Beautiful Oporto

8-9th August

I arrive in Leixoes which is about as close to Oporto as you can get these days, I understand that if you try to sail up the Duoro you are quickly sent packing by the commercial traffic so here I moor in an interesting and very active harbour with a big fishing fleet and a serious container dock, for me it’s always more interesting when you watch big shops coming and going.
I catch the EU funded spanking new Metro system into Oporto which I find has changed little since I was last here 7 years ago with Debbie, our first holiday together and some very happy memories. Oporto is a wonderful city where very rich and very poor areas rub shoulders; the city is draped over a hill on the north bank and over the river in Vila Nova de Gaia lie the port warehouses with familiar names like Sandeman, Offleys, Taylors and Crofts. I visited the gothic cathedral and then walked down to the Palacio da Bolso, which is the old stock exchange, which has ornate rooms designed to denote great wealth, very opulent especially the Arabian room inspired by the Alhambra in Granada then over to the railway station which is decorated with scenes depicted in blue and white tiles, very grand. Finally I crossed the bridge designed by Gustav Eiffel of “Eiffel”tower fame and off for a tour of the “Offley’s” warehouse which included a taste of a beautiful white port as well as a tawny and a reserve before off for a lovely lunch overlooking the harbour……..happy days!