Tag: All

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 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 Portuguese food from local market with Quinta de la Rosa tinto 2015.

Pinhao

And back to Porto….