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Day Nine on the Camino Portugués
~ Condeixa-a-Velha to Coimbra ~ 16.6 Km (10.32 Miles)
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Our day nine on the Camino Portugués was the shortest yet, a lovely saunter into the historic university town of Coimbra. Arriving early meant we had an entire half a day to explore the wonders of this college town, home of the first university in Portugal.
"Religion points to that area of human experience where in one way or another man comes upon mystery as a summons to pilgrimage." ~ Frederick Buechner, Author and Theologian
To determine the reasons behind your call to pilgrimage is a mystery indeed. It is something that I continue to reflect upon. I think of myself more in spiritual terms, rather than religious terms, yet I still feel the call.
Our human experience, in and of itself is sufficient to question our purpose, the reason for life, and a pilgrimage gives us the opportunity to explore this at a deeper level.
Map and Stats of Day Nine on the Camino Portugués
In my totally interactive Google map, that I uploaded from my own personal Camino steps, I placed albergues/hotels/cafés on the map for your convenience.
Below is the elevation profile starting at the Bar Triplo Jota, (see the map above), where we rejoined the Camino from Condeixa-a-Nova. Of course, the bar was closed at 7:30 in the morning.
There are some upsy downsies on this day with a nice downhill jaunt into Coimbra at the end, to join the Mondego River.
Photo-Rich Travelogue of Day Nine on the Camino Portugués
We woke up on day nine to a dark and quiet Condeixa-a-Nova. Nothing was stirring, nothing was open. Despite it being a Monday after a holiday, the town was as quiet as death at 7:00 a.m. when we left the hotel.
I looked at my left ankle and sure enough, once again the swelling had gone down entirely overnight. The amazing mystery of my pilgrimage! I was thrilled. It was going to be a good day. I could feel it in my bones.
Our day nine's goal on the Camino Portugués was to reach Coimbra, less than 17 km away. I knew I could do it without a problem. I was eager to explore this historic town of which I had read so much!
Leaving our hotel, with nothing open so early, we were lucky enough to find vending machines at the main intersection in town, where we were able to get café con leite. There were snack machines as well, which we skipped, hoping to find a real open café along the way soon.
But alas, the Bar Triplo Jota, as referenced earlier was closed. We hoped to get lucky later.
My first photo is the intersection where our detour from Condeixa-a-Nova joins the actual Camino route. The albergue is steps from here. The red arrows, along with the yellow Camino arrows denotes yet another walk, that shares the Camino de Santiago called the "King's Road."
600 meters after joining the Camino, we turned left at this inviting olive grove and walked into the next town of Atadoa.
150 meters later, you take a right turn onto the Rua Principal and walk through town as the street bends north-eastward. After passing through town, at a crossroads, stay straight and join the Rua Pregeira, below. These are quiet, paved roads, peaceful and perfect for a pilgrimage.
Follow the Rua PregeiraLeave the Rua Pregeira about ½ kilometer later, turning to the right. Not quite another ½ kilometer later, at about 2.2 kilometers total, take a hard left onto another quiet paved road on the way to the next town of Orelhudo.
Arrive at the crossing of the busy A13-1 highway, ½ kilometer later, yet there was little traffic to be found, below.
Cross A13-1 on Rua Principal
Towards the Hamlet of OrelhudoAt about 3.2 kilometers, we reached the hamlet of Orelhudo. Not much here in this town, but quaint homes. There is a minimarket near the center of town.
In town, we turn right here onto the Rua Ribeira. The blue X is a unique phenomenon, as far as I know, to the Portuguese Way. It means don't enter here! If you go towards a blue X, you are going the wrong way!
The delicious and unkempt orange trees continued to grace our walk with blessings from its branches!
Just outside of Orelhudo, the sign below announces that we were entering the region of Casconha.
Straight On Rua Ribeira in CasconhasWalk straight on until this Casconha waymark informs you to turn left.
Left Turn Here in CasconhaIn less than 200 meters, stay to the right at the next roundabout, welcoming you to Cernache, and join the Rua Cruz.
Walk into the center of town, after about 2 kilometers additional, a total of 5.25 kilometers from the albergue in Conimbriga.
Coming off the Easter holiday, Cernache had lamppost adornments overhead. Here is the Albergue de Peregrinos de Cernache, which you walk by right along the Camino. Click on the link for their Facebook page, and call first (+351 968 034 708) to verify that it is open.
Albergue in CernacheHaving not had a substantial breakfast, we were very impatiently looking for an open café in Cernache, and had to walk through almost the entire town before spotting the café umbrellas below! It was about 5.6 kilometers into our walk and time to eat!
Telltale Café Umbrellas on the Rua Mesura in Cernache - Yay!The pastry shop, below, was the typical Portuguese fabuloso, and we quickly ordered up a nice spread! We actually tried the meat/cheese-stuffed pastries and didn't even have our usual custard tarts (Pastel de Nata)!
Enjoying the Pastelaria MoleirinhoRight after our break, we slung on our packs, walked to a roundabout to turn right, then a quick left, here, onto the Rua Tirado.
Left Turn on the Rua TiradoA short but steep one kilometer walk on the pavement brings you to Pousada, at about 6.3 kilometers.
In about 700 meters, a left turn takes you to a gravel lane...
Leaving Pousadathrough a forest...
up a hill...
Rua Alegria Country Laneto the top...
across the way...
past a quaint camino waymark, a blue boot for the Camino to Fátima, the yellow boot for the Camino de Santiago...
and down the hill into the next town of Palheira.
Entering PalheiraAfter passing the industrial building above, on the outskirts of town, the Camino turns left onto the Estrada Principal, at approximately 9.5 kilometers, to walk through town. There is now significant climbing on this pavement through town.
Left Turn on Estrada PrincipalAlmost 10 kilometers down. Six or so left to go. My ankle was holding up great. It was a day that, I must say, gave me reason to believe that I was indeed a pilgrim and my pilgrimage was special just as it was. I liked the shorter days, despite my husband's desire to go farther. I was with him, my best friend and confidant and I was asserting my needs.
In the town of Palheira, we turned right up a hill on a side street to climb to the town chapel, below.
Right Turn Up Hill in PalheiraOn the north side of town, less than one kilometer later from where we entered town, the side road turns to a gravel lane, below, called the Rua do Vale to walk onward on day nine of our Camino Portugués.
On the Rua do ValeThe country lane turns right on yet another lovely, unpaved lane, below. We continued with the steady climb.
Right Turn on the Rua ProgressoHere is a Fátima pilgrim, one of many that we saw, heading the opposite direction from us! This young Portuguese gentleman obliged Rich, to snap this photo. He was so amused by their traffic vests, and their going the opposite way! I think he just wanted to have more pilgrims to talk to!
After about 1/2 kilometer on the gravel lanes, we rejoined the pavement, and turned left onto the Rua Salvação, below. We were nearing the alto for the day, or the highest elevation point.
Left Turn onto the Rua SalvaçãoAfter about 150 meters, it was a left turn, down the hill onto the Rua Limoeiro, below and towards the green foot bridge.
Down the Hill and Cross the IC2 on the Rua LimoeiroThe Camino crosses the footbridge, over the N1/IC2 highway and climbs up to the town of Cruz dos Morouços next, at approximately 12 kilometers into the day.
After reaching the town of Cruz dos Morouços, we turned right here onto the Rua Além. The town of Cruz dos Morouços is indeed the highest point of the day. It was all downhill from here!
Rua Além, Cruz dos MorouçosIt is here in Cruz dos Morouços that we strolled by this café. This is the only café we saw until Coimbra.
Since we had less than five kilometers to Coimbra, and were still full from our breakfast, we saved ourselves for later and walked on by.
Café Araújo, Cruz dos Morouços, Day Nine, Camino PortuguésAfter the café, the Camino strolls by the town church turns left onto the Calçada Cruz dos Morouços and begins a long downhill walk. Coimbra is visible ahead!
The road walks through more of the town...
Calçada Cruz dos Morouçosthen turns left onto the Estrada Mina, to walk again downhill by the path of the highway, the IC2. We could smell the city nearing.
Estrada Mina Parallels the IC2
In the above photo, you can see how the IC2 cuts through this historic aqueduct, below. The Estrada Mina crosses the highway, at approximately 13.o kilometers and bends to follow it parallel, but now on the other side and towards the aqueduct.
Following the Estrada Mina down the hill and into town, it still feels quite rural, until the bottom of the hill. Then we turn left onto the Rua 10 de Junho at a T-intersection to begin the walk through the suburbs of Coimbra.
There are many places to eat, for many kilometers before the center of Coimbra, and they are too numerous to describe!
A traffic circle with a right turn onto the Rua Central da Mesura at about 14 kilometers, and we began the long climb back up a hill on the other side! We are not yet in Coimbra. In the photo below, we are just about at the top.
You can see a water tower-like building ahead on the promontory. That is essentially the top at about 15 kilometers into the day.
Uphill on the Rua Central da MesuraIf you are doing this climb as a long day from Rabaçal, I imagine that this climb would hurt at the end of the day! Even for our short day the long hill climb on the cobblestone seemed to take forever!
Continue on the Rua Central da Mesura on Day Nine, Camino PortuguésThen suddenly, several hundred meters onward from the altitude top and after walking through a large traffic circle, this amazing first view of Coimbra comes into focus.
The view opens up farther on and the pilgrimage traveler just MUST stop and take it all in for awhile. The view from this Observatório is fantastic!
It is a moment of pure enjoyment, stopping at the Observatório! Here is the view, unimpeded.
You have only a bit more than one kilometer from this observatory to the river crossing and into the center of Coimbra. Staying to the left at the observatory, it is an easy downhill walk from here.
Heading farther down the hill, the Monastery of Santa Clara a Nova, is a huge complex overlooking the river, and contains the Albergue de Peregrinos Rainha Santa Isabel. We wanted to stay in town, so we kept on going. Unfortunately, the albergue is almost a full kilometer from the center of town and all the sights.
The narrow cobblestone street walks by the monastery, stays to the right and downhill of it and turns sharply to go very steeply down the hill on the Calçada de Santa Isabel, below. Rich is facing up the hill, but the way is downhill!
It would be a real chore to climb back up this steep hill after a nice evening in town, to get back to the albergue, at least for us! However, the monastery experience may be well be worth the effort for you.
Downhill Steeply on Calçada de Santa IsabelAt almost river level, after several sharp bends, the Convento São Francisco welcomes the pilgrim. Here is Rich walking on its upper level.
Approaching the Convento São FranciscoHere is the convent as seen from the street level farther down the hill, below, where the Camino joins the N1 highway at the convent.
And then, the river and the bridge are the final obstacles before town. Continue on the N1 to cross straight through two roundabouts before reaching the bridge, below. The University of Coimbra buildings loom above you as you walk across the bridge.
Immediately after the bridge you come to the main square, the Largo da Portagem, with its famous statue of Joaquim António de Aguiar, the Portuguese prime minister in the 1800's. This is the place to be for outdoor restaurants and just people gazing.
It is at this square that I ended the GPS tracks for the day.
We went directly to our hostel that I had pre-booked, just mere steps from the Portagem square on the Rua da Couraça Estrela.
The Coimbra Portagem Hostal on the Rua Couraça da EstrelaThe Coimbra Portagem Hostel is a fascinating place, a former governor's palace, right along the river. It is adorned with painted murals, like the one below, going up the stairs to the sleeping rooms.
The hostel is very reasonably priced and has a choice of accommodation, from dormitory rooms to private rooms, all with large shared bathrooms and shower rooms, one for men and one for women.
Murals at the Coimbra Portagem HostelOur double room was very tastefully appointed as you can see below. If you need towels, you will have to pay for them. The proprietor was also willing to store our packs, until check-in time, so we could explore the town that afternoon without them.
Coimbra Portagem Hostel Double RoomThe hostel has kitchen facilities and a living area downstairs as well. With its fantastic location, friendly staff, brand-new and clean facilities, patio views over the river and a reasonable price, I would highly recommend it! Just click here to see more photos of this gorgeous place.
Of course, there are many, many more places to stay in Coimbra. Click here to see the current deals. I have put on the interactive map, places with "hostel" in the name and very economical guest houses most convenient to the center of town and the onward Camino: the Serenata Hostel (+351 239 853 130) and the Hostel Sé Velha (+351 239 151 647), both right by the old cathedral, Change the World Hostels - Coimbra, NN Guest House, Olive Street House and the BE Coimbra Hostel to the north, and the WW Hostel & Suites near the university and finally the Quarto and Pasta Guesthouse, west of the river as you walk into town.
Reflections on Day Nine, Camino Portugués
My ankle was doing well, with only a slight swelling on day nine of our Camino Portugués. It hurt way less than on day eight. In fact, a mystery of mysteries, it never swelled up again after day nine! I didn't know this, when in Coimbra, I purchased a thin ankle compression brace. If it was sprained, I felt the added support would help and reduce the swelling as well.
For many days after the swelling no longer occurred in my ankle, I continued to wear the brace, just in case!
Did I create my injury because I was not fit enough initially, or because I wanted to walk less kilometers?? I'll never know. It just was. In fact, the rest of our Camino was filled with long 30+ kilometer days, without any trouble with my ankle whatsoever. It was and would be a mystery to me forever.
However, I knew my day here was not over, that we were to explore the old and hoary university town of Coimbra that afternoon.
At noon we filled our bellies with nourishment at a lovely southside, riverside café, for our bodies, and our hearts and minds, before setting off to see the town of Coimbra in the afternoon. The university buildings on the hill were calling loudly to us, and the weather was near perfect on this glorious spring day nine on our Camino Portugués.
The adventure portion of our pilgrimage was at its highest on this day, and we wanted to experience as much as we could! The food and the city revitalized us and we were eager to get started.
The rest of our day was spent touring the glorious old town of Coimbra, then meeting up once again with our Aussie mates, who had arrived here the night before. They were taking a full rest day, and we had caught up to them, running into them at the Sé Velha on our city tour.
Later we joined our Aussie mates for a fantastic bottle of wine and dinner, outside in the Largo da Portagem square. We were fast forming a significant connection with these two pilgrims, the only consistent ones we met thus far on the Portuguese Way. We sat and reflected on what this whole pilgrimage thing meant to each of us! It was a fantastic conclusion to a fantastic pilgrimage day!
I am not sure what my lesson was to be learned for this day. Indeed, it did not matter. I was enjoying the fantastic day and felt lucky to be here at all! I enjoyed solidifying our relationship with the Australian couple we met again and again.
Salutation
May your own day nine on the Camino Portugués help you remember the joys of the pilgrimage and what called you to do it in the first place. May your summons, "religious" or not be the fullest experience possible! Ultreia!
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