Camino Portuguese Day 5 Vila Praia de Âncora to A Guarda
- Tim
- Sep 17
- 5 min read
The day started off with a 7:30AM breakfast, which consisted of a breakfast bar with pretty much everything a growing "boy" could want. That and of course a gallon or 3 of coffee. We saw Hika at breakfast, we exchanged those morning pleasantries, but we were all still fairly a sleep and worn out from the day before. It had become a ritual of sorts, eat breakfast, drink coffee, go back to the room for 15 or 20 minutes and then check out of the hotel. We had mapped our route out of town and were ready to go, and as had been becoming also a bit of a ritual leaving in the morning it was fricking raining. Rain damnit! Rain! Between the rain and the hills, it's like the Universe hates me, Oh but it was going to get SOOOOO much worse with the hills and the rain. More on that later.
With my trusty poncho on and backpack, we were off. As I mentioned previously Âncora was having a celebration this week. As we were headed out, there was art made out of what looked like colored salt, but it couldn't have been or the RAIN would have washed it away. As a matter of fact none of the color that was used was running at all. It didn't look like sand either. So basically I was completely clueless about what was being used. Doesn't matter, I took a few pictures of it and if I get really bored I'll try and figure it out. BUT if anyone else figures it out, please tell me. I'd love to know what it is.
Overall the walk was smooth to the ferry terminal where we could be taking a boat across to Spain. The main ferry was down for repairs so people were taking small boats as shuttles to and from Spain. To get a ticket you went into a cafe, where the lady behind the counter took your money, 6 Euros gave you a ticket for the boar ride, she then told you to go wait. The cafe looked more like a worn out bus station that was also a parking lot for scooters. Because there were 2 of then parked inside. The lady was also the one that would make you coffee if you wanted some, but you had to wait till she finished selling boat tickets. And THEN someone on a a radio would call. She would look around the room to see who was there, and what groups people were in. And based on the boat's capacity she would decide who got to go on that particular shuttle run. It seems really messed up from a certain point of you. Doesn't matter if you had been waiting 10 or 15 minutes. If there were other groups that just "worked" better for a boat ride they got to go sooner. Such was the case of our group. When it was our turn the lady stopped what she was doing and directed you to walk along the sea wall, and to wait by a tree, on top of the sea wall. We went, and we waited. I had no idea what we were waiting on. I saw a few boats off in the distance taking on passengers. A few minutes later a black RHI, rigid haul inflatable boat slide part way onto the beach. The dude hopped off and made his way to us, told us to wait while he went and got a jug of fuel. The boat coxswain was Portuguese and was pointing at the other boats and told us that his people were the best, and those other boats were Spanish boats and they at were better off with him. His English was pretty broken, but better than my Portuguese but not by much. He had a whole speech rehearsed like a tour guide as we started to head to Spain. He asked everyone where they were from, but insisted that I was from California. No idea why he kept referring to me like that. Everyone else on the boat he called by their State or City.
He then told us about about how his Dad used to work in Alaska, and Canada doing whatever, cause I don't remember what he said.
The boat ride itself was really short, a whopping 3 minutes or so. The boat coxswain brought us along another sea wall that was covered in seaweed and a bunch of other strange sea "stuff". There was a rope that was anchored to the wall that he had everyone hold on too until they made it a sidewalk that wasn't covered by something that resembled The Swamp Thing.
Once we got our bearings we headed to the route we were to take to A Guarda, which of course was straight the fuck up a hill. It was another stroll through some ancient ruins and yet another eucalyptus forest. They seem to be everywhere in the Iberian Peninsula. After a few twists and turns through the riverside town and up hills, we ended up walking through another eucalyptus forest with old medieval style water "wells" I think they were. A few small churches along the way. On the other side of the eucalyptus forest we found our hotel. We checked in, and since it was early enough in the day we went for a quick lunch and then back to our rooms for a nap. And in my case to write this thing, or as much as I could before I fell asleep.
Got up and about, to head for dinner, but first a stroll along the shore and sightsee a little bit before eating dinner. It tuned out on our sightseeing excursion that we found a place to eat. I small restaurant, more like an enclosed patio overlooking the ocean. It was way cool, low tech and not fancy at all.
Oh and I had this dish called Zorza, pronounced Sorsa. It's spiced chopped pork with a bunch of fries. Drank some red wine and an evening espresso and called it a night. We would be up early for breakfast and then to a local market to buy stuff to take on the next leg. Occasionally cafe's along the way are closed or are nonexistent so we needed to make sure we had food for the trip.
Just more shit to carry in an already overstuffed backpack. And YES I always overpack. Geez you think being prepared was a bad thing.
After A Guarda it was off to Oia, Spain. Before I forget, my allergies went into overdrive after I had lunch in A Guarda. I've been a hot mess since then. Unless something changes, I'm going to scratch Spain off my list of potential places to retire.
Until next time, stay outta trouble, and if you can't do that. Don't get caught.
Tim
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