There are two routes onward — a coastal path and a shaded one, which is the official one. I was going to take the coastal route but once I saw the weather forecast for another hot day, I chose the shaded path — and was grateful for it!
The day began with walking in quiet, stony back streets at Carreco. You can see how these stony paths are hard on the feet over repeated days!
Thankfully the path winds back into eucalyptus woods with softer ground.
Back to stony paths at Afife.
There was a lovely cafe at Afife, with a shaded garden. A chance to get coffee and cake, and air the socks!
A steep uphill and into the woods after the cafe. As autumn approaches, there are beech nuts and acorns on the ground in the forest, and the smell of fallen apples.
The path goes around fields and rural homes and enters Vila Praia de Ancora.
It was the festival of Our Lady of Bonança and the entire area congregated for a parade, fireworks, a funfair, and much celebration. A good night for earplugs as the fireworks continued into the small hours!
The saints are decorated and paraded on floats, and also decorated within the churches.
The town has a lovely swimming beach and lots of restaurants and shops.
Continue the Camino journey: Vila Praia de Ancora, Portugal, to A Guarda, Spain
Accommodation: I stayed at the Hotel Meira which was on the main street and very good.
Facilities: Cafes at Carreco and also Cafe de Cabanas at Afife, and a bigger town with everything you need at Vila Praia de Ancora.
Patrick Low
I hoped Mac Adventure told you of the festival of our Lady of Bonanca. I would have stopped an extra day to enjoy the time there.