There was so much about Porto to like. The waterfront area known as 'Ribeira' is the obvious highlight with its many restaurants set on the side of the Douro river creating a fantastic buzz and atmosphere. This part of the city was also the setting for many of the pictures I took as the Ponte Luis Bridge always provided a stunning backdrop day or night and whatever the weather conditions were. I was lucky enough to be staying in this area and had the pleasure of stepping out of the hotel into this wonderful place. Below is just a small selection of some of the great photos I took from this area.
As much as I loved Ribeira the same was equally true for the other side of the river which is where all the great manufacturers of Port wine are based. It's a great sight to see all the signs of the different brands all together and giving an insight into how this historic industry grew from fascinating roots. We visited the Calem wine cellar which was a great experience and one which made it clear how the process worked and the origins of the ingredients. It was impossible not to marvel at the size of the huge barrels full of maturing Port and the smell hits you as soon as you walk in the building.
There is so much to see in the historic centre of Porto and it's hard to remember a place with such an absence of flat streets! There is always a hill around the corner and in most cases it leads you to one of many churches or as was the case on our first morning the cathedral which enjoys an enviable view over the city and the river. It was great to wander around here, taking in the views and seeing the many colours of the small houses on the undulating streets.
The Ponte Luis bridge is the undeniable landmark of the city and not far from the cathedral you can walk across the top of it and the view back towards Ribeira is fantastic and notable for how small it suddenly looks!
What I think will stand in my mind most about Porto was the final full day we spent here. The previous days, whilst often sunny, had been quite breezy but this was no longer the case as it suddenly became gloriously warm. It was great to spend some time just sitting by the Douro watching the boats go by but was particularly overwhelming was how the place came alive as though a switch had been flicked. Suddenly there were twice as many people as before out enjoying the sun and surroundings and it's safe to say we were very sad to leave at this time!
