If travel is a game then each country has a difficulty level. The US, UK and Ireland would be level one. Most of western Europe would be level 1.5 (lots of English speakers), Southern Europe would fall around 2.0. It was time for me to take this trip up a level and head off to the continent. I was not only increasing my travel level, but also the temperature. I was headed to Porto Portugal.
Rory and Michele were kind enough to not only wake up to see me off, but also to give me a lift to the airport. I am so greatfull for their hospitality and kindness, they have just been incredible to me. It was sad to say good bye, but this wouldn't be travel if I just stayed in the same place the whole time. It was time to move on.
My flight was pretty good, I slept through most of it. There were some uncontrolled kids running around though. One of them ran into my seat. Thank goodness the fasten seatbelt sign was on most of the time. Portugal is known for being one of the cheaper euro countries to be in. It only cost $2.25 for me to take the train to my hostel. The directions for getting there weren't that good. I asked several people. One guy told me to follow him. I moaned inside, this rarely goes well. I turned out that he lead me to a nearby hotel. I gave asking around another shot (I couldn't find street signs anywhere), this woman spoke English and told me that I was on the right street, just a few blocks past where I wanted to be.
After checking in I decided to just wander with no real destination in mind. Porto was made for wandering as long as you didn´t mind the hills. Eventually it began to rain. How, I don´t know, I told it not to. I popped into the first snack bar I passed to stay dry, I was ready for lunch anyway. The waiter at the snack bar spoke no English and I don´t speak any Portuguese. However we both spoke limited Spanish and he was able to ask me if I wanted the beef or chicken meal. I went for the beef with a salad. It was good. This also shows that when people want to be patient with those who don´t speak their language you can usually pretty much figure out what you are getting.
By the time I had finished eat the rain had passed and I set out to explore some more. I stumbled on the train station that I would need to use to get to Braga in a day or two. I also found the tourist center and booked a boat tour as well as a port cellar tour and tasting.
The port tasting sounded like the most fun and I headed to Croft cellars first. The tour was not very informative. What I did find out was that in really good years feet are used to crush the grapes. I was really hoping that the port I was going to try would not have a slight hint of toejam. At one point the guide led us through rows of barrels then then told us that we had seen both kinds, big and small. I sort of felt like the guide didn´t really speak English, but had instead memorized a script. This was disproved at the end when she asked if anyone had any questions or critiques. No one said anything. She then turned to a very tall guy and said 'what about you, this is your third tour, is it me or the free port?'. I guess she just wasn´t that great of a tour guide but that her English was pretty good. I tried three different kinds of Croft port, the reserve, a dry white one and a pretty pink one. I preferred the pink on myself.
The area that the wine cellars are located in is quite hilly and very old Portugal. I spent some time wandering the small streets. Some were so small that cars wouldn´t fit. The people in the area nodded and smiled at me. I smiled back. It was really quite nice.
When I got back to the hostel I ran into two American girls who I recognized from the port tour. They had met a group of 5 Italian guys and invited me to join them for dinner. I had already eaten (made myself pasta), but I decided to join them for dessert. We did hit up an Irish pub after dinner but I was very tired from the early flight and walking all day so I headed back before everyone else.
I might have been too tired to continue, but I was already in love with Porto.
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