11th Day: Barcelos to Fátima

I started early again (8:30 am) after breakfast to avoid the sun. It was 5 km from the accommodation to the city center, which I managed in 1.5 hours because of the slopes.

In the city center, I asked at the police station for the bus station, as this was not found on the internet.

After explaining that I was a German colleague and giving them an official coat of arms, I was warmly welcomed and received a Portuguese coat of arms in return. The colleagues said that it was far to walk and took me there in the patrol car. Very friendly and accommodating.

Unfortunately, I found out that I had to bridge another 3 hours until the next bus to Fatima. On the internet, this was stated differently under 'busbud.com'.

I used the time to explore the area and have something to eat.

The colorful rooster caught my eye in every shop. According to legend, in the Middle Ages, a wandering preacher was accused of a crime that he denied.

The judge sentenced him to death by hanging the next day, as no other suspect was found and he was the first to be considered as a foreigner.

The convict insisted on being led past the judge's house on his last journey.

When he arrived there, the judge sat with friends at a feast.

The wandering preacher pointed to the roasted rooster and said that it would crow three times before the death sentence was carried out, as the preacher was innocent.

And so it happened, and the judge set the convict free.

Afterwards, I took an air-conditioned bus through Braga for 2.5 hours to Fatima (19€ one way).

When I arrived there, I checked into my hotel room at Santa Isabel, right next to the pilgrimage site.

I was pleasantly surprised by the price (26€/night in a double room).

For dinner, I had sushi at the restaurant next door.