To the end of the line...alongside the river Douro

 

9th October 2014

Yesterday we discovered that there is a railway line that travels alongside the Douro river, snaking it's way through the hundreds vineyards that grow the grapes for the many Port Wine producers of the region. Having read that this is probably the best way to discover this region we decided to drive to Regua and catch the train from there...the journey to the station was spectacular....

[caption id="attachment_2925" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The hillsides are just crammed full of vineyards....It looks like someone has run a comb across the landscape leaving parallel lines running this way and that...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2926" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Sneak peeks of the river as the road winds down to Regua[/caption]

Come on the journey with us....

[caption id="attachment_2927" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Views from the train...the wonderful Douro...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2928" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Vineyards as far as the eye can see....[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2929" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A small town nestled in the crook of the river...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2930" align="aligncenter" width="640"] More lovely terracotta tiled rooftops...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2931" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Even the stations are beautiful...gorgeous tiled pictures depicting the Port Wine story from vineyard to Porto[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2932" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A river trip in a traditional Rabelo...what a lovely way to travel...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2933" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Wonderful creases and folds in the fabric of the hillsides...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2934" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Autumn colours across the vineyards..[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2935" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Awesome...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2937" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Pocinho, the final destination and end of the line...before turning around and going back again![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2936" align="aligncenter" width="534"] More beautiful tiling at the station...[/caption]

We took the opportunity to go for a short stroll...there really is nothing at this town, but it was good to stretch our legs...

[caption id="attachment_2938" align="aligncenter" width="640"] We've seen many pumpkins lined up on walls, against houses, piled up in fields...lovely colours![/caption]

...and back we go....



[caption id="attachment_2940" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Autumn is definitely on it's way...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2941" align="aligncenter" width="640"] If you look carefully, you can see the railway line alongside the river...on the left...and then disappearing into a tunnel hewn out of the rock...[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_2943" align="aligncenter" width="640"] ..and now the track is on the left...just look how close we are to the water![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2944" align="aligncenter" width="640"] beautiful brick buildings nestled into the hillside amongst the plentiful vines...[/caption]



All too soon we were back at the station and climbing into Bluebelle once again....and now we really do have to get a move on....time to leave Portugal and make for the Northern Spanish coast.

[caption id="attachment_2946" align="aligncenter" width="534"] Whilst driving through the vineyards today we came across this weary bunch...carrying buckets full of grapes...[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2947" align="aligncenter" width="534"] As we drove further North and over the hills, the vineyards gradually diminished...I'm glad we got a chance to capture them in all their autumn glory one last time![/caption]

We didn't quite make it into Spain tonight. The light was failing and we needed to find somewhere to settle before it was dark. You can usually bet that if you find a river and follow it along you can find a place to stop...and that was true of tonight....we found the most gorgeous meadow right next to a babbling river...just perfect!