Porto - Baixa

The train journey from Faro to Porto was long but pleasant. As we approached Porto, we passed miles and miles of beaches and attractive little towns. It looked like a interesting area to explore, but the weather was still stormy.

We arrived at the main train station and, after no more than the usual amount of confusion, took the local train one stop to the São Bento Station which is known for being one of the most beautiful train stations in the world. The walls of the station are covered with azulejo tile murals which depict Portuguese life and historical scenes.

We stepped outside the station. The buildings were entrancing.

To get to the hotel, we had to navigate through a maze of streets blocked for construction. The trek was challenging and annoying because the crowds were dense, the traffic was intimidating, and there didn't seem to be any actual road construction happening. I was feeling a bit stressed when we entered the lobby, and things were about to get worse. I book the hotel rooms for our trips myself so I have to deal with various payment policies. Usually the hotel charges us when the reservation is made or a week or two before the check-in date, but this hotel wanted to collect payment at check-in. Much to my horror, both of our credit cards were rejected. This was the first foreign trip we've had problems with our credit cards although we were well below our credit limit and the companies that issued our cards told us there was no need to contact them when we travel abroad. Fortunately, our bank debit card came through for us again.

Crisis averted, we headed out to find something to eat, and we settled on this busy cafe.

Walt ordered Porto's signature sandwich, the francesinha - ham, sausage, cheese and beef between 2 thick slices of white bread topped with more melted cheese, a fried egg, and a tomato and beer sauce. He was not overly impressed.

I enjoyed the salmon and risotto.

This was the view from our hotel window when we woke up the next morning.

The Bolhão Market was a short walk from our hotel.

Although the market's customers these days are more likely to be tourists than local residents, I really enjoyed wandering through the stalls. You can actually purchase a glass of wine to enjoy as you wander about, and some of the stands sell bite sized snacks to enjoy with your drink.

The streets around the market are also lined with shops and restaurants.

In addition to the beautiful train station, Porto boasts that it has the most beautiful McDonald's and the most beautiful bookshop in the world. The McDonald's is located in what was once the iconic Imperial Cafe. We happened to pass it, so I ducked inside to take a picture. We didn't come upon the bookstore during our walks around the city, but I've read that there is always a long line to get in and you have to pay to enter the store. If you buy a book, however, your admission fee is refunded.

We were finding that we were not overly fond of Portuguese food so in Porto we ate several meals in the Italian restaurant located in the hotel lobby.

On our last night in Porto, we made the mistake of eating in what looked like a charming bistro just across the street. I was excited to see piri piri chicken on the menu - something different to try - but there was none available that day. Walt, on the other hand, had what he describes as the worst hamburger he ever ate.

Here are some more pictures taken around the hotel.

I always felt like there were way too many tourists in Porto even through the tourist season was just beginning. Marcello, our guide on the Douro River wine cruise, said that life in Porto changed drastically when Ryanair started offering cheap flights to Porto from various locations in Europe. The city economy may depend on tourism, but I think I would have enjoyed Porto more before Ryanair started those flights.