Day 1 Arrival & discovery

Monday March 18

I take an early train to he Airport, where Mieke has arrived the night before and stayed at the  Sheraton.

Kate arrives on SN 2002/OS351 at 08:55 and we board together 10h  SN flight 3811 arriving  Porto around 11u30

Unfortunately Kate's luggage has missed the transfer.


So we arrive with some delay at our hotel on the
Plaça da Batalha

Praça da Batalha 60

Hotel NH Collection Porto Batalha was previously the Post Office, which was clearly shown inside

Igreja de S. Ildefonso

The Rua de Santa Catarina  is Porto’s main shopping centre. 

 Late lunch at the famous 

Café Majestic

We walk the Rua de Sta Catarina  to the Mercado d Bolhoa (in restoration)  and from there to  

Sao Bento train station.

The magnificent "azulejos" in the 

Estação de Sao Bento 

Avenida dos Aliados e Praça da Libertade

Statue of King Pedro V 

The Ponte Dom Luiz I (with two levels) crosses the Douro to Cais de Gaia

We cross over the upper part, where the metro passes.   Cars have the use the lower level.

Mosteiro e Igreja da Serra do Pilar

We descend the steps down to the river

Our first "vinho verde"

Dinner at Escondidinho  (Antonio Joaquin Silva)  Rua de Passos Manuel