Portuguese Camino de Santiago: Our experience with a child

This stage was one of the longest with a distance of approximately 15 miles. For this reason, we left Pontevedra early and fortunately, the rain from the previous day stopped haunting us.

The exit from the historic centre of Pontevedra is via the Burgo Pedestrian Bridge, and a little further on, on a dirt road, is the detour for those who want to do the spiritual variant of the Santiago Camino. We did not follow the variant because it would increase our travel days.

The stage is long, but not the most difficult. The first 6 miles are through forests and dirt roads with few towns and places to eat. Near the end of this sector, when the route runs alongside a train line, which we will have to cross, we find the Pousada do Peregrino, which serves meals and drinks. Here, on its terrace, we enjoyed the sun and the joy of all the pilgrims who crowded this space. There were more than five nationalities, including obviously english nationality.

The following miles were covered on roads, dirt paths and old vineyards.

Arriving at Caldas de Reis, we crossed the beautiful and ancient bridge over the Umia River. The weather was much better and we took the opportunity to visit this spa town. Near the bridge, there is a spa and in front of the spa building we can feel the temperature at which the water comes out of the ground. Nearby there is the famous hot spring where various pilgrims comfort their feet. We visited its Cathedral and walked along the river.

Our 5th stage was demanding and beautiful essentially made on a dirt road. From the exit of Caldas de Reis, we walked through the countryside and later on the mountain area with its huge green trees. Accompanying us along its 12 miles was always water, fountains, streams and rivers.

Along the route, we find chapels, churches and charismatic cross monuments. These religious monuments are very characteristic of the landscape in Galicia and are spread throughout the route, and each one is different. They bless pilgrims on their journey to Santiago de Compostela.

The final part of the route is the least interesting, as near Pontecesures we no longer have the greenery as a backdrop and industrial areas and busy roads cross our path again.

Arriving in Padrón, we were presented with a small fair, close to the Sar River. Padron was not a city that did not captivate us.

However, we cannot miss the Church of Santiago de Padrón, an icon of the Jacobean tradition, where, according to legend, is the stone to which the boat that transported the remains of the Apostle Santiago from Jaffa to Padrón was attached.

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