11 May. Porto

 We got a lay in and a late start to the day, which let us wander around the hotel a bit. Then we were bused to the town of Pinhao, on the Douro, for the obligatory short cruise on a rabelo, the local wine boats. This just took us down river for maybe a 2 kilometers and back. 

Then it was a two hour drive to Porto - unfortunately delayed for about an hour as there was a local bike race blocking the streets. Anyway, we eventually got into the city and to our hotel.

We went straight out for a walking tour and to get lunch on the main shopping strip. Everywhere is more coloured tiles on old buildings.

Church of Saint Ildefonso

In the evening Lynn slept while I joined the tour group for a little more sightseeing, walking across the Pont Luis bridge to have a drink while the sun set. My the time we walked back it was extremely cold.

View from Bridge

View from Vincci Ponte de Ferro

10 May. Douro Valley

On the road again, this time a two hour drive north to the Douro Valley. All good motorways and the minibus is pretty comfortable, so we read and dozed until we got to a winery at about 11am. Unfortunately it got colder and wetter and is now kind of grey and damp, which may be typical for the region. The Quinta Pacheca is large enough to take coaches and give guided tours, after which we got a wine tasting and a platter lunch. We wandered around in the wait until we were picked up again.

Then an hour on to another winery, this time the Quinta de Val Moreiro where we're staying the night. We got here late afternoon and have nothing else planned for the day. There's a decent sized hotel spread up the hillside run by Vila Gale, which is where we stayed in Coimbra too.