Day 1 (4-Oct-2018): Porto (Vilar do Pinheiro) to Sao Miguel de Arcos (18.6km): We had 8am breakfast at The Poets Inn then walked ~1km to the Trindade metro station where we took the Red Line (“B”) metro to Vilar do Pinheiro (a “z4” fare) and joined the camino at Mosteiro -- 1.2km to camino from station and another ~9km to Vilarinho where we had lunch. Then another 8km to Sao Miguel de Rates. We were going to go further and stay in the albergue at Rates but decided Arcos would be far enough and it was a bit warm. In early afternoon we called ahead to Quinta de Sao Miguel de Arcos and were able to get a pilgrims discount on a very nice room. They also serve dinner but that starts late and seemed a bit steep so are enjoying a glass of wine at the only other place in the village that serves food - Cafe Barbosa - and will have dinner here at 7pm.
Notes: The Porto Metro leaves Porto airport direct to downtown and is a “z4” fare. We purchased multi fare cards (each person needs a card) with two z4 fares for ~4.6 euros. If you are hard core and arrive early enough in the day you could even go from the airport towards town, change lines and then go out to Vilar do Pinheiro and start walking. Of course, staying in Porto and exploring the Douro valley are great things to do. We spent one night in Porto (the Poets Inn Guest House is right on the camino route) took the train 2 hours up the Douro river to Pinhao, spent 2 nights there then back to Porto for one night at the Poets Inn then left on the camino the next morning taking the Metro to Vilar de Pinheiro (another “z4” fare) and walked the 18km to Arcos for our first day.
Dinner last night in Porto at Taberna Santo Antonio - a neighborhood place. 4 stewed pork cheeks with veggies. Less than $10! Of course, we also had a bottle of red wine.
In front of "The Poets Inn" guest house. The camino passes here but we took the metro from Trindade station to the outskirts of Porto before starting to walk.
On the camino! From the Vilar do Pinheiro metro station it was 1.2km to get onto the camino.
A church en route
Although there was a bit of walking along somewhat busy roads we were also on quiet tracks
Pilgrim art
Old bridge
More quiet tracks
view of our destination in the background - Sao Miguel de Arcos
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