One of the wonderful things about living in Europe is... living in Europe. It's easy to get lost in the day-to-day of life wherever you live (even in a place as beautiful as Luxembourg). But Europe is, well, Europe after all, filled with hidden spots of romantic and enchanting beauty that pop up every time you turn the corner. Ancient buildings, breathtaking vistas, alluring storefronts, churches both simple and ornate, colorful flowers and elegant gardens, lively markets, friendly cafés, and the food -- always the food... All set against an ever-changing backdrop of new faces and different languages.
As our boys have gotten older (twin 5-year olds now, and yes, our sanity is mostly still intact), my husband and I try to make it a practice to regularly put on our traveling shoes and get out of Luxembourg to explore the world, which is how we landed in Porto last weekend. Set on a hillside above the River Douro as it winds to the sea, the city of Porto is a visual feast for the senses.
For five days, up and down the narrow cobblestone streets, we crisscrossed the city in the winter sun and February drizzle, losing a bit more of our hearts to this beautiful old city with each twisting turn. The church bells woke us each morning, ringing from the adjoining 17th c Carmelitas Church and 18th c Igreja do Carmo churches down the block, the latter's exterior walls covered with sweeping blue and white tiled religious scenes. The boys soon discovered that a friendly green maccaw resided in the convent entryway, crowing a loud Hola! each time we passed by.
We started our days at the café below our apartment with fresh-squeezed orange juice, strong coffee and soft Portuguese croissants, slightly sweeter and more yeasty than their flaky French counterparts. Lunch found us going local as well, feasting on tasty bacalhau (salt cod) and codfish fritters, followed by a late afternoon stop for hot chocolate for the young ones and cafe con leche (or a glass of tawny port) for the adults at one of the many cafés that crowd the sidewalks across the city. And everywhere, we were welcomed by smiling, friendly faces who seemed thrilled to find us exploring their town.
Porto is definitely worth a look, whether in person or from your favorite armchair. If you have a few minutes, please join me now and lose yourself in the charm of this beautiful place. Find out just why the European Consumers Choice named Porto "Best Travel Destination of 2014". Come along and discover why you too may fall in love with Porto...
The old town...
The tile-fronted houses...
The charming old streets...
The visually arresting facades of its blue and white churches...
The bustling sidewalk cafés....
The scenic River Douro, winding its way to the Atlantic...
The delicious food (fresh, hearty and homey)...
(And Pimms restaurant, our personal favorite)...
The cool vintage trams still traversing the city...
The landmark Lello bookstore (hangout of JK Rowling during her Porto years)...
The port tasting rooms and vineyards...
The colorful beach scene at river's end...
If you're interested in seeing or learning more about Porto, here are a few good resources. Enjoy!
Lonely Planet: Perfect Porto
Trip Advisor: 152 Things to Do in Porto
The New York Times: 36 Hours in Porto
The Telegraph: Porto, the Perfect Break
Short-stay Apartments in Porto
The New York Times: Where to Eat in Porto
Condé Nast: Guide to Eating Out in Porto
Porto Food Tours
How Port Wine is Made
Portuguese Tiles
Portuguese Recipes
Travel in Portugal
Photo credits and appreciative thanks to: BBC, the Telegraph, Julie Dawn Fox, Trip Advisor, Neirfy's Images, M1Key photography and the many other unknown photographers who took these beautiful photos.
As our boys have gotten older (twin 5-year olds now, and yes, our sanity is mostly still intact), my husband and I try to make it a practice to regularly put on our traveling shoes and get out of Luxembourg to explore the world, which is how we landed in Porto last weekend. Set on a hillside above the River Douro as it winds to the sea, the city of Porto is a visual feast for the senses.
For five days, up and down the narrow cobblestone streets, we crisscrossed the city in the winter sun and February drizzle, losing a bit more of our hearts to this beautiful old city with each twisting turn. The church bells woke us each morning, ringing from the adjoining 17th c Carmelitas Church and 18th c Igreja do Carmo churches down the block, the latter's exterior walls covered with sweeping blue and white tiled religious scenes. The boys soon discovered that a friendly green maccaw resided in the convent entryway, crowing a loud Hola! each time we passed by.
The old town...
The tile-fronted houses...
 |
 |
 |
The charming old streets...
 |
 |
 |
The visually arresting facades of its blue and white churches...
 |
 |
The bustling sidewalk cafés....
 |
|
 |
The scenic River Douro, winding its way to the Atlantic...
 |
 |
The delicious food (fresh, hearty and homey)...
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
(And Pimms restaurant, our personal favorite)...
 |
 |
The cool vintage trams still traversing the city...
 |
|
|
The landmark Lello bookstore (hangout of JK Rowling during her Porto years)...
 |
 |
 |
The port tasting rooms and vineyards...
 |
 |
The colorful beach scene at river's end...
If you're interested in seeing or learning more about Porto, here are a few good resources. Enjoy!
Lonely Planet: Perfect Porto
Trip Advisor: 152 Things to Do in Porto
The New York Times: 36 Hours in Porto
The Telegraph: Porto, the Perfect Break
Short-stay Apartments in Porto
The New York Times: Where to Eat in Porto
Condé Nast: Guide to Eating Out in Porto
Porto Food Tours
How Port Wine is Made
Portuguese Tiles
Portuguese Recipes
Travel in Portugal
Photo credits and appreciative thanks to: BBC, the Telegraph, Julie Dawn Fox, Trip Advisor, Neirfy's Images, M1Key photography and the many other unknown photographers who took these beautiful photos.
