Category: Portugal

This is my last day in Portugal and I decided to visit Taylor’s – their LBV was the first port I tried years ago. Rather than walking as usual, I used metro  (very efficient) and teleferico (was the first passanger of the day, just before 10). Sniffed around Vila Nova de Gaia checking out the names of the famous port houses. Self guided visit at Taylors’  was well organized and educational, but not boring. Tasted 2012 LBV, of course, the consistency and quality is not a big surprise, but I also liked the “white port” Chip Dry, which I do not remeber seeing in Chicago. Checked out the real good stuff at the shop, unfortunatelly outside of my range.  Teleferico, metro, airport and I was on my way back to Poznan. Portugal is very interesting and easy to travel country with a lot to see and try.

Portugal itinerary

 
April 20, Thursday
Poznań ➜ (Polskibus) ➜ SXF ➜ (Ryanair) ➜ LIS ➜ (Metro Vm+Vd) ➜ Marti Moniz ➜ Rua da Palma ➜ Miradouro & Jardim & Largo da Graça ➜ Miradouro & Largo das Portas do Sol ➜ Praça Marti Moniz ➜ [@ Rua da Palma].

April 21, Friday
Rua da Palma ➜ Praça Marti Moniz ➜ Praça da Figueria ➜ Praça Dom Pedro IV ➜ Praça dos Restauradores ➜Calçada da Glória ➜ Miradouro São Pedro de Alcãntara ➜ Convento São Pedro & Igreja de São Roque ➜ Estaçao do Rosio ➜ Sintra ➜ Parque da Liberdade ➜ Igreja de Santa Maria ➜ Castelo dos Mouros ➜ Palácio & Parque da Pena ➜ Vale dos Lagos ➜ Sintra village ➜ Estaçao do Rosio ➜ Miradouro São Pedro de Alcãntara ➜ Largo do Carmo & Museu Arqueológico ➜ Elevador de Santa Justa ➜ Largo de São Domingo ➜ Praça Marti Moniz ➜ Rua da Palma.

Aprilil 22, Saturday
Rua da Palma ➜ Rua Augusta ➜ Praça do Comércio ➜ (Tram 15) ➜ Mosteiro & Igreja dos Jerónimos ➜ Jardim Botãnico Tropical ➜ Torre de Belem ➜, Monumento Combatentes Ultramar ➜ Champalimaud Centre ➜ Algés ➜ (Train Linha de Cascais) ➜ Cascais ➜ Praia da Ribeira ➜ Boca de Inferno ➜ (Train Linha de Cascais) ➜ Cais do Sodré ➜ Praça Luis de Camoes ➜ Rua da Palma.

April 23, Sunday
Rua da Palma ➜ Castelo de São Jorge ➜ Porta de São Jorge ➜ Miradouro de Santa Luiza ➜ Sé de Lisboa ➜ Alfama ➜ Estaçao Santa Apolónia ➜ (Train ) ➜ Estaçao Porto Campanha ➜ Igreja do Bonfim ➜ Pingo Doce @ Bolhao ➜ [@ Rua Rodolfo de Araújo].

April 24, Monday
Rua Rodolfo de Araújo ➜ Estaçao Campanha ➜ (Train) ➜ Pinhão ➜ Quinta de la Rosa ➜ (Train) ➜ Estaçao Campanha ➜ Estaçao São Bento ➜ Praça de Liberdade ➜ Igreja dos Clérigos ➜ Rua Rodolfo de Araújo.

April 25, Tuesday
Rua Rodolfo de Araújo ➜ Praça de Liberdade ➜ Estaçao São Bento ➜ Sé dTuesdayo Porto ➜ Ribeira ➜ Praça do Infante Dom Henrique & Palácio de Bolsa ➜ Sé do Porto ➜ Ponte Dom Luis I ➜ Jardim do Morro ➜ Largo de Aviz & Mosterio da Serra do Pilar ➜ Praça do General Humberto Delgado ➜ Igreja da Santissima Trindade ➜ Rodolfo de Araújo ➜ Rua de Santa Catarina.

April 26, Wednesday
Rua Rodolfo de Araújo ➜ Mercado do Bolhão ➜ (Metro E+D) ➜ Jardim do Morro ➜ (Teleférico) ➜ Vila Nova de Gaia ➜ Taylor’s ➜ (Teléferico and Metro E) ➜ OPO ➜ (Ryanair) ➜ Berlin SXF➜ (Polskibus) ➜ Poznań.

I like Porto, I was circling around all day. Started by revisiting Praca de Liberdade, Clerigos and stopping for a history lesson at Sao Bento station. Then a longer stop at the Cathedral, and fast walk down the stairs to the riverfront. Many tourists around this part of the city. Meandering back up the hill to the Cathedral and the bridge via Praca do Infante Dom Henrique with Palacio da Bolsa. Crossed the river on the upper deck of Ponte Luis I, great 360 views. (The  three pictures from the bridge/teleferico station are from the next morning when the lighting was better). Jardim do Morro is closed for renovation, so instead I spent an hour at the upper teleferico station and Largo de Aviz (in front of Mosteiro da serra do Pilar), doing nothing just looking around. In the afternoon, made my way back to Praca de Liberdade to watch people come and go to celebrate Apri 25 national holiday (Dia da Liberdade). Walked the length of Rua de Santa Catarina, slowly in a dense stream of people and watching street performers and UoP students in their traditional black gowns entertaining the crowd after graduation.

University of Porto students performing at Rua de Santa Catarina

In the evening, returned to Cafe Majestic on Santa Catarina for a museum (the historic cafe) and dinner (bacalhau, codfish) combo.

The second half of the two-hour train ride from Porto to  Pinhao offers great views of the Douro river valey with changing landscape. Pinhao has great location and beautiful panoramic view of the surrounding hills covered with vineyards, olive trees and orange stands. The temperature here is quite a bit higher than in Porto. Quinta de la Rosa is located on the river bank a short walk from the station. The visit was interesting and informative. We finished with tasting 2015 red, I tried the 2014 vintage in Chicago preparing for the trip, two ports and surprisingly good white (will look for it in Chicago). It was quite hot afternoon, so rather than an extended hike up the vineyard hills I decided to return to Porto for a long meandering walk from Bolhao to Sao Bento station, a quick look towards the Cathedral (visit next day), Clerigos Church, Liberdade Square, back to Sao Bento and Bolhao. Finished the day trying some portugesse food from local market with Quinta de la Rosa tinto 2015.

Pinhao

And back to Porto….

The final day in Lisbon and Porto report after I get back to Poznan.