We have returned from a very busy couple of days in Porto. We wanted to do a day tour to the Douro Valley and that required an early start so we decided to go in on Thursday and stay overnight. We managed to get settled into our little studio apartment by mid-afternoon. It was small but well equipped in true IKEA style. 
The view from the balcony was fantastic. Unfortunately for my photography, the vista was marred by several cranes but still, I had fun trying different settings over the evening and early morning trying to capture the quintessential picture of Porto. 
It was another hot day and the hills had us panting and sweating as we explored historic Porto. We covered a lot of ground in a relatively short time: we visited the Lello bookstore to see the inspiration for the Hogwarts' library, the Sao Bento metro station to see the blue tiles (azules), the waterfront and the Dom Luis I Bridge. We stopped for some refreshment along the waterfront and then took the funicular back up the hill. We did a bit of shopping and later went out for a very nice leisurely supper before heading back to the apartment for a well-deserved rest. 
The tour of the Douro Valley was superb! Our guide, Alex, was very knowledgable, had a good sense of humour, good English and most importantly, was a very good driver. We were accompanied by a British couple, and a group of three Americans. It was a lively and entertaining group and the day was packed with interesting and varied activities. 
After a drive to the town of Pinhao, we began with a boat ride along the Douro river to see the views from below. Then, we visited a small farm that produces Port where we got a tour of the facilities and a wine tasting opportunity. This was followed by a delicious lunch of local cuisine with free flowing wine.
After lunch we stopped at the Pinhou train station for a look at its display of azules and then made our way back up the mountain to another farm where they produce olive oil as well as table wines. Finally, we stopped at a spot to view the area from above before making our way back to Porto.
Among many other things, we learned that olives are often planted around a vineyard as they help to repel insects and that roses are planted near the farmer's house because, being such a delicate flower, they will show signs of any disease in the area and give the farmer a chance to be proactive and protect their crops.
It was a trip well worth the price and we returned home satisfied and looking forward to a day of rest before brother Duane arrives!!
2 comments:
And brother Duane is on his way! He is following your example Amy and has packed light....no line ups for him at the luggage carousel.
Love your pictures! Wow! Porto looks amazing! And I remember the picture of the bookstore from last year - guess I will have to finally watch Harry Potter so I can see a little more of it. The countryside is beautiful....lush & green under that warm sun. We are fading rather quickly here in wind, chilly temps and intermittent, yet persistent, snow....you chose a good fall to be away!
There is so much to learn about the areas you folks have been visiting. Beautiful!
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