair and sat outside. The restaurant on site was good. I had the famous Leitao, which is from this place Mealhada. It is suckling pig.
Sernadelo-Agueda 24 km
I met a lot of nice pilgrims! From Coimbra onwards it looks like there are more pilgrims. But that would be strange, so maybe they are more centered towards one particular albergue?
The stage Sernadelo-Agueda 24 km (Albergue San Antonio / hotel Celeste). For the ones who like a private place you choose Celeste, and the ones for a shared room take San Antonio. The restaurant is quite far for my feet 1,5 km away. It is a sort of take-away and they deliver! So If you ask te reception to order food, it is much easier!
Agueda-Pinheiro de Bemposto- Moinho Garcia 25 km
I read about a nice mill of the route so I like to go there. The route is from Agueda to Pinheiro de Bemposto, and 1,5 km more to the Albergue Moinho Garcia (total of 25 km) of a German man. There is a waterfall to cool down in summer and a really nice garden to sit, read, and fall asleep.
From this German owner of this place I got the advice to walk to the West. I listened to him, and I found a nice easy boardwalk alongside the ocean. Perfect to walk on my sandals to let my blisters heal.
Moinho Garcia-Esmoris (Albergue Be Happy)
I walk with a German volunteer in Moinho Garcia to Be Happy Albergue in Esmoris. As the name says, Be happy. This is a real gift. There is a nice restaurant on the roof top, the showers are massaging you! There is a nice living room, and kitchen.
From Esmoris the stage goes to Gaia Porto. Here I take the bus back to Casa da Lima.
My Secret… and Tip
I walked 10-15 km and took the train, for these last two days to Porto. My shoes were too small and I walked on my sandals these last two days to Porto.
Ay Lin's Caminho Tip
Mini Coastal route
Go from Moinho Garcia to the coast to create your own Coastal two-days route before arriving in Gaia Porto! Go to the Be Happy Hostel to relax. And let the boardwalk take you to Porto.
