Porto, Portugal

I normally put mostly pictures on the blog but I wanted to remember this trip so I have decided to write about it.  Matt and I went on our annual surprise Valentine’s weekend trip this past weekend.  I was the planner this year and chose the city of Porto, Portugal.  In the past we have gone to Berlin, Paris, Amsterdam and now Porto.  Matt did not know where we were going until we got to the gate.  You know you are still in Germany when, at ten in the morning, there are guys sitting around drinking beer at the airport! 

Anyway, the kids were to be taken care of by Auntie Lydia (with the help of Sarah and Jill) mainly but her aunt died and she headed back to the states on Sunday.  Auntie Jill and George took over from then, thank goodness.  Actually, Jill had Colby the whole time.  The night before we left Colby threw up four times (three in OUR bed) so we toyed with not going but hated to waste the money spent and the money we would lose on the B&B.  So, we took off and left Colby in the hands of George and Colton while Jill was at work because he could not go to the sitter while sick.  Jill ended up taking ½ day off, much to my dismay, because she was sure she was the only one who could really take care of our sick little man the right way!  ha ha. 

Porto was amazing, everywhere we go I seem to think that place is the best I have been!  We stayed at an awesome B&B in the middle of the historic district of the town.  The owners both had lived in Canada for a long time but were back in Portugal.  The room was small but the B&B was top notch.  We took the smaller room to get a view of the water, as I knew Matt would love it.  We woke up to the sounds of seagulls, opened the windows to watch the rowers go up and down the canal, we could see the Port wineries out the window, where they made and stored the famous Port wines. 

Upon our arrival we were starved for lunch so Carmen (of the B&B) sent us up the street to a local joint.  She suggested Matt and I try the “tripes” – I opted for the veggie spaghetti but Matt wanted to live like the locals and tried what Carmen suggested (but would not tell us what it was!)  The waiter told us it was pig intestines and Matt thought it was not too shabby.  The restaurant had four tables, very quaint.  They also brought us appetizers of cod, veal and octopus.  Matt tried them all but I stuck with the cod and fresh bread.  After dinner they offered us shots (I find the people of Porto to be lovers of the drink!), Matt had one to be polite – he said it tasted like gasoline.  Carmen later informed us that it was the equivalent of moonshine and that all Portuguese made it at their homes.  Every time we entered the B&B they were offering us wine or beer to bring up to our room.  We tried the local “black” beer, which we expected to be like Guinness but it was nothing like that, was actually not bad.  Our tradition is to NOT exchange Valentine’s gift on this trip, as the trip is actually the present; however, my honey is a giver of gifts so I am always prepared.  In some of our pictures below you will see what I made him and I think he really liked it.  He gave me a nice ring and watch.

We tooled around town all day seeing the sites, riding the on-and-off double decker (with the top open) bus and shopping around and here are some generalizations I have made about the people of Portugal:

·      Like I said, they like to drink.

·      Women in Portugal must be made small or I am WAY TOO big, as the clothes I tried on only somewhat fit in LARGE, or XL if I could find it.

·      Women of Portugal must also have small feet, as I wear and 8.5 and most shoes I wanted to try on did not come in that large of a size!

·      Women in Portugal must not cute their hair short until about age 50, I was one of few gals with short hair around.

·      I would say 99% of the people we talked to spoke English, magnifying the fact that we only are fluent in one language (as most Americans) and many people we met were fluent in 3 or more.  Pathetic!

On Friday night we ate dinner across the bay at an Indian place that the B&B recommended.  It was delicious and Matt said it was the best Indian food he has ever had in his life!  Wow.  They served Heineken, so that was a good taste of home too. 

On Saturday night we ate at another local place around the corner from the B&B and I thought it was one of the best meals of MY life.  They served us tuna tartar and mozzarella soaked in garlic and olive oil with spices, amazing…I could feel my cholesterol rising as I ate.  I then ordered spaghetti in cream sauce with fresh mushrooms…to die for, and I might if I keep up with the cholesterol-laden dishes!  Matt had beef with mozzarella and mushrooms and some cheesecake to end the meal.  The place was tiny, probably about 10 tables, we got there at 8:00, as that is when Portuguese restaurants open for dinner, wow, late for us.  Anyway, we were the second group there and by 8:15 the place was full, reservations only.  Thank goodness our B&B hooked us up with reservations everywhere we went.   Next to us was what appeared to be a very swanky and filthy rich (or seriously in debt) family.  Mom had a Prada bag, Louis Vuitton bangle bracelets and a Rolex.  I always love to people watch and Matt does too and he did a lot of it as I was in and out of stores on the local walking street.

Every morning we went downstairs for breakfast at 9:30, where John (husband of Carmen) had it all ready and waiting for us.  I can say I have eaten more fresh fruit in the past two days then I normally eat in two weeks, very yummy.  There was also fresh bread, yogurt, meat cuts, cheeses, green tea for me, coffee for Matt, typical European breakfast.   Oh yes, and Nutella, lots and lots of it!

Sunday we walked along the beach for about an hour, we took a boat ride to see the five bridges in the area, ate lunch and then headed to the airport.  The cab that John called for us was a special cab (unbeknownst to us) and the guy showed up in at brand-spanking new 350 series 2012 Mercedes, it was very swanky.  When we pulled up at the airport and got out, it was worth the extra 9 Euros we paid to see the looks on the peoples faces as they were checking us out (as though we were rock stars getting out of that car!) ha-ha.  Matt and I got a kick out of that! 

I missed the kids but the weekend was amazing.  Being away from the hussel and bussel of everyday life, responsibilities, commitments, etc. reminded me how lucky I am to have my best friend to spend my life with and how thankful I am to have him as my valentine.   

 Veal, cod and octopus.

 Only Matt would brave these.

 The famous pig intestines.

 Matt's Indian dream dinner!

 My honey looking out the window of our room.

 Entry to the B&B from the street side.

 Many street vendors selling things, Matt got these fine "authentic" Ray Bans (also known as Ray Beris in Porto) for several euro.  Double click if you want to check them out up close.

 Local farmers market on Saturday.

 We got tickets to ride the "official" double decker tour bus, much to our dismay we bought tickets for the red bus and should have gotten the yellow bus.  We did walk all over the city, the fact that this bus NEVER came added to our exercise experience 

 Enjoying tuna tatar at my new favorite PIMMS restaurant, second best meal of my life.

Our B&B is in the background behind the boat. 

 Breakfast of champions.

 On the boat tour.

 The ship captain insisted on taking this one...

 And this one...

 Note to self...if you are going to hang your undies out for all to see, make sure the streaks are facing your house.  Seriously, there were streaks on the white pair on the right...ha ha.