Rabelo to Ribeira

Thursday 26th April

Today is the last real day of our criuse. Last night we did a short cruise along the river to the mouth of the river. This was a much more picturesque view of Porto by night than the bus tour.

 

Porto by night from the river.

This morning we went on a typical rabelo boat across to Ribeira which is the old section of Porto on the river. We took a ride on the old tram out to the mouth of the river, and then we turned around and came back. Lucky we were early in the morning because the queues waiting for the tram when we returned were really long. We did a short walk through the narrow, and steep, streets before sitting in a cafe on the river front and enjoying an espresso coffee and a portugese tart.

We took a ride on the tram along the river
- was interesting to see the houses and all the different tiles.

Mmm - portugese tarts.

In the afternoon we did a bus tour to the city of Guimaraes which is said to be the birth place of the first king of Portugal. We visited the palace and then did a walk through the streets of the old town following some of the signs for the pilgrimage walk, the Camino de Santiago.

There is a story about these tapestries. There are four
of them and they are huge.
Apparently they disappeared at some stage and were
later found to be in Spain.
Spain would not return them to the Portuguese
but did give them copies.

Cathedral in Guimaraes.

Street scene in Guimaraes.

It was our last dinner on board tonight followed by a performance by a Portugese folk dance group.

Napkin folding - we had some lovely designs.

Last night dessert - bomb alaska.