We are staying in Tui two nights to acclimate to the new time zone and climate. Today we walked the 2.5 miles over the border to Portugal to officially begin our walk in Valenca, Portugal. And, then we walked the 2.5 back into Tui, Spain. To be an “official” pilgrim, one most definitely wants to get their Credencial del Peregrino (Pilgrim Credential). This document is for carrying with you on your pilgrimage from your first steps to Santiago. All along the way, you are required to get it officially stamped mostly at cathedrals or an alburgue so when presented at the Santiago Cathedral you qualify as having completed the Camino…we are just under the wire because a pilgrim has to have walked at least 100km to qualify…we are walking 107, plus the mishaps!

My traveling partner was somewhat not engaged with this process, but was easily cajoled into purchasing his document along with mine for a mere 2 euros each, but even more impressed when we did indeed find a non-engaged priest at the cathedral in Valenca to give us our first official stamp.

We are still trying to adjust to the time difference and Spain hasn’t gone over to daylight savings quite yet (next week) so this is how it looked when we got up at 8:30 this morning!

Some pictures from our official start location of Valenca, Portugal:

Looking across the river from Portugal over to Spain and the bridge we walked over from one country to the next…all part of the Camino de Santiago.

From the fortress at the top of the hill in Valenca

Missions Day at the cathedral (note the globe on the altar) 😉

A very cool tunnel under the cathdral that was part of our walk.

Yep, rain on our first day…gentle and welcome to two drought-ridden Californians!

Spain!

And lots of photos from historic and beautiful Tui, where we spent two nights.

cathedral in Tui