First Full Day in Porto

 Tuesday, 7 March 2023

Amy was up early and found a nice coffee shop.

Once Barney was up, we had breakfast at the hotel and did a little exploration of the hotel, like the outdoor gym.

When the time came, we crossed the street to the Heroismo station to take the bus downtown.  We asked at the hotel and were told the bus would be 1€ each.  It was 2.50€.

We got off the bus, near the National Theatre.  Walking around Porto is a delightful experience, full of history, culture, and beautiful sights. The city is known for its charming old town, home to stunning architecture and winding streets,

We took a stroll onto the top level of the Dom Luís I Bridge - we saw this bridge from the river level last night.

The Sé do Porto (Cathedral of Porto), was built between the 12th and 13th centuries.

Construction of the cathedral began in the 12th century, during the reign of Portugal's first king, Afonso Henriques, and was completed in the 13th century. 

The cathedral has undergone numerous renovations and additions over the centuries, resulting in a mix of architectural styles that includes Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, and Rococo elements.

After the Cathedral, we explored several small hilly streets on our way to lunch at the century-old Cervejaria Gazela.  We had the special hot dog, some of the best french fries we can remember and a steak and cheese sandwich that was served on a small version of what is sold in NJ as ‘Portuguese rolls’ - I love it when names line up with reality!  

We continued our walking tour toward the Mercado do Bolhão. 

Known for selling a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and flowers.

The market has been in operation since 1914, housed in a two-story neoclassical building with a distinctive facade. Extensive renovations started in 2018.

We walked to the São Bento Train Station The lobby has over 20,000 hand-painted azulejo tiles, dating from 1905–1916. 

At the train station, we inquired about buying tickets for Friday’s train trip from Porto to Vigo, Spain, and beyond.  We learned there was a TRAIN WORKERS’ STRIKE scheduled for Friday, and we would have to make other arrangements.

With the newfound hick-up to our plans, we took the Metro (subway) back to the Heroismo Station and the hotel to get ready for the Dinner Show this evening.

Tonight’s Dinner Show is at Taberna Real do Fado.