PORTO

Well, as I mentioned in an earlier post, we have had five back to back excursion days before departing the ship.  Part of me wanted to ignore writing about them because of the lack of time and because I was determined to not let my blogging get in the way of the few fun events that were left to enjoy on the ship.  So, I set my priorities and decided to wait until I got home to finish the blogging.  I’m glad I made that decision!  I was able to relax a bit between excursions, have some enjoyable dinners with friends (one night with the ship’s captain!), attend the farewell events, attend some port talks and shows and leisurely pack.  We arrived home yesterday and while all of this is still fresh in my mind I am going to document our final days on the ship.  Not only do I enjoy sharing our adventures, but this blog will be used by me in the future to refresh my memory of this trip of a lifetime.

This post is about our excursion to Porto, Portugal.  Portugal has been on my bucket list for a long time and when I saw that this cruise included Portugal on its itinerary, I was swayed even more to commit to the trip.  Portugal did not disappoint!  Here’s what the Viking Daily had to say about this beautiful city:

“PORTO, PORTUGAL - Portugal’s second-largest city is also its most authentic, where port wine mixes beautifully with strolls past historic architecture.  Shops up and down the lanes of the historic Old Town invite endless window shopping and browsing.  But the imposing Romanesque Cathedral commands more than just a passing glance with its ornate and towering facade.  Along the Douro River, the prosperous fate of Porto was sealed when the barcos rabelos delivered the first wine shipments here from the vineyards upriver.  These vessels still bob with the current.  Across the river, and over the distinctive 19th-century Dom Luis Bridge, cellars of 58 companies fortify the prized wine that is still produced in the Douro Valley.

Mark and I took the included tour called “Porto by Foot”.  We met our guide and coach and rode to Old Town.  Saw the beautiful beaches and shoreline along the way.  Once in Old Town (Vitória) our guide pointed out landmarks as our bus toured the area.  Then we were given free time to explore on our own.  We loved this beautiful city!  We strolled in the city square and admired the ornate cathedral.  We were taken with the stunning blue and white tile work on the outside of the cathedral.  Actually, we were impressed with the tile work all around the town.  We also walked along the riverside, admiring the colorful homes and then walked up the hill on the tiny cobblestone streets, popping in and out of shops and finally stopping in a cafe for a bite to eat and a Portuguese beer.  Does this sound like a lovely afternoon?  It was!

Here’s some photos that I took of this charming town:

This was one of the best ports we docked in.  The terminal building was modern and stunning.  It even had beautiful tiles that were different shades of white that shimmered in the sunlight.  Gorgeous beach with view of our ship and the terminal.

Photos of the beautiful coast taken from our coach.

The Catholic Church of Our Lady of Carmo is of the baroque-rococo style.  The front is very ornate and the side has a tile mural.  It’s stunning!

Some views in the courtyard in front of the church.

Storefronts and beautiful tile art! Porto is famous for its blue and white pottery and tiles.

City views along the Riverfront.

I was captivated by these apartments!

City views, shoppes and snacks!

Cobblestone streets and walks!

And beautiful architecture!

Charming doors, of course!

After returning to the ship we enjoyed dinner at our favorite ship restaurant, The Chef’s Table.  The food was delicious as usual and we completed the meal with a glass of port.  Only fitting after a spending the day in Porto, I think!