Beautiful, wonderful, colourful, vibrant Porto

8th October 2014

We were up early in order to catch the bus into Porto...it stops right outside the campsite and then takes you into the centre of the city...very convenient!

[caption id="attachment_2871" align="aligncenter" width="640"] On arrival we walked down the hill to downtown Porto....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2875" align="aligncenter" width="534"] ...and made our way here. Julias had told us about this McDonald's and how amazingly beautiful it is...yes, I really did say that about a McDonald's!!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2872" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Stunning stained glass windows behind the counter...[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2874" align="aligncenter" width="640"] ...and chandeliers on the ceiling![/caption]

Not far from here is the main train station building....Sao Bento Railway Station...



[caption id="attachment_2878" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Some of the 20,000 tiles covering the walls...[/caption]

 

It was a sight that took my breath away and made my heart flutter with excitement! It's just beautiful! Opened to the public in 1916, it is well known for its walls that are covered in over 20000 tiles that depict the history of Portugal. That was one dedicated artist...it took 11 years to complete the project!







From the station building it was just a short walk up the hill to Ponte Luis.. a huge iron work bridge designed and built by a student of Gustav Eiffel  When it was opened in 1886 held the record for the longest ironwork arch in the world...and retained that title for seven years. The upper deck is used by pedestrians and the city's metro and the bridges lower deck is for cars and yet more pedestrians. I have to say that this is the very best way to get the most spectacular views of the city. The river Douro runs under the bridge separating tow very distinctive areas of the city. On one side is the wonderful area of Ribeira with it's tall colourful buildings lining the river bank and, on the opposite bank, the more functional area of Gaia where the huge Port wine cellars lie row upon row

[caption id="attachment_2882" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Ponte Luis. We walked along the upper deck, crossing from side to side looking at the amazing views either side of the great river Douro[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2885" align="aligncenter" width="534"] The metro making it's way across the bridge...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2883" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking over the rooftops of Ribeira towards Gaia on the opposite bank[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2884" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Gorgeous rooftops...jumbled tiles spilling out across the tops of many delightful buildings...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2886" align="aligncenter" width="562"] The remains of Ponte das Barcas....a bridge consisiting of 20 boats linked together with steel cables...inaugurated in 1806. Unfortunately, in 1809, the city was invaded by the French causing thousands of locals to try and flee the invasion across this bridge. As you can imagine, a bridge of this fragility just gave way, and over 4000 people lost their lives that day...these pillars are all that remain.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2887" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Beautiful, colourful vibrant, wonderful Ribeira.....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2888" align="aligncenter" width="534"] A jumble of houses nestling into the hillside alongside Porto's funicular railway.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2889" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A view down the Douro river looking towards the Ponte do Infante and Ponte d'Maria Pia....designed by Gustav Eiffell....bridges in the distance.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2890" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Beautiful, colourful, crumbling, charming Ribeira....a UNESCO world heritage site. This is my most favourite place in Porto.. it has an amazingly vibrant, buzzy atmosphere..even on a grey drizzly day like today. The riverside is heaving with small bars and restaurants, medieval arches hide market stalls and yet more cool cafes...the buildings are colourful...a little tatty round the edges, but that just adds to the charm of the place. I would love to return on a warm sunny day when the terracotta roof tiles would glow orange and the colours of the houses would come alive....one day maybe![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2891" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Ribeira on the right and Cais de Gaia riverfront on the left...[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2894" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Port Wine warehouses[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2896" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking back across the bridge[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2898" align="aligncenter" width="546"] We took the cable car from the far end of the bridge down to the Gaia district[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2897" align="aligncenter" width="534"] A view of the warehouse rooftops from the cable car...[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2899" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Looking back across the river Douro[/caption]



Our tickets for the cable car had a voucher for a free tasting of Port at one of the local warehouses...a great piece of marketing because, of course, who are we to turn down such an opportunity!

[caption id="attachment_2901" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Old Port Wine barrels...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2902" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Cork Oak bark ..used for Port Wine bottles....This cork has amazing properties that make it perfect for using as a stopper. It's impermeable, floats, has elasticity, is disease resistant and bug resistant etc....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2903" align="aligncenter" width="532"] We tried four different types of Port...I never realised there were so many (ignorant I know)...BT liked the pale Port which is served chilled and I favoured the tawny Port...so, we bought a bottle of each!!! Slurp, slurp...yum!![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2904" align="aligncenter" width="534"] On the banks of the river we came across a small boat building yard....[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2905" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Stunning...[/caption]

 

[caption id="attachment_2906" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Not quite there yet[/caption]

 



[caption id="attachment_2908" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Thousands of fish squirming and splashing in the water at an outlet into the river...what must be in the water?[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2909" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Traditional Port Wine carrying boats..called rabelos...lined up alongside the riverbank..[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2910" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Another sneaky view across the river towards Ribeira...I just love it![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2911" align="aligncenter" width="534"] We walked back across the river along the lower deck of Ponte Luis[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2912" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Stunning tiled houses in the Ribeira district of Porto...even the rusty corrugated iron sheets look great![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2913" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Medieval arches hiding all sorts of treasures![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2914" align="aligncenter" width="589"] Colour, colour, colour...and wonderful ironwork balconies[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2915" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Scrumptious...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2916" align="aligncenter" width="540"] We took a tram along the riverfront....once we reached the end of the line, the driver moved the back of the seats so that they all faced the direction of movement...very clever. We have noticed how brilliant the youngsters are at giving up their seats for the old folk (no not us!!) who board the trams....not something we ever see at home on our local buses :([/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2917" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Tram museum...this was actually closed but we were able to wander around the sheds and take photos..[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2919" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We came across these old photos of the Ribeira district and found them fascinating...not much has changed at all over the years![/caption]

All too soon...and mainly because of the rain...it was time to locate our bus stop and find our way back to the campsite. We have had a wonderful day in Porto and would both love to return again soon. Porto has such a fun, vibrant, community feel about it. The people all seem very relaxed and are happy to help us lost tourists. The colours, textures and shapes have set my heart beating wildly today...just so wonderful!!! (Crazy I know, but I just can't help it!!)