21km on a rainy day on beachside boardwalks and paths, then through an agricultural area and into the back streets of villages before reaching Esposende.
There are many churches along the Camino, but I particularly liked the many variations on this roadside shrine. Sometimes they were modern and colorful and, at other times, ancient stone. They all portray Mary and angels pulling sinners from a fiery boat on the ocean. This shrine was just outside my hotel.
The path starts alongside the beach. There are piles of seaweed all packaged up, presumably for drying later.
I enjoyed walking in the rain along the boardwalks. It was quiet and there weren’t many people around. In these first few days, I could walk a long time without seeing other pilgrims as I tended to leave early, and most pilgrims start later on the route.
The boardwalks take you above an agricultural area.
The green crops were a nice change from the ocean on a grey day.
The church at Apulia had toilets and a pilgrim’s stamp.
I went off the Camino a little way to find coffee and passed another graveyard.
I stopped at a cafe in Fao that offered a pilgrim menu for lunch at 9EUR. These types of cafes are common on the route and you can get a good meal for a cheap price.
Esposende was very welcoming to pilgrims!
Continue the Camino journey: Esposende to Viana do Castelo, Portugal
Accommodation: I stayed at the Hotel Suave Mar right on the Camino. Great breakfast!
Facilities: Definitely not enough coffee today! I had to leave the Camino to find some at Apulia. There were toilets at the church and later, cafes, but I also went for a wee in the fields at one point.