Camino Portugues Day 6

Camino Portugues Day 6

Rubiaes to Tui

Starting km: 116.7

Finishing km: 136.7

Distance walked: 20.0

Was raining when I woke up and I really didn't want to get out of bed.  But we waited til 08:15 to leave and while we were waiting the rain stopped.  That'll teach those suckers to get up so early! Or so I thought. It started again pretty much the moment we stepped out the door.  Rained solidly for almost an hour, but then the sun came out and lasted pretty much the rest of the day.

Walking was a mix of nice forest, small country roads and, near the end some really cracking good old architecture.  In the town of Valencia, Portugal (not to be confused with or mispronounced as Valencia, Spain, as a number of fellow walkers kept doing) the Camino went straight through the old fortress.  The current fort dates from the 17th anf 17th centuries. Its a good spot for a fort, as it occupies a strategic spot astride and high above the Minho River, which also happens to be the border with Spain in this part of the world.

After the fort we headed straight across said river, returning to Spain after an absence of one week.  Tui, Spain is on the far side, and has an amazing Gothic cathedral that looks more like a fortress itself!

The Albergue in Tui is a lovely restored stone building, but is a bit more officious and institutional than the ones in Portugal were.  No pots, pans or dishes in the kitchen. Earlier curfew and earlier mandatory departure time in the morning. And no alcoholic beverages in the Albergue.  All the same, we went down to the riverside for a picnic and for:

Wine of the day:

Our last Vinho Verde of the Camino, purchased in Valença before crossing the border.  This was drunk with a picnic in a park down by the river because of the aforementioned albergue alcohol ban!