Cerveira to Tui

After three hours wandering along the Rio Minho on the brand new and not quite finished ecopista, it's Valenca and the traditional Caminho Portuguese . . . the coastal route was suggested by a couple of arrows on the Spanish side of the Friendship Bridge by Cerveira and other yellow arrows appeared at various random places today . . . sometimes they are helpful, but today it's the ecopista all the way . . . a motorway for walkers and cyclists.

The castle of Valence is very impressive. On the Spanish side, in Tui, they don't seem to have bothered . . . perhaps indicating which side was doing most of the invading (must research this topic because the French and the British have been involved here too).

For a last lunch in Portugal it's an ironic tortilla . . . ubiquitous and delicious in Spanish cafes but almost unknown in Portugal . . . then across the International Bridge, opened in 1886, with the railway on top, cars underneath, pedestrians either side . . . farewell Portugal, hello again Spain . . . where the Camino de Santiago steps up a gear . . . after all Santiago is in this region and EU funding has enabled lots of infrastructure and signage . . .

The church albergue is located within the cathedral grounds, with panoramic views across the river . . . other albergues compete for business as do restaurants offering pilgrim menus. €6 for the bed in a dormitory and a hot shower . . . kitchen with hob but no cooking pots . . . door closes at 9.30 pm and we have to be out by 8 am . . . lost another hour crossing the bridge, making two in a week, which seems rather careless . . .

Tui is lovely, the weather has warmed up, the tourist info folks have provided enough to give plenty of options for the 3 weeks or so in Spain . . . maybe Santiago in 5 or 6 days, then towards Oviedo on the Primitive Camino . . . maybe even Santander on the Northern Route . . . Finisterre is still tempting, but 3 days west and the boat for England is east . . .

Having taken it easy from Porto to here, maybe time to put in some longer stages . . . see what's possible . . .