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The final day of our biking trip did not include any cycling as a tired body (Mo) and a heavy chest cold (Mark) were used as rationale to sleep in. More than half of the tour group obviously felt the same way so the prep area was chock full of riderless bikes.
Our decision was fortuitous as the rain arrived shortly after the troop who did ride (8) returned to the hotel, talking about a killer uphill cobblestone section.
Over the past 13 days (including a “day off” in Barcelona/Madrid), we have walked/hiked ~168,000 steps followed by 240 Kms of cycling so taking the day off is permissible.
Following lunch, of course, our bus ride of 45 minutes to Porto confirmed there are no straight, flat roads in this area of Portugal. Because the hills that frame the valley are steep and full of ravine off shoots, the roads follow the contours of the land to the full. Up, down, hairpins, edging along cliff sides on fairly narrow roads is not for the faint of heart. And why are the few retaining walls only 18” high? Very non North American.
The approach to Porto does use modern multi lane highways but once in the old town it was back to tiny cobblestone laneways that our bus handled with aplomb.
Out of the bus and goodbyes all around then we walked, of course, to our AirBnB. Rolling suitcases on cobblestone is really a pain but we managed. The riverfront is solid with bars, restaurants and booths selling all manner of trinkets.
The north side (Ribeira) where we are staying looks like a Lego game.
Unfortunately to get there meant crossing the river, taking an elevator five stories up then trudging up 50+ stairs.
If nothing else, the view down to the river and south side of the river from our AirbNb is spectacular.
Once settled we set off to explore the old town whose history goes back more than 1,000 years.
The tourist shops must know something because each storefront had umbrellas and ponchos for sale. And thus, the rain came in buckets. We responded by ducking into a bar and spent the next 90 minutes staying dry (oh and enjoying various libations).
Once the rain stopped we walked down to the river to our restaurant where we were shown to the captains table built into a stone arch overlooking the water.
A wonderful meal that effectively ends our trip as it’s up and out to the airport tomorrow morning for a flight straight to Toronto.
Thanks for following this stop on our go-go stage of retirement. Stay tuned for our Australian adventure coming up in February when we plan to snorkel on the Great Barrier Reef, enjoy the sights and sounds of Sydney and golf at the best of the best around Melbourne’s sand belt. Cheers.
The Bennetts On Tour 