SEARA TO SÃO ROQUE PORTUGAL - THE MOST CHALLENGING DAY

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Ler em Português

 After an overnight stay at Hotel Pinheiro Manso, on  day six our journey continued from the town of  Seara, Portugal. We started out early along a beautiful tree-lined plaza and then through an older part of the town following the Lima River. Crossing the river on the medieval Ponte Romana (Roman Bridge), we proceeded through 14 miles of roads and pathways, through ancient picturesque villages, and up a steep rocky and  mountainous trail. And when we thought we had arrived, we were confronted with an equally rough downhill climb strewn with rocks and loose gravel before finally arriving at our destination, the village of São Roque. This was by far the most challenging day of our walk.








Santo Antonio da Torre Velha Church
Medieval Roman Bridge
















"Field Memories"
Located along the river as one nears the Roman Bridge, this monument titled “Field Memories” honors the memory of the peasant people of Lima (the city of Seara is located within the municipality of Ponte de Lima), who plowed the land, sowed the seeds, and reaped the crops. A  sign describing this monument laments the disappearance of this heritage and tradition of the field.

Cafe Veiga: Breakfast Stop
Outdoor dining area

In the village of Arcozelo, we stopped at
Café Veiga for a "pilgrim's breakfast."







Eggs, ham, veggies, and a roll accompanied
by a cup of the delicious Portuguese coffee
A furry friend joined us for
breakfast. Interesting that we 
noticed the presence of cats
throughout our pilgrimage!






























Between the cafe in Arcozelo and our arrival in São Roque we faced the steepest, most challenging climb of our entire pilgrimage.


















We finally reached the Pilgrim's Cross, but the climb continued.







Other Vistas along the Way



























A view of the town of Labruja

Arriving finally in São Roque

A short rest stop before
reaching our hostel, the
Repouso do Peregrino



















Finally arrived at our hostel
Repouso do Peregrino

Footcare became a part of our daily routine!























The View from our Room


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