change in fortune

I guess my seat number on the Oporto bus, #7, should have tipped me off. But as we neared the city, I was already awestruck by the sound of crying Atlantic Gulls overhead. Yes, even in a coach, on the highway in the rain, I could sense their dreamy wheels. 

Then, realising I'd booked to alight at the aeroporto which was some way from the city. Luckily the cranky driver was unaware & I got away with the longer ride into town. 

At the autobus estacion it was raining hard, the Camino began at the Se Cathedral "on the hill overlooking the [little] city". Well from my perspective I could not see any cathedral let alone that hill. A short taxi ride fixed that, as I landed nearby. 

i went to the cathedral office & got a fresh Credencial & set off downhill to the north. For about 45 minutes I poked along hunting arrows, until I was satisfactorily lost.

 I found a nice taxi driver who drove me back towards town & delivered me to the Albergue de Peregrino. After a shower & lie down, I went to eat for the first time since I ate a light breakfast, for less than €5 I had soup, a ham toasty of some sort & a caffee Americano. 

In the Alb. I spoke with Patty, Canadian Camino veteran who booked a long break to walk from Seville but pulled out early & had 2 weeks to fill in. She suggested I do the Coastal & I didn't need convincing. The walk by the Doui ? River, gulls calling overhead & the smell of charcoal fish was totally enrapturing. I remember thinking: " I hope the gulls are on the Central". When I should have realised they were calling me to the coast.