Yesterday we walked 40 km (24 miles). Just short of a marathon.
Today we are going about 16km (10 miles) as a rest day.
Mostly narrow cobble stone roads with stone walls on both sides. The Portuguese drivers all think they are rally drives and don't like to use brakes. It is not very relaxing.
We stop at every church to light candles for friends.....and for ourselves to survive the cobbles of Hades.
In Rates we stayed in the oldest albergue on the Portuguese Camino.
We met Mark a 71 year old man from Sri Lanka who was walking with his three daughters. He is wearing an Insulin pump as well. One daughter lives in Sri Lanka, one in New Orleans, and one in Newcastle. Mark works for the US state department in Munich. It was his birthday so we gave him a pair of gaiters for his boots.
He needs to switch to decaf...he was a ball of energy. He spoke about 6 languages had everyone smiling and laughing even though there were 72 people in a 40 person facility.
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| Laurel in the bunk room |
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| not boots inside the bunk room |
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| getting sun and drying clothes |
São Pedro de Rates known in English as Saint Peter of Braga, is traditionally considered to be the first bishop of Braga between the years 45 and 60. Tradition says he has been ordered to preach the Christian faith by Saint James the Great, and that Peter of Rates was martyred while attempting to make converts to the Christian faith in northern Portugal.Beheaded as his mentor.
The village of Rates has one alberge, there are two cafes, and the church and convent build around 1100.
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| São Pedro de Rates |
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| São Pedro de Rates Church |
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| Rates Convent |
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| St. Peter of Rates baptism fountain |
