Le bateau est un autobus

Apologies for lack of photos - having a few technical issues.

We both had a reasonable nights sleep and woke at a normal sort of hour ready for an explore. Our hotel was very basic but close enough to the city that we could walk. We learned a few things at breakfast – what is that? Marmalade she said – looked awfully like quince paste so a googlesearch showed that marmalade is in fact quince paste and the fruit is called marmelo. Was lovely with the fresh bread roll and ham and cheese.

Our first visit was to the local market – I think today was not a full market day but we got some lovely strawberries. Lots of portugese tile items to purchase as souvenirs but we’d have to carry them for the next 4 months.

Beautiful tile work on a church.

The main shopping mall.

The hop on hop off bus gave us a quick look at some of the buildings around town. I was surprised to find that Porto was quite hilly as the town dropped down to the river. And it always amazes us just how many people travel – there were lots of groups led around by the tour leader waving a flag or umbrella.

Lunch at a little restaurant where we found the prices higher to eat on the terrace. Who cares – it was lovely to sit outside in the fresh air and people watch.

We headed back to the hotel to pick up bags then to the boat where we were told ‘your boat is not here – there is a problem with your boat on the river'. So our boat trip started with a 2 hour bus trip through some amazing countryside – hillsides terraced like rice paddies in India but for the purpose of grape vines. And amazing roads and bridges spanning deep gorges. Labour must be a lot cheaper here because the roads are fabulous.

Problem is that the river is in flood and impassable for some parts so the cruise is a moving target from day to day. No matter, we will enjoy whatever is dished up. No cooking or cleaning or driving for a week – who could complain. 

Turns out there are only 3 English speaking couples on the boat – one from England, one from south Africa and us. We've just had a lovely dinner with plenty of wine and now it's time for bed.