Day Three: Just a bit over 20 km Póvoa de Varzim to Esposende Sitting out on the balcony of the Mira Rio Hotel looking over the Cavado River. The blisters have started, but my feet are up and I’m celebrating a perfect day on the way. Today was a mix of boardwalks above the dunes and cobblestone paths through forests. It was nice to have a bit of shade. As varied as the path are the nationalities of the pilgrims we have met along the way. We’ve met a lot of Germans, Czechs, and one very personable Irish fellow. He has a cousin who fell in love and moved to Moose Jaw. We had to break it to him that was days away from us. He also had the most spectacular sunburn I’ve seen in a while. What we haven’t met so far are any fellow Canadians. We passed many abandoned windmills and thriving crops in the fields—lots of garlic and potatoes. After a few kilometres we notices that small bunches of flowers had been attached at unusual spots on homes: the gate lock, the window latches, and the door knobs. We hadn’t noticed this yesterday so we looked it up. Well, today is the first of May, so it makes sense. It is a Maia tradition in Northern Portugal. Flowers are attached anywhere evil might creep into a home. Aside from the runner who ran by and gave me a fist bump and a bom caminho, my favourite moment today involved an egg. It was about halfway through the day and we found shade under a giant tree we could rest against. We got out our boiled eggs, Portuguese bread, and some salty olives that were in a zip-lock bag. There were no sounds except the click of pilgrim poles and the birds in the trees. All we had to do was eat and breathe. This is why we walk. Life is simplified down to eating, sleeping, and walking. Love it. You are Always in my Prayers. Love Mom.
22 Comments
NPW Teacher
5/2/2023 03:35:00 pm
FYI - video says private
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Diane
5/2/2023 05:10:49 pm
I chat with everyone. I make a lot of five minute friends—people I may never see again. Where are you from is probably the first question everyone asks. Also, strangely in Cafes pilgrims often share a table even if they have never met before. I just launch into English first —almost always their English is better than my grasp of their language.
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Cristina
5/3/2023 11:04:14 am
That sounds like a really fun day, how is the weather there in Portugal? Could you tell me more about the Maia tradition or how they believe flowers could scare away the evil that's latched on their homes?
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Diane
5/4/2023 09:27:17 am
I found this blogpost on the Maia tradition. I hope it answers your question. http://portugueseondemand.blogspot.com/2012/04/beautiful-maia-tradition-in-portugal.html
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Ray
5/4/2023 09:28:34 am
Portugal is warmer than Canada, they are in spring but things are much further along in the growing season. March and April has more rain . So far we have had only one brief downpour and a few light sprinkles.
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Ava
5/4/2023 11:19:58 am
Wow that looks cool. How was it?
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NPWAS7
5/4/2023 11:22:33 am
This looks like such a calming experience! When I walk or run, I just like to stop and observe nature and how quite it can be.
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Diane
5/5/2023 09:49:34 am
…and when you are walking you seem to pay so much more attention to the sounds of the birds
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Makayla and Alexis
5/4/2023 11:23:55 am
Are eggs and garlic and stuff you normal meal or is it different every day
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Diane
5/5/2023 09:51:12 am
We try to figure out lunch good that is not too heavy for Ray to carry.
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NPWAS
5/4/2023 11:27:23 am
What was the wall with all the people, about??
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Diane
5/5/2023 09:54:22 am
Tiles honouring the history of the town
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NPWS7JM
5/4/2023 11:28:17 am
Is it something about the way they make the bread there that makes it called Portuguese bread?
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Diane
5/5/2023 09:52:51 am
Every cultures bread is a little different. The bread here is crusty and the outside surface is not smooth, but it is soft inside.
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Autumn,Hailey and Kinzie W7
5/4/2023 11:29:48 am
How high was the balcony and did you end up getting acrophobia from looking out of it?
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Diane
5/5/2023 09:55:14 am
Not high…closed in…all good😄
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blake
5/4/2023 11:30:03 am
how hot was it there?
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Diane
5/5/2023 09:56:08 am
Mid to high 20’s most of the time.
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Kelsey and brynlee
5/4/2023 11:30:41 am
Did you use the phone booth
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Diane
5/5/2023 09:57:26 am
Ray has a European SIM card so we always have a phone, but it is cool to see the phone booths still around.
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W7 Schaefer
5/4/2023 11:40:52 am
Was the cylinder building on an island?
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Diane
5/5/2023 09:58:30 am
No, but we usually see the windmills near the shore.
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