One More Step

Yesterday I caught the train north to Coimbra, and then a bus to Ansião.  There was much sitting and waiting, in between journeys, but eventually made it to my accommodation just as it was starting to get dark.  The cost of accomodation in this part of the world, compared to home, is quite astonishing.last night I had a private room, complete with sheets and towels and with my own bathroom for €25 (about $42au). Tiles (above and below)in the church in Entroncamento,  where I managed to have a sing before a Senhora entered. Near the bus station at Coimbra €25! An early start, in the cool morning air saw good progress made.  A quick pastry and coffee set me up for reasonably brisk start.  There were a number of villages to walk through, though none with refreshments available.  For a change, after all the road walking on the Fátima path, most of the journey was through bushland tracks and quiet back roads. ...

I have had the best stay so far on this journey.  It was in the medieval village of Ourėm, high on a hill overlooking the town by the same name.  I had trouble finding my way out of Fátima.  I started following one lot of arrows, but fortunately read the very small print which told me that following them would get me to the coast rather than heading North - not what I wanted to do.   Leaving Fátima  An intesting building on the way I did see one arrow! It was out with google maps, and a route, mainly on roads,  that eventually joined the designated path about a kilometre from my destination. This was, apparently,  a novel idea.  My hostess had never had anyone arrive having made their own path!  Finding accomodation on this path is very tricky, and after making enquiries,  I finally booked a place in the medieval village itself, just below the castle.  I couldn't have chosen a better place. ...

I woke to a beautifully cool morning, ready to begin my journey, but it was not to last long.  The forecast was for the low 30's, with the high temperatures being reached soon after lunch. I foolishly listened to my host, who assured me that, no, the path did not go past the castle (though that is where I had seen the signs), it went along this road.  I decided to take her word for it because that is what the map also showed.  Walking uphill, though a different one to the castle, for about a kilometre, and with no turn off taking me in the direction I knew I had to go I decided I would retrace my steps and head up to the castle. I might have been on the wrong road, but it meant I could take a photo of the Convento do Cristo, showing its immense size. The path, once past the convent, went meandering across the countryside, more or less following the medieval aqueduct that carried water for about 6 kms to the Convento do Cristo.   On the way I met a yo...

Leaving Lisbon, by train, I headed to the town of Tomar.  The train trip was fairly crowded and so the it wasn't the relaxed journey I was hoping for, but pleasant none the less.  On reaching Tomar the temperature had risen considerably and so I stopped for a leisurely lunch before making my way to the Pension Luz.  I couldn't check in and so I left my bag and headed out, and up, to the castle. on the way to my Pension. Heading up to the castle, and the first blue arrow that I will be following. This is a Knights Templar castle and it is immense.  The ruins of the castle itself are huge, and the grounds even bigger.  The castle looms over the town, and though there is a road up there, I followed the steps, with the path going straight up the hill.  It was hot work, but I was pleased to see the Caminho do Fatima signs that I was to follow the next day, though not looking forward to a hill start, with a full pack. In the ca...