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Day One on the Camino Portugués
~ Lisbon to Alverca do Ribatejo (Verdelha), 31.4 Km (19.51 Miles)
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Our day one on the Camino Portugués was much more beautiful and enjoyable than we had heard. However, as the Camino wills it, some important lessons had to be learned! Reflect on this:
"This being human is a guest house.Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond."
~ From "The Guest House," Rumi
A lot has been said, mostly negative, about day one on the Camino Portugués and walking out of Lisbon. I was even advised to skip this part entirely, by many pilgrims. I was told it is ugly and too industrial.
I was told not to start the Camino Portugués in Lisbon, but in Fátima: It is much nicer. I did not heed their advice, but wanted to see for myself! And I am glad I did.
I am not sure why the first day on the Camino Portugués has received such a bad reputation. My experience of it was nothing like I was warned about, and aside from the length, I loved it!
By viewing our experience of Day One on the Camino Portugués, below, I hope to dispel the myth about this part of the Camino, once and for all! You may judge for yourself, like I did.
Map and Stats of Day One on the Camino Portugués
Here is my google map created from our GPS tracks, and the accompanying elevation map. In addition, I have located albergues, hotels and restaurants along the way for your reference. The map is fully interactive, so go ahead and play with it!
If you are looking for accommodation in Lisbon, click here for a list of hotels to pre-book. For a list of hostels and the one albergue near the airport, click here. It is too bad there is no albergue near the official start.
I included on this map, in red, the future boardwalk route, currently under construction, that follows the Tagus River and will shorten the day by five kilometers! The total length of the day will be reduced from 31 to 26 kilometers, a major improvement! This new path should be completed by August of 2023, in time for the Pope's visit to the area on World Youth Day.
I drew this route based on published maps of the project, however, please be warned that this route is an approximation only!!
I also included on this map, the shortcut to Verdelha, also seen in red, to the north, and described farther below.
You can see the elevation changes below. While the profile looks dramatic, it is truly just little ups and downs of 100 feet (30 meters) or so.
****Important****
Please note that because the new route will no longer pass through Alpriate, as a consequence, the municipal albergue there is now permanently closed.
Yellow Arrows Can Be Difficult to Locate in Lisbon
A word of warning to the pilgrimage traveler, regarding the waymarking. It is not always easy to find the yellow arrows on the way out of Lisbon. You have to be especially alert and look on electrical boxes, the backs of street signposts and along the curb at the level of the street. The arrows are often small, but often accompanied by the blue Fátima arrows, which share the Camino de Santiago route.
Even though the arrows are there, they are often difficult to see.
Photo-Rich Travelogue of Day One on the Camino Portugués
What can I say? I have included a lot of photos in this day's article. If you want to be surprised, don't look at the photos. I promise, that I am depicting the route as I saw it, the good, the bad and the ugly.
Our tale of day one on the Camino Portugués begins with a seven a.m. start at the cathedral in Lisbon. We had walked from the official start at the Igreja de Santiago, just up the hill on the day before.
It was a perfect spring morning in early April!
In the early morning hours, very few were stirring, neither natives nor tourists. The crazy crowded entrance to the grand cathedral was replaced by stillness and silence. I was able to snap the photo, below, amazingly unobstructed by anything, save for one lone man by the right of the door, in a blue jacket. He is barely visible on the photo.
As it turns out, this solitary gentleman was hanging out in front of the cathedral, in order to hook up with other pilgrims. As we approached he asked if he could join us. We said, yes, of course.
We quickly struck up a conversation with our new friend from Switzerland, and off we went, through the quiet streets of the Alfama district. That's our new Swiss friend and my husband, Rich, in the photos to follow.
The Portuguese Way takes you around to the right of the cathedral door, marked by a yellow arrow. See my official start page if you want photos and a description of the beginning steps from the cathedral.
If we had not already had a bite to eat, we would have stopped at the pastelaria, farther along on the Rua do Paraíso where an early worker is already on the clock.
Pastelaria along the Rua do ParaísoWe continued along the Rua do Paraíso under this interesting architectural archway.
Archway along the Rua do ParaísoAs we walked we chatted with our new Swiss friend. As synchronicity meets us often in our lives, this man had just celebrated his 61st birthday the previous day. He was the same age as Rich. Additionally, his son is 30 years old, and Rich also has a 30 year old son. Incredible! Significance? Who knows! Interesting nonetheless. We were meant to walk together, I suppose, on this day one of our Camino Portugués.
After several kilometers, the route follows the train tracks that run parallel to the docks of the Rio Tejo (AKA Tagus River in English), that can be seen to the right in the next photos. The early morning light cast a wonderful glow on the Rua de Santa Apolónia and the bridge ahead.
We had a bit of a hill climb along the railroad tracks, after passing the bridge. If this is what the naysayers meant by the "industrial" areas, I found it to be quite nice in the glow of the morning light. We skipped along the cobblestone sidewalks on the Calçada da Cruz da Pedra. I snapped a picture of Rich.
The streets, framed by bright spring green leaves and interesting buildings, kept the route far from boring and industrial, as we passed by.
Yellow Arrow on the Calçada da Cruz da Pedra
Most Interesting Building on the Calçada da Cruz da PedraMaybe not so interesting a section below, but the ugly, high walls shielded the railroad tracks and the docks from view. The cobblestone everywhere is quite charming as well.
High Walls Along the Calçada da Cruz da PedraAt about three kilometers into the day we walked past the Museu National do Azulejos, or the National Museum for the famous Portuguese blue tiles. Unfortunately, on this trip, we were not able to see this famous tourist site.
Museu National do AzulejosFarther along on the Rua do Beato, I photographed this street signpost with the yellow arrow. While visible, one doesn't see it until quite close, as the arrow is small.
Yellow Arrow on the Rua do BeatoAt about 5 kilometers on day one of the Camino Portugués, the Way walks through this lovely plaza, or praça as it is known. I wished I could linger and mill about as these folks were doing. It was too early in the day for a coffee break.
At about 5.5 kilometers and a bit more than an hour into our journey, we did stop at a café on the Rua Vale Formoso for our second breakfast. It was a perfectly located restaurant along the Camino where we had delicious ham croissant sandwiches and café con leite (coffee with milk).
From the hill climb on the Rua Val Formoso, the road then descends and turns back toward the River Tagus (Tejo in Portuguese) and the 1998 World Expo Site.
Rua Vale Formoso ~ Descending Toward the Rio TejoIn the next photos, you can see the road and sidewalks widen and you are nearing the Expo site, with buildings that provide an interesting backdrop!
The Wide Avenida Fernando Pessoa
Unique Structures on the Avenida Fernando PessoaTurning onto the Alameda dos Oceanos, you enter the world expo site, with it's gumby-like greeter on the other side of the roundabout. This is the mascot of the expo named "Gil."
Welcome to the World Expo!The Camino walks through the Expo site, now called the Park of Nations or Parque das Nações. It soon diverts to the riverfront as seen in the next photo. There are many, many restaurants through the Park of Nations, if you have not yet had a meal and need one. The choices of eateries are abundant. I did not place them on the interactive map as they are too numerous.
The promenade shown below is an amazing waterfront walkway called the Cais Português that is extremely popular with the locals, and shows the wonders that were created for the World Expo.
Walking along this promenade was pleasant indeed, and with a nice cool breeze!
Here is a photo of the MEO Arena in the distance, an exhibit hall converted into a multi-purpose arena.
Here is our Swiss friend, and my husband, Rich, pointing to one of the many new and visible Camino markers in this area.
Cais Português - the Waterfront PromenadeTurning right onto the Rossio dos Olivais, you walk by the flags in the Park of Nations. Looking back over your shoulder is the huge Centro Vasco da Gama, an exhibit hall turned into a giant shopping complex. I loved this part of day one on the Camino Portugués and wished I had more time to explore this amazing Expo site.
Looking back to the Centro Vasco da Gama a Huge Shopping ComplexTurning left onto another promenade, one walks along the Passeio do Tágides, shown below, where the Vasco da Gama bridge first comes into focus. This is a lovely shady walk along the Tagus River.
Passeio das TágidesFarther along the Passeio do Tejo, and under the cable car, the grand Vasco da Gama Tower is your next destination, where you will arrive after about a 9.0 kilometer walk for the day.
Beyond the Tower, the Ponte (bridge) Vasco da Gama gets ever closer. Here is Rich under the sign that says "Passeio do Tejo."
Rich Posing by the Vasco da Gama Bridge on the Passeio do TejoRich and our Swiss friend closing in on the Vasco da Gama bridge, on a nice boardwalk that relieved our feet of hard surfaces for awhile.
After walking under the bridge, a path continues northward along the river.
The path suddenly ends and the Way turns abruptly inland at the waymark below, at approximately 11.4 kilometers into day one of the Camino Portugués.
The path now skirts the town of Sacavém to the north. You are more than halfway to Alpriate at this point.
Turn off the WaterfrontAfter turning inland, join the Rua da Cotovia, that follows the river Rio Trancão. It is along this street where the new bridge is being built across the river and where the new shortcuting route will begin! Keep an eye out for it! You may be lucky enough to be there when it opens!
After about ½ kilometer, you walk under the A30 overpasses, and join the street called the Rua Domingos José de Morais, as it continues to follow the Rio Trancão, and heads toward this archway across the river, below.
Rua Domingos José de MoraisIn a short distance after the archway, the Camino turn right onto the N10 and crosses the river. After crossing the river, the Way immediately turns left onto the path shown below. Look closely for the turn. It is easy to miss, as we almost did! It is at approximately 12. 7 kilometers into the day.
Path After Crossing the N10This interesting path in the middle of the town of Sacavém is welcome after the many cobblestone paths we just walked. It follows the River for a long way.
This section of the Camino was very exposed, hot and dry, so be prepared! It is also quite solitary through here, so you may want to reconsider walking alone through this section.
Following the River Canal on the Rua MoinhoThe path leaves the canal and walks through open fields that were a bit more lush. The flight path from the Lisbon airport is directly overhead, and we saw many a plane flying from the west to the east as we walked through this area.
Walking on Track Towards Alpriate on Day One of the Camino PortuguésThe track turns into a dirt road, then eventually joins the Caminho de Fátima, shown below.
The sun was quite hot. I had indigestion, most probably due to dehydration, so I forced myself to drink more of the warm water from my hydration pack. It was now also three and a half hours since we ate at the 5.5 km mark, so hunger may have also played a part. I carried on.
Caminho de Fátima with Alpriate in SightThe red roofs of Alpriate ahead, were a welcome sight.
Alpriate at Last
Alpriate Town CenterRight in the center of this little town, you immediately see the building that was the Albergue de Alpariate on your right at about 21.6 kilometers into the day. Unfortunately, as of 2023, this albergue is now permanently closed, due to the rerouting of the Camino, see the maps and stats section above.
The Former Albergue de Alpriate immediately on Right, NOW PERMANENTLY CLOSEDA very helpful townsman was standing by the albergue, directing us to the town café, which is just around the corner to the right from the albergue, called the Snack Bar Grillus. We thanked the man and immediately went to the café for lunch.
The Swiss man and my husband quickly killed two beers to my one. I needed more water than beer.
While we sat in the shade under the outdoor awning, I aired out my feet which were surprisingly good after about 22 km. However, my hips, knees and shins felt like I'd had enough!
Rich and I decided to have lunch, but after drinking two beers, our Swiss friend declared,""I'm not hungry." When the bread and olives arrived prior to our entrees, I offered some to our Swiss friend. I just can't eat in front of someone who is not. He proceeded to help himself to generous amounts of the food.
I couldn't tell if he really was not hungry after three hours walking, or cheap, or just afraid of the unfamiliar menu? Regardless, I couldn't help raising my radar over his "lack of hunger."
We had arrived early in Alpriate, just after noon and managed to kill 2 hours over lunch. We were pondering whether or not we should push on. The proprietress of the Grillus said there is a little hostal in 7 km in a town called something that started with a "V" that I didn't comprehend. (This turned out to be Verdelha ~ important information that I totally missed, due to the language barrier.)
We decided that after the long rest, we would push on to Alverca do Ribatejo, the end of the standard stage for day one on the Camino Portugués. Since I had planned for us to stay in Alpriate, I had no real plan for the next stop. I quickly checked the guide I was using and thought I'd google an albergue when we got to Alverca. First mistake!
This turned out to be a hard lesson that I hadn't yet learned for the Camino Portugués. One must plan ahead on this Camino or face the consequences.
Day One on the Camino Portugués ~ Part Two
I started my GPS again. We threw on our shoes and packs and set off for Alverca do Ribatejo.
So far we had not met any other pilgrims that day. We caught a glimpse of a young pilgrim man leaving Alpriate just before we were leaving. However, we were not to see him again! If not for our Swiss companion, we would have had a lonely walk. It was good to chat with him along the Way.
Walking out of the town square on the Rua da Vinha, one soon turns right onto this wonderful footpath, below, to continue onward.
Leaving the Rua da Vinha on this FootpathThe path became kind of marshy, as it entered this willow-like grassland. I thought it looked a bit like bamboo? If any one knows what this plant is, please contact us and let us know!
The Path Into the WillowsThe sight of the willows was an interesting diversion as we walked, not to mention how grateful we were for the shade!
Shady Reprieve In the Willow WayWe turned briefly onto a paved road, but then left again on yet another nice long path, after about 23.5 kilometers. No shade here!
More Nice FootpathsJust after this nice path, when we were walking down a busy street without a shoulder in Soda Póvoa (not pictured), I swear a young male driver swerved his car toward us like he was going to hit us, then at the last minute swerved away! Ah, the Portuguese drivers! A good reason to walk facing traffic! I was about to jump into the bank!
Fortunately the Way soon diverted to this nice concrete pedestrian path, that led once again to the waterfront and another boardwalk.
It is in the area just before the concrete pedestrian path, that the new route along the river will join the old route once again!
This unnamed boardwalk path begins at the Praia dos Pescadores, or the "Fisherman's Beach," at approximately 26.8 kilometers.
Entrance to the Boardwalk at Fisherman's BeachThe boardwalk, below left, goes on for about one kilometer, before the Way again veers off the waterfront, to the left and onto a longer dirt path into Alverca do Ribatejo.
After our long dirt path, we zig zag here and there and eventually follow the railroad tracks, now on our left. The dirt path gives way to a quiet paved road as it follows the railroad tracks into town.
We kept on the Camino until the railroad station in Alverca, which was our second mistake. Our third mistake was having insufficient information on an albergue which I was trying to locate in Alverca called the Fundação CEBI. Please do not look for this albergue, regardless of what information you may have. It is not even listed in the official Portuguese Via Lusitana guide to hostels!
We crossed the railroad tracks in a funky glass building with stairs and elevators, and stopped on the other side of the tracks to Google the address of the Albergue Fundação CEBI. Where the Camino turned away from the directions to the albergue, I stopped recording our tracks, as you can see by my map above.
We were unable to find the albergue, despite the google directions, so we proceeded to ask a local. We gave her the street and she was so willing to help, despite her inability to locate the place either!
After wandering about town a bit, we grew frustrated, released our kind Portuguese guide and being so tired, we sat down on the curb, by a cafe, and tried to pool our resources. It was six o'clock in the evening, and something had to be done soon. I was preparing to sleep outdoors in a park bench!
I asked our Swiss friend to help me and please look in his German guide book. He dutifully tried to find information, then shook his head and handed me his book! As if I could read German! Both gentlemen were looking to me to solve the problem!
I finally recalled the Via Lusitana SOS line that I knew about, looked up the number I had added to my contact list before leaving for Portugal and called it. What I was told by the helpful English-speaking person is that the Albergue Fundação CEBI is open only by reservation and never on weekends. It was Saturday!! Ay!
She also stated that there are NO other accommodations AT ALL in Alverca, no hotels, no nothing, despite the fact that Alverca is a sizable town! I couldn't believe it when she said we must go forward to Vila Franca de Xira, another 10 km or so, OR backward to Verdelha. OMG!
When I told the guys what the SOS person said, our Swiss friend was a bit miffed, and said "I never go backwards!" Not a helpful spirit. I certainly was not going to walk forward another 10 km! The park bench was looking more and more inviting.
As we were sitting on the curb on the side of the street, frantically searching our books for a solution, a young Portuguese man approached us and said "You look like you need help." We said, "Yes!" and told him we were looking for accommodation. I started to daydream of a private home sofa and/or floor. Much better than a park bench!
He immediately explained to us where to go to find two places to sleep, only about 1 kilometer away. In his broken English, and my broken Spanish, we managed to communicate. although his directions were difficult to follow.
Finally, I pulled out my cell phone and google maps, and he showed us where to go! We were so close to the Estrada da Alfarrobeira (name of the road) where there are four accommodations in that "town that started with a V!" We had no idea that we were so close to Verdelha, and needed to "go backwards" less than one kilometer at the most. Turns out that when we were looking for the albergue CEBI, we were actually heading back in the direction of Verdelha! Hallelujah!
What a relief! Tragedy averted! A Camino Angel had arrived at our most desperate moment! Thank God for this wonderful, wonderful young Portuguese man. Our Angel indeed.
Even our Swiss friend was happy with the solution, and tagged along as we went "backward" to Verdelha first along the R. José Sabino Ferreira Lopes and then along the N10.
I was saying many, many prayers of gratitude as we walked toward Verdelha.
The first accommodation we came to on the corner of the N10 and the Estrada da Alfarrobeira was the A Faia, restaurant and dormidas. We rang the doorbell to the office, but no one answered. I suppose it was not yet the high season for the Camino. I was going to call the number on the door, when I saw the Alfa 10 just up the road. It looked like a hotel.
We chose the Alfa For only 15 E each at the Alfa 10, we were thrilled to secure two nice, small and clean hotel rooms. No one was actually there but us! Wow!
Entrance to the Alfa 10 from the Estrada da AlfarrobeiraEveryone was now happy, me the most! Our Swiss friend arrived later to our room with beers for all. He'd had almost no food on our day one on the Camino Portugués. Maybe beer is indeed his number one guest??
Just beyond the Alfa 10 we could see a bustling eatery. It was the Cafeteria and Restaurant, Segafredo A Lantera. After showering and washing our clothes, we had a delicious fish dinner there.
Most of the accommodations for Verdelha are along this street, the Estrada da Alfarrobeira, including yet another farther along, the Silvina Ferreira Guesthouse.(+351 965 824 782 / +351 219 583 911).
And finally, farther southeast along the N10, there is now a fourth accommodation, the Sol Rio D'Alverca Dormidas e Pastelaria, a brand new and gorgeous looking place, that you will find on the first side street to the right, after the A Faia, on the corner of the N10 and the Rua Maria Lamas.
Back in the room for the night, my throat was sore and my hips were aching. I had absolutely no idea how I was going to get up again the next day and do another ridiculous 30 kilometers! I made a note to myself that I absolutely had to plan better for the next day.
I was absolutely exhausted when we added on another 1-2 km from where we left off on the Camino and where I stopped recording. (See my Google map above.)
I confirmed the extra mileage later, when the Alfa 10 hotel owner gave us a little map, for the morning, on how to rejoin the Camino in Alverca. It showed that it was 1.5 km from the Alverca train station to the Alfa 10, for an additional 3 km round trip from where I had stopped GPS tracking. The accurate total for our day, including the 1.5 kilometer backtrack to Verdelha, was actually 33 kilometers!
If you plan to reach Alverca on your own day one of the Camino Portugués, I have included the shortcut to Verdelha that we should have taken, on my map above.
The Way is easy after you join the railroad tracks as you approach town. Just find the first bridge over the tracks and take it, joining the Estrado do Aeroporto on the other side, to walk northwest into Verdelha. Then turn left at the first major roundabout and onto the N10. Two roundabouts farther along the N10, you arrive at the A Faia on the corner of the Estrada da Alfarrobeira.
If only I had paid attention! You must plan ahead for this day, because there are no yellow arrows to guide you to Verdelha.
Lessons Learned on Day One, Camino Portugués
Plan, plan, plan! If I had only looked more carefully at the information I already had, we could have cut off at least 4 or more kilometers from our day's journey.
As per the Rumi quote above, the new arrival in my human house was a large dose of humble pie. I am always the well-informed one, doing research until I am blue in the face. This trip, I took more of a "the Camino will provide" approach, and yes, even though the Camino did provide, I could have saved myself some heartache and body aches.
The other lesson learned, is that I really can't do it all and be all things for all people. It seemed that not only was I carrying the responsibility for a smooth journey for my husband and I, now I seemed to have inherited another responsibility in our Swiss friend.
How would this second guest's arrival serve me in the coming days? Seemed like in only one day, we were hooked up together. I could tell there were more lessons coming and it was going to be interesting! I only hoped I would be up for the challenge.
Salutation
May your own day one on your Camino Portugués, be filled with adventure, discovery and guests invited and uninvited. May you greet each and every guest with the respect it deserves! Ultreia!
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Looking for a Place to Stay in Lisbon?
For an exhaustive list of hotels and hostels in Lisbon, and to see the current deals on Booking.com, click here for instant booking. Unfortunately there is no albergue in the center of town or near the albergue. Also check my interactive map of day one, to see many inexpensive hostels throughout the city.
And the Journey Continues:
~ Lisbon to Porto
~ Porto to Santiago Via the Coastal Route and/or the Sendal Litoral
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