Day 7: Porto to Foz to Matosinho

25.1k👣 25Z🧡

Tchaubrigada = Tchau + Obrigada = Goodbye, and thank you

Packed bags ready for pick-up by 7:15am
Took Ibuprofen
Breakfast at café down the street: carrot tart
Returned to AirBnB for final washing up & cleaning
Subway & walk to Cathedral from Francos to Trinidad; change to yellow line to São Bento (St. Benedict, but we prefer to think of him as the patron saint of lunchboxes)
Got credentials at Cathedral
Caught the 11am Mass! Eric & I walked through the doors, and they closed them behind us
Down down down the stairs to the river
Walked along the Douro River towards the ocean
10.4k👣 by lunch at 13:15: smoked salmon & egg tosta for me, pork tosta for Joe. Shandies (beer & lemonade) for all.
Strolled along the river to Foz do Douro, where the river meets the ocean. Lighthouse; HUGE waves
Coffee break at 15:45 @ tavi. Espresso with a splash of milk (aka pingo), served with ONE ice cube, which I then drowned with the espresso & the milk that was brought to Joe & Abby's tea). Iced coffee is NOT a thing here.
Hips sore.
Boardwalk along the ocean. SoCal vibes. Trees, walkways, rotunda along the roadway
Matosinhos is a surfer's town!
Checked in at Pensão Central
Took Ibuprofen
Interesting discussion of nighttime photo of bridge with concierge: Ponte do Luis I (Luis Premiero)? Or Dona Maria Pia?
Dinner at café (in front)/charcuterie restaurant (in back)
Caldo verde was super delish, as were starters (that we didn't ask for, but appear on the bill nonetheless, per local custom) and vinho verde (like white wine, but lighter somehow)
Chicken plate & grilled sardines plate were generous and delicious
Joe really confused the restaurant host when he ordered another bowl of caldo verde (potato & kale soup) for dessert
The rest of us chose chocolate mousse or pudim frances (flan)
Continued interesting bridge discussion with evening concierge (we were right: it WAS the Luis I!)
Up at 7am tomorrow. Bags down by 8. Will return to tonight's café for breakfast before setting out on tomorrow's walk.Read more