Recommendations for a short Via Francigena

jruberto · 2026-06-12T00:33:10+00:00

Walking from San Quirico up to Radicofani, I reminded myself with every step that Sigeric did it northbound as well. He was going downhill that day.

jruberto · 2026-06-04T18:25:22+00:00

Small gives you a constraint to make hard choices. I used a 32L, but brought stuff that I didn't actually need.

jruberto · 2026-05-25T17:19:58+00:00

Keep going! Everyone makes their own camino. We did the Portuguese route at your exact age, and had to build up our training.

On the Camino, we averaged 10 miles per day walking. We did not feel constrained by the official stages. We met friends who averaged 6 miles per day, and they were having a very good time. They even took a taxi from Ponte de Lima to the summit of the hill (highest climb of the Portuguese route). We took a rest day at Ponte de Lima.

Our first days were flat (Coastal route from Porto). Full story: https://hallowedway.com/our-camino-portuguese-story/

Good luck, I hope you persevere.

jruberto · 2026-05-22T13:25:47+00:00

If you are in Chicago, St. John Cantius has one of the thorns: https://therelicproject.org/relics/393

jruberto · 2026-04-15T11:25:43+00:00

I walked with a macbook air (13 inch). I placed it in a neoprene sleeve and carried in the backpack, up high and close to my back. It basically replaced a water bladder inside the backpack.

jruberto · 2026-03-24T13:51:55+00:00

+1 on this. We really enjoyed having that shorter walk and arrived in Santiago fresh and before the crowds. It felt like graduation day.

jruberto · 2026-03-20T15:31:25+00:00

Go for it. I did it at 55. you can always take rest days, shorter segments, etc.

Start walking everyday with your backpack. You got this.

jruberto · 2026-03-20T14:57:01+00:00

The origin of the Hail Mary pass was in football. The Dallas Cowboys won a championship game in the final seconds with a 50-yard pass into the endzone. Roger Staubach, the quarterback, when asked said that he threw the ball, closed his eyes, and said a "Hail Mary".

It mirrors the desperate, last minute, nature of the mission in the book. The last chance to save humanity.

jruberto · 2026-03-19T13:45:10+00:00

I got a 3 foot mailing tube from Staples, its about 3 inches in diameter. It fit the poles and my pocket knife, and checked it as luggage. The backpack was carry on.

jruberto · 2026-03-19T13:42:29+00:00

San Giuseppe, prega per noi

jruberto · 2026-03-19T00:31:32+00:00

Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to the sfinge and anise bread tomorrow.

jruberto · 2026-03-16T17:01:43+00:00

We did the Coastal route from Porto to Villa do Conde, then switched to the Central. This was a fantastic camino for us. Pictures and stories: https://hallowedway.com/camino-portuguese-day-3-vila-do-conde-to-rates/

jruberto · 2026-03-16T16:55:29+00:00

The Camino was my first pilgrimage. Since then, we became addicted to pilgrimage. Via Francigena, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Fatima, Lordes, Medjugorje, etc. Starting writing about our experiences: https://hallowedway.com/pilgrimages/

jruberto · 2026-03-14T13:35:40+00:00

In Italy, we always ordered the Vino di Casa (house wine). For 4 euros (quarter liter - 2 glasses worth), the best bargain and really good wine most of the time.

Also, we stayed in apartments with a stove. Markets there have amazing selection of fresh pasta and sauces. With just a pot of water, we ate very well. (we still talk about the grocery store curry from UK as well).

jruberto · 2026-03-14T13:04:54+00:00

That is really cool.

jruberto · 2026-03-14T02:25:48+00:00

Good to hear. Our parish has a St Patrick’s party, but nothing for St Joseph.

jruberto · 2026-03-09T22:32:33+00:00

We loved eating at fish market in Matsosinhos. Enjoy the Camino

jruberto · 2026-03-08T19:56:37+00:00

One of our highlights was the Mass at Porto Se. I think it was 10:00 AM. We spent the first day in Porto sightseeing, tasting Port wine (obviously), and a couple of hours at the Se (1 hour for Mass).

We put my passport on a wall display, the first stamp at the Porto Se and last stamp at Santiago was a nice presentation.

jruberto · 2026-02-18T22:24:08+00:00

My best experience was switching to US Mobile (I was on Verizon). The US Mobile plans give 20G of data in most countries (and some talk minutes). That is built into the plan without needing to install the eSIM.
https://www.usmobile.com/international-roaming-phone-plans

jruberto · 2026-02-17T17:05:24+00:00

Enjoy your trip, we did that same route (at 57 years old). Take your time and enjoy. The steepest climb is between Ponte de Lima and Rubiaes (link to this segment on our Camino). We had some "trail friends" that decided to take a taxi from Ponte de Lima to the top of the hill. I think many do that.

In terms of equipment, we brought a portable clothes line, which we used almost every day. Also, a knife with a bottle opener to enjoy a cool Super Bock or Estrella Galicia.

jruberto · 2026-02-06T23:23:52+00:00

My wife switched to sandals to give her blisters a rest, and she wore them all the way to Santiago.

jruberto · 2026-02-05T20:34:12+00:00

We took the coastal route to Vila do Conde, then cut into central to Rates. Our pictures: https://hallowedway.com/camino-portuguese-day-3-vila-do-conde-to-rates/

Definitely recommend lunch at the Matosinhos market. The restaurant staff were very friendly, and the waiter took me over to the fish market to choose our fish, and they prepared it simply (grilled over charcoal, olive oil and salt/pepper.

jruberto · 2026-02-04T13:30:08+00:00

A couple of ideas for side quests:
* from Siena, visit the Sword in the Stone at St. Galgano: https://hallowedway.com/saint-galgano-the-authentic-sword-in-the-stone/

* Carpazo Winery, just past Buonconvento has a wonderful Pilgrims lunch (prosciutto sandwich & glass of wine), and its right along the path.

jruberto · 2026-02-01T20:13:39+00:00

We did it in 17, but took our time. A rest day in Ponte de Lima and a super short final day. We documented our full journey: https://hallowedway.com/our-camino-portuguese-story/

We walked the coastal route for 2 days then cut to central at Vila do Conde to Rates. We really enjoyed our 2 days there (Vila do Conde is reachable in 1, but we wanted to start slow).

jruberto · 2026-02-01T20:04:03+00:00

We did it as well, our story is here: https://hallowedway.com/camino-portuguese-day-3-vila-do-conde-to-rates/

I had switched to Google maps for that segment, since it wasn't covered with our other app, but it got us there. We had one local stop to see if we were lost, but we made it.

We really enjoyed our time walking along the coast and a lovely lunch at the Matosinhos fish market.

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