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Day 11 | 12 July 2026 | Walking the Portuguese Camino
From Zambujal to Coimbra | 25.4 km – 15.7 miles
I woke with acute pain in my left knee and it took a lot longer to get ready. Fortunately, our accommodation was literally right on the Camino, so all I had to do was open the door and start… hobbling.
Whilst training, I had experienced a dull pain in this knee for some three months leading up to the start of the Camino, and I did wonder at times if I should wait and get some treatment. But I was so keen to start that I ignored the signals.
So, with this in mind, what was I thinking when yesterday I decided to test my knee and walk the last 6 km at a much quicker pace than I had ever walked before? Idiot.
After around 2 km we passed Refúgio Nicola, a pilgrim rest point with its own unique style. Refreshments were available on a donation basis and there was also a place where pilgrims could camp.
After 7 km we arrived in Conímbriga and had our morning coffee. I was shattered and could walk no further.
We asked the café owner to call us a taxi to Coimbra. The following day was going to be our first pre-planned rest day, and I was pinning my hopes on that being enough to help my knee recover.
In the evening we strolled around the streets close to our hotel and had some dinner.
The colourful street lights were part of the Festas da Rainha Santa Isabel (Festivities of Queen Saint Isabel). The rose-shaped lights featured a portrait of Queen Saint Isabel, who is the revered patron saint of Coimbra.
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