A relaxed start for our morning excursion to Lamego, the small city that also claims right to the title of birthplace of country and crown. Lamego hosted Portugal's first parliament when a group of clergy and noblemen assembled to recognise Afonso Henriques as the nation's first King. Lamego had previously been one of the first towns retaken from the Moors in the 12th century.
It is home to the "Nossa Senhora dos Remeios" baroque sanctuary at the top of the hill - the climb is 686 steps up. The devout pilgrims climb up the steps on their knees. Our less than devout pilgrims went down around 150 steps on their feet!!! The view down to the city is quite spectacular, as it is looking up from below. Naturally there is also a cathedral, very large and grand. This seems to be a small city on the go, with some very good developments in keeping with the old.
€2.25 for two coffees and a cake. Then time for shops and shoe purchase. Another drive down and along the Duoro Valley. You can never tire of its scenery and you can travel it by road, train or boat. Back on the boat for our last afternoon as we head back to Porto. Big surprise when we pull into a local quay so that the 2nd Chef's girlfriend can come on board - and he proposes on bended knee. Great joy among his crewmates and the passengers when she accepts. One of the features of this cruise is that all of the crew, other than the French Head Chef, are Portuguese - and they seen a tight knit group.
Final dinner tonight, and again it is the equal of every other day. Folk dancing night tonight with a group of around 30 singers, dancers and musicians from Gondomar - very entertaining, with some audience participation.
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