It”s a monkey puzzle (tree)!

(Today’s title comes from a majestic and intriguing tree we encountered in the courtyard of the church of St. John the Baptist in Vila do Conde just as we began today’s walk.  A google search, after much speculation, revealed that its common name was Monkey Puzzle tree.) 

Compared to yesterday, today’s walk was longer, less windy, and a mixed bag of surfaces (still flat): 4 miles of city street walking to reach the coast again, 4 miles of good old beach boardwalk, 4 miles of cobblestones (less than fun) and 4 miles of a mixed bag of surfaces.  Today we met considerably more folks than the day before - Portuguese, German, Canadian, British, American and others of unknown origin. Our heartiest encounter was with a a Brit who came strolling down the boardwalk in his sport coat and chinos and couldn’t wait to tell us what a great deal it was to retire and live in Portugal - paying 400 Euros/month for a two bedroom apartment on the seashore,

Another difference was that whereas yesterday we had a sit down lunch of fresh caught, fresh grilled fish, today we had a picnic lunch in the stands of a soccer field while we watch some locals play beach (barefoot - ouch!) soccer.  Along the way we walked thru Apulia - a charming, quiet little town - whose name should amuse my Italian friends and fellow visitors to the Bel Paese.

Tonight’s accommodations are at a quite lovely seaside hotel in Esposende.  Will try to sleep hard and fast tonight because tomorrow’s another day with our first actual elevation changes of the trip.