03/09 - Seaside

Today we changed hostel, we relocated closer to the Atlantic ocean. We arrived around 11am, but of course check in is later, so we took out swimming gear and left the hostel for the day. Outside of the hostel there is a small supermarket (Pingo Doce), really convenient. We bought our picnic for later and went along the Rio Douro all the way to the Atlantic Ocean.

walking along the Douro

Once we reached the seaside, we realised the ocean was turbulent and the wind really strong. But we found, between two quay walls (separating the ocean and the entrance to the river), there was a cove. We took shelter against the wall to be protected from the wind, and could enjoy a really warm day at the beach.

couple selfie in front of the Ocean

the entrance of the cove

someone said windy????

the entrance of the cove with a protected beach at the end of it

beach time!!

After soaking up the sun, and swimming a little in the Atlantic ocean, we continued our walk, along the ocean this time, and headed towards a big park called Parque da Cidade.

inside the park

Perfect selfie spot !!!!

After some lazy time on the grass, we headed back to the hostel. Along the ocean at first and then along the Douro river. 12 km in total!!

view along the river

finally near the hostel, DEAD!!

Back in the hostel they gave us our rooms, we are in segregated dorms, on different floors. Knackered we went for dinner to a pizza place really close to the Hostel.

Slept in seperated dorms in Pousada de Juventude / Porto Youth Hostel.

02/09 - Bem-Vindo ao Porto

Breakfast in the hostel around 9am, but late departure from the hostel for the day (10.30am). We walked down our street and another commercial one to end up outside the Igreja (= church) do Carmo.

The church has a stunning side wall made of frescos of famous portuguese tiles. The tiles are blue and white and called azulejos. Inside the church it is really heavily decorated, which was surprising compared to churches we visited before in the rest of Europe, but kind of similar to the ones in Mexico.

Igreja do Carmo - tiled wall

1st couple selfie of this holiday

Weather is not cold but grey. We continued walking towards the town center, passing the Igreja dos Clérigos, the main square with at its end the town hall (Camara Municipal), and the Igreja dos Congregados. From there we went to the train station Sao Bento which is famous for it's tile work too (plus we looked at trains for Braga).

train station Sao Bento

We followed the walking tour suggested by the travel book and went up old fortifications and had a good view of the bridge Ponte Dom Luis I, build by an apprentice from Gustave Eiffel.

Damien and Ponte Dom Luis I

Then we headed for the Sé (= Cathedral) and its cloister. The cathedral was not that impressive but the cloister is worth paying for. The wall are covered of Azulejos.

Porto's Sé and its cloister

Courtyard of the cloister

Cloisters' walls

The big fresco of Azulejos above the cloister

The historical center of Porto is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We headed back to the center of town, bought some take away lunch and had a picnic in a park. Before walking all the way to Casa da Musica.

Pizza slice, bola de carne, batata con carne, bolinhos de bocalau

Jardim de João Chagas

Time for some architecture! Casa da Musica is a concert hall build by the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, opened since 2005. We took a guided tour in English and got the chance to see much of the building.

Casa da Musica from outside

Inside the main concert hall

On our way back to the center of town, we stopped at the park Jardims do Palacio de Cristal and walked in the gardens and had a really nice view of the Douro river.

Jardims do Palacio de Cristal

The sun is getting low, but we managed to do one more thing, we went up the tower of the Igreja dos Clérigos. Which is the highest point in the center of Porto. We saw the sunset from there.

Tower of the Igreja dos Clerigos and a tram

Panorama of the city center

Sunset in the horizon above the Atlantic Ocean

Heading to the hostel we went passed the closed famous bookshop, luckily the light was on inside and we could see a part of the beautiful staircase. Found a place to eat, recommended by the French travelling book (Guide du Routard), but it was a huge disappointment for dinner...

Another night in the private room in Eden House.

01/09 - Arrival in Porto

Caroline: 
Intensive day in Marseille getting ready for our 1st month of travels. Packing bags but also clearing out my parents' house of my things (that came from London). I invaded the garage but in an orderly manner.

My parents took me to Marseille's airport, and I was at 6pm there and 15 minutes later my bag was checked in (a record with Rayanair!!).

sunset in Marseille while boarding

In the plane, I planned our 1st 10 days in Portugal, the plan is to try to rent a car and drive from Porto to Lisboa (Lisbon) and stopping at different places on the way.

Landing by night in Poto and realised that Portugal is on the same timeline as England, thus 1h less than in Marseille. Picked up my bag and met Damien at the Metro station.

Porto's Metro sign

I was happy to see him, because 3 weeks seperated was long! Metro, 15 stops to Trindade and then Damien led the way like an expert to the Hostel.

Damien:
(to come)

Slept in a private room in Eden House.