DAY 2 : PORTUGAL : PORTO : the tourist version!

Weather : fine and cool this morning, 18o, becoming overcast and wet.

Today we bought tickets for the red sightseeing bus and spent most of the day at the Ribeira Square (Praca da Ribeira) which is situated along the Douro River and because of its situation was the centre of commerce and manufacturing activity since the Middle Ages.

It has stunning architecture, albeit in bad repair, a long stone arcade, where there are many restaurants and cultural stores. The rest of the area developed in the 18th century and consists of alley ways with brightly-coloured apartments with wrought-iron balconies, covered in rows of washing. Across the bay there are many wineries where they blend and store port, which has been brought to them from outlying vineyards, originally on small sloops on the river.

What a fascinating day!

 

We caught the bus from the square

where the impressive town hall (Paco

do Concelho) is situated.

 

The bus drove through the city and through

some remarkable architecture in the suburbs.

We drove along the coast - impressive surf

and golden sands - and a few surfers out on

the waves, despite the cold.

The Ribeira district on the River Douro.

Some of the small cruise boats used to ferry

tourists up and down the river under 6 massive

bridges.

 

Small alley ways with apartments

with wrought-iron balconies.

Interesting colours and tiles.

The district is a hive of activity.

The arcades with numerous restaurants

along the waterfront.

We found the perfect restaurant

for a birthday lunch.

www.vinhas-dalho.com

Mark's main course:

grilled octopus on a turnip-leaf cornmeal

mash and raspberry jus.

The small sloops laden with port barrels as

they were traditionally transported down the river.

 









 

 



 

 

M&M

16/11/12

Our email : mm_smith@bigpond.net.au