A Visit to PORTO

Last year, in 2016, we had some time between housesits. What better way to use that time than to visit a few countries we had not explored before? The one that we enjoyed tremendously was Portugal.

It all began with a flight from Dublin to Porto.  The contrast between the city of Dublin and Porto was palatable; we immediately fell in love with Porto.  A local woman greeted us as we reached the terminal with instructions on where to get the correct train tickets that we needed to arrive at our accommodation.  This service was for all new visitors.  That initial warm greeting was to signify how the rest of our stay was to be.

With the information given to us, working out the light rail system to arrive at our accommodation was effortless.

We love our apartment’s attractive exterior. This apartment was a bit more expensive than the others we had booked, and it was worth every cent.  Airy, quiet, clean and comfortable to relax and sleep after a day exploring.  Sleep is a high requirement when travelling for an extended period, or is that an age-related condition?.

The little things about this city stood out to us, like the group of men who meet every day at the same time; we found this out by chatting with a man sitting next to us on the park bench.

The elderly woman with her long skirt billowed in the wind as she made her way home up the steep steps.  She had been to the market, as her basket was full of food.  This is when I took a deep breath and walked faster up the steps. I had no excuse for giving up after seeing this woman’s effort.  This brings me to say that for a city with highly steep streets, there were provisions for the disabled or people who could not physically do them in the form of a tram.  This was a relief for the squire and me, as it would have made our time here a less pleasant experience.

Ceramic tiles made the many terracotta buildings come alive with colour.  A happy and creative sight, a treat to behold in between terracotta-coloured stone blocks.

Beautiful church.  Unfortunately, during the first few days in Oporto, there was a smoky atmosphere due to significant bushfires near the city.  It’s very unusual not to see blue skies during summer.

Then there was the quirkiness of people.  Walking around town on a quiet Sunday morning, we saw ourselves ducking and diving while a flock of pigeons descended from the roofs, aiming for a man walking towards us.  The calm atmosphere is restored when the man feeds the birds.  Obviously, it’s a regular thing in this old part of town.

As we strolled through the streets at a leisurely pace, which we thoroughly enjoy, we stumbled upon a traditional music and dance concert. This was a delightful way to spend our time and soothe our aching feet. We also visited some touristy spots, such as Taylor Port, and enjoyed a few glasses. Indulged in eating the most delicious Pastéis de Nata.    Luckily, we could work it off, and one great workout was walking on the bridge. I got out of my comfort zone on that walk, as this girl doesn’t like heights. We also visited a few museums and art exhibitions.

The most fun was coming across locals enjoying life as they live it.