A Lyonnais in Porto...
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...
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...