Make that a long travel day, plus two hours!  We headed up to Penn Station about 9:30, a two mile walk, but got there in plenty of time for our 10:53 train to NYC. The train was packed so we didn’t get to sit together until Philadelphia.

At NY Penn Station we had very little difficulty finding the Long Island RR ticket counter. The tickets to Jamaica were $5 each and we just caught the 1:54, for the 20 minute ride.

The shocker was that the JFK Air Train from Jamaica was $8.25! Hadn’t done this in years, thought it was only a couple bucks. Once we got to JFK’s Terminal 4, it was a breeze. We scanned our passports at a kiosk, being TSA approved, there was almost no wait getting through security.

The hiccup came when we arrived at the Delta Sky Lounge. The line to get in was 50 people long. It actually moved quicker than we expected, maybe 20 minutes. We had a hot lunch from the buffet and a dirty martini from the bar.  

The flight to Madrid was about seven hours. We watched the movie Till, very emotional, moving and disturbing. Hard to believe so many anti-wokers can’t admit these things are our past and impact our present.

As with all transatlantic flights, we were served dinner with a glass of wine and a hot breakfast sandwich.  We got into Madrid about 7:00. Don’t think there can be a more spread out airport. We walked all of 20 minutes to passport control for connecting flights. There was only one agent which added another 20 minutes. Passed through security with no line!  Then another 20 minute walk to the C, D & F terminals that served Air Europa.

Our flight wasn’t until 3:00, but an agent got us on a 10:30! Saved us from a VERY long day in the airport. We had time for a very good cafe con leche. As with the Madrid flight, Porto’s was also full. Only an hour+ flight so there was no service. Exhausted, but neither of us slept.

We found our way out of the airport to the metro station. The lines at the ticket machines were 10 deep and all tourists who didn’t know the process - us included!  When we finally made it to the machine, we selected what we thought were for two people, turned out to be for two zones. Sue picked up that something was wrong because the tickets were under 2 euro, she knew they should be at least 2.

A very nice and helpful agent showed us the way. Our destination would require a 4 zone ticket. We won’t be making that mistake twice. There are 4 color coded lite rail lines serving Porto. We took the Blue to Trinidad and transfered to the Yellow to Sao Bento - the main train station, in the heart of the old city center of Porto.

We would be staying in Porto two nights in a studio apartment that was located only a few blocks from Sao Bento. When in wifi, Sue was exchanging messages with the landlord about directions, key codes and when the unit would be available - not until 3:00.  

We had several hours to explore. Having been here less than two years ago we kinda knew the lay of this beautiful city. We got a map at the Tourist Information and were off. We first headed to the address of the studio apartment, wanting to make sure we could find it. Second stop was for a cup of coffee, only one, it was really bad but the place had wifi.

We decided to head to the Cathedral to get our credentials stamped. To have our Camino officially recognized, when you arrive in Santiago, you have to show two stamps per day, covering at least 100 kilometers.

We actually walked a few blocks on the Camino working our way back to the neighborhood where our apartment is located.  A rest for weary travelers was calling and we went to Tapas N Friends on Passos Manuel for a couple of tapas and a couple of Super Bocks, a .20 and a .40 - guess which one belonged to who.

While there, we got a message about 2:30 that the apartment was ready. We quickly finished up our cervezas and headed to Rua Janeiro #165 to check out home for the next two nights.  We had been given the key codes of the building and the apartment and gaining access was no problem. Our apartment was on the 2nd floor (in Europe, actually the 3rd) with a small balcony overlooking Rua Janeiro. Nice flat with an open kitchen, living, bedroom space . 

It was good to get our boots off, and clean up a little after a full day of travel.  Washed a sink load of dirty clothes, followed by a couple hour nap to recharge the batteries, then headed out. 

When we were here two years ago, Restaurante O Rapido was on our list, but for unknown reasons we never made it.  This time we were determined. We walked there and made a reservation for 9:00. With more than an hour to kill, we headed to a familiar area just below the train station for a beverage at a sidewalk cafe. As a bonus, just a few feet down the street was a great female vocalist and guitarist, very talented.

Back at O Rapido by 9:00, what a treat. A dozen tables and every seat taken, almost all by locals.  There was a table of 11 guys in their 60s, having a great time. In such a small place, it was very loud. Talking to our server after they left, we learned that this same group comes in every week!

Dinner was really good: grilled sea bass and fried hake. Sides of roasted potatoes, delicious mushroom rice, carrots and a stewed cabbage dish. With a bottle of white wine it came to 46 euro, what a deal!

A day of travel was long forgotten after such a great start In beautiful Porto.