Day 3 & 4: Rates - Casa Fernanda - Ponte de Lima (from Porto - 88km)

Well after the initial teething problems (i.e. blisters, burns, hating walking) we now seem to be into the whole flow of walking.

After spending the first couple of days dodging cars finally most of Day 3 was off road, walking through vineyards, eucalyptus woods, along streams... when you are not stressing about when you are going to be run over you start to enjoy yourself a bit more.

Day 3 we walked 20km to Casa Fernanda, no sonner had we arrived were we welcomed into the home of a local woman and her family. Fernanda normally can accommodate up to 5 pilgrims at her home, but on this day 12 people turned up... without even blinking an eye she found space for all of us - be it in the attic, or on the couch. The family insisted that everyone eat with them, so we spent the day/evening eating, drinking and resting our weiry legs, there were 5 different nationalities staying so we all had great fun trying to communicate in broken tongues - what a brilliant day!! The familys kindness is truly immesasurable.

Today we have only walked 14km to Ponte de Lima, we've decided to take it a bit easier as I have some pretty nasty blisters on my feet and it is too hot to walk after 10am. The first thing we did when arriving here was find a post office, I managed to pull out 4kg of crap that I really don't need and we have sent it back to the UK - with my bag now weighing 8kg walking should become easier... here's hoping.

We are now really starting to enjoy the camino, we are meeting some wonderful people (all of whom are quite a bit older and fitter than both of us) and with each day walking is becoming easier and the scenery more beautiful.

Tomorrow we are walking 18km with a 400m climb - eek.