A weekend in Coimbra, an underrated Portuguese gem
How I ended up spending a long weekend in Coimbra The pandemic grew into the second wave in Europe while I was traveling in Portugal. In early November there was a long weekend due to a public holiday and the Portuguese government put some measures in place to prevent the…
My final steps on the Fishermen’s trail
In 16,5 km from Burgau to Lagos I knew I had a short last day, but for some reason I raced through it. From the moment I left Burgau I joined other walkers, some walking their dog, others going out for a run or a stroll. It seemed like I…
From wild coast to tourist towns
Following the coast from Sagres to Burgau “Difficult” says the rating of today’s walk on the Rota Vicentina website. Great. I hadn’t slept well at all because of a terrible stomach pain. I decided to just get out of bed, take a painkiller and get the day started. I was…
The most South Western point of Europe: Cape St. Vincent
On the fishermen’s trail from Vila do Bispo to Sagres I was walking on a dirt road and noticed an extraordinary number of snails surrounding me. They were everywhere; on the plants, on poles of power lines, on fences and rocks. Occasionally a car drove by, slowing down so they…
Santarém: a little gem on the Camino
Santarém is a small city on the Tagus river about an hour’s drive North of Lisbon. The town has been around for hundreds of years, but has sadly lost its former glory. It lies on a hill in the middle of a plain with the river running through. It’s surrounded…
My favorite day on the Fishermen’s trail
The Fishermen’s trail from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo Well… I always say I want to be healthier. In practice this doesn’t really happen. But at least I’ve got the exercise covered, especially the day I walked from Carrapateira to Vila do Bispo. Somehow I managed to turn 16 km…
Hiking along the Algarve’s West coast
The two days from Aljezur to Carrapateira via Arrifana are a great mix of coastal trail and country life. This part of the Fishermen’s trail is quiet, but comes through small tourist towns where surfing seems to be the number one activity. But these beautiful beaches also create the perfect…
A lot of steps for 30 minutes on the beach
The Fishermen’s trail: Odeceixe to Aljezur In Odeceixe I saw a familiar face in my hostel. Remember the Belgian guy I met on my second day on the Rota Vicentina? I’d taken 2 rest days now and he’d caught up with me again. So from all the people at the…
Up and down, sand and ostriches
The Fishermen’s trail: Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe The road from Zambujeira do Mar to Odeceixe is one of ups and downs, not just physically, but mentally. I was surprised by the clouds in the morning, but optimistically I put on my sunscreen and started walking. I noticed that a…
What (not) to do on a rainy day
I loved my time in the cute apartment I’d rented in Portimao, but unfortunately the weather was poor. That’s how I ended up spending a couple of hours admiring sand castles. One day I was about to go for a hike when I realized the weather was not going to…