Yearly Archives: 2015

Christina’s Fatima Charity Walk—The Final Update

zMatt Head and ShouldersBy Matt D’Arcy

 

 

 

 

So, Christina HAS walked the walk!

Walk Over! Christina In Fatima

Walk Over! Christina In Fatima

Fourteen days after setting off on her 240-mile marathon charity walk from Cape St Vincent, Vale Da Telha’s own Christina Vandermeulen arrived in Fatima—one day ahead of schedule!

Christina, 61 and from Belgium, decided to make this personal pilgrimage to raise funds for the poor children of Aljezur.

It was an ambitious project as it meant walking a distance of 397km (240 miles) as the crow flies, or anything up to 450km (270 miles) depending on any variations or detours along the route she mapped out.

Christina has been keeping an online diary on her Fatimacharitywalk Facebook page and on Friday evening she was able to triumphantly announce:

“Yes! Yes! I did it. Bem feito (translation: well done). I have made it!”

On this final day of the walk she wrote in her diary:

“Today started well, because we had a good night and a good breakfast, and a lot of pilgrims were on their way, so I was not alone.

“It was hard but nice, I made some friends and also I was lucky to walk with some other people as we travelled the road to Fatima.

“Leo was looking out for me, because he knew that I was tired. So it’s done.

“Bye, bye”.

You will remember that this was a double mission for Christina.

Firstly, she set out to raise funds for the poor children of Aljezur, specifying that she wanted to help a deserving LOCAL cause.

The charity for which the funds are destined is Conferência de Nossa Senhora D’Alva, Aljezur, a purely local division of the international St Vincent de Paul Society, set up to help local people in urgent need of support.

Her second reason is more personal and all the more poignant for that.

Forty-two years ago, in 1973 when Christina was just 19, her first child, a son named Lieven, died at the age of only 16 months. He would have been 43 this month.

With the heartbreaking memory of that tragedy still fresh in her mind when she became pregnant in 1977 with her daughter Veronique, Christina—a Catholic—made a vow to the Virgin Mary that if her baby was born healthy and survived she would one day make a pilgrimage of thanks for the life of her child.

That pilgrimage is now completed, her promise kept.

And now begins the process of collecting the donations and gathering in the collection boxes which Christina left in various businesses around Vale da Telha and Aljezur.

But the time for filling those collection boxes has been extended by a couple of weeks. Christina had planned to be back in Vale da Telha on Sunday or Monday and was hoping to meet up with everyone, perhaps at the Vale da Telha Restaurante or some other central point.

But when family and friends began posting their congratulations, some saying they were looking forward to welcoming her back to Vale da Telha (it is her birthday on Tuesday, May 5th) she revealed:

“OK thanks. But first I have to go to Belgium and I am back on the 17th of May. I will let you know when I collect the boxes.”

So, keep donating (further details below) and make sure Christina can hand a sizeable cheque over to the charity to reward her for her incredible courage.

Christina has opened an account in the name of the Charity at the BPI bank in Aljezur and you can make your donations to the following Account Number:

BIC : BBPIPTPL
IBAN : PT50 0010 0000 3948 2281 5023 3

She has also placed those collection boxes at various businesses in and around Vale Da Telha, so please continue to give generously…

Christina’s contact details for those wishing to make donations:

Christina Vandermeulen: Tel: 96 665 0079

e-mail: christina_vandermeulen@hotmail.com

Azambuja, North-east Of Lisbon

Fatima Charity Walk Update Thursday April 30

1 Day 10 Vila Franca de Xira

1 Day 10 Vila Franca de Xira

As you well know by now, Christina Vandermeulen, Vale da Telha resident and Amovate member is tackling a 250-mile charity walk from Cape St Vincent to Fatima.

Today (Thursday) she has been completing the 13th day of the walk after passing through Lisbon and walking north-east close to the banks of the River Tagus.

EARLIER:

Excerpts from Christina’s en-route diary:

Day 10: Lisbon to Vila Franca de Xira where we found a lovely hotel—the Flora. The walk was hard because we started late, we had traffic jams in Lisbon and it was very hot. Today the walk was along the Tejo and there is so much industry here it is not the most pleasant walk; many kilometres of industrial landscape, so I hope tomorrow is better!

Day 11. To Azambuja, which felt like thé end of thé World; sorry, but there was no internet! It was a beautiful walk, very sunny. I did only 19 km, then we went for a good meal and a rest. Nice hotel, the Ouro Hotel by the side of the road, and a good breakfast.

Day 12. I walked through Cartaxo and on to Santarem, covering 19 km in the morning and 10 in the afternoon. Nothing spectacular. But the people are calling out all the time, “Boa viagem”, and even the cars sound their horns. So nice. Even some shops give water and cake for free. Now we are in a 4-star hotel—with a swimming pool! Yes! Yes! Yes! So good for me, and the water was 30 degrees—so nice. The end is near. Tomorrow the road to Pernes.

(After that a night in Minde then the final walk to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima.)

*           *           *           *

Christina has opened an account in the name of the Charity at the BPI bank in Aljezur and you can make your donations to the following Account Number:

BIC : BBPIPTPL
IBAN : PT50 0010 0000 3948 2281 5023 3

She has also placed collection boxes at various businesses in and around Vale Da Telha, so please give generously…

*           *           *           *

Remember, this is the route Christina has planned:

Christina Vandermeulen—Walking From Cabo de São Vicente to Fatima.

(9am start each day)

Day Lunch Overnight Distance (km)

1: Cabo de São Vicente Vila Do Bispo Carrapateira 24.7

2: Carrapateira Chabouco Vale Da Telha 18.8

3: Vale Da Telha Rogil Odeceixe 21.6

4: Odeceixe Sao Teotonio Odemeira 25.1

5: Odemeira V-Nova Da Milfontes 29.6

6: V-N Milfontes Santiago do Cacém 37.4

7: Santiago do Cacém Melides 22.6

8: Melides Troia 39.0

(Ferry boat to Setubal)

9: Setubal Cacilhas 35.5

(Ferry boat to Caiso do Sodré, Lisbon)

10: Caiso do Sodré (via Parque das Nações) Alverca Do Ribatejo 31.6

11: Alverca Do Ribatejo Azambuja 26.1

12: Azambuja Santarém 26.5

13: Santarém Pernes 21.5

14: Pernes Minde 24.1

15: Minde Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima 13.5

TOTAL Km: 397.6

 

 

 

 

The Loneliness Of The Long-Distance Walker

Fatima Charity Walk Update Monday April 27

Beginning The Long Road to SinesChristina Vandermeulen, Vale da Telha resident and Amovate member is now today (Monday) completing the 10th day of her 250-mile charity walk from Cape St Vincent to Fatima.

Christina has now left Lisbon and is well on her way to Fatima to complete her 250–mile journey which began at Cape St Vincent on April 18th.

She crossed the River Tagus yesterday—by ferry, not walking on water, although we wouldn’t put it past her!—and spent the night at an Ibis hotel before leaving the capital from The Parque das Nacoes (The Nations Park), site of the Expo’98 World Exhibition, to continue north.

EARLIER:

Excerpts from Christina’s en-route diary:

Day 5 Vila Nova da Milfontes to Porto Covo (20km) then onto Sines (another 10).
The day started well but then we found a farmer had planted thousands of olive trees all over the track. The track was gone, so I crossed over the land for more than an hour, but then on the other side everything was blocked so I had to climb over various obstacles. Quite an adventure—Hi! Hi! Then I had a surprise when Vicky and George and friends arrived to walk with me for a while. And for dinner Fran and Peter joined us. Thanks, everybody. So, tomorrow a day off!

Day 7, after a day’s rest, we started in Vila Nova, cloudy but OK. A woodpecker followed me for a little time and a koekoek. There were lots of pine trees, a lot, a lot. We stopped at 16.00 after 26 km, in a nice place on the Costa Azul; Brejos Da Carregueira de Cima. I had a shower and a good meal, 7.50€ all included, even the chocolate mousse! Then a nice foot massage from Leo. And tomorrow I walk 22km then we are in Troia, ready to take ferry boat. Night, night.

April 25 Day 8 Another beautiful day, we left the ferry boat in Setubal and found a hotel in Azeitona, for only 50€ breakfast included. Day 8 was long, long, long! Nothing exciting happened, but it must be done.

Day 9 we had a good night in a beautiful hotel, and it was raining the whole night. But I was happy, and there was nice cloudy weather for walking, the smell of the countryside was so nice. It was a long day all on the same N10, from Setubal to Cacilhas and then we arrived in Lisbon looking for a hotel for a good night’s rest before I resumed the walk at Parque das Nacoes

*           *           *           *

Christina has opened an account in the name of the Charity at the BPI bank in Aljezur and you can make your donations to the following Account Number:

BIC : BBPIPTPL
IBAN : PT50 0010 0000 3948 2281 5023 3

She has also placed collection boxes at various businesses in and around Vale Da Telha, so please give generously…

*           *           *           *

Remember, this is the route Christina has planned:

Christina Vandermeulen—Walking From Cabo de São Vicente to Fatima.

(9am start each day)

Day Lunch Overnight Distance (km)

1: Cabo de São Vicente Vila Do Bispo Carrapateira 24.7

2: Carrapateira Chabouco Vale Da Telha 18.8

3: Vale Da Telha Rogil Odeceixe 21.6

4: Odeceixe Sao Teotonio Odemeira 25.1

5: Odemeira V-Nova Da Milfontes 29.6

6: V-N Milfontes Santiago do Cacém 37.4

7: Santiago do Cacém Melides 22.6

8: Melides Troia 39.0

(Ferry boat to Setubal)

9: Setubal Cacilhas 35.5

(Ferry boat to Caiso do Sodré, Lisbon)

10: Caiso do Sodré (via Parque das Nações) Alverca Do Ribatejo 31.6

11: Alverca Do Ribatejo Azambuja 26.1

12: Azambuja Santarém 26.5

13: Santarém Pernes 21.5

14: Pernes Minde 24.1

15: Minde Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima 13.5

TOTAL Km: 397.6

ENDS

 

Spend your holidays in Aljezur!

Spend your holidays in Aljezur!

As recommended By The Guardian which wrote On April 19:

10 of the best family summer holidays in Europe

Monte Clerigo Beach By Alamy

Monte Clerigo Beach By Alamy

Now Easter’s out of the way, it’s time to start planning your next family holiday. Here are 10 places where there’s fun stuff for the kids plus great crowd-free places to stay

That list includes the Western Algarve, saying:

It’s all about the beaches in this southern region of Portugal; long, wild and often empty, it has them in spades.

Base yourself near the small town of Aljezur and you’ve got the best of the region’s sand on the doorstep – including Amoreira, Arrifana and Monte Clérigo, which are all inside the Costa Vicentina natural park – plus a range of homely restaurants.

For organised activities, book a family donkey trek or craft workshop with Burros & Artes, sign older children up for surf school, book a family activity day with Algarve Adventure or cycle up into the hills to explore cork-oak-forested slopes and small villages, stopping to buy oranges at the stalls that line the roadsides each summer.

And the article includes this photograph of Monte Clerigo beach by Alamy

Christina’s Fatima Charity Walk Update

 

by Matt D'Arcy

by Matt D’Arcy

 

 

Christina Vandermeulen, Vale da Telha resident and Amovate member is now today (Wednesday) completing the fifth day of her 250-mile charity walk from Cabo de São Vicente to Fatima.

1 April 18 Christina & Friends Set Off From The Southwestern-Most Point of Europe, Cape St Vincent

1 April 18 Christina & Friends Set Off From The Southwestern-Most Point of Europe, Cape St Vincent

Remember, this is the route Christina has planned:

Christina Vandermeulen—Walking From Cabo de São Vicente to Fatima.

(9am start each day)

Day Lunch Overnight Distance (km)

1: Cabo de São Vicente Vila Do Bispo Carrapateira 24.7

2: Carrapateira Chabouco Vale Da Telha 18.8

3: Vale Da Telha Rogil Odeceixe 21.6

4: Odeceixe Sao Teotonio Odemeira 25.1

5: Odemeira V-Nova Da Milfontes 29.6

6: V-N Milfontes Santiago do Cacém 37.4

1 Christina & Friends Set Off From Cape St Vincent

Christina & Friends Set Off From Cape St Vincent

7: Santiago do Cacém Melides 22.6

8: Melides Troia 39.0

(Ferry boat to Setubal)

9: Setubal Cacilhas 35.5

(Ferry boat to Caiso do Sodré, Lisbon)

10: Caiso do Sodré (via Parque das Nações) Alverca Do Ribatejo 31.6

11: Alverca Do Ribatejo Azambuja 26.1

12: Azambuja Santarém 26.5

13: Santarém Pernes 21.5

14: Pernes Minde 24.1

15: Minde Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima 13.52

TOTAL Km: 397.6

She is keeping a daily diary of her walk which you can see on the Facebook page chronicling her adventure: Fatimacharitywalk.

She begins by saying on her first day, April 18th:

Day 1: We left home in Vale da Telha at 7.45am for a good hour’s drive to the lighthouse at Cabo Vicente. Some friends came to congratulate me and take pictures. It was a little bit difficult at the start because there are two hiking trails and the Via Algarviana Gr, Gr 13 11 Rota Vicentina.

But with that well figured out we were on our way. Nature was so wonderful, everything was in bloom. We also saw a large herd of donkeys on a meadow, so sweet. After 13 km we arrived at our afternoon point Vila Do Bispo where we had cheese sandwiches and a drink.

The second part was very heavy deep valleys and a lot of wind, but all under a beautiful sun. We were very glad when we saw the end final stop of this first day, at 17.00. Several friends walked with me along the 31 km in beautiful weather which made me very happy. It was a very nice trip, thanks everybody. Other friends let me use théir Jacuzzi bath to soothe my aching muscles and gave me a lovely meal. Thanks a lot. Now I lie in my bed and enjoy a good night’s sleep. See you tomorrow. Ready for day 2.

Day 2: This was a very special super walk to Vale da Telha—faster than I expected. Sorry Carolina!

3 Setting Off From Vale Da Telha With More Friends

Setting Off From Vale Da Telha With More Friends

Day 3: Again a beautiful walk from Vale da Telha to Rogil and on to Odeceixe—a distance of 26 km. Thanks to everybody who supported me and walked with me.

Day 4: Odeceixe to Sāo Teotonio, a walk of 16 km with my walking group friends, then another 11 km to Odemira. I found a place to sleep in Vila Nova de Milfontes.

*           *           *           *

Christina has opened an account in the name of the Charity at the BPI bank in Aljezur and you can make your donations to the following Account Number:

BIC : BBPIPTPL
IBAN : PT50 0010 0000 3948 2281 5023 3

She has also placed collection boxes at various businesses in and around Vale Da Telha, so please give generously…

She has a Facebook page which you can access HERE : Fatima Charity Walk