Day 6 - from Rubiães to Tui

Today we crossed the border to Spain and more than half of the route is already behind us 💪🏻😊😢 But let's start from the beginning...

First, I want to tell you a little bit about yesterday, since the report was very short...

We started at 07:00 - but first breakfast 😋 Afterwards, Francesco, Chloe, Andres and I set off for Rubiães at 08:00. Unfortunately, Jonas had to leave us this morning, as he only has 10 days and has to walk over 25km every day. So, the "Camino gang" is now one member less, but the rest of us continue together and tackle the steepest section of the Camino Portugues. We head back across the bridge in the fog, following the yellow arrows through the field paths until we reach the ascent after passing through several small villages. Before that, we stop at a small bar for refreshments, buy some supplies, and of course, we meet other pilgrims here and exchange information about the two most important topics - how was the night and how are our feet, what hurts😜 Today, I treat myself to another day without the heavy backpack and make good progress with Chloe, while Andres and Francesco struggle with their heavy backpacks😕 The path reminds me of home, as it goes through forests and steep hills, until we reach the highest point on a plateau. Afterwards, it's all downhill to the next bar for lunch (a cold beer, grilled chicken, and coffee). Since we have already booked the hostel for tonight for all 8 of us (4x Poland & 1x Netherlands, Switzerland, Portugal, and Germany), we can take it easy today and enjoy a long rest. On the last 2km, we make a quick beer stop (😇) before arriving at our accommodation - a simple but still beautiful 200-year-old house. Unfortunately, Joana is sick and couldn't join us on today's stage, but she is waiting for us tired but well-fed with a wonderful dinner - Sicilian pasta with antipasti and wine 😊😍😋 We all eat together outdoors, then sit together comfortably for a while and finally go to bed quite exhausted. The problem with snorers still remains - but they are now part of us and we can laugh heartily about it and use pillows to bring some peace and quiet😴😅

So much for today... The day started at 07:30 with a very good breakfast, and after bandaging my feet thoroughly again, I set off today with my backpack to the next destination. 19km. Today is a truly wonderful and incredibly scenic stage. With some ups and downs, we walk again along field paths, past rivers with small waterfalls, and along old Roman roads towards Spain. Andres and I "lose" Francesco at the first bar, but after all, it's not called "No vino - no camino"🙈😂 We quickly overtake a few other pilgrims and are asked if we are the Camino Formula 1🤷🏻‍♀️😅 Andres stays at the second bar for a coffee break, and I continue alone, but not long after, I meet Vera and Bruno, with whom I walk for a while until Andres catches up again. Then the "Camino Express" speeds up again, and by 12:00 we already have 12km behind us. Since there is nothing inviting for lunch here, we decide to continue to Valenca, Here we meet Chloe again, who is also looking for a nice place for a lunch break. We go to a small restaurant and have an excellent lunch, and as always, we share everything and try each other's food - well, that's true Camino feeling.

The path leads through the beautiful old town of Valenca with many small shops (and I can't buy anything👍🏻😃😕😅), and in front of an old church, we meet again with the Polish part of our "Camino family". Together, we leave the old town, cross the Vanelca bridge from Portugal to TUI in Spain. We need 1 hour and 10 minutes for the estimated 200m, because in Spain it is one hour later😜🙃

We walk through the beautiful suburbs and then steeply uphill to the old town, up to the cathedral. But why do the last km always feel so long and so hard...🤨😎 When we reach the top, Chloe and I get our pilgrim stamps again and wait for the others to arrive one by one. We take some group photos and then we find our hostel "Villa San Clemente", which is really luxurious for us only because of the washing machine - on the Camino, priorities and needs shift😊😁

After everyone has showered and washed their clothes, we go to the supermarket together - today we are cooking our own dinner again with bread, sausage, cheese, salad, fruit, Cava, and wine, a true feast!!!😋😊😋😊 And everything is so relaxed, we buy what everyone likes and then simply split the bill - somehow it works out, because during the day, one person pays and then another - I really feel very comfortable in this relaxed group!☺️☺️

Right now, I'm lying in my bed while everyone else is already snoring😉 and writing you a "good night, my dears & see you tomorrow" before I try to sleep now...😴😘😘