Finally, it begins! Porto to Matosinhos, 12.8 kms 8/6/18

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Keeping the Atlantic on our left all the way up the coast!
After lots of planning, we are finally starting today, backpacks loaded and shoes broken in and ready for the Camino. The shells that we have on our backpacks are symbolic of the Camino, and have the cross of St. James on them. The heat wave has ended and it is a cool 66 degrees as we set out in the morning from the Sé Cathedral in Porto. We have our Credencials (Pilgrim Passports) which we will get stamped along the way and finally get a Compostela, or completion certificate when we reach Santiago.

We set off down the hill from the Cathedral to the Douro river, stopping to greet some long lost relatives along the way. After about 5 kms of walking, we stop at a beautiful spot for our ‘second breakfast’! Another 7.8 kms got us to Matosinhos where we got our final stamp for the day! We finished our first day a bit tired but with a wonderful sense of accomplishment!

All ready to go!
Credencial del Pelegríno (Pilgrim’s Passports)

At the Sé Cathedral, praying at the start of our Camino (after all, what are the chances we both closed our eyes at the same time?!)

Ken greeting his long lost relatives on the way down to the Duoro river

Idyllic spot on the Duoro river for a second breakfast
On the Caminho da Costa!
Monument in Motosinhos commemorating a 1947 storm where 152 sailers lost their lives

A 3D painting on the street in Matosinhos! A reminder that we love the way they prepare octopus and enjoy it as often as we can.

Getting our stamp at the tourist office in Matosinhos

Our Credencials at the end of Day 1 🙌
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Published by Bina and Ken Cline

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