415.377.0544 | San Francisco, CA Contact Cal

Day 19 of 35: Porto

Our rental apartment in Porto was right on the Duoro River, which gave us the pleasure of a lot of people-watching & beautiful views without having to wander. It also had a combination washer / dryer, so we took advantage of that to wash clothes. It left them wrinkled but clean (more on this later).

We explored the Ribeira neighborhood which is part of the old Town along the river. Many of the homes have an exterior of decorative ceramic tiles; this is one of the hallmarks of Porto.We also wandered up the Rua das Flores and explored the São Bento train station, which is renowned for the tile work in the main entry.

Porto São Bento train station
St. Anthony church, near the train station
Tile work inside the São Bento train station
Tile work inside the São Bento train station
Tile work inside the São Bento train station
Tile work inside the São Bento train station

Another landmark (belive it or not) is ‘The Imperial McDonald’s’. It is truly unique

Entry, the Imperial McDonald’s
Inside the Imperial McDonald’
One of the six bridges across the Duoro River
One of the of the many buildings lining the water front

There’s a pedestrian walkway along the Duoro River (the Caus de Ribeira) that’s lined with cafes, residences, & performers. It goes from the Atlantic Ocean for several kilometers through the town. We heard many talented singers as we strolled.

There are sadly many buildings in disrepair, some that appear ancient & others simply neglected. But the overall impression is of a city bustling with life & joy, especially in the evenings.