Thursday 6th Oct: Porto visit

Big day out in Porto. Morning bus (no. 507 if ever you need to know) for 40 min drive to Porto central. Great city, bustling with tourists, but very friendly and easy to walk around. Pretty hilly in places with loads of dodgy back alleyways and mazes of laneways. Quite run down in places, but very quaint and chracterful. Port and sherry and trinket shops everywhere. Nice buildings and balconies. The old city is on the banks of the Duoro river gorge and a stroll along both banks is a must. There are several high bridges across the Duoro gorge and all are worth taking a look at. We signed on for ‘The 6 Bridges Cruise’ which was a worthwhile excursion. 2 of the older iron bridges are spectacular and were also Eiffel designed or inspired. The cruise also gives free entry to a tour of the Croft’s/Taylor’s Port/Sherry Distilliery. The walk across the Duoro on the top level of the main steel bridge is spectacular. The top deck carries a fast tramway and 2 footpaths. There are no high safety fences and nothing to stop anyone ending their days by either the ground to air method (300 ft freefall) or ground to ground method (tram squash). A more refreshing approach to ‘Elf n Safety’.

A good supper of sardines and salad and a carafe of local vinho branco in one of the bankside cafes and we were away back on our No 507.to Leixoes port.