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Published: September 7th 2023
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This morning we walked down to the tram terminus out the front of the Igreja de São Francisco. The church is just around the corner from Pálacio da Bolsa so this was our third time in this area of the city! We arrived just as a tram headed off but, fortunately, didn’t have to wait very long for the next tram. We had assumed that our Porto Transport Cards would cover the trams as it did in Lisbon but, no, we had to pay to ride out to the Foz do Douro District.
The tram ride along the river was very tame compared to the rides that we did in Lisbon. There is another line here in Porto and we think it might be a bit hillier but Tram No. 1, along the river to Foz is quite flat so no hair-raising hills or wild corners!
At the other end of the line, we alighted at the Jardim do Passeio Alegre. We were not the only tourists riding the tram to the mouth of the Rio Douro, but it was certainly much less busy than the city sights. We walked along the esplanade to the Farol Senhora da Luz
lighthouse mesmerized by the surge of the Atlantic waves crashing in. We spent far too much time trying to take the perfect photo with a wave splashing up onto the sea wall.
We walked back though the gardens and caught the tram back to the city. Our next stop was at the Mercado do Bolhão to find some lunch. So much food, so much to choose from! After thoroughly exploring what was on offer, we opted for some tapas-style small bites. The the challenge was to try to find somewhere to perch while we ate. We found a spot where we could stand and started enjoying our tasty morsels.
As luck would have it the couple beside us were planning to head off as soon as the wife had used the facilities. Her husband assured me that I could take her seat, they would be leaving as soon as she returned. I asked about their plans for the afternoon and ended up learning that they are yet another couple planning to walk the Portuguese section of the Camino de Santiago.
On our way back to the apartment Bernie stopped in at the barber down the street to
enquire about having his head and beard tidied up. Sure, take a seat. I left Bernie to it as I had a cake from the market that was just begging to be enjoyed with a cup of tea! After my cake I walked back down to the barber to find Bernie’s grooming just finishing up. I do a reasonable job of assisting Bernie with his grooming, but there is no doubt that a barber takes it next level. Bernie certainly doesn’t let me loose with a cut-throat razor, but he’s happy for a professional to trim his beard with that degree of precision!
We spent a lazy afternoon in the apartment before returning to Bulha for an early dinner. It was still before 6.00pm so we shared a couple of entrees between us before collecting our cameras from the apartment and heading to Aliados Metro Station to take the tram (this one’s more like Melbourne’s light rail) back across the river for the planned sunset/evening photography. There are certainly lots of tourists that flock to the other side of the Rio Douro to enjoy sunset. It must be a nightmare for the tram drivers negotiating the Ponte de Dom
Luis I because there are so many tourists walking all over it and not just on the footpaths either side.
Once the sun had set the crowds thinned out considerably, but we stayed on so that Bernie could take photos as the sky turned to indigo and the bridge and city lights came on. It was a lovely evening to be out by the river taking photos.
By the time we returned to the other side of the river it was easy to catch the tram. Mindful that it might not be so easy to find good gelato in England we found ourselves ice-creams at yet another gelateria. This was the best one we’ve found in Porto – more Italian in style – so a shame that we are leaving tomorrow!
Steps: 19,733 (13.04 kms)
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