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I have to apologize....it is just the start of the summer, and I'm already solidly late on my travel blogging! Good news, if I'm late, it's because I'm slightly busy having a lot of fun, and discovering, or re-discovering places I always had on my list!
But first, here I am in Porto after few days in Luxembourg. Cheap flight on Easyjet direct from Luxembourg to Porto. I arrived a little late, but in Portugal, it's not really an issue! I took the midnight tram to the city center...and even at midnight, the tram was packed!
Porto is only a short stop for me. My next stop is...for once I'll say it, Madrid. I looked for the cheapest option between Luxembourg and Madrid. Porto came in a a bonus with a combination of Easyjet and TAP.
I had only a full day in Porto, for my third visit to Portugal. Years ago, I had not been impressed by the Algarve. Less than two years ago, I spent few days around Lisbon and Evora, and I loved it. So for Porto, I had expectations. The city is amazing, and would required a lot
of efforts from my good legs! Sadly, Portugal is playing the quater-finals of the Euro 2016 the day after I leave. So for the big party, they'll have to do it without me.
I spent most of my morning around the Old City of Porto. Beautiful place. I spent my lunch time walking even more around the banks of the Douro. The sun was out, what a gorgeous day! So in Porto, what do you do of your afternoon, to hide from the sun...you go...Porto tasting! I have to admit, I drink port wine from time to time, but I'm not at all a specialist! I had booked few days ago a 3pm tour at Sandeman. They were asking 6 euros for a basic tasting only including a basic white and a red port. They had also 16 euros tastings called 1790. This one would involved 5 glasses of port, with two of them being more than decent! Impressive enough, I would find later, that both visits, are actually exactly the same, the only difference, is the tasting!
But it was just before 2pm, and I had 70 minutes to kill before my visit
of Sandeman. So I walked into Ramos Pinto, another Port House, better known on the Brazilian market. Time to book a basic visit at 6 euros. Here, it's all the same, it will give you a 40 minutes visit as well as...a basic white and red Porto.
My first guide at Ramos Pinto was a very enthusiast one. I must admit he seemed pretty knowledgeable. The visit was supposed to be 40 minutes, it took 55 thanks to 2 or 3 interested visitors. If I'm here, it is to learn something! My second visit at Sandeman was an experience. I was alone...so I had all the time to ask any question I wanted. Sadly, my guide admited after 5 minutes that she was a linguist, not really a port wine expert! Sad, welcome to the tourism world!
So I found out a lot about port wine. I actually also tried my first white ports. Interesting! One point that you may find interesting. The wine is actually coming from the Douro Valley....but it is grown 100 km away from Porto. It is stocked and aged here because during the summer, the Douro is to hot
to keep it there. So it is actually produced the first few months along the Douro closer to Spain than Porto...and after this, spend years in casks in Porto. I also learn about the difference between a Ruby and a Tawny Red Porto. There is also the fact that the fermentation of the wine port is shorter than a normal wine, as it is stopped by adding some brandy to the process. This brandy can come from France, or from Portugal. So not all Porto are actually 100% made in Portugal! Well, that's what I found out after two visits.
I walked a lot, and finished my day by crossing again the Douro, this time on top of the Ponte Luis I. Yes, you go up and down a lot in Porto.
For my second night, I had a gorgeous room on top of the Sheraton Porto. The hotel is in a residential area surrounded by other nice hotels and shops, but nothing really much else to get me out of the hotel. So as you can guess, I had another glass of Porto, and an early night.
As of today,
I'm only something like 3 blogs late...and till, the schedule for the coming days is packed. So let's be indulgent on my writing as I don't want to write those blogs weeks late after having the fun!
Happy and sunny summer to all of you...where, this is what the weather is actually today outside of our room, with a special view!
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Cheers
Drink up.