Today we left Porto and headed to the north of Portagel to Braga. We left the hostel around 9am. In the end we decided to take a bus to Braga instead of a train. It took us 45min. at 11.15am we were in Braga.
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| view from the bus heading to the town center of Porto |
Once we arrived, we walked around town and got information to go and visit Bom Jesus do Monte, it is a religious retreat on hillside gardens.
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| Braga |
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| late breakfast: Bola de Berlim and Croissant de Amêndoa |
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| Braga town center |
From the town center we took a local bus to go at the bottom of Bom Jesus do Monte. Then we had the choise between taking a funicular or climbing all the steps. we decided on the latest. Half way in the shade we stopped to eat our picnic. Then there was different platform to enjoy the view of the city. At the top we were rewarded by a nice esplanade and a church.
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| map of Bom Jesus do Monte from your guide book |
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| the steps entrance |
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| picnic in the shade |
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| picnic near one of the chapels |
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| steps leading to .... |
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| ...steps, leading to more steps!! |
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| finally at the top! |
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| the church |
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| a water display with a grotto and a pretty gazebo on top |
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| resting in the shade before heading back down |
Back into the town of Braga, we explored it a bit more. We went passed: the Palacio do Raino (also known as Casa do Mexicano), the Camara Municipal, the Arco da Porta Nova, the Jardim de Santa Barbara...
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| The blue-tiled façade of Palacio do Raino |
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| the Camara Municipal |
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| The Arco da Porta Nova |
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| the Jardim de Santa Barbara |
At 7pm, we were back in Porto and decided that before heading back to the hostel we would try to catch the sunset on the river from the Ponte Dom Luis I and see the city by night. Because tomorrow we are leaving for Coimbra.
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| the tram on Ponte Dom Luis I |
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| Portrait with the sunset and the city center in the background |
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| Damien walking along the bridge while a tram passes |
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| Walking on Ponte Dom Luis I by night |
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| the riviera by night |
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| Ponte Dom Luis I by night |
We headed back to the hostel later than we had planned, taking a bus from the Riviera all the way to the hostel, we were in bed around 11.30pm.
One more night in seperated dorms in Pousada de Juventude / Porto Youth Hostel.
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