Blogs from Coimbra, Central, Portugal, Europe

Coimbra blog Thankfully Portugal has a pretty impressive train system running north and south between the major cities of Porto and Lisbon. And smack in the middle is Coimbra, also connected by train. From Porto we just jumped on the metro near our hotel and arrived right at the train station. Once we arrived to Coimbra, we learned that we could take another train for a quicker way to town. Of course, thinking we might save time by not waiting for that train to arrive, we decided to walk, with our luggage. We later learned that the train would have dropped us off right next to our hotel AND that the route we walked was not meant for pedestrians. It’s always interesting arriving to a new city and not knowing what kind of distance you are ... read more

The expansive generosity of the Verdade family was expressed once again as we were shuttled down the road to Coimbra. This was particularly appreciated because of rotating strikes on the part of the train service. I suppose they imagined us waiting at the station, with kids, for a train that might never come...depending on the whims of the union. But, good natured lovingkindness won over civic unrest. Coimbra is the home of Portugal's oldest university. It is the part of the country where one begins to notice the strong influence of Moorish culture. When Afonso Henrique threw off the Moorish yoke in 1145, Portugal as a distinct society began its development. But a large part of that identity is Arabic in origin. You can see it in the architecture and the music, in the darker skin ... read more

Coimbra: September 14-15 From Salamanca we caught another bus to Portugal, where we were staying in the Portugese university town of Coimbra. Our accommodation had a terrace on the roof that looked out over Coimbra, affording great views of the houses and university that was built into hillside. The streets were hilly in parts but this is the norm in so many towns that I think I will miss my daily treks up and down the steps. As we arrived late in the day we interrupted our orientation walk to have dinner in a cafeteria style restaurants frequented by the students of the town. The university year had just begun and there weren’t so many students around yet, but those that were wore black capes quite like the students in Hogwarts! The next day we went ... read more