Azambuja to Santarem I have just enjoyed a wonderful refreshing shower and stayed for ages so that my aching body could be revitalised. The sun has been relentless and there has been little or no shade. We made many short stops for food, water and a little break. Knowing it was going to be a long 30kms walk across flat agricultural land, we set off early in the cool morning air. The mist rose atmospherically on the waterways as the sun came up. We passed fie...

Vilafranca de Xira to Azambuja When Queen Isabel of Portugal walked the route from Lisbon to Santiago in the 13th century, there were no motorways with heavy traffic, sugar cane factories or industrial zones. Today's walk, if I'm honest, has been a bit of a slog! Right next door to where we set out is the wonderful marble fronted market in the centre of town and traders are getting ready for the day ahead. There are few pilgrims on this Camino - only 0.5% of ...

Santa Iria to Vilafranca de Xira. It's another hot day (84 degrees) and the first few miles are spent walking along the N 10 major road North. We constantly switch sides to find a piece of pavement to escape the lorries, coaches and cars. This is suburban industrial Portugal and walking on asphalt in this heat is quite tough going. But as always on the Camino, there are other experiences such as walking along the river on a nature reserve walkway and then towar...

Lisbon to Santa Iria At nine o'clock this morning, we took our first steps on the final adventure on my 'gap year' - the 620kms Camino Portuguese journey from Lisbon to Santiago. The narrow cobbled streets of the Alfama district were quiet with just the occasional dog bark and shopkeepers opening up to start another day. It's fun to be walking again and initially spotting the yellow arrow signs on pavements, walls and street furniture. We pass through the s...