Jennifer’s Camino Portuguese – anticipation!

Posted on by

I’m so looking forward to walking the Portuguese Camino.  I have been doing some walking in preparation.  Not too much – I don’t want to peak too soon.

I don’t mind hills but long stretches of flat are sooo boring. Each day I try and take a different route but the very nature of walking from home means that I always return home.

Bill amazes me.  He has a training route he enjoys.  He walks that same route over and over again.  He only varies that route to walk up Mount Misery.

But I try and find a different path each time, turn a corner I’ve never been around or up a laneway I didn’t know was there.  Anything so I’m not going over the same ground.

I’m really looking forward to going for a walk in Porto and not ending up in Porto but ending up in Santiago!

And I’m looking forward to walking in the Spring when everything is new and fresh.  The Spring flowers will be coming out. The bulbs that I must plant before we leave will be blooming  there.  Amazing!

And I’m also really looking forward to eating Portuguese tarts.

I know I will walk past lots of pastry shops because Portugal has so many and I’ll just have to go in and have a sit down and try something I’ve never had before! Yummy!

Then there’s the lace museum in Vila do Conde. I’m training hard so that I’ll be capable of going for a walk at the end of the day (after 24kms or something!) so that I can find this museum. That’s how much I love lace!

But what I’m really looking forward to is experiencing the extraordinary energy line that is the Camino Portugues.  Pilgrims and others have been walking on this energy line for thousands of years.

At some point St James himself walked this route and legend has it that he preached at O Porrino.

I love legends.  Legends are energy gatherers.  Lots and lots of people down through the ages have placed their thought and their faith in St James.

He travelled the way we will go both when he was alive and after his death.

And I’m looking forward to making new friends.

Having someone to walk with and have a chat with and learn new things. To have a shared time,  a shared history with others. Having an adventure on my own is never as much fun as with someone else.

I’m having such a lovely time thinking about what I do on the Camino that I’ve set up a Pinterest account.  I have a board called Camino Portugues and I’m starting new boards for each day.  You can have a look at –

Jennifer’s Pinterest boards – Camino Portuguese

For those of you coming on the tour, I’m so looking forward to meeting you all in person!!

Jennifer.

Jennifer walking.

40 thoughts on “Jennifer’s Camino Portuguese – anticipation!”

  1. Jennifer,

    I, too, am looking forward to meeting you and Bill and all the others. I believe this Camino will be nothing short of fantastic. Oh the food, Oh the wine, Oh the friendships to be made! Yes, simply fantastic. 🙂

    Arléné

    Liked by 1 person

      • Lynda,

        I loved it! It was a homecoming for me! You know what I always say – “Once Bitten”. Glad to know you and Dale will be returning again. Maybe we will bump into each other, I’m already formulating a 2015 “long” Camino, tossing around the idea of the Norté or possibly the Valcarlos route of the Francés again.
        Let me know what you think of the film after you see it.
        Arléné

        Liked by 1 person

  2. Hi Jennifer
    Be warned!!! The Camino can take over your life!! Since my husband and I walked the Frances route in August and September, we have thought daily about returning to walk again. Saving now for a return trip. It gets in your blood. Seems like the excitement you have before is just as strong after walking the Camino. We will be there with you in spirit on this trip and hopefully in person on the next! Hooly Dooly! You will have a wonderful time.
    Lynda

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Hi Jen – fantastic post !

    Your thoughts on walking the same paths as St James and pilgrims over many thousands of years made my heart skip a beat ! What those pilgrims faced on their pilgrimages is now history – so many challenges and so much danger. Then the thoughts of Zen Abbot, Matsuo Basho (1644-94) came to mind …

    “The moon and the stars are eternal travellers. Even the years wander on. A lifetime adrift in a boat, or in old age leading a tired horse into the years.
    Every day is a journey and the journey itself is home.
    From the earliest times there have always been some who have perished along the road. Still, I have always been drawn by windblown clouds into dreams of a lifetime of wandering.”

    Enjoy the remaining weeks of your training and take joy in every step – both here at home and on the Camino Portugues.

    Jenny xx

    Like

    • What a fabulous quote!!! But you have me worried now. I don’t want to perish on the road. I want to be a moon and stars walker. jen

      Liked by 1 person

      • Hi Jen – thanks for the positive feedback on the quote – it’s a great one isn’t it! You’ll be fine on those ancient paths, the energy of your footsteps joining the energies of millions of pilgrims who have walked before you. I hope that you’ll all be able to take a walk after dinner at night so you can take in the beauty of the moon and the stars – how magical!
        Take joy in every step –
        Jenny x

        Like

  4. Jennifer, it is always such a pleasure when you write a blog entry. I am with you on wanting to walk a different route every time, there is so much to see and hear. I smiled when I read about your lace museum and your interest in lace…if we were closer, you could borrow all the books I have on that subject. I have a story about my adventure in finding some Venetian lace in Venice, but that is for another time. I so will enjoy reading about your Camino and all the various foody adventures you are all experience.

    Time is getting near, I am excited for you and Bill and all the rest of the PGS family going. Light and Love Ingrid

    Like

    • Now there are 2 of the most romantic words possible – Venice and lace. I want to hear that story Ingrid.

      Like

      • I need to find those pictures Jennifer, I visited Venice on a whirlwind bus tour with my daughter, my mom and her living companion, many years ago. Michelle and I wanted to find two things, authentic Venetian masks and lace. We did.

        As soon as I find them and then figure out how to upload to blog, or send via email, I will tell the rest of the story. 😉

        Like

  5. Hi Jen: I can feel your energy through my iPad! So wish that I were going with you, Bill, Arlene, Steve, and the rest of the forum members. I will be with you in spirit! Thank you for the uplifting post. Hugs! Julie

    Like

  6. thank you for all your wonderful responses to Jennifer’s post. she is out this morning looking at fabrics – and will be back to you later to respond personally!!

    Like

      • Dear Anne, I collect fabric everywhere I go. It is a way of getting myself out of the tourist areas. Bill and I have had some extraordinary experiences this way. I’m not sure about a Camino quilt I haven’t found enough fabric along the way yet. But then who knows what will happen when I start walking. Thanks so much for noticing!

        Like

        • Ooooh Jen,
          A Camino quilt sounds really interesting. OH I envy you all. Fabrics and flowers, pastries and food, photography and walking. This will be so exciting. Hope you all blog a lot!!.
          Lynda

          Like

  7. Jennifer, you seem to love walking as much as I do. It was beautiful weather here today for a change and I thought about walking. Of course, I didn’t, but thinking about it counts, doesn’t it. I don’t expect any trouble with the walking, but just to be on the safe side, I will try to get at least 10 miles in over the balance of time remaining. That should be adequate, huh? Bill is a maniac. You will find me much more civilized and somewhat of a wuss. Can’t wait to meet you. Steve

    Like

  9. Hi Jen,

    Peter and I are really looking forward to meeting you and the group. I’m secretly looking forward to sampling the odd Portuguese tart or two along the way. Loving the Pinterest boards. Julie from Melbourne

    Like

    • Hi Julie – yes, we’re looking forward to meeting up with you too!! Jen of course hasn’t met you – but my memories of you both having a picnic on the slopes of the Pyrenees is indelible!! 🙂 Bill

      Like

    • So pleased you like the boards. I’ve never dabbled in Pinterest before. I’m hoping to do one for everyday of the tour. See you soon. jen

      Like

  10. Glad that everyone is baaaaaaack! … 🙂

    Been having some mechanical problems personally, painful ones, and I may have to delay my start, which is more than annoying — but my training sessions in Burgundy were very encouraging. Managed one 7 hour pretty much non-stop hike … and some of the views were just magical (grrrrr still no camera) …

    Was hoping to avoid yet another August start, but unless I can get moving in June at the latest, I’ll be in with the worst of the crowds (yet again LOL) … oh well, the best too I guess, hehe

    My doctor is trying to convince me to take the coast road at least around the Pyrenees, which would take me past Marie’s door, so hmmmmm …

    —

    Have to say, Bill, this early return is a lovely surprise !!!

    Dunno how Swannies are doing, BTW, but Monaco is liable to finish 2nd this year, so we’ll likely be back in the Champions League again soon enough !!!

    Like

    • Hey Julian – lovely to hear from you!!

      I’ve been thinking about you over the hiatus, and wondering how you’ve been going with your injuries and training. And also thinking back over your incredible contribution to this blog last year. You really did bring an erudite and wonderfully informed energy to the blog.

      Your trekking in Burgundy sounds fantastic – and let’s hope you manage to avoid the crowds in summer. I have been watching Monaco’s progress – although i haven’t seen any games here in Australia. Our Aussie Rules footy season starts off this weekend in fact, and the Swannies are playing their first game on Saturday. So on the tour I’ll be wearing my red Swannies cap again!

      By the way, that brace works a treat. I’ve had no pain since wearing it. And I’ve been clocking up some miles. Also, I am starting to think seriously of walking a Camino “from my front door,” which of course is Mudgee in Central NSW. that would have me walking 350kms to the airport, flying then to Paris, and walking from there. A very scary prospect, and I don’t know if my knee could handle it, but that’s what I’m thinking…

      Anyway, great to have you baaaack here!

      Bill

      Like

  12. Jennifer, thankyou so much. I am looking forward to following the Portuguese PGS Camino. Would be interested in the stories through fabrics and textiles you find. I was surprised how few quilts / fabrics / textile creations I saw in Spain last year, except of course, in the Santiago Cathedral museum.
    Blessings
    Anne

    Like

    • Isn’t it strange that so little is obvious? But they still sew so the fabric is there. It is hard to locate. It is a puzzle.

      Like

  13. Hi Jen
    I’ve never joined Facebook or any of the other Social Media other than the Camino Blogs. I clicked on your boards above and was very happy to get to view them. Loved all the flowers and fabrics. Think I will talk to my daughters tomorrow about the ins and outs of it so I can join and “follow” you. Great pics!
    Lynda

    Like

Comments are closed.