Strategic shopping

The first thing I do in Penamacor is strategic shopping. I won’t come across a supermarket for the next four or five days, so I need to carefully consider what I buy and fit everything into my cart. It miraculously works out, and loaded up, I continue, only to walk several kilometers in the wrong direction…

Muted Komoot

Along the way, I use the Komoot app. It’s ideal because it tells me when to turn. While the northern loop of this GR22 was wonderfully marked everywhere, that’s not always the case here. In the supermarket, I had muted the voice instructions. It’s quite annoying to always hear while shopping: “Turn around, turn around.” However, I forgot to turn the voice back on. So, turning back with the extra heavy cart. Sigh.

Puffs of smoke

On a dusty country road, I see a dark figure emerge with puffs of smoke around his head. I can’t see him well because I’m looking into the sun. He stands still and waits until I walk by.

“You English?” he asks with a big smile.

“Holland,” I say.

“Holland, oh yeah, you can smoke there, great country!”

In his hand, he has the largest joint I’ve ever seen for one person. He shakes my hand. “Great Holland, great.” I just go along with him, even when he says it’s ridiculous that you can smoke joints in Portugal but can’t buy them.

“Marco,” he says. “And you?”

“Marnix, nice to meet you.”

He shakes my hand again and says, “Good people, good people,” as he sits down under a large oak tree.

750 grams lighter

Today I pass through just one village, Aldeia de João Pires, truly beautiful. It’s strange that it’s right off the route. I walk into the village because I’m hungry and looking for a spot to sit. I find one in a square in the shade. My first dish is made, my cart is 750 grams lighter. That helps, as there’s a steep climb ahead to the next historic village, Monsanto.

Mentally preparing…

But for this climb, I first need to mentally prepare myself. I set up my tent four kilometers before Monsanto. Tomorrow is another day. Then there’ll be no escaping.

Overnight: Monsanto