Weeks of excitement and sleepless nights culminated in an early flight to Porto on Friday 11th March. We arrived just in time for a delicious lunch of steak sandwiches, pancakes and the famous Portuguese custard tarts, Pastel de Natas. Feeling very full, we began to explore the city and its sights, like the famous Dom Luís I bridge. We then made our way to the beach, but despite some misguided enthusiasm and some flashy swimming trunks, we were all too cowardly to go for a paddle in the Atlantic in March. We retreated to the safety of a local bar where some heated games of darts took place, before dinner overlooking the river.
Our first full day in Porto was a great day to be an umbrella salesperson and we were definitely their best customers. However, the rain did not stop us from exploring the city as well as its cultural (palaces, markets and shops) and culinary (pastries and even more Pastel de Natas) highlights. In the evening, everyone ate together in a local Italian restaurant, before exploring the city’s nightlife.
Sunday morning began with a Porto delicacy, the Francesinha sandwich, a carnivore’s dream stuffed with ham, gammon, sausage, steak and melted cheese. In other words, the perfect fuel to start the morning. For those not gorging upon the contents of a butcher’s shop, the morning was spent in the famous Crystal Palace Gardens, home to fantastic floral displays, fountains and peacocks. In the afternoon, everyone reassembled south of the river for a tour of the Burmester Port cellars and a tasting of some of their wines. In the evening, we enjoyed a lovely dinner at a Portuguese restaurant, the highlight of which was sausages served aflame. Afterwards, some (the brave and/or foolish) opted for another night out in Porto, whilst others (the sensible) grabbed a few hours of sleep before a very early flight home.
