2018 Camino Portuguese from Porto: Day 5. Casa Fernanda to Ponte de Lima

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in an office or mowing the lawn. Climb that goddamn mountain.” – Jack Kerouac

Few last words on Casa Fernanda. Last night we had a spectacular dinner of salad, pork , three vegetables, bread Verde wine, Red wine... followed by shots of white port, red port and Portuguese moonshine. We had to up hold the honor of the USA against the German, Belgium, Austrian, Scottish , and English pilgrims.

We had some guitar playing and singing at the table and lots of jokes. The songs were Dolly Parton and John Denver all in English. The highlight for me was the telling of the movie "The Way " by the Germans to the Austrians. We could jump in and English and add a few scenes as well.

This morning we had a wonderful breakfast and then saw our friends from Fernanda along the way to Ponte do Lima. While eating lunch we met Reese from Belgium who has a Casa Rual similar to Fernanda's about 25 kilometers from here. By the end of our conversation we booked a room for the night for tomorrow at Casa Romana. We have a private room and there is a bunk room with 10 other pilgrims. Full dinner, and breakfast for a donation.

A Belgium singing John Denver tunes

Ready to walk. Laurel is proud her pack is the smallest

The town of Ponte de Lima has about 2,800 people. It takes its name from the Lima river that starts in Spain and goes to the sea to the west. It is one of the oldest Roman settlements in Portugal.

The patron of the town is Blessed Francisco Pacheco, not yet canonized, but in their eyes he is a saint. Pacheco was born to the Portuguese nobility, and become a Jesuit to become a missionary. He was burned at the stake in June 1626 in Nagasaki, Japan and is named by the Vatican as one of the 205 Martyrs of Japan.

Some more history for you, Fernão Magalhães (a.k.a. Ferdinand Magellan), the navigator responsible for proving that the earth is round is from this valley as well.

There is a historical path that start here called the "Lima Valley Giants Route". This commemorates Pacheco, Magellan, and other historic giants from this area.

Known for the Vino Verde (green) wines that are produced here.

Ponte Romana the oldest Roman bridge in Portugal renovated in 1362