3 Lovely Nights in Lovely Tomar Portugal

Finally got to take a break and a break I was going to take!!!! My hip is still giving me a bit of pain so I will take some time off to hopefully ward off any tendonitis from all of this road walking. What better place to do so than the amazing Templar town of Tomar. Now this is what I'm talking about. 

 Since our first pilgrimage on the Camino Frances in Spain three years ago,  John and I have been really interested in the Knights Templar who were protectors of the medieval pilgrims, fighting the Moors (Muslims) prevalent in the times. They seem like such heroes and who doesn't love a hero?  Tomar welcomes the modern pilgrims just as it has for the ancient ones in whose footsteps we follow.  The beautiful castle and Convento de Christo, Convent of the Knights of the Order of Christ are the cradle of this historic and wonderful sight.  We really want to take the time to experience this.

Dinner of stuffed pork with sausage, salad,  rice and chips and wine.

 We met up with Sebastian once again and shared a couple bottles of wine with him in the town square.  People party and eat and socialize very late here. No one is in any hurry.  Very refreshing compared to our culture.

                                 Being goofy.

 Spent our first night in the two star Sinagaga Hotel which was adequate  but then switched for two nights to the lovely four star hotel Dos Templarios.  She-she luxury for the equivalent of about  $100 a night.  Easily would be over $300 a night in the US. Robes, slippers and a full breakfast included!  What a treat!

 Toured the castle and convent.  Was spectacular!  We sat and had a beer and talked about what monastic life must have been like back in the day.

Okay,  the next stage will be another 20 miler. Hoping that there after we will be able to split up the long days depicted in John Brierley ' s guidebook,  who speaking of, we met once again!  He obviously likes to update his guides in the fall since we also met him on our Camino in 2013. Apparently Sebastian had stayed with him at Elena's place in Azinhaga the night before us, and talked about how distracted she was and how there was no dinner since she was taking him to a bbq or some such thing. He must be such a celebrity on the Camino.  I will say that I am glad to see him promoting and updating the guidebook of this Camino,  since even though it is the second most popular route,  it is not as well supported as the Frances.  He expressed to us that there is the dilemma of, if they make more places for pilgrims,  the more will come,  while the Portuguese people say,  if more start coming then we will build more support and places.  It really is in its resurgence now. And we pay with long stages for now.  Hopefully there will be more people like Elena who can foresee the opportunities to be had.

The Portuguese people are so nice and accommodating as evidenced by the fact that John could not open our bottle of wine tonight since the cork failed and the guy at the bar didn't blink an eye and just explained how some corks are just bad even though the best cork in the world comes from Portugal.

Another very long day awaits. Wonder what else it will hold?