Lisbon to Porto March 28

Lisbon to Porto 

Sao Joao da Madeira

March 28, 2026

This morning we were taking a taxi back to the place where we left off yesterday, as we had two nights in the same hotel.  Taking the taxi thing is always a little bit iffy as you are now relying on someone else's organization to make things work.  It isn't simply a matter of stepping out of the hotel and you are on your way.  However the taxi was there exactly on time and it was a very nice comfy Mercedes van with lots of room for all six of us and our back packs.  

Twenty minutes later we stepped out of the van right on to the route.  From where the taxi dropped us we had a 28 kms walk to day with 640 meters of climb.  It was 8:25 as we started down the road and the sun was out and while there was a little chill in the air it wasn't going to be long before the temperature was headed towards the 20's.  

The walk today was through semi rural country side.  Small gatherings of houses and small industrial areas.  It was all down quiet paved roads most of which had a side walk on both sides although some stretches had one one side walk and some didn't have any side walks.  The side walks all are made of these 2-3 inch rectangular white quartz stones which have been laid cobble stone fashion.  In fact hey have been the subject of more than one conversation about how much labour it must take to lay these what has to be billions and billions of stones. Is making and selling these stones a big business in Portugal? 

When we hit the 21 kms walk Ken T, Karen, Sally and myself were done for the day and we stopped for a beer at a side walk Cafe.  Ken T loaded Uber and it said 1 minute for the Uber so we finished our beers before calling the Uber.  The beer was ice cold and we were hot sweaty and tired. It was so great. 

About 15 minutes later we were stepping out of the Uber and into our hotel.  It is a really nice place right on the city center square.  Two queen beds in the room over looking the square.  Doesn't get any better. 

I forgot to start my Garmin watch as we left the taxi so I never knew where exactly I was during the day and then I forgot to turn it off when we got into Uber.  So much for recording todays walk.  

What a great day walking today.

Terry