Day Four: Lugar do Congo to Ponte de Lima

The Portuguese claim that the symbol of their country is the rooster; I think the symbol of their country is a rain cloud -- another rainy day on the Camino. At least I don't regret spending money on a new rain cover for my pack!! This morning started out much like the others: waking, packing up, and getting ready to hit the trail. Breakfast was provided by the lady who ran our hostel -- bread and cheese and coffee and jams -- and then we were on our way. 

Today was a short hiking day -- only about fifteen kilometers (which is about ten miles); a nice break for the feet. The path took us up again today, but through many more forest trails; very beautiful for walking! Everything is so green and mossy, the path squishy with fresh mud, the air misty and aromatic; it pulls you into nature and makes you feel a part of the forest. The path feels magical and God feels close on paths such as these. I spent a lot of time in prayer today, both on and off the trail. Upward paths always test my endurance, so to keep pace and steady my breathing I often repeat the mantra "I can do all things through the lord who strengthens me." or I sing the refrain of Oceans "spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me; take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my savior." Both take me over hills and mountains I could never cross on my own. 

After about an hour of walking we stopped for cafe con leche as well as my favorite Kinder eggs!! CJ had never had a kinder egg, so it was a bit of an experience. haha In no time at all we had arrived in Ponte de Lima, but not before we encountered an ox pulling a man and a cart and a herd of sheep with their shepherd being herded straight toward us. You just never know what you will see on the Camino. 

Once we arrived in Ponte de Lima we went straight to the albergue -- we didn't want to miss out on the beds!! Of course this albergue didn't open until four. Of course it was before noon. No matter! More time to explore!! 

Ponte de Lima is a medieval town built along the rio Lima; they will celebrate over two hundred years of township later this year. While waiting for our albergue to open, we crossed the bridge to the church and went inside for some prayer; the church was small but beautiful. We had the opportunity to light candles for family and friends at home and offer them up in prayer as well as admire all the detail inside. Next we went to an old tower / museum that used to be a jail tower ... who knew? It wasn't very big and it didn't house much art, but what was inside was fun to see. After the museum we went to find lunch -- sandwiches. After lunch we walked around the town and looked in some of the tiny shops; it is always fun to see all the familiar faces of the pilgrims that you encounter day after day. At one point we came across a wedding in progress; the bride and her flower girl looked beautiful entering the church. We watched her process in, but then left the gawking bystanders to find something else to see. By this time it was cold and drizzling; it was about one thirty and the other museum didn't open until two. Where to go where it was warm and dry? Back to the church!! (The first church -- not the one with the wedding.) Around two fifteen we went to the Toy Museum of Portugal -- so many toys!! We also saw a really neat model train set that took up an entire room with its display. After the museum we still had about an hour until the albergue opened ... so we sat down at a cafe nearby and tried a local beer with some tostadas. 

At four the albergue doors opened and the pilgrims flooded in -- sixty beds in total, and I'm sure by five every bed was taken. CJ and I got beds seven and eight. It pays to be an early bird, for our room is on the top floor with a private balcony and a view of the mountains. There are only eighteen beds in this room. (Intimate by albergue standards.)

Once we explored our home for the night and unpacked a bit, we visited with fellow pilgrims; we met one man from the Netherlands who is seventy-seven, completing his first Camino. Another girl from Spain is in her late twenties and has hiked the Camino every year since she was a teen, starting out as a trip she took with her father. In the bed next to me is a lady from Russia. She doesn't speak any English or Spanish, but she smiles and points a lot! (Later we saw her at dinner with two pilgrims we didn't know -- she wasn't able to communicate with them, either; but sometimes just knowing you are with kindred spirits attempting to accomplish the same goal as you is enough to make a bond.) 

After a small rest, we ventured out for dinner. Along the way we bought some grapes for tomorrow morning (I saw them earlier in the market and thought they looked tasty) and ran into the Australian couple (Bernie and his wife). With dinner consumed (soup and steak and salad and rice and fried and wine and coffee) we headed back to our albergue. The sun was setting as we were walking back; it was finally not raining and the sky was beautiful -- we were attempting to take a selfie on the bridge when a group of ladies stopped and offered to take our picture. One lady handed the camera to the other, stating that she was a photographer; she made us move around the bridge and change directions to catch the light and get a good photo. haha 

And now we are back in our albergue, ready for bed. A few photos .... 

This way! #yellowarrowlove 

Views like this make my heart happy. ❤️

A pilgrim devotional in the middle of a vineyard; these are scattered throughout the countryside. 

There was a puppy inside his kinder egg!! Mine had a very tiny water gun inside -- I can't wait to see if it works! 

The mountains are coming!! 

The bridge into Ponte de Lima. 

Pope Francis has infiltrated the bars and cafes throughout Portugal -- I love it! 

A lovely spot to sit and pray. 

Some of the art inside the jail museum -- everything was really colorful! 

The view from the balcony of our albergue. 

Super Bock y tostadas con atun y queso. 

Our winning photo from the volunteer photographer 😍

And our beds for the night. 

At dinner tonight CJ and I realized that this is the most consecutive hours we've ever spent together -- it's a good thing we are loving it!! Tomorrow is not too long of a day at about twenty kilometers, but it is a very steep day with an incline of nearly six hundred meters. If you have achy legs and feet tomorrow, you are likely experiencing sympathy pains. haha 

Bom Caminho.