Day 4

I love Sunday's in Europe. Regardless of religious affiliation it really is a day of rest. Nearly everything is closed save cafe's, some restaurants and of course souvenier shops. People just lounge around savoring their coffee, just sit on their front stoop chatting with neighbours, laundry is hung out to dry completely changing the appearance of the building to a billowing mess of clothes and sheets. It's so calm, I wish we could mimic something more like that in Canada. We had a pretty leisurly day ourselves, finished the bus tour, had a lovely wander through Portos's biggest gardens, Serralves, found a bunch of acorns, saw an olive tree up close and one MASSIVE bull. Finished off the sight seeing with a boat ride along the Douro River, I'm pretty sure all of us almost fell asleep, but for the time my eyes were actually open it was beautiful view!

The last order of business we really needed to do was take a picture in front of the cathedral where we picked up our credentials to commemorate the start of our journey, easy right? Sure.... On the dock where we got off the boat we could easity see  cathedral, so just go in that general direction, good plan. Ufortuantely easier said than done, or rather easier said than properly executed. As I trudged up one of the many hills to be trudged, mom and dad fell behind, and here I started to take some short cuts. I should have remembered, there is no such thing as a short cut in Europe, there is only taking the same amount of time to get somewhere just in a different way going down streets you probably shouldn't. The buildings are so close together and so tall it is easy to loose your mark, on top of that there is a church on like every second hill top all wth crosses on the roof so its easy to get mixed up! Here I am "well if I go down this street it is going in the general direction, lets do that", clearly a mistake as I start going downhill again, MAN! Thank God for iPhones, I was thinking my parents were getting worried where I was, so booking up the hill to the cathedral I got a text from dad, went to the wrong church, on our way now. Hey! Me too! If you're going to be lost, as least you can all be lost together.

Eventually the Dart party all made it to the same place, the painted sign on the side of a low rock wall with the word Santiago in yellow with an arrow. Seems as though we are finally finding our way. Took some pictures and met a girl from Australia who will be starting out tomorrow as well and going a similar route. My first pilgrim encounter! I'm gonna be one of those!

Dinner was a late night but tasty affair, just went across the street to a tapas place and had some simple bread, cheese and meat plate. Dad finally worked up the courage to try the Portugal's own brand of wine, Vinho Verde, which we had been warned about in a  not entirely positive way. Give it a try, we were told, just so you can say you tried it and then move on! Yep, I can now understand the sentiment. It's not that it's gross per say, it's just a very strong, particular kind of wine, and let's just leave it at that!

Off to bed now, big day tomorrow of course! I have to admit I am a bit nervous, but I noticed today I am just itching to get on the road and start walking!

Until tomorrow!!

Dart the Younger