As the route out of Porto is almost entirely on busy roads, I have arranged for us to begin our Camino at Vilar do Pinheiro. We all piled onto the bus and were transported to our beginning point.
And so the Camino began. Very quickly the young people took the lead and groups began to form with 4 or 5 people finding their stride and pace were similar to others in the group.
Most of Day One was walked on the granite cobblestone so often used in Portugal. But oh such beautiful flowers everwhere.
And small country churches and crosses along the way.
Christina and Leonard posed in front of a small chapel for me.
We walked for 11 miles/17.7 kilometers to the most wonderful Quinta. We were treated like royalty at the Quinta de Sao Miguel de Arcos. The rooms were fabulous, each one of them, the dinner was superb.
The greatest gift was the Quinta had two swimming pools, one cold and one warmed! Everybody was thrilled after walking their first day in unusually hot weather for this section of Portugal.
Thoughts and Adventures 
Congrats all on your first day!
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Thanks Lova, it was a hard hot day but we are used to heat coming from Arizona, and with the gift of the swimming pools – cake walk!
Arlene
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So you did not walk the coast???
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Hi Steve,
No not this time, because of the long distances between hotels. I am working on a possible tour totally along the coast. It seems a new (not the ancient) Camino is being waymarked along the entire coast of Portugal
Arlene
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How many pilgrims do you have with you???
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Steve,
There are 15 others.
Arlene
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Great. You obviously did a great job of recruiting, which means you put a great trip together. Excited for you.
Steve
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Sounds like a great start!! Buen camino,
Nancy
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Buen Camino Arlene… making notes! Ingrid
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The flowers are just as beautiful as they were last year Arlene!
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Hey Arlene, congrats on a fabulous first day. Sounds wonderful!
Bill
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