(#16) Portugal, Portugal, Portugal
Our three weeks in Portugal was spent in three different areas with the main centres being Porto, Lisboa and Faro. Each location was different in the area, proximity to services and rules & regs.
We, Pavé & I, had been in these locations 10 years ago almost to the month except then we travelled south to north and this time we travelled north to south. The significant difference was temperature as ten years ago the temperature kept getting colder whereas this time the temperature was quite constant, Hot. Even though we could feel a slight change towards the end of each week since we moved south the temperature always stayed constant. The other observable difference was the number of tourists this time around. Were we had vacant beaches and tourist spots back then, this trip felt like we were always swimming against the flow no matter where we were.
PORTO
Where Port comes from and was still as beautiful as we remembered. We actually were located about 20 KM outside Porto so we finally got a vehicle for a few days to travel around. We also had good friends from Danmark visit with us for a long weekend. Not a stat long weekend just one they made for themselves and we had a great time.
We decided to visit the Port Caves (houses) which were on the opposite side of the Douro river from Porto. Let's just say that many of the streets are quite narrow throughout Portugal no matter how large the city or small the town is. Anyways we finally get tot he area of the caves and see that where we actually drove and parked in front of the front doors was blocked off and we were about to head over a bridge back into Porto when I spied a parking lot to our right. (I was driving) In we pulled and get a spot right at ground level, which was fantastic for Pavé by reducing the distance we would have to walk, and head out to sample some port. We decided to have a bite to eat before engaging our taste buds with different types of port, which we did but only a couple as the tasting involved 3 to 5 different types of port. Now when we got back into the vehicle and found that we had to go up to get out. Eight floors with such tight curves and the size of our vehicle every turn onto a ramp required a number of back & forward movements to ensure there was no damage to the rental. Finally we reach the exit only to find we have to travel back down when we wanted to go up. And we went down down down and the streets got smaller. We came to a split in the road with one way down and the other way up, upwards and onwards. That is until we are almost at the crest of the hill and greet a group of people spread across the street coming down who had such incredulous looks on their faces who quickly fattened themselves against the walls. As we slither past them one woman courteously mentions into my window, "But you cannot get out up there is is completely blocked off". Now have you ever had to back down a hill where you never got out of first gear, did I mention the vehicle was a standard? The speed uphill was just above stalling due to the grade, curves and proximity of the walls to the vehicle sides. SOB's, we have had bigger washrooms where you could sit on the toilet, shower and brush your teeth all at the same time. I think this was one of those moments when you could as it is said, "hear a pin drop" and then hear it reverberate until it settles down. Not a creature was stirring not even for a photo. Or possibly the old sailor saying of "Going to crimp a few links" + in my pants, is a more astute evaluation of the situation. Backwards we go and thankfully the vehicles steering was spot on, until we got to a point where it appeared to be much wider than were we just squeezed out of. After another one of those 39 point U-turns we are headed down once again and were to we actually end up? Right in front of the entrance to the parking garage we left 20 minutes previously and almost having to basically make a U-turn onto the bridge putting us way off course to return home. Thankfully there was a break in the traffic both ways and I shot across the road towards a police office who had pulled someone else over for who knows what. Performing a slow controlled (?) skid we slide past the officer and head back up the hill homeward bound.
One of the port sampling spots
Note the prices!!
This artwork was made of old car parts and is one of many in the Porto area
This is the bridge we kept avoiding
Aw True Love
Panorama shot of Porto
A bit of the tile work in the old train station
The inside of the Majestic Café
Around the pool with for Danish friends
John's Birthday dinner
Our place in Porto
We hired a driver to take us from Porto to Estoril (Lisboa) and we had a couple of stops on the way.
Óbidos, an ancient city
The Buddha Eden Garden
The garden was a bit of a kitschy spot bring so many different ideas or themes to one spot.
Next stop Estoril, about a 20-30 minute train ride to Lisboa.
One area close to Lisboa is Sintra with about 6 different historic sites, we got a driver to take us into the town centre and were going to get him to pick us up later but the fare he charged was a bit exorbitant compared to what we paid for door to door service the previous day. We ended up hiring a driver for the day for 25 Euro a person. we enjoyed the day so much we hired him to take us around Lisboa a couple of days later. His name was Jaoa (John), sounding like the SAO and Pao of Sao Paolo with a zzz sound in there somewhere, who gave a running commentary usually proceeded with "Do you know what that is? or I have to tell you one thing" Oh that's , fill in the blank, such as Kieth Richard' or Brian Adams House or "I got married there" but great entertainment and he took us to restaurants where the locals ate for fantastic meals.
A couple of driving experiences
One of the castles in and around Sintra
Another castle in Sintra
Cabo da Roca, most Western point on the European continent
10 years ago about the same time of year we were the only ones around
A little us time
Belem 2008
Belem 2018
One of the meals with Jaoa
Let's not forget the enthralling Fado evenings we had, one in Porto & one in Lisboa. A small sample of the evenings.
In Poroto
In Lisboa
Last stop the Algarve
The door to door travel worked so well we did it again from Estoril to Loulé and had another great trip with a couple of stops.
Church of Bones, Capela dos Ossos, Évora
Roman ruin in Évora
On the road again
Monsaraz, our second stop
.
Our place in Loulé was quite remote but we were ready to chill out before we rented a vehicle for a few days. We took in a couple of beaches, were at one of the Pavé unfortunately forgot her cane but we made due with he walking poles we had brought along from home.
The chill area
just before we all set off in different directions for home
One of our lunches
Good Buds
One of the beaches
After an overnight in Paris we were on our way home.
The the the that's all folks.
We, Pavé & I, had been in these locations 10 years ago almost to the month except then we travelled south to north and this time we travelled north to south. The significant difference was temperature as ten years ago the temperature kept getting colder whereas this time the temperature was quite constant, Hot. Even though we could feel a slight change towards the end of each week since we moved south the temperature always stayed constant. The other observable difference was the number of tourists this time around. Were we had vacant beaches and tourist spots back then, this trip felt like we were always swimming against the flow no matter where we were.
PORTO
Where Port comes from and was still as beautiful as we remembered. We actually were located about 20 KM outside Porto so we finally got a vehicle for a few days to travel around. We also had good friends from Danmark visit with us for a long weekend. Not a stat long weekend just one they made for themselves and we had a great time.
We decided to visit the Port Caves (houses) which were on the opposite side of the Douro river from Porto. Let's just say that many of the streets are quite narrow throughout Portugal no matter how large the city or small the town is. Anyways we finally get tot he area of the caves and see that where we actually drove and parked in front of the front doors was blocked off and we were about to head over a bridge back into Porto when I spied a parking lot to our right. (I was driving) In we pulled and get a spot right at ground level, which was fantastic for Pavé by reducing the distance we would have to walk, and head out to sample some port. We decided to have a bite to eat before engaging our taste buds with different types of port, which we did but only a couple as the tasting involved 3 to 5 different types of port. Now when we got back into the vehicle and found that we had to go up to get out. Eight floors with such tight curves and the size of our vehicle every turn onto a ramp required a number of back & forward movements to ensure there was no damage to the rental. Finally we reach the exit only to find we have to travel back down when we wanted to go up. And we went down down down and the streets got smaller. We came to a split in the road with one way down and the other way up, upwards and onwards. That is until we are almost at the crest of the hill and greet a group of people spread across the street coming down who had such incredulous looks on their faces who quickly fattened themselves against the walls. As we slither past them one woman courteously mentions into my window, "But you cannot get out up there is is completely blocked off". Now have you ever had to back down a hill where you never got out of first gear, did I mention the vehicle was a standard? The speed uphill was just above stalling due to the grade, curves and proximity of the walls to the vehicle sides. SOB's, we have had bigger washrooms where you could sit on the toilet, shower and brush your teeth all at the same time. I think this was one of those moments when you could as it is said, "hear a pin drop" and then hear it reverberate until it settles down. Not a creature was stirring not even for a photo. Or possibly the old sailor saying of "Going to crimp a few links" + in my pants, is a more astute evaluation of the situation. Backwards we go and thankfully the vehicles steering was spot on, until we got to a point where it appeared to be much wider than were we just squeezed out of. After another one of those 39 point U-turns we are headed down once again and were to we actually end up? Right in front of the entrance to the parking garage we left 20 minutes previously and almost having to basically make a U-turn onto the bridge putting us way off course to return home. Thankfully there was a break in the traffic both ways and I shot across the road towards a police office who had pulled someone else over for who knows what. Performing a slow controlled (?) skid we slide past the officer and head back up the hill homeward bound.
One of the port sampling spots
Note the prices!!
This artwork was made of old car parts and is one of many in the Porto area
This is the bridge we kept avoiding
Aw True Love
Panorama shot of Porto
A bit of the tile work in the old train station
The inside of the Majestic Café
Around the pool with for Danish friends
John's Birthday dinner
Our place in Porto
We hired a driver to take us from Porto to Estoril (Lisboa) and we had a couple of stops on the way.
Óbidos, an ancient city
The Buddha Eden Garden
The garden was a bit of a kitschy spot bring so many different ideas or themes to one spot.
Next stop Estoril, about a 20-30 minute train ride to Lisboa.
One area close to Lisboa is Sintra with about 6 different historic sites, we got a driver to take us into the town centre and were going to get him to pick us up later but the fare he charged was a bit exorbitant compared to what we paid for door to door service the previous day. We ended up hiring a driver for the day for 25 Euro a person. we enjoyed the day so much we hired him to take us around Lisboa a couple of days later. His name was Jaoa (John), sounding like the SAO and Pao of Sao Paolo with a zzz sound in there somewhere, who gave a running commentary usually proceeded with "Do you know what that is? or I have to tell you one thing" Oh that's , fill in the blank, such as Kieth Richard' or Brian Adams House or "I got married there" but great entertainment and he took us to restaurants where the locals ate for fantastic meals.
A couple of driving experiences
One of the castles in and around Sintra
Another castle in Sintra
Cabo da Roca, most Western point on the European continent
10 years ago about the same time of year we were the only ones around
A little us time
Belem 2008
One of the meals with Jaoa
Let's not forget the enthralling Fado evenings we had, one in Porto & one in Lisboa. A small sample of the evenings.
In Poroto
In Lisboa
Last stop the Algarve
The door to door travel worked so well we did it again from Estoril to Loulé and had another great trip with a couple of stops.
Church of Bones, Capela dos Ossos, Évora
Roman ruin in Évora
On the road again
Monsaraz, our second stop
Our place in Loulé was quite remote but we were ready to chill out before we rented a vehicle for a few days. We took in a couple of beaches, were at one of the Pavé unfortunately forgot her cane but we made due with he walking poles we had brought along from home.
The chill area
just before we all set off in different directions for home
One of our lunches
Good Buds
One of the beaches
After an overnight in Paris we were on our way home.
The the the that's all folks.
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