Day 8 Albergaria to Porto

So today was the last of the walk before Porto. The walk into Porto is apparently a full day of suburbs and industrial estates. So as an indomitable pilgrim, stuff that. Plan today was to get a train from Oliveira de Azemeis and stay over in Porto. But first a nice walk from Albergaria.

Initially the clouds were threatening but soon the day gave way to a long walk through young eucalyptus woods. The legacy of last year’s forest fires was still evident in patches of blackened trees. The legacy of yesterday’s heavy rains was even more evident.

Oliveira was fun. Quite tatty. Arrived at the train station, with my ticket loaded onto the neat Portuguese railway app to find an abandoned train.

Arrived in plenty of time so the abandoned train was abandoned in favour of a really rough looking bar across the road. It was ok - the food was served hot so most of the bacteria would have died. Mind you, having the bathroom in the restaurant and next to my table meant that the bacteria was being replenished on a fairly continuous basis.

A bifana, and a couple of beers later, (3.50€)) it was back to the station. Strangely there were some people hanging around the abandoned train. On asking a chap who looked vaguely official, it transpired that the abandoned train was actually the train. Sure enough it eventually got going, albeit very slowly, and a couple of hours later it wheezed into Espinho. Then a short hop into Porto.

I had found a nice flat near the cathedral and also near the local druggies' fav hangout. Was quite pleased with the edgy choice until I realised in the middle of the night that there was no air-conditioning..