Albufeira—September 27th-October 6, 2017

If you've regularly checked our blog, you know we've walked and gawked and photographically chronicled our time throughout Portugal. For the next eight days, we are mostly on hiatus from blogging in a warm weather resort where our eyeballs will be closed or fixed on a good book while relaxing poolside or in our apartment.

Our usual breakfast.

Haven't quite figured out selfies. Note pool rules in background.
Really? There are rules on holiday? 

Biggest decisions the next eight days will be choosing sun
or shade and napping on stomach or back.

Nap time.

Porto—our last day

Chapel of Souls (aka Santa Catalina Chapel).

Sept. 26th: Today was a relaxing one after driving about 280 miles yesterday. We walked about four miles, visiting places we wanted to see again—the Bolhao Mercado, the Trinidade neighborhood where some wonderfully typical Portuguese shops serve locals, down Santa Catalina street (the Rodeo Drive of Porto), and then over to Gaia where we sat at a park overlooking the Douro River, Ponte Luis I bridge, and the historic district. We ended our walk meandering through the upper historic district to the Crystal Palace park, and back home.

Had a really good soup at Bom Sucesso Mercado, a "concept" food court with fabulous food at great prices. The locals like it, too.

Center of Balhao Mercado.

This shop had lots to offer this hound's nose.

This shop was across from the hound and gorgeous inside.
See picture below.

Pretty nice, eh?

Still not purchasing an espresso here at four times the regular
price, but the Art Deco architecture is worth a second look.

This shop was kitty corner from the Majestic Cafe.

Santa Clara Church. The gate and church door are the high-

lights, because the 18th century baroque wooden carved 

interior hasn't been cleaned for at least 300 years. San  

Francisco Church's ornate interior (see previous post) offers
the polished version.

Santa Clara Church.

Historic Porto from across the Douro River in Gaia.

Taking it easy at new park in Gaia that overlooks the river.

Crystal Palace Park. 

Proof that it really is fall even though it's sunny and 75.

These trees hadn't quite turned when we walked
this way a week ago.

Almada family, our hosts.

Shared living room.

Living room ceiling.

Shared living room.

Bom Sucesso Mercado. Great eats!

Petula's was where we started each day.

OPAH (Oporto Principal Almada

Home) was a great find. 

Porto and Road Trip

Sept. 24: And here are some pictures of parts of Porto we hadn't walked. You know, a Cathedral, street scenes, steep steps, street art and such.

 

Camino de Santiago pilgrims.

San Francisco Church.

San Francisco Church. Link provides more
pictures and additional information.

San Francisco Church was magnificent. The more we
looked the more we saw. Pictures aren't allowed; that's
why I provided the link to these.

Jesse Tree, carving. Link provides more information
and pictures if needed.

See pictures of the catacombs below.

You can see more pictures at site provided on picture or see
a brief explanation about the Dispatch House here.

Dispatch house, bones from catacombs.

This mural is a representation of the kindly
grandfather who welcomes us.

A view from a bridge (upper section of Ponte Luis I).

See red building below. Inside we enjoyed a photography exhibition.

Yes, it's as steep as it looks and there are even more steps to the top.

Race through Porto. Many runners carried maps.

Sept. 25: Last night we visited with our hosts Teresa and Miguel and he insisted we take his car and travel north to see Ponte de Lima (founded in 1125—see this General Information link) and Guimarares. I added links to both towns.

As always, it's the driving that's the real adventure!

The expansive gardens adjacent to the bridge
were refreshing. It's September 25th and about
78 (25 celcius) in Ponte de Lima.

Never get tired of looking down narrow medieval streets.

 

Ponte de Lima and St. Anthony, part of the Camino de Santiago.

Guimaraes is a UNESCO designated city.

You can only ogle so many medieval churches and houses. We
stopped inside this pasteleria for an espresso and macaroon
sweet that kept us going.

These macaroons were luscious, moist, dense, but like most
their pastries, not overly sweet.

Probably talking football. This park in the middle of town was
filled with retired men and women visiting and laughing.

The same park also served as a median for one of the main
roads running through Guimaraes. It also skirts the historic
medieval center.

We cracked up while walking across Ponte de Lima, because each of the lamp posts had speakers pumping out cheerful music or Andrea Bocelli even. I stood under a lamp post playing a Vienna Waltz. The scratchy parts you hear are from the speakers not my camera.