u/Dense-Cookie-8942

Hey everyone!
I’m landing in Porto in mid-September and planning to walk the Litoral Route combined with the Variante Espiritual.
My initial plan was to start right from Porto, but I read that takes 13–15 days. I’m looking to shorten it to around 10 days, with a daily limit of 25 km/day.

Where is the best city to skip ahead to and officially start walking so I don't miss the best scenic stages?

Are there any "must-see" coastal sections north of Porto that I definitely shouldn't skip?

I'm a bit nervous about missing out on good coastal stretches by skipping the beginning—is Viana do Castelo or somewhere else the ideal jump-off point?

Also, is there some hostel/albergue that you would reccomend along the way?

Thanks in advance for the advice!

Hi everyone!
Last spring I hiked the Fisherman’s Trail along the coast down to Sagres, and it was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. The ocean cliffs and landscape were simply breathtaking.
For this September, I’m planning to do a Camino de Santiago and was leaning toward the Portuguese/ Senda Litoral route.

However, I have a doubt and would love to hear from anyone who has done both: I get the feeling that the Fisherman’s Trail offers much more spectacular and wild scenery than the Portuguese Camino. Is that just my impression, or is it actually true? Would you still recommend the Portuguese Camino to someone who prioritizes scenery above almost everything else?
I’m looking for a good mix: I love the social atmosphere, meeting people in albergues, and the daily rhythm of the Camino, but stunning landscapes are essential for me.

A few details about my setup:
Time available: 10–14 walking days.

Pace: Around 23 km (14 miles) per day average (can't do much more. actually, that’s what I did on the fisherman’s trail which was on the sand, maybe for the camino I’ll be able to do a bit more?)

Physical constraint: I struggle with long, steep downhill sections

As an alternative to the Portuguese route, I’ve read that the Camino del Norte has incredible scenery.
What do you think? Is the Norte too tough/steep on the knees for my profile, or is it worth choosing over the Portuguese? And what should I realistically expect from the Portuguese Coastal compared to the Fisherman's Trail?

Thanks in advance for any tips and advice!

Last week, we lost our beloved dog. She was a 10-year-old Australian Shepherd.

We had noticed she was a bit lethargic lately, but we didn't worry too much because she always got lazier every summer. I live in a very hot country, so we always tried to walk her early in the morning or late at night and keep her inside with the AC on. Still, every summer she would lose some energy, only to get it right back once autumn arrived.

This time, though, it was different. Last week, we realized she was way more exhausted than usual. Then, over the span of a single night, we found her barely able to stand on her own feet.
We rushed her to the emergency vet clinic. After running some tests, they told us she was suffering from pyometra—a severe uterine infection—and needed emergency surgery.
We had her operated on that very same day. The surgery itself was successful, but the next day, the clinic called to tell us her kidneys were failing.

The news absolutely devastated us; we truly thought the surgery would fix everything.
She spent the next two days at the clinic under sedation. They tried everything they could, but eventually, they called us to say her kidneys weren't restarting, her vitals were worsening, and there was nothing left to do.
We had to make the hardest decision of our lives and euthanize her. We were all there with her, completely heartbroken.

It’s been a week now, and we can’t help but feel terribly guilty about everything. None of us knew about this disease. We didn't even know that leaving a female dog unspayed carries such high risks for other health issues.
We always tried to give her the absolute best care. She suffered from hip dysplasia; we had her operated on one hip years ago, and we were fully prepared to do the second one if it ever started causing her trouble. We took her to the vet multiple times for vaccines, minor procedures, and we even had a chipped tooth reconstructed for her. She was a true member of our family, and we loved her with all our hearts. We just can't come to terms with how we could have been so ignorant about this condition.

In all the times we took her to the vet, not a single specialist ever advised us to spay her or warned us about the issues that could develop. We honestly thought leaving her "intact" was the most natural and right thing to do.

Now she is gone. Our whole family is devastated by the loss of such a massive love, and we can't stop feeling guilty and negligent. We always tried to give her the best life possible—she was a happy, spoiled dog—but we failed her on something that feels so basic in hindsight.

I don't even know what I'm looking for by writing this post. Maybe I just need some words of comfort.

hi!
I’ll be travelling soon to lanzarote, I was wondering what’s best between the classic 40-minute bus tour or a small group walking tour of 3 hours.

I’ve seen some pictures and both options look amazing, would it be worth it to the 2 experiences or is one enough? which would you recommend? do they follow the same route or is the scenery different?

I’m with my mum (late 50s) and she’s scared she won’t be able to keep up with the walking tour however it is described as “easy and relaxed” can anyone confirm?

Hi!

I did my first trail last spring in Portugal, I walked the fisherman trails along the coast.

I loved it so much what I’m considering doing the Camino de Santiago and since I love Portugal and the ocean it seems reasonable that I should do the portuguese way.

Question for those who did both: how does it compare to the fisherman’s trail? Is it similar or should I expect a different experience?

for the fisherman’s trail I booked most hostel in advance. would that be the case as well for the camino?

is September a good month to walk? I’m very sensitive to the sun and heat

thank you

I’ve always had very long, straight, fine hair. My whole life I’ve tried to give it some movement or volume using curling irons, straighteners, sprays, diffuser, mousse, heatless methods like the sock curls overnight, blow drying with a round brush… literally everything. Nothing works. My hair always goes back to being completely straight, like it just doesn’t react to anything.

The thing that bothers me the most is that I can’t get any volume at the roots, so it always looks flat.
I’ve even tried getting it done professionally multiple times. At two different salons, the hairstylists basically “gave up” and I left with only the slightest soft waves.

Yesterday I went to another salon and specifically asked for volume at the roots and some movement at the ends. She tried with a blow dryer and round brush, even using rollers after blow drying, but as soon as the rollers came out my hair immediately fell flat and straight again. Zero volume. Also the hairdresser looked surprised.

I don’t think it’s just because my hair is long/heavy. I’m starting to think maybe it’s simply too fine… or maybe I’ve only met incompetent hairstylists and I’m using the wrong techniques?
Does anyone else have this problem? Any advice or explanation would be appreciated.

Hi!

I planned to visit Tito a bunker in Ljuta. Can someone recommend how to get there without a car?

also, getting there and coming back would take most of my day, do you think it’s worth it?

hi everyone! I’m planning my first solo trip to the Balkans next month and I’m beyond excited! My journey starts in Sarajevo for a few nights, and then I’m taking the train to Mostar. After that, the plan is wide open.

I’ll be traveling for around 17 days, but I have a specific requirement: for 5 days in the middle of the trip, I’ll be working remotely (8 hours a day).

I’m looking for suggestions for 1 or 2 towns where I can explore in the morning and have a reliable workspace in the evening.

What I’m looking for:
Budget: Max €40/night for a private hotel/apartment during my work days.

Connectivity: Solid Wi-Fi is a must (so no remote mountain villages this time!).

I’m considering Montenegro, Croatia, or Slovenia—though I’m worried Croatia/Slovenia might be too expensive for my budget.

do you have any recommendations?

Hey everyone,

I have about 17 days off and I recently booked a flight to Sarajevo with the idea of backpacking through the Balkans. At the time, I felt super confident, maybe a bit hyped up by social media and the popularity the area gained recently, but now that I’m actually looking at the map, I’m feeling overwhelmed and honestly… I kind of regret it.

I keep thinking I should have gone somewhere "easier" or more nature-focused like the Canary Islands. Now I’m lacking the motivation to even start packing.

My loose plan so far:

Start with a couple of days in Sarajevo.

Head to Mostar.

Then… I’m lost. I was thinking about Montenegro or Slovenia (or both?), but I’m confused about the logistics and the itinerary.

What I’m looking for:

Affordable destinations.

-A mix of stunning nature and interesting towns.

-Places where it’s easy to socialize/meet people with nice backpacker vibes

Has anyone been there? Can you "hype me up" a bit? Is 17 days too long or just right? Please share your experiences,must-see spots, or any advice that could make me fall in love with this choice again. I really need some encouragement!

I unfortunately won’t be able to attend, so I’m selling it.