Day One Hundred Sixty-One June 15

As we arrive this morning, the dredging ship Spartacus is in the harbour. I assume she is here to increase the harbour's depth.

There is a chance of thundershowers today with temperatures hovering around 30C as we make our way to the Cordoaria Garden near Porto's Courts building.

Located along the Douro River estuary, Porto is one of the oldest European centers and UNESCO proclaimed its core a World Heritage Site in 1996. This is something we wanted to see while in Porto.

One of the main exporters for Portugal is port wine which is named after the city.

Last evening Janice acquired online tickets to the Livraria Lello bookstore said to be the most beautiful in the world. The bookstore was officially opened in 1906 and designed in Neo-Gothic and Art Nouveau style. Long lines of visitors without tickets can be seen queueing outside waiting their chance to enter the bookstore. It is just recently that the bookstore started to charge a nominal entrance fee but is deducted if you buy a book.

What you first see when you enter the bookstore is its grand curving staircase, floor to ceiling bookshelves and a stained-glass skylight.

Most of the books are in Portuguese but small sections for other languages can also be found.

Not wanting a lunch just yet it was off for a coffee and hot chocolate as well as the Portuguese custard tarts. The waiter suggested we also look at the Campanha Railway Station with its large murals on the walls.

We were told by the local information center to walk down to the Douro River. Here we see boat tours, restaurants and even a cable car over the river.

We are now back in the city center and Janice still wants to find eye glass frames (no luck), but we do pass the Majestic Café where waiters are in tuxedos and the meals are pricey. It was just nice to look inside.

After collecting enough custard tarts for our cabin stewards and butler we make our way to the shuttle bus but not before a loud thunder clamp erupts overhead. Luckily, we are in a store buying some wine and do not get too wet.

Returning to the ship for Trivia I find our team is down to two members as three of the remaining members on our team have Covid. Like I say it is still out there. With the other healthy member, we join another team and come in first.

For the record, I am the only member of my team who has not had Covid.

Departure time 18:00 for our last Spanish destination of La Coruna 201 nautical miles away

The pilot left our ship almost as quickly as he arrived as the distance to leave the harbour is quite short.

Ominous clouds with sounds of thunder and lightning strikes might mean lots of motion on the ocean tonight.