We left the La Laterna in Verdelha de Baixo around 8:15 A.M with cool temperatures 17 C (62.6 F), but nice for walking. Dennis helped me adjust my backpack straps (with my sore left arm, I cannot pull the tight) and the fit was much better. I told him he was officially my page until my arm healed.
We walked past industrial areas, granaries, and busy streets. At one point we went through an alfalfa field where we meet a man collecting snails for dinner. I have eaten sea snails and did not know that land snails were edible. He puts them in a sauce with garlic.
Dennis has a headache today and has achy legs and feet. So, when it started to pour as we were walking by the train station in Alhandra (7.5 km or 4.5 miles later) I decided we should take the train to Azambuja. We were lucky, the train only cost 1.75 E each and was leaving in 10 minutes. We arrive in town about 11 A.M. and stopped for coffee. The proprietor recommended rooms next to the cafe, but said there was no WIFI. So we went in search of the hotel in town Oura. Very expensive (50 E) and no internet connection except for the computers in the lobby. We walked around town for about an hour and returned to where we started, only to find that there was WIFI. I recommend the Flor da Primavera…very clean and with internet.
Dennis is amazed that so many times were are really close to what we are looking for, but cannot find it. It seems to be a daily occurrence.
In town we
found the bull ring (where they do not kill the bulls) and met the only other pilgrim we have seen to date, Katherine from Quebec. She was hoping to stay for free at the fire station (Los Bombeiros), but they sent her to the city hall.
There are barriers along the major street. Apparently there was a running of the bulls here in town, as they do in Pamplona, Spain, two weeks ago and they have not yet taken the barriers away.
jane- as always you remain tough. i love to read your blog.