Breakfast in our kitchenette and then up the hills to Clerigos Tower and surrounds. Missed a turn which delayed us getting to Livraria Lello, the Harry Potter bookshop. Queue about 50m long but moved reasonably and we were soon inside. Very impressive, but in some senses it mirrors the development of tourism in Portugal - it used to be free entry, then €2, now €4.
Up and down streets and hills, past cathedrals and a range of other magnificent buildings that don't even make the maps. On to Rua Santa Caterina, the Champs Elysees of Porto. Big queue at the Majestic Cafe, so gave it a miss and chose a lesser establishment.
Down to Sao Bento station to see the azulejo tiling and have another crack at Porto's Andente Card (I now think they took the MYKI option as I found it impossible to reload our cards). Some machines are coin or card only, those that take notes don't have change, and the card only covers some forms of transport - oh for Lisbon's much more user friendly, much more integrated system!
One street 250m long with 8 women's shoe shops was both a distraction and a delay but we headed up to Foz de Duoro at the mouth of the river on Tram Number 1 (one of Porto's three vintage tram routes - and its closest rail is less than 2m from our front door). Beautiful sunny and warm day with plenty in the water. On then to a ferry across the river to the small seaside fishing village of Afurada. Almost every house is ceramic tiled on the outside, locals sitting in front of their houses, fishermen repairing their nets and the local ladies stone washing in the communal laundromat.
Wanted to eat over there but food not available until 7.30pm - same time as last ferry. Back to Porto proper by ferry and bus (my Andante card worked, Pat's did not - and a traffic jam) to eat at the beatiful (food, service & decor) WeePorto tapas & wine bar -will be back (so much for fasting!!!).
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