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Background: Following its heyday as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal lost much of its wealth and status with the destruction of Lisbon in a 1755 earthquake, occupation during the Napoleonic Wars, and the independence in 1822 of Brazil as a colony. A 1910 revolution deposed the monarchy; for most of the next six decades, repressive governments ran the country. In 1974, a left-wing military coup installed broad democratic reforms. The following year, Portugal granted independence to all of its African colonies. Portugal is a founding member of NATO and entered the EC (now the EU) in 1986.

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By Porto Bristol Associacao
October 31st 2009

Visita à Rota dos Frescos no Alentejo Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto

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Visita à Rota dos Frescos no Alentejo

Visita à Rota dos Frescos no Alentejo : 16 de Outubro 2009 “A Associação Porto-Bristol, depois dos êxitos que obteve nas anteriores visitas que este ano promoveu, continua na rota certa pois que a recentemente efectuada novamente nos revelou o talento organizativo da Anabela e do Peter. A partida, marcada para as 7.00 horas de 16 de Outubro passado, obrigou todos os participantes a uma madrugada. Quando o despertador tocou tive vontade de mandar o passeio às malvas. Chegados noite cerrada ao local de partida, como o mini-bus ainda lá não se en [View Full Entry]

By Porto Bristol Associacao
October 23rd 2009

O Porto em Bristol: cidade inglesa homenageia a Invicta através da atribuição de topónimo Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto

A Cidade de Bristol tem, desde o passado dia 21 de Outubro 2009, um novo cais na sua frente ribeirinha com o nome da cidade Invicta. A atribuição do topónimo Porto Quay (Cais do Porto) é uma homenagem de Bristol à cidade do Porto no ano em que se assinalam os 25 anos de amizade entre as duas cidades, geminadas desde 1984. A inauguração foi presidida pelo Embaixador de Portugal em Londres, António Santana Carlos, e pelo Lord Mayor de Bristol, Councillor Christopher Davies. O Presidente da Câmara Municipal do Porto, impossibilitado de se deslocar a Bristol, enviou uma mensagem [View Full Entry]

By buddymedbery
October 2nd 2009

THursday, October 1, 2009 - Lisboa to Porto Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto

Tree of the visions at Fatima

Leaving behind Lisboa and the broad Tagus River (the same one flowing in smaller form through Toledo) we headed northward. North of Lisboa are rolling hills and small mountains, often forested with pines of various sorts and the overtaking eucalyptus. As is thus far always the case in Spain and Portugal, you are never far from olives trees and vineyards. Our first stop was in Fatima, site of the famous religious shrine (which interestingly was named originally after one of the daughters of Mohammed). On May 13, 1917 three shepherd girls told of seeing a vision of Mary in an oak [View Full Entry]

By Brenners
September 25th 2009

Beautiful Porto Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto

Porto on the Douro River

I've been in Porto for two days now and it's the most wonderful place. The buildings are old and somewhat run down, but it also makes the city ridiculously charming. The entire city is all hills - I am going to have the best calves after climbing up and down the streets the last couple of days! - with the lowest point being the Douro River. Similar to Edinburgh, the most recognizable buildings - the citadel and the castle - are visible from almost any point in the city, so it's relatively easy to orient yourself. The weather has been absolutely [View Full Entry]

By Korora 4 on Tour
September 14th 2009

Batalha - Alcobaca - Obidos Europe » Portugal » Northern

Bus trip to town

Batalha, Alcobaca and Obidos. We had to catch the bus to the towns of Batalha and then catch a bus back from there to Alcobaca and of course back to Nazare. The Stellermans are brilliant travellers and Haike is very resourceful as far as her research is concerned so all we had to do was basically sit back, relax and be guided as to when and where to be, too easy!!. We caught the bus from the marina into Nazare town, headed to the local markets which open every day from early in the morning to about 1.00pm and where you [View Full Entry]

By Korora 4 on Tour
September 13th 2009

Pavoa - Aveiro - Figueria da Foz - Nazara Europe » Portugal » Northern

Pavoa to Aveiro

Pavoa de Vazim - Aveiro - Figueiro da Foz - Nazare This blog takes in about 150 miles of the Portuguese Atlantic Coast, incorporating the departure from Pavoa de Vazim heading for Aveiro, Figueiro da Foz and Nazare, all of which we sailed in company with A Small Nest. The reason we did this part of the coast this way was primarily due to the spring tides and the times they are occurring at the moment. Our pilotage books indicated we needed to be able to enter Figueiro da Foz at or just before high tide and to go from Pavoa [View Full Entry]

By Korora 4 on Tour
September 2nd 2009

Day trip to Porto Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto

Porto

Day trip to Porto - Thursday 3 September 2009 Another good feature of staying at Pavoa de Vazim was the metro link from there to Oporto. We walked to the metro station which was about a 15 minute walk and arrived at the station ready to take on the automatic ticket booths. Well they had us nicely confused in about two minutes flat and then we were rescued by a very friendly Portuguese lady who spoke fluent English. Our little saviour had our tickets organised pronto and we enquired as to the source of her command of our native tongue - [View Full Entry]

By Korora 4 on Tour
August 31st 2009

Hola Portugal and Pavoa de Vazim Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto

Leaving Bayona
Just as the fog is starting to roll in

Hola Portugal and Pavoa de Vazim. We left Bayona on the 31st of August with the harbour starting to show signs of a big Atlantic fog rolling in. Sure enough it continued to fill and soon we were heading along very cautiously, eyes paying particular attention to our radar, G.P.S and having Luke and Debs up on the bow keeping a lookout with eyes and ears peeled. We got past Cape Silleiro, the western most point of the Ria de Vigo and after clearing the rocks off the cape we turned south to Portugal. At least our course was easy once [View Full Entry]

By Porto Bristol Associacao
August 22nd 2009

Farewell Dinner held at the Trés Séculos restaurant in Taylor's port wine Lodge Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto

To Conclude a very successful tour to Portugal by the Bristol Oporto Association, celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the signing of the Peace Treaty between these two great Cities, a farewell dinner was held at the Trés Séculos restaurant in Taylor's portwine Lodge. Starting with aperitiffs served on the veranda, overlooking the Ponte Luis 1 bridge and the Douro river, it proved to be a beautiful setting. After a few photographs were taken in the gardens, to help us to remember this special occaision, dinner was served and the portwine flowed! Attended by [View Full Entry]

By SKMantle
August 7th 2009

Sausage and port in Porto Europe » Portugal » Northern » Porto

Roasting our portugese sausage

It was a 3 hour train ride to Porto from Lisbon. We checked in at the hotel and decided to head for town. We walked down the shopping street to the water in search of a late lunch. We found a collection of restaurants in sight of the river, went up to the nearest and got blanked by the waiter. We just keep walking to another one. Totally amazing simple meal. The kitchen was wiped out from lunch so all they could offer was a Portuguese fire sausage, bread, olives and beer. We went for it. The sausage came raw on [View Full Entry]

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