Plan K, now engaged

Hello from Vilarinho! 

Given that we lost time waiting for bags, we opted to shift our stages around a little to make up for as much as possible. Today we went about 18 miles from Porto to Vilarinho. We made good time starting just after 7:00 and arriving at casa da Laura around 4:00 
Instead of the metal plaques in the ground we saw in the city, we looked for yellow arrows and shells indicating where to go, they were like markers for a secret society and it’s was fun to search them out. 

While passing out of Porto we got a little turned around and a local man shouted at as and came up the sidewalk to explain in a very detailed fashion that we barely understood that we were going the wrong way. He followed us down the street for a bit pointing and gesturing and we thanked him often. We saw a cafe and started to detour and he shouted again pointing back at the way he seemed surprised and disappointed that we could get lost again so quickly. We pointed to the cafe and he nodded his approval. This cafe was the first to offer us size options for our cafe con leche, first holding up the cup that we’re familiar with, and then a much larger one (still only the size of a tall at most) which had us frantically agreeing that we would like larger caffeine. 

We’ve replaced most things, but the thing that I still need desperately is shoes. These streets are all cobblestone, which was fine when I was in my hokas but now I’m wearing the highlighter yellow shoes that are a little like socks that I bought in Porto thinking they would be to get me out of my flip flops and around the city until me shoes arrived. They’re thin on the bottom with little in the way of padding or protection and my feet are bruising already from the cobbles. We plan to get into Barcelos early and look for shoes as soon as we can. As for our albergue, it’s lovely and clean. There’s a nice courtyard to relax in and we’re here with two gentlemen from Spain we met on the road. We’re off to look for dinner soon, and tomorrow will be another early start.