One of the first thing I do when I wake up is check my messages, and I am always happy to read messages in response to the blog from friends i family. Right now I am able to talk to Crystal, but when I start my solo bike trip it is mostly me talking to you and myself. As you can tell I freely tell embararssing stories about myself. Need a sense of humor to survive. I was glad to hear from Frank that we intentionally succeeded in making him laugh with our picture of my shoving Crystal off the tower, and unintentionally with my typing—getting some tarts from a pasty shop. I did finish that entry at 12:00 and posted without proofreading. The offending phrase has been corrected, and i am happy to make you guys laugh any way I can.
Although it rained during the night the morning was a mix a sun and clouds with limited outbursts of rain. I rechecked my bike and made sure all the nets and bolts were tight and everything ready to go. I then turned my attention to sorting out those items I needed on the bike trip and those items that could stay in Porto awaiting my return. I have a handlebar bag that is waterproof and there is where I keep my electronics, money and passport. I have two waterproof panniers that go on the rear rack. The panniers hold my clothes, toiletries, etc. I also have a trunk which sits on top of the rear rack and that has tools and miscellaneous items that I may want easy access to.
I got a good bit of the organization done before going down to breakfast. We navigated the treacherous food obstacles this morning without incident. I was somewhat comforted when Crystal pointed out another guest struggling with the tea kettle—a little vindication for myself. Crystal on he other has to live with the knowledge that very few guests through food around. Here is a picture of our usual breakfast. Lest you think I am a glutton—all that good in some mine. Crystal had the bowl of yogurt with granola at the very top of the image.
After breakfast we finished packing and gathered up our bags and rolled them and the bike onto the elevator and down to the small lobby. I wish I could read the minds or at least understand Portuguese so I could know if they were surprised to see my bike since I had assembled it in the room.
Once out we headed down toward the water and another famous church. Religious sights are a big part of the landscape in Portugal. The church was basic romanesque on the outside but the inside had been elaborated decorated with golden wood and some painting. Very different from anything else we have seen. The attendant indicated that no pictures were allowed and although I saw others breaking the rules my background is such that I couldn’t do that. It is just a picture—I am sure I came find a great one on the internet and I will copy that one.
In addition to the church we also visited the museum next door. It contained a number of religious relics. We also walked down into the catacombs with winding rooms of people buried in the walls. There was even a large clear of bones. There was also a collections of the floats with figures used for religious processions. The “floats” were large with bars and padding for several men to use while carrying though the streets.
There is a palace right next door to the church which we thought was worth a visit, but the Sunnis skies greeting us when we came out of the museum persuaded us otherwise. We strolled down to the water and just sat and enjoyed the water, boats, sun and of course other people.
We didn’t disregard all of our plans and around 11:30 start walking toward the church where we missed the laser show. There was an organ concert at 12:00 we wanted to attend. The most direct route to this church which is on the top of a hill it’s via a long winding set of stairs. The views along the way were nice, but the one from the top was even better and helped us forget the effort getting here.
Once at the church we saw a long line winding around the building—so much longer than yesterday. We walked to the front of the line and said we were here or the concert and just walked right in to the chapel. I am not sure what those in the long line thought but signage there is not good. You do have to stand in line if you are waiting to buy tickets and make and appointment to visit the tower. When we came yesterday we waited in line and bought our ticket only to be told we had to make an appointment. Maybe there is more information in Portuguese, but we wondered how many people in line know that they weren’t going to get in anytime soon.
The lunchtime concert was 30 minutes long and, in addition to the afore mentioned view, a great reward for the steep walk. The walk back to the areas of hotel was much easier. We strolled and did some shopping. We went to the pedestrian street where we first arrived by taxi and sought out a couple shops we wanted to revisit. A couple small purchases and we had some momentous from Porto.
A little before 2:00 we returned to the square where our hotel is and ate again at the restaurant where we had our first meal. A relaxed meal of meat and cheese boards while soaking in the sun and surroundings. A great way to spend our last day in Porto. I could tell that Crystal was thinking about being apart for a few days. As I indicated with the blog title—parting is such sweet sorrow. We have had a great time in Porto and although we will return in a week, there is some sadness in leaving. One would think that an old married couple who are often separated by travel and work would be sad parting ways for a few days. Time for me to through in some words for a song by Mary Chapin Carpenter who is quoted in several past blogs—there's no doubt that life's a mystery, but so too is the human heart.
We said our goodbyes and I headed out on my bike though the city to the bus station. I love biking the roads in the countryside, and I don’t even mind a little traffic. City biking on the other had I do out of necessity. All things said it wasn’t that bad, and I arrived at the bus station in less than 20 minutes. Although the building is up on a hill I bike down to where the buses were and tried to enter the area where they were parked. Two security guards with loud portuguese words and animated arm gestures indicated that I couldn’t go in this way—although there were people walking in. Rather than cause an international incident I rode my bike to the top of the hill, walked through the bike station, put my bike on the elevation and went down to the lower level and walked by bike to the gate where I could see the guards from earlier. I didn’t
Pay attention to see if they saw me, but I hoped they would. It seems like animated conversations are part of the culture. While in line for checking my ticket and getting on the bus there were several passengers who had some lively back and forth words with the bus driver, with him pointing and shaking his head and more back and forth, with the passengers eventually walking off talking and or shaking their heads. I decided not to take my previous brush with the law too seriously. Unless I see handcuffs or a stun gun I think I am ok.
The driver scanned my tickets, one for me and one for the bike, and in portuguese told me to stand to the side and wait which I did. I assume if there is no further conversation that I am getting the the gist of things. I used the two hours on the bus to write this blog entry. The scenery is beautiful with the blue ocean to my left and great mountain to my right. I did not attempt to take any pictures so if you want to see you will have to come back for the next entry.
While leaving Crystal and Porto was difficult there is a week of adventure and cycling ahead of me, and a friendly city and loving wife who will be waiting for me. While I am not writer or poet, the older I get the more meaning the words of poets and writers have for me.
I thought I was done with the blog entry when on the bus, but as I crossed the bridge I suspected that I would have something to say about this town.
I found the hotel, met the lovely hostess and quickly settled in. The town is small so I thought I could take a quick walk and go to dinner. From my hotel I walked to the city suite which is on he river right where a medieval bridge crosses the river. The massive bridge with gothic arches is quite massive and leads to a church on the the other side.
Once on he other side I wandered behind the church and found an impressive city garden. It has playgrounds and exercise machines (like those I had seen in Spain, but in addition to the regular functional areas, there are wonderful formal type gardens including one of my favorites—a rose garden. I spent so long in the park that my battery was almost dead. I walked back across the river continuing taking photos until my phone died. I then return Tommy room and got my battery and headed back out.
The somewhat sunny skies gave way to more clouds and some occasional drizzle but it did not deter my. I continued walking the small streets of the charming city.
Although I enjoyed Porto—being in the country, surrounds by green, country gardens, and hardly any people is hard to top. When I talked to Crystal on the phone I sent her a pic while I was walking along the river and said the charm here was easing the pain of our separation.
I walked along the river taking pictures until almost 9:00. The streetlight had come on the added a new charm to a remarkable city.
This featured blog entry was written by guylch75 from the blog Pedaling Portugal.
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