We've been in Porto, Portugal since December 19th, and are near the end of our stay. It is our second visit to this city, the first being in September of 2016. Porto is the second biggest city in Portugal after Lisbon, and unlike Lisbon, it was not destroyed by the great earthquake of 1755, which wiped out most of that city and the surrounding areas.
Several days after we arrived, we signed up to take a historical tour of the city. Sergio, our tour guide, (pictured below,) walked us through the neighborhood close to where we are currently living and shared his knowledge about the area with us. It was an enjoyable and informative tour, despite the cold, and at times, rainy weather.
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| Fonte Da Ribeira displays a modern statue of St. John the Baptist by sculptor Joao Cutileiro. |
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| Historic buildings found along the Douro River. |
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| Coffee and treats with our tour group at a nice modern cafe. |
Below are a few more pictures of interesting buildings we've come across during our daily walks through town.
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| A beautiful Portuguese blue ceramic tile church depicting historical events. |
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| The Funicular dos Guindais which runs from the base of the river to Batalha Square |
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| One of the many beautiful tiled buildings that can be found throughout Porto. |
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| A Vida Portuguesa...a general store that sells a variety of interesting items. It is located in an old pharmacy. |
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| An example of one of the pretty cafe's that can be found in the city. |
Several days before Christmas, we also signed up for a Portuguese cooking class that taught us how to make 3 desserts that are typically served for the holiday. Everyone who attended was encouraged to take an active role in the class. The woman with the Christmas tree hat was Joana, our instructor. Her parents own the restaurant where the class was held.
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| Lance is slicing bread for French Toast Rabanadas. |
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| Lance is using a special tool to torch the top of the Portuguese Creme Brulee. Besides the French Toast and Creme Brulee, we also made Pudim. |
At the end of our experience, we all sat down to eat what we made. Everything was very tasty.
In every city that we live, Lance and I always try to get outside for some exercise ...especially when the weather is nice and sunny. In Porto, we enjoy walking along the river to the sea. If you're tired, the trolley pictured below will also take you there and back...but we enjoy the exercise.
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| Fortaleza de Sao Joao da Foz...located near the sea. |
On the anniversary of our first full year on the road, we decided to rent a car and drive to Aveiro, Portugal where the Paiva Walkways are located. Paiva Walkways consist of 5.5 miles of steep wooden boardwalks that are located along the bank of the Paiva River. The entire area is filled with beautiful scenic views. On the day we went, we enjoyed bright sunshine, but the temperatures were cold and the boardwalks located in the shade had a thin layer of ice that made walking a bit slippery. Lance and I had a wonderful day, and we were glad we had the opportunity to see this interesting part of Portugal.
Traveling back to Porto, gave us an opportunity to meet up with an old acquittance. Before coming for a visit in 2016, we began following a great blog called Gail at Large, that has daily posts about Portugal. Gail is originally from Canada...but she married a Portuguese man and now lives in Porto. We met up with her on our first visit, and she was kind enough to give us a free tour of her city. Upon returning to Porto, we contacted Gail again, and met her for lunch at Mercado Bom Sucesso. The following week, she invited us to have brunch with her husband,Paulo, and about 20 of her expat friends. It was a great chance to visit with like minded people, many who enjoy traveling as much as we do. Gail is a wonderful person...kind and compassionate, and always willing to help others. We feel honored to include her as our friend.
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| Mercado Bom Sucesso |
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| Gail and Lance |
Sometimes you encounter some unexpected surprises during your travels. Let's just say...things aren't always what they appear to be online. Most recently, we arranged for a couple of private yoga classes at a studio we saw online that looked very nice. On the day of our class, we searched up and down the street for the building. Finally, we saw this...
Prior to coming, our instructor (who is just an employee, not the owner of the business,) wrote to tell us that there was some construction taking place in the building, that made it dustier than usual...and that it was up to us if we wanted to take the class or cancel. She suggested coming to check it out. Here is what we saw...
Behind a black curtain, we finally saw this...
It wasn't exactly what we were expecting...but, after some consideration, we decided to stay. Our instructor was lovely...and despite the circumstance, we've enjoyed our time with her. Sometimes, you just need to have an open mind...and it all works out in the end.
Like all our other locations, we have had a good time in Porto. However...it has been COLD here...at least for me...so I am looking forward to moving on to a warmer climate. First...two weeks on the island of Madeira...than, 4 months in Southern Asia. I can't wait!
