Off to Portugal

A Change in Plans

The weather today in Oakville has been crummy; snow, ice, rain… and I am supposed to be flying to Porto, Portugal to meet John.

John has been in Yorkshire, England for the past three days. I couldn’t go with him due to a few medical appointments…but tomorrow John and I are meeting in Porto.

The plan was that my son, Cameron, was going to drive me to the airport. I am super organized, relaxed and on schedule when I step out of the shower and hear the radio announcer talking about the mess on the roads from the freezing rain. Yikes!

UP to Pearson

Stress rises as the plan suddenly changes. I toss the final few articles in my backpack and Cameron drives me to the GO Train station which takes me to Union Station where I catch the UP Express train to Pearson Airport.

I have never taken the UP. It is very civilized and so convenient…and it only costs $12.50 one way. The trip from Union Station to Pearson International Airport takes only 25 minutes. I am definitely doing this again.

At Terminal 3, I move quickly through security and to my gate. I sit at a table at our gate with a Canadian/Portuguese couple and a Portuguese lawyer. I find Portuguese people generally friendly and these people are no exception. They give me lots of great tips for visiting Porto.

Flight to Porto

Our flight is delayed by over an hour but soon we are on our way. I sleep the whole way, only waking up for a late supper.

I arrive in Porto over two hours ahead of John who is flying in from Manchester. His flight is also delayed. I plunk myself at the arrival exit and wait. I watch the new arrivals being greeted by friends and family; lots of kisses, hugs and brilliant smiles.

I am near a big video board that flashes all kinds of highlights of Porto. I am excited.

Finally John arrives and we leave the airport, walking into the sunshine to explore Porto.

Our Porto Studio Apartment

An Uber takes us to our Airbnb studio apartment near the river and in the heart of where all the port distributors are.

Many of the streets are narrow and there are beautiful, historical buildings everywhere you look.

A narrow red door (I have problems getting through it with my suitcase and backpack), opens to a teeny tiny lobby with narrow steps leading us to our apartment.

City Tour

We quickly clean up and book a 3pm free city walking tour. John and I love doing these walking tours when we first arrive to a new city. It is a great way to get our bearings so that we can decide how we will spend the rest of our time here. They are called free walking tours because the guide works for tips. It is important to give a good tip if the

guide deserves it.

Porto is filled with steep hills and many steps. Yep, many, many steps.

The tour starts at the city hall.

Porto is such a beautiful city. The guide is knowledgeable in the city’s history. We stop for a break in a lovely square near the old jail which is now a photography museum. I buy a pastel de nata (a delicious custard tart) and water at the oldest cafe in Porto and sit at an outdoor table. There are pigeons all over and are they ever brazen. One jumps up on my table even as I am eating my treat.

There are beautiful azulejo tiles everywhere. Portugal is known for these hand painted tiles. The Sao Bento railway station is resplendent with these tiles.

The 2.5 hour tour ends at the Cathedral.

Music and People in the City

Throughout the tour, I notice music is everywhere. There are many street performers singing popular songs.. even a sax player.

There are also lots of different characters if you stop to notice them. There was an old lady sitting under a cow statue, lovingly feeding pigeons.

We stop for a light supper and a glass of port at 6:30. I am totally exhausted.

We pick up a few breakfast groceries and head back to our studio for the night.