Monday, 14 July 2008
Welcome to Porto
We continue to Porto. Before, in Espinho, we have a short stop. Then we swing on the highway and get carried on with the traffic, into Porto. We head for the city quarter of Vila Nova de Gaia. After some circling around we finally land on the banks of the Rio Douro. From there we go uphill again and find a carpark behind the port wine cellars, where we also want to stay the night.
at the winery of Krohn-Wiese
We want to get a first impression of Porto and walk down the street to the banks of the Douro. On the way, we happen to arrive at the port wine cellars of Krohn-Wiese. We are curious to have a look inside, and it smells very much like alcohol. The winery offers wine tastings, and so we go inside. We are the only ones in here and come to talk with the staff. But we do not feel like tasting at this time of day. However, we are offered a small appetizer which is then quite good.
view across the Rio Douro to the old part of Porto
Barcas Rabelos in front of the bridge Ponte de Dom Luis I.
Arriving the shore, we are very charmed by the sight of the houses opposite. Old Barcas rabelos seesaw on the river, laden with port wine barrels to advertise for the different port wines. On these boats the barrels had been shipped across the river from the vine yards in to Porto. On our side of the Douro are all the many port wine cellars, about two dozen companies offer tours and wine tasting.
Herbert looks over to Ribeira
The other side of the Douro, we want to keep for tomorrow. So at the Ponte Dom Luis I we return. This double storey iron bridge was designed by Gustave Eiffel in 1886. We climb high in the direction of the monastery Serra do Pilar, to have a magnificent view of Porto from up there. Along the Avenida da República we go back to our motorhome.
wholesale shopping for fruit and vegetables
On the avenida we even find a small fruit shop, laden with fruit and vegetables you can hardly take a step inside. Such a wide selection of fruit and cheaper than we ever have found elsewhere in Portugal. The people are in queues before the cashiers, and we line up ourselves with grapes, peaches, apricots, plums eggs. Altogether, we pay 3,30 EUR for two large bags.
carpark behind the port wine cellars
today's route 43 km
