Part of our “Latergram ” series. This trip took place June 2022.
It’s always easy to get excited and travel to somewhere both of us have never been.
We had known about this trade mission for quite a few months and with a deep desire to move to Europe one day, there was no better time than now to commit and go. So we did.
This trade mission was pretty extensive and magical because we explored the northern, southern and central regions with our tour hosts and tour guide via bus.
I’ll break each day down by the cities and activities to give you an idea of each region and the history and beauty it holds.
ARRIVAL IN PORTO
After a long day of travel and a brief period to rest at the hotel, we gathered with a our group and headed out to do a small walking tour. Here are some pictures from our walk to the Duoro River that overlooks the city and areas below.
Most of these pictures were taken at The Jardins do Palácio de Cristal (Crystal Palace Gardens) in Porto, Portugal. This a 19th-century romantic park featuring roaming peacocks, stunning Douro River viewpoints, and manicured landscaping. Located on Rua de Dom Manuel II, this historic site offers shaded walkways, fountains, and panoramic views of the river and Porto city.
What a beautiful, inspiring way to end a long day of travel.
DAY 1 - EXPLORING PORTO
After a good nights rest we started our day off with a traditional breakfast spread at the hotel and were ready for our first full day of exploring. The weather was moody and we did get rained on some in the morning hours so it wasn’t ideal for picture taking but it did clear up later in the day.
Here are some images from atop the hill near Serra do Pilar Monastery overlooking the Dom Luís I Bridge. Here are some facts:
- Design & History: Designed by Théophile Seyrig, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel, it was once the longest iron arch bridge of its type in the world.
- Structure: It has two levels—the top deck is used by the Metro do Porto and pedestrians, while the lower deck serves vehicle traffic and pedestrians.
- Visitor Experience: Walking the top deck offers iconic views of the Ribeira district and is a popular spot for sunset viewing.
- Location: It links the historic center of Porto to the Port wine lodges in Vila Nova de Gaia
Here are some more pictures from our morning walk about.
The views from up on the hill were amazing. We even toured a property that was being renovated into a luxury apartment space. This was one of their views. Imagine having your morning cup of coffee or watching a storm roll in with this view.
We had an amazing lunch with appetizers down by the Duoro River at UVA by Calem.
Here are a some more pictures, not necessarily in order, but include, a port tasting at CA’LEM, that was right across the street from UVA BY CA’LEM, some street art by a famous local artist Bordalo II, and old church, weathered tiles… I mean everywhere I turned there was so much to see and experience. What a full and amazing day so far.
Last but not least after some rest at the hotel and a typical late dinner, we headed out to to the annual Festa De Sao Joao festival and celebrations. PS, these images are not mine but they clearly demonstrate what a vibrant and packed festival it is. And it only lasts two nights but it’s filled with lights, fireworks, music, rides… It was definitely an experience.
