El Camino Portuguese Mealhada to Agueda

El Camino Portuguese 

Mealhada to Agueda

I as back at the railway station to catch a train back to Mealhada.

There was a strange platform numbering system and looking at the photo, the numbers for the platforms going from left to right are, 6, 7, 2, 1, 3, 4 and 5. There must be a reason but I didn't know but there is a story there somewhere.

At the top of the hill before the village on the edge of the forest before the village began was a cemetery and the gate was open. I love funeral architecture, especially the flamboyant era at leading u to the end of the 19th century which swept much of Western Europe and its colonies. And some cultures have retained some of this opulent such as these graves and mausoleums.

The pylon on the left is the standard but there were a few way signs of a different style, still a concrete square post but the tile was a darker blue. But it wasn't that useful as it didn't have the yellow arrow so was of little use. Pilgrims can't even rely on the way that the shell is facing as there is no standard and I have seen shells in all orientations, pointing left, right up and down.

Another gnome in someone's front garden...

...and opposite the gnome, you have to be aware of the wildlife, a pretty big frog sitting on the top of a gate post.

After passing through Avelas de Caminho, the route goes past the Caves de Sao Joao, famous for the Portuguese equivalent of champagne with prices to match.

The nearby cappella Sao Joao, a pretty little church with azulejos tiles gracing the facade.

There was another hill to climb, just a small conical hill with a 65 metres climb but the contours were close together and in true El Camino style, it would have been easier to go around the base but EL Camino has to climb every mountain. But there was a good view of Agueda from the top.

I crossed the old bridge and made my way across the old bridge and turned u some of the shopping street to get to my hotel.

The main shopping street in Agueda, Rua Luis Camoes...

...and a side street, also protected from the sun by parasols and sunflowers.