Porto, Porto District, PortugalI’m baaack! You thought you’d gotten rid of me but it’s not that easy!
We had a lovely rest day in Santiago celebrating the end of our Camino.
It was really lovely seeing other people we’d meet along the track and being able to celebrate with them as well.
Today we picked up our hire car from the train station and headed off to Portugal. What an adventure that was! We had hired something a similar size to my car, a Hyundai i30, big enough for two people and two pieces of luggage. We got a Peugeot 508! It’s a lovely car but much bigger than we really need. The hire company has the cars stored away somewhere and brings them up to the street when you’ve done the paperwork. So you collect your car from a loading zone and the activity going on is pretty frenetic! Anyway we played with the car for a few minutes and then started driving back to our apartment to pick up our luggage. We hadn’t realised they’d turned on the hazard lights until we were driving away and then we couldn’t find the button to turn them off! So we drove through town on a busy Monday morning flashing the hazard lights all the way. Possibly a good move, people probably avoided me! I parked the car in a handicap zone while Sheila ran inside and picked up our luggage.
I looked and looked for that bloody hazard light switch and finally found it just as we were giving up.
Then we had the problem of navigating. We couldn’t work out how to pair the phone with the car. The fact that all the instructions were in Spanish didn’t help, of course. We had to drive back to the hire company and have a couple of nice young men come and do it for us. Finally we were on our way out of Santiago to Porto in Portugal. Apart from nearly wiping us out a couple of times when I looked right on a roundabout and not left, that part of the trip was fairly uneventful (Sheila may not agree).
Then we arrived in Porto. Oh dear Lord! The car’s navigation instructions were quite accurate in trying to direct us to our Airbnb but the streets are so narrow half of them didn’t look drivable! Finally after fighting with one way streets, doing uturns, meeting trams while on the tram lines and generally getting a bit frazzled, we found our street, parked the car and vowed not to move it again until we’re leaving Porto!
Where we’re staying is in a narrow street about half way between the two big bridges.
We walked down to the main waterfront area and wandered around the streets and alleyways of old Porto. It’s a very hilly town and we ended up walking up lots of steps but the views at the top were well worth it. There’s so much character and charm in the city I don’t think we’re going to be able to fit in everything we’d like to do in the two days we have here.
After coming back to have a rest and get our washing done we walked back down to the waterfront again to have dinner. We found a lovely restaurant right on the riverfront where we sat and ate, drank a glass of wine and people watched for quite some time. It’s very, very busy in the city right now. I can’t imagine what it must be like in the high season. The tour boats on the river were doing a very good trade. There are so many restaurants in this city and they all seemed to be busy. After six weeks of getting up early and going to bed with the hens, it was nice to be out and about in the evening, even though it was still daylight!
We’re liking what we’ve seen so far of Porto and we’re looking forward to exploring more in the morning.
Margot
2023-06-05
Make sure you have a cup of tea at the Majestic Cafe while you're in Porto.
Beth
2023-06-05
The amazing adventure continues, Leanne. Enjoy. Well done you for driving in Portugal. xx
Allan
2023-06-05
You weren’t tempted to walk 25 km around town to keep up your steps for the day??? Such a beautiful city ….. and that iconic steel bridge … lovely! XX
Ange K
2023-06-05
Phew - I'm so glad you are back. I had a real loss yesterday!!! Checked a couple of times if you'd written anything. What a contrast this part of your trip will be. A total new adventure for you both. That's the thing with travel - there's usually not enough time to see everything! Is that a shopping bag I see Sheila holding?
Jenny
2023-06-06
Now the ‘real’ holiday begins…soak it all up as you deserve it! And, im still enjoying your daily update too..😁
Helen D
2023-06-06
A tad nerve-wracking driving the car, but what a wonderful city to visit. So glad the fall hasn't stopped you from walking.
Chris D
2023-06-06
Looks like your back is behaving nicely Leanne. Very fitting that Sheila was able to tuck into Portuguese tarts whilst in Portugal!
Teresa
2023-06-06
Welcome baaaack!! Congratulations completing the Camino. Absolutely awesome. Looking forward to reading all about your Portugal trip.
Karen K
2023-06-06
Your driving experience reminds me of mine in Sicily. Fitting a BMW station wagon down medieval cobbled streets just didn’t work! Porto looks beautiful.
ANGE R
2023-06-06
Hi Leanne, Kathy D and I are in Porto until Thursday morning !
Liz Davis
2023-06-06
And the adventure continues! Why does half the world drive on the wrong side of the road! It's a great mystery but it didn't deter you two adventurers. Well done. Portugal looks nice.
Suzanne
2023-06-06
So pleased your back is fine and you made it to Porto. The streets are very narrow in Porto so wise to leave the car. If you have time take one of the Tourist buses [ not sure if they are Red] for a sight see of the town. We enjoyed this and went to a marvelous art gallery on the edge of town and had the best lunch. Unfortunately I cant remember the name. Have a wonderful time.
Jodie
2023-06-06
Enjoy the rest of the holiday now. Pictures are lovely
Karen
2023-06-06
Porto looks great. Stay safe and happy. Keep doing adventurous fun things.❤️🥳🥳
Lisa K
2023-06-06
Enjoy girls - Portugal is one of my favourite places and the food is pretty amazing so make sure you sample as much as you can while there - don’t you just love those Portuguese tarts!!!? 😋 Glad you back has improved Leanne. Sheila, enjoy the next part of your adventure and say hi to E and H for me xx
Laurel
2023-06-06
Porto looks lovely. You didn’t mention your finger or back, so I am assuming they are okay. I guess that hectic driving experience took your mind off any other pains. I bet you still racked up quite a few walking kilometres today.
Claire
2023-06-06
Porto looks wonderful! So much to see and enjoy as you relax away thise 800 kms. I hope some bling has caught your eye Sheila and you’re both enjoying good coffee again. Leigh and I are just starting our last day in Uluru and heading to do the Valley of the Winds circuit at Kata Djuta soonish. Have fun ( without the car)!
Marl
2023-06-06
Sounds like a great day, traffic and all. Glad to hear no mention of back or finger. Enjoy Portugal 🇵🇹
Karry
2023-06-07
😂😂😂The joys of navigating. Porto sounds like a lovely place though.