4.4.15 - Rubiães | Fontoura | Valença | Tui

Saturday Easter with sun and heat, the old desire to walk by Caminho de Santiago and a group of friends - one that even I was born! - that is to doing it on stages. These were the ingredients that led me to accompany them. The formula was simple: start at the hostel of Rubiães and walk to Tui, in Spain.
The beginning of the trail was extremely beautiful and peaceful by the Coura river small waterfalls,  Roman bridge, seeing workers in the field, sheep grazing. The more bucolic than Alto Minho can offer and that we can enjoy. Despite the inclination to São Bento da Porta Aberta, breathing the calm of the mountain, walks very well.
From São Bento is about 15 km down to Minho river, with Tui in sight. The landscape is changing and the miles pass.
In front of the chapel of Nossa Senhora dos Aflitos, in Fontoura, we found a small restaurant with free wifi and crowded with pilgrims. People frm Spain, Ireland, Germany and Sweden, which joined us in a tasting of beer, nails and roast smoked sausage. All teachers or consultants - as in "my group" - we talked about travelling the world and live the true spirit of it: an inner reflection but also with the spirit of sharing and fellowship very much present, allowing us to meet people from all the world, with the most diverse experiences.
From Fontoura to Valenç



a, at one o'clock, with a marvelous sunbathing and talking about cinema. In the fortress awaited us a "mini" because, after crossing the bridge, is just "cañas".
The Valença fortress has moved characteristic of a street-trading city, and where pilgrims are distracted between the windows and the search for the path of arrows. From the top of the wall we see the Minho river and Tui Cathedral, the goal.
However, before that, we have to cross the iron bridge that links the two sides and make it seem like Portugal continues to Finisterre. For me, I confess, a special milestone: the work of engineering, for its beauty and its meaning.
Up Minho river to the cathedral door was the last part of step that led us "to Spain on foot." More than 20 kilometers of living, knowledge of current stories and other times.
To my traveling companions, desire a good way to Santiago. One day I will also do.