Now the low-season starts again. After the Fatima Oct processions. Time to prepare for Wintertime. I read a lot of questions on blogs and social media about the planning of the caminho in Portugal Lisbon to Santiago de Compostela. Let me tell you all our experiences.
Sun and Rain
The temperatures are mild in Winter here in Portugal. When it is not raining, it is the perfect temperature to do caminhos. I walked to times start of October and it rained a lot. The second time I took some protections for my shoes and I sheltered a lot, and I was quite dry! Compared to all the other pilgrims.
A friend walked in November around Tomar and the sun was shining!
Good Raincoat and other Protection
In our albergue it is quiet during the Winter season but every now and then pilgrims show up. One time, two ladies were so cold and wet from their whole caminho that they blamed housing for all their suffering. The houses are cold, very humid, blankets are wet etc. When you are walking the whole week in poring rain, obviously your mood goes down. I think a part from the caminho is also to live in the moment, and you can not blame anyone for the weather or your own mood. You just need to get rid of expectations you have and you will see you always have a wonderful caminho!
The nice thing above Porto in October was that it is still so busy in the caminho that it was fun and all the pilgrims had similar problems. The albergues were so humid, not well ventilated and therefore smelled like ‘wet dog’. But going out with other pilgrims and having a good time together is something which is also very nice.
Lisbon Track to Casa da Lima
From Porto it is a very popular route. I guess also in Winter time. From Lisbon there are not so many pilgrims unfortunately. You will not meet a lot of fellow-pilgrims. Even in high season (April-March, September) you will not meet a lot of others. Some leave around 6:00 in the morning and others 8:30. You will not meet. There are not a lot of cafe’s along the route, so you will not meet others in the cafe’s too. I still need to walk the part from Lisbon to Casa da Lima because I walked it via the coast. You read a lot of negative stories about the caminho starting in Lisbon, however the pilgrims that sleep at our place, are happy ones, except the two ladies I mentioned before. Don’t let the stories on social media stop you from planning your caminho during Winter time in Lisbon. Lisbon has a lot of sun hours during the year, so there is chance to start your caminho in a sunny way. The locals are always able to help you on your pilgrimage.
Soon, this year I guess, I am going to walk from Lisbon back home and let you know about this experience. I am so curious because I hear different stories.
To be continued…
