Ola Porto 15 – 17th February

Short break in Porto,with Barbara & Hannah.
However,up until the day before departure,there was some doubt about whether I should be fit enough to travel.
Since the removal of the Stents inserted into my kidneys,last month,I had been troubled with bouts of fatigue, shivering and the like.
A self administered course of anti- Biotics seemed to do the trick.
Ironically, the morning of departure found me feeling the best in myself,for a month.
A smooth flight and easy transfer to the City,using Porto’s excellent Metro system.
We alighted at Sao Bento and walked downhill to the apartment in the old part of the city – unless you are on the banks of the Douro,you are usually going up or down a hill – opposite the Igreja San Francisco.
View from the apartment:-

We walked through the Ribeira,in the direction of the wonderful Ponte de D.Luis I; accosted en route , by two ladies,one of whom recognised me from my time as Headteacher at Holy Family School,she taught at St Bernadette’s.Both were sampling Port wine; a very good idea!

We took the Funicular, rather than the “Escadas” and walked across the bridge ,to the Gaia area.

Great views.

Eventually, we found ourselves at the Croft Port Lodge and signed up for a tour and a tasting.
Wonderful ambience and a delightful guide; no hard sell which was just as well, for you would be spoilt for choice.

A glass of a mere five years’old vintage!

We walked along the Cais de Gaia and settled in to a popular little bar,called:-

.
We traversed the Douro again,this time on the lower bridge and found what was to be an excellent restaurant,”Chez Lapin”- featuring a live rabbit in a hutch outside.
Needless to say,Han and I had Roast Rabbit,which was sumptuous and such a large portion,that we brought enough back for lunch,next day.