And while the rest of the world has been trying to keep each other out here’s where they decided to old the border for 720 years.
We have, of course, the 1297 Treaty of Alcañicas to thank for the Portuguese-Spanish border, weas if we need to tell you that.
But we reckoned that milestone needed marking.
Which is why you see me stood here on the Valença International Bridge or Friendship Bridge.
Taking my first steps from Portuguese Valença over to Spanish Tui on my Portugués Camino.
Which conveniently for us, that’ll be me and Big Brother Ed, is 116kms to Santiago de Compostella.
Long enough to qualify for another Camino passport to go with my Frances Way one from 11 years ago.
A day in Portugal’s fortress town
Now, seeing we’ll only be in Portugal overnight we’d best have a look around.
Where we find a horde of Spaniards from just over the Minho trawling along Rua de Mousinho de Albuquerque for cheaper linen.
For all that the two countries have been at peace for 620 years.
There is a visible reminder that the Portuguese protect themselves ably.
And visitors will want to scale the Valença Fortress for the best views to Galicia.
While we’re advised that O Faz Figuras is best for traditional Minho dishes like bacalhau cod.
CaminoWays do the heavy lifting
We’re staying at the A Torre Do Xudes hotel in Tui.
Our first billet on our CaminoWays odyssey to Santiago de Compostella.
Where the bones of St James the Greater are venerated in the Cathedral.
Which is why pilgrims, or peregrinos, have been walking there for hundreds of years from all over Europe.
To earn grace and penitence and get time off Purgatory, the holding bay for Heaven.
Now back then in the Middle Ages, Michael O’Leary was just a twinkle in a great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather’s eye.
So you would have to leave from your own doorstep and walk across land and sea to get here.
While I saved myself the guts of a few weeks extra walking by taking a two-hour 50 minutes Ryanair flight from Edinburgh to Porto.
And while many peregrinos still carry their full backpacks and stay in hostels, or albergued, along the way.
CaminoWays do the heavy lifting for you, taxiing you to your first stop in TUI from Porto or Santiago.
Putting you up in your hotel and transporting your luggage to your next stay, all in your package.
The Way of James
Now the Way of St James will always mean something unique to everyone who travels it.
And for this James it is following in the footsteps of James the Elder.
James Gerard Murty, who would have been 100 but is gone 18 years now.
And although he will have found his way to Heaven, with only limited time in the Purgatory holding bay.
He continues to guide my path, and no doubt will lead me back on track when I undoubtedly go off course this week.
So come this Way with us and…
MEET YOU ON THE ROAD