Porto, Portugal – Where Port Wine pours daily (Part 1)

Home of Port Wine located in the Northern part of Portugal.  Wines from Porto have the highest alcohol content in the world. Each bottle averages approximately 19.9% alcohol.

We took our first train ride to travel North to Porto.   It was quite enjoyable.  Much easier to deal with luggage and checking compared to airport.  The trip took about 2 1/2 hours.

Once we located our small accommodations for the 4 days, all we had to do was walk down one block to the river front.

People were everywhere.

City walk cafes were packed with tourist.

Up and down the river’s edge we strolled the first evening.  How enjoyable to have the advantage of such a beautiful sight.  Music is playing.  Street performers are entertaining.   Food is being served and of course, wine is being poured.

We finally gave in to being tired and returned to the apartment to start fresh the next day.

Like Lisbon, everything seems to be going up hill.  It becomes a real struggle at some points, but we press forward.  Each day we averaged at least 3-4 miles of climbing street to street.  The streets are lined with old buildings hundreds of years old.

You could easily get lost roaming the alley ways.

On second day visit, we decided to buy the 2-day bus tours similar to Madeira Island.  This gave us a general picture of the surrounding areas.  Riding in the bus was must easier than hiking up and down streets.

First day, the bus took up through some of the main historical portions of Porto than crossed the bridge to the other side.  The opposite side of the river has shopping and plenty of wine barrel caves.  Along the river’s edge on this side was also places to enjoy the scenery.

Second day, the tour went through the city again but this time headed towards the newer parts of Porto and beach area.

In this area, we saw for the first time, free-standing homes.  These were large, beautiful homes with magnificent fences encasing them.

Music Building 

The Music venue building was pointed out to us.  It’s a new, state-of-the-art facility.  Inside the seating area could be mechanically rearranged to suit the need of the performance.    Oddly shaped on the outside, but I can only imagine the sound you hear from inside.

The tour moved on to the beach and around a large fish-net sculpture.  The sculpture pays tribute to fisherman in the area.   Then drives through a small community with narrow street. 

On narrow one street, there lined along the curves were portable building turned into small kitchens and cafes.

Although the temperature was a little cool for us, there were people out on the beach enjoying themselves.

As we returned towards main part of Porto, the bus passed the Cheese Castle along the beach,  Castelo do Queijo. That name comes from the fact it had built over a rock shaped like cheese.

Also from that area, you could see a cruise ship docked in a distance and a beachfront restaurant facility.

Soon we were back in the main portion of the city.  We hopped off the bus and made a casual stop at one of the local sidewalk cafe for a snack (wine and chips).  The Porto is so delicious.  It’s taste is different from the Morgan David Wine my mom used to love to drink at holiday times.

We walked through several street taking pictures before strolling back along the riverfront.

The evenings are so enchanting to see.   String lights were twinkling from the umbrellas covering the small tables and chairs.  Music was flowing.  The reflections of the lights glistening off the river.   You could almost smell the wine being poured.

Porto famous Sandwich

We tried a Porto favorite sandwich named  Francesinha (translated – French lady)  The sandwich is pieces of various meats (ham, sausage, steak, sausage or pastrami) between 2 slices of bread.  Then covered with a thick layer of melted cheese. The secret ingredient is the thin, red sauce that is poured over the top of the sandwich.  The sauce has been made a main ingredient that adds to the uniqueness – BEER.  You can have it served with a fried egg on top or surrounded by fried chips (potatoes).   It was absolutely delicious.

Another dish tried was very interesting.  The waiter brought over a small container with a grill on top that he lite on fire.

He lied a piece of sausage on top of the grill and John had to cook it himself.   It was very entertaining.

The cafes that are always full of customers – McDonald’s.   You can’t believe how many people crowd into any one of the locations.  It’s not just in Porto, it’s everywhere we have been.   Burger King does pretty good too.

As the days went we continued to walk up and down the hills searching out the historic sites.

Harry Potter Fans

Trivia –  the author of the “Harry Potter” series got her ideas for the book from this city.  It’s narrow, dark street and  old historic buildings.   The stone walk-ways have been there was hundreds of years.   Everything that you probably saw in the  movies.   The famous library from the series is located here.  Although we didn’t find it – the location was marked on the map.      There are also groups of young people walking through the area dressed in black capes and jackets mirroring the imagines from the series.  I called them “wanna bees” of Harry Potter.

We did managed to stroll up, up, up and away to the top of a hill to walk inside a beautiful cathedral.   Then up a few more staircases to see an even bigger cathedral.   They are breathtaking to view.  Of course, when we came out the other side of the second cathedral, we found a short cut back down to the river edge

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6 Bridges across the Douro River

The Douro River flows through the city of Porto from the Ocean.  The city of Porto is one of the oldest in Europe and the second largest city in Portugal.

Six bridges cross the Douro River in Porto.  They are amazing beautiful and the structure is so sound.

We managed to walk across the highest bridge in Porto to the other side. This bridge has two levels and eventually we did walk both levels.  The view from that high vantage point showed the tourist area along the river’s edge.   I took lots of pictures from the highest point, but believe me, my stomach was turning the whole time.

On the bridge walk way, which is very narrow, people were passing back and forth.   Then in the middle of the bridge was the train tracks and buses passing back and forth.   So any pictures I took from the top you better enjoy looking at them.

Eventually, on day 4 of our stay in Porto, we walked across the lower portion of a bridge to the other side of the river.

But you will have to wait for that adventure in Part 2

60plusandfearless,

Dianne

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