{"id":20471,"date":"2019-08-15T01:10:20","date_gmt":"2019-08-14T15:10:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=20471"},"modified":"2022-04-23T07:58:02","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T21:58:02","slug":"porto-portugal-%f0%9f%87%b5%f0%9f%87%b9-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michaelandpamstravels.com\/?p=20471","title":{"rendered":"Porto, Portugal \ud83c\uddf5\ud83c\uddf9 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date: 12th August 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travelled: 56 kms from Amarante to Porto both in the Province of Douro<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visited: Porto<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stayed: Venda Nova P+R municipal aire, free with services, N41.17511,W08.54140<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Budget: 64 days @ \u20ac80 per day<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were in no hurry to leave Amarante. The Hymer was sitting in the shade and we had a lovely view of the Rio T\u00e2mega. So we hold firm until our second coffee is done, then get the Hymer ready for the road. We set the GPS carefully to ensure we cross the T\u00e2mega over the new bridge rather than the old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climbing out of Amarante we turn west for Porto into the heart of the Douro. This province is famous for it\u2019s port wine and we spend the next hour passing hillsides scattered with vineyards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Porto is Portugal’s second largest city, it straddles the Rio Douro. It\u2019s a sprawling city and parking close to the city is not easy so we opt for the P+R in Venda Nova. Our data-base tells us there is an aire with services there. So we roll into north-east Porto, finding a Lidl on our way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Map of Greater Porto, the icon on our parking spot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Our favourite sign !<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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The aire is adjacent the light rail station at Verda Nova. \u20ac3.80 pp return to the city (San Bento).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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There is a laundromat just up the block, so we get a load of washing done early, then walk over and catch the tram into Porto.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Walking out of San Bento Metro Station, we are a little surprised by how busy it is. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Our strategy is to follow the Lonely Planet\u2019s \u2018walking tour of Porto\u2019, it seem most likely to take us pass most of the main sights. So we follow the guide…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mind you the Coomur Sardine Palace is not in our guide…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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