Portugal was once the leader of the world in navigation and exploration. The Portuguese flag features an Armillary Sphere in its center, an early celestial navigation instrument.
Despite this storied history, the primary navigational tool on this trip in Portugal is a crudely painted yellow arrow. These arrows can be hard to find or non-existent at times making navigation a challenge.
Which way do I go?
Portugese Flag with a gold Armilliary encompassing the center
A typical turn arrow
A more sophisticated directional monument with a blue arrow for the Way to Fatima next to the yellow Santiago arrow
Dave next to a Camino plaque that often accompanies a direction finding arrow. The design of the yellow camino emblem is based on the idea that many ways (the lines) lead to the St. James Cathedral in Santiago. The shell above Dave's hand is carried by pilgrims because the lines on the shell are representative of those many 'ways' to Santiago
The arrows are sometimes confusing
Is The Way through this door??
The plaque indicates so, but the painted arrow above it does not.
Faded arrows on a curb - We nearly missed this turn!
One supplementary direction finding tool is to listen for barking dogs. Portugal does dogs!!! It seems every gated yard you pass is occupied by at least one dog. Their job is to bark at passing pilgrims, so where you hear dogs, there are likely pilgrims hiking The Way.
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