Stunning!
Spectacular Sao Bento railway station in Porto
Fabulous!
Port side!
Serene
Sailing on the Douro
Blissful
Tavira Island
Wonderful
A Portuguese Water Dog arrives to perform
In action in the Water Dog Trials, Lagos
Portugal
Pretty Guimaraes, European City of Culture 2012
Just six words? Sorry- quite impossible!
Some of the highlights? Undoubtedly, sailing back to Porto from Peso da Regua on board a beautiful barco rabelo- the wooden boats used originally for carrying port downstream to mature in casks in Vila Nova de Gaia. The company of two young Americans, on the last day of their honeymoon, made it extra special.
The free walking tour we took around Porto, with Iris and 22 internationally varied others, was pretty good too. After 2 and a half hours of ups and downs, the Francesinha (a lavish cheese and meat toastie in a piquant sauce), and exchanged life histories, were also pretty great.
A glass of port in the surreal surroundings of Lello’s bookstore (sorry, no photos allowed)- it doesn’t get much better. The highly entertaining antics of the Portuguese Water Dogs, followed by a trip round the grottoes in a small water taxi- well, you know how I feel about water! You’re right- there will be more posts to follow…. I took over 570 photos.
For now I need to say thank you to Cate of Show My Face for welcoming me back again, and rush off to check what you’ve all been up to in my absence. Hope to see you all back here next week. Follow the links for more information.
Don’t know why Portugal keeps alluding me in my travels. Must make it there!
1038 things you could do with salt cod, Marc?
Looks fabulous
Oh it sure was! Why doesn’t the radiant sunshine outside today inspire me in the same way? Maybe the heat has something to do with it.
Hi Jo, you’re back! It looks like you had a brilliant time, I can’t wait to read more about your travels.
Yup, body and soul, Georgia, and will be attending to your challenge, hopefully before 2013 arrives!
Loving that first photo. Aren’t the water dogs meant to be native to the Algarve, I seem to remember reading about them in the Olhao area?
I went azulejo crazy! Much more to follow.
Yes, Quinta de Marim, near Olhao was, I believe, their start point. There’s a museum in the Vila Albacora Hotel grounds dedicated to the style of fishing they were used in. This particular event was on in Lagos and is held yearly. There’s a breeding centre on the road out of Lagos towards Sagres.
Their antics were highly amusing, especially those that didn’t really want to perform. One little guy arrived on the front of a Harley Davidson- very cool!
I think that first picture is the railway station?
Certainly is, Andrew. Thanks for pointing it out. There was a caption with it which seems to have gone walkabout (bit like me!) so I shall go back there immediately and find it. Cheers!
Is that railway station mural all done in tile? Wow!
Absolutely, Margaret and that’s just a fraction of the whole.
Will I go hungry in Portugal, if I don’t like fish?
Absolutely not, Paula. The meat is excellent, particularly the black pork and javali (wild boar). The pork comes from a dark skinned pig and is much the same colour as normal pork but is delicious when cooked well. So, you have no excuse?
Great to hear that Jo
It is definitely on my list 
Sounds like fun, Jo! Can’t wait to see more of your 570 photos!
Where to start, Cath? Pull up a chair- it was fabulous!
My chair is pulled up and I am waiting with bated breath!!
I gotta get out more.
thanx for the wonderful pic-tour….my husband is of Portuguese descent, and we both enjoyed the photos and commentary….
I can hardly bear to come home again, Joy, and I fell completely in love with the Douro.
Oh thank you. I love coming here!
Thanks m’dear! Have a great trip.
What a beautiful place, I can fully understand why you are drawn there.
Are you returning refreshed and reinvigorated to face the British winter?
It’s a struggle, Vicky! I look out at the sunny skies this morning and know it’s a beautiful place, but it’s so cold!
Yes, Britain is beautiful, we just need the climate tweaking a tad
lovely !!!!! can’t wait to see more pictures…….
Playing serious catch-up, Aly. WordPress doesn’t always like me so I have to play ball with it whenever I can.
Welcome back Jo. Looking forward to your travelogue.
Thanks David. It was a brilliant trip.
Wow the train station murals are amazing. I’ve been thinking about visiting Porto and am more intent now. Thanks for sharing!
If you get the chance do go Arielle. It’s a great city with so much to see.
I love your photos. It is so beautiful. I hope to visit there some day. I’m a new follower can’t wait to see all the other amazing photos.
Thanks Austine- that’s so kind of you to say.
I really enjoy your stunning photography here Johanna, Thanks for sharing
Many thanks, Jake. I’ll get back to you soon. My heart is still in Portugal.
I’d wondered where you’d gone.. you probably told us.. and I forgot:) Wonderful railway station.. it looks like a wall of bone china!!
Nice to be missed, Smidge. That’s a wonderful description- you’d better copyright it before I pinch it!
Looks and sounds like you had a fantastic trip! Look forward to hearing more about it.
It was worth waiting for, Lucy, but as usual I really didn’t want to come home again.
I’ve just booked a weekend in Porto in February with a friend so I shall be picking your brains of all the best things to do before then! My first trip to Portugal at last…
Awesome! Suspect you’ll need a warm coat, but you’ll surely enjoy the wine tastings. My last 2 “blue” posts are full of Porto stuff, just to get you in the mood.
Ah, those sacred six! Thanks Lesley.
Looks like a fabulous trip, Jo. I hope you’ll be putting for of these beautiful pics up!
Itching to get my next post written! Life gets in the way a bit, but I’m nearly caught up. Thanks Dianne.
Blue sky, sunshine, beautiful scenery – love it! I’m looking forward to seeing more pictures. The dogs are really cute too
I’m putting money on your going to Porto if you ever get to Portugal, Meg. It’s such a great city!
That’s the second pic – but quite a different style – of a great train station in Europe I’ve seen today. We Brits have got to get our act together,
St Pancras isn’t at all bad, Tilly. Where was your other one?
Malmo on Vivi’s blog.
Wow! Gracious ALL of these are fabulous, Jo!
It’s a pretty fabulous place. Thanks, Tahira.
Sooo beautiful, Jo! Love all of them.
Thanks Amy. I’m still working it out of my system, if you know what I mean!
Cute doggie…never heard of them before, but Jo – that little white house with the birds…I am in love
Aww! I guess they’d take an offer? It was perfectly situated too, overlooking a beautiful square, No, you’re much happier where you are.