What a contrast to Barcelona. After a four hour delay waiting in Barcelona we took the light rail into Porto and then a taxi to our hotel Pestana Porto situated right at the bottom of a steep hill on Ribieria alongside the river. The cobblestone pathways wind along the river and there are narrow stairways up between the buildings leading up to the main part of the city. Further down on the river is a funicular to save walking up the hill.
We arrived on a Feast Day of Saint John the Baptist and missed a big party by the sounds of it and the mess all around. They celebrate it also in B but they all go to the beach or gather in family groups.
Porto along the waterfront is very colourful, boats sailing up and down open air cafes, markets and six enormous bridges over the river. On the opposite side to us are many port wine cellars serving tastings and tapas meals. White port is a favourite drink served with tonic water, very nice and also sangria by the litre. Porto is very steep hilly and although they have lots of decorative buildings and churches none are as well maintained as in B. They are made from granite and are very dirty and many only have the facade with the inside in ruins. Still Porto has a real charm. The people are very friendly and helpful and all speak good English.
Our eating out has improved here and all meals have been excellent. Croquettes are a favourite here they are made of potato and cod fish and spices and fried in bread crumbs 100% on the ones we tried in B, as are the potato bravas which are roasted potatoes with a creamy spicy sauce. Portuguese tarts "Patel de nata" are a beautiful creamy custard tart with a sprinkle of cinnamon. Today we went on a free walking tour. Just tip the guide, Eugenia was great so proud of her city. Saw lots of places we might have missed otherwise.
One restaurant right under our hotel room window kept on giving us free drinks, bread and olives and loved us because we are Aussies said they don't get many here. Needn't have ordered thar litre of wine.
Tonight we went to O Paparico restaurant No 1 on trip advisor in Porto. We were a bit worried when the taxi driver told us we had arrived. No sign on the door. We had no idea if we were in the right place or not but after I added a tip he got out and knocked on the door for us to get in. The staff were waiting to greet us by name. The inside decor with stone walls and decorative items displayed and dim lighting and little alcoves gave the appearance of being in a cave. The staff were very attentive maybe too much hovering and pouring wine and water after each sip we had. Starters were already on the table. Olives, cheese, octopus cerviche and a spectacular veal terrine in port wine sauce. For main we had monkfish rice with tiger prawns and black pork, dessert was creme brûlée best ever and a deconstructed lemon tart. Two bottle of Portuguese white wine went well with the meal. My only complaint was they filled up Christine's glass more often than mine.