The Walking Dead

Whenever you embark on a long journey, run a marathon, sail the oceans…the final destination is hard to imagine. Starting in Lisbon on June 21st, Santiago seemed like walking to Mars. However, we arrived yesterday with our friends smiling, healthy and still married! There are multiple Camino routes that empty into Santiago, which means lots…

Here’s to Tui!

We finally made it to Spain. Another wonderful country accommodation and off we went to the border of Portugal and Spain (Valenca and Tui). The walks have traversed nice forests and paths. The weather is still hot and sticky, but we’ve had a fair amount of shade in the forest. The number of pilgrims has…

Hot Pockets

A word to the wise, avoid Portugal in July. Wow it is hot in the land of Port wine, blue tile, orange roofs and Catholic Churches. The temps have hovered around the mid 90’s and have been above 100 some days. There are wildfires in various parts of the country that we have avoided so…

Life’s Ups and Downs

For the past seven days or so we have been climbing and descending, often fairly long stretches of 15-18 degrees. For me the ups are better than the downs. My new and improved left knee does not like steep descents. I look like Joe Biden leaving the podium after a speech only slower and more…

Water and Wine

No, I haven’t witnessed any miracles over here. Come to think of it maybe I have. My wife hasn’t killed me yet, so maybe that counts. I’ll submit it to the Pope when I get to Porto and see what he thinks. We stayed in the quaint, little town of Luso, home of the Luso…

Go Green, Go…..Red?!

Apparently the Michigan State Alumni Association and the marketing team has made it to Tomar, Portugal. Marsha and I stopped in a small clothing shop looking for a long sleeve pull over since the evenings have been pretty chilly. Sitting on top of the pile was a “Michigan” sweatshirt with the green and white colors…

Why Did the Snail Cross the Road?

I can already hear anyone reading this blog, ”Is he out of material already? Snails?!!” Well it just so happens that there are lots of snails in southern Portugal for reasons unknown to me and they seem to be crossing many of the roads we are walking. I can assure you that the drivers in…

Having Fun with Saints and Bulls

It seems that we have arrived in Portugal during festival time. Every town big and (mostly) small just had or is preparing for a festival. These festivals normally involve a saint and as we move to the more rural areas and a bull fight. Last night, while eating dinner, the newscast was reporting live from…

The Klingons Invade Portugal

Remember the Klingons from Star Trek days and how only Spock understood them? Captain Kirk looked at them with a puzzled, scared look like they were…aliens! Well that is the same look that yours truly has received over the past couple days in Portugal after our ”ship” landed in Lisbon. I have attempted to utter…