Travel journals · Portugal

Tuesday, September 12 We had to get up early that day to leave our house at 3:30 AM, as our flight from Lyon Saint-Exupéry was scheduled for 6:35 AM. In the end, our Transavia flight took off with a delay.



I’d found a round-trip flight from Lyon to Porto on the Transavia website for 58 € per person, including only a carry-on bag.



Before landing at Porto Airport, we flew over the Douro River and the famous bridge between Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia.



The Douro flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

From the airport, we took the metro, which starts above ground before diving into Porto’s underground.



Once we’d dropped off our bags at the hotel, we set off to explore Porto.







You can’t go to Portugal without riding a tram—it’s a must! So we took an old tram (Line 1) to the beach.







The Guindais Funicular connects Praça da Batalha, high up in the city, to Ribeira in the historic center near the quays.



We didn’t take it—going down the stairs was fine. A one-way ticket costs 2.5 €.





The Dom Luís I Bridge is one of the city’s icons. Built between 1881 and 1886 by engineer Théophile Seyrig, a disciple of Gustave Eiffel,





The historic Ribeira district, once run-down, is undergoing an urban revival. Porto is gradually regaining its former splendor.



Old mansions with crests are being restored, splendid façades adorned with azulejos, Baroque-style churches, yellow trams, ancient shops, trendy restaurants, hip bars, boutiques, and design hotels!

Made it safely to Portugal, can’t wait to start sightseeing and sketching—enjoying the milder weather compared to my next stop, Scotland. :) If it rains, I’ll share my great tips for sketching indoors! 😊

Sunday, April 21 Everything starts with a slightly delayed boarding (due to a broken seat requiring immediate repair). Then comes takeoff—everything goes smoothly.

1:35 PM, finally in Porto with beautiful sunshine.

The journey from the airport to the youth hostel is really cheap compared to the Rhône Express (2.60 € vs. 21.40 € round trip...). I settle into my room, which is only with girls—really friendly ones (plus a private bathroom and a small balcony).

I decide to check out a restaurant for that same evening (a 2-minute walk away) for 12.90 €, specializing in Portuguese tripe.

The night is pretty restless because I’m not used to the time difference.

Monday

I had planned to do World of Discovery but ended up skipping it. Since the youth hostel is near Trindade metro station, I walk down to Ribeira (same for the six bridges cruise—given the price, it wasn’t worth it...). I also pass by Aliados. São Bento train station is magnificent. (I’ll post the photos a bit later...)

After wandering around, I find a pretty cheap restaurant (6 €) (A Poco), but I’m still a bit hungry. I grab some churros (the vendor spoke French), and I got attacked by seagulls—it was pretty funny, though. Then I decide to walk up slowly to Graham’s cellars—it’s doable on foot.

A tour in French with a simple tasting (17 €).

The return trip is by bus (2 €). I finally get back to the youth hostel and want to try a second restaurant that isn’t listed in the *Guide du Routard* (the place is called Sai Cao). Well, I’m not disappointed at all! The waiter, who spoke English, advised me to get soup, and the owner recommended the meat. It was excellent, and the value for money was incredible (9 € total...).

Back to the youth hostel.

Tuesday—terrible weather (rain, changing conditions...).

I decide to head to the ocean anyway, but given the uncertain weather, I prefer to come back to the city. The Sé Cathedral (3 €) is magnificent and really cheap.

Then I had booked on Booking.com for the bookstore (better to buy the ticket yourself)—not disappointed either.

I finally decide to visit the Clérigos Tower—I go all the way to the top, but bad luck, it starts raining (seriously, not my day...). I walk back and take a good break.

In the evening, last restaurant at the same place as Monday, and honestly, the owner gives me a special price for my last night (5 €—yes, really...).

There was so much more to do, but with only 2 days (1 with rain...), I couldn’t do everything.

Even the language barrier wasn’t an issue. The Portuguese are incredibly kind.

PS: Photos will come later.

Flight anecdote on the way there: I thought my eardrums were going to burst...

It’s Wednesday, 9:47 AM—I won’t be long before heading to the metro for the airport...

Back from a week in the Algarve.

The goal was to get some fresh air, walk at a relaxed pace (80 km in 6 days), and visit friends.

Transavia flight: No issues YorCar rental: No issues (and cheap) B&B 1: Quinta do Mocho Turismo Rural in Estoy: Good, even if a bit remote B&B 2: Casa Luma B&B in Lagos: Disappointed (and really disappointed with room #3)

Day 1: Flight, rental car, stop at São Lourenço in Almancil, and visit to Loulé Day 2: Olhão, walk at Praia do Barril, Tavira, and evening in Faro’s old town (park at São Francisco parking lot) Day 3: Walk on the boardwalks at Quinto do Ludo, Falesia beaches, Carvoeiro Day 4: The boardwalks in Alvor, Praia da Rocha in Portimão, Ferragudo, and the boardwalks around Algar Seco Day 5: Ponta da Piedade in Lagos, walk to Praia de Luz from Praia Camilho Day 6: Burgau, Cape Sagres, Cape St. Vincent, Carrapateira, and Praia da Bordeira Day 7: "Sete Vales Suspensos" hike from Marinha Beach

Our highlights: - The Vincentine Coast (Carrapateira), much nicer than the concrete of the southern coast - The fish restaurants and Cataplana (A Barrigada in Lagos, Ribeira do Poço in Vila do Bispo...) - The boardwalks everywhere (Quinto do Ludo, Alvor, Algar Seco...) - The sun on the cliffs and Falesia Beach (it’s the local Bryce Canyon) - Chatting with the fishermen perched on the cliffs of Carrapateira - The weather (we were lucky for early March)

Our disappointments: - The towns and villages (Tavira and Lagos stand out) - The traffic off the highway - The English, the English, and more English everywhere