Porto filmed with a drone

Here’s a really nice video from Porto filmed with camera-equiped-drone. I need to buy something like this!

 

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Blitzwood

Porto: Foz – 6th Jan. 2014

Last year in January I went to the mouth of the Douro River (Foz) to check the agitated winter waves. I was quite happy with the photos and the walk:

Last year’s waves

Last year’s waves

Sunset at Foz – Porto

This year I would had taken completely different pictures, I wasn’t there (unfortunatly I’m not even in Portugal) but check out the video someone posted in Youtube:

Curious if someone filmed from the top of that Tourist Bus you can see in the video.

 

“The Boston Global” article about Porto

The Boston Globe journalist Christopher Muther has published an article about his visit to Porto. He planned to stay just one day, he ended up staying 4 nights.

“What I found … was a series of charming old stone buildings, church squares, and open-air markets. There’s a river that glistens as it snakes through a city that clings precariously to cliffs and a night-life scene that rivals any European hot spot on a summer night.”

“I’m not one to take pictures of my food at restaurants. I usually feel that food is meant to be digested and not shared on Facebook. But I took out my camera, the good one no less, and photographed my steak tartare and the beautiful presentation of the truffle-style alheira (a meat and flour-based sausage) on a bed of toasted bread, bacon, and almonds.”

Porto’s “Ribeira”

Read the article at:

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/travel/2013/11/09/porto-sophisticated-new-edge/Qo25mGhnY4HaRTUzdKGpJM/story.html

 

Matosinhos: “Piscinas das Marés”

Piscina das Marés

It seems the ocean-water-swimming pools in Matosinhos are re-opening for the Summer this day 23. Looks like a nice option for this next weekend. The swimming pool was designed by famous portuguese architect Siza Vieira (Wikipedia). More photos in: http://www.getportugal.com/en/poi-piscinas-das-mares-leca-da-palmeira-20985

More photos: Oporto

Some photos taken by Mesi when she was on holidays in Oporto in July.

For more posts and photos from Oporto please check the Index Page.

Thank you for sharing them with me :).

Douro River

Luis I bridge

Clerigos Tower and the City

Houses near Douro River

Bom Sucesso Shopping

Serralves Art Foundation

“Pastelaria”

Melgaço: Exploring the mountains

Mountain road in Melgaço

If you like mountain landscapes there’s a lot for you to see in the areas surrounding Melgaço.

It is not the tallest mountains in Portugal but some peaks can reach over 1300m (more than 4200 feet). And I think you’ll enjoy the views and the characteristic boulders covering some mountains.

As you go up you’ll clearly notice the changing of the vegetation and that there are no trees above a certain altitude. There are some water courses and brooks to be found and the locals do know some remote swimming places.

There are multiple ways to explore: hiking, by car, by motorbike, by bicycle, by buggy…

Buggy tours

There’s a local company that rents buggies and has buggy tours in some interesting trails in the mountains. Their official site is in Portuguese only but you can contact them by e-mail or web form at http://www.kart-cross-portugal.com/SobreNos/contacto

For more information about the municipality of Melgaço please check the Index page or my first post about Melgaço.

Other links: KartCross Melgaço (in Portuguese); Portugal Nature National Parks

Mountain path

Water course

Boulder covered mountains

Buggy tours

Mountain road in Melgaço

Oporto: Castelo da Foz

This post is part of  Matosinhos – Oporto following the Atlantic Ocean and Douro River, please check the Index page for the other posts following the same tour.

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Castelo da Foz

 

“Castelo da Foz” is also known as “John the Baptist Fort”. It was built in the end of the 16^th century for the defense of the Atlantic coast and the entrance to the Douro River. The building of the castle absorbed the Church (in renaissance style) that was previously in the same place.

There is no ticket required to visit the castle but the place is not crowded at all, there was only one other tourist when I visited, no one else!

Art Exposition inside

There was a painting/art exhibition in a large room inside, the only person there was the artist himself. He confirmed me that one can explore the Castle at his own will but there are some rooms off-limits where apparently there are some administrative offices.

From the balcony outside it is visible that some parts of the Castle have suffered the passage of time. There’s a good view of the mouth of the Douro River.

Art exposition inside (2)

This part is ruins

View towards the City

View from the balcony

Way inside the building

“Castelo da Foz”, the only entrance

Art Exposition inside

Castelo da Foz

From Praça Gonçalvez Zarco to the mouth of Douro River

This post is part of  Matosinhos – Oporto following the Atlantic Ocean and Douro River, please check the Index page for the other posts following the same tour.

Check the path I followed on this post: HERE

Cheese Castle -> Foz Castle -> Douro River mouth

The Atlantic Ocean

Continuing to follow the Atlantic Ocean Southwards you’ll be now in an avenue with a wide sidewalk. There are a lot of classy villas and other buildings on the other side of the road. This is probably the zone with the most expensive houses in Oporto.  

Along the coast there are small gardens near the sidewalk and 3 not-too-big sand beaches. Then you’ll reach another castle (“Castelo da Foz”) guarding the mouth of the Douro River.

Danger: Wave Zone

The manmade barriers in the mouth of the river are usually under the continuous collision of waves so walking to some areas above the barriers can be dangerous.

The “Arrábida” bridge can be seen upriver linking Oporto to Gaia (Vila Nova de Gaia).

After the “Foz” Castle, leaving the Ocean behind and already following the Douro River, there is a public garden “Jardim do Passeio Alegre”, with fountains and a mini-golf area.~

Mini-Golf at “Passeio Alegre”

“Passeio Alegre” Garden Fountain

“Passeio Alegre” Garden Fountain

“Arrábida” bridge, Douro River

Danger: Wave Zone

“Castelo da Foz”

Looking back, towards Matosinhos

The Atlantic Ocean

Smaller Gardens along the coast (2)

Smaller gardens along the Coast

Roasted Chestnuts

 

Roasted Chestnuts vendor

Roasted chestnuts street vendors aren’t as common as they once were. One of the spots where you can still find a regular one is the “Cidade do Salvador” square in Matosinhos. The owner has an ice cream kiosk too nearby so I guess this is how he does business throughout the year: selling ice creams in summer and chestnuts in the winter.

Roasted Chestnuts in a paper cone

 He sells them inside paper cones to keep them warm longer, for 2€ a pack.

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Note: For more information about “Praça Cidade do Salvador” at Matosinhos please check the “Oporto: Matosinhos” post or the blog’s index.

Photos taken January 14, 2010

Oporto: Cervejaria Gazela

“Cervejaria Gazela” is a snack-bar/restaurant in Oporto, located in the Batalha Square, near the “Teatro S.João” (Saint João Theatre). It is not far from “Aliados” and the “São Bento” Metro and Train Station. (Google Maps)

It is quite small inside, consisting in a “U”-shaped counter inside of which 2 or 3 friendly and chatty cooks prepare the hotdogs and serve everyone. The food is quite different from everywhere else and the price is predictable in the range of 10 to 15€.

The house’s special are the distinctive hot dogs made with a special spicy sausage and a slim slice of pork within a toasted mini-baguette. If you like spicy food and want it to taste stronger you can ask for some “molho” – sauce – on it.

Special Hot Dogs

There are also other good options like “Prego” which is basically a grilled pork steak that can be served in bread (“prego em pão”) or in a dish surrounded by fries (“prego em prato”). I personally recommend you to ask for the extra cheese, ham and egg that you can have with it as seen in the photos.

This place in one of those “secrets” that inspired me to create this blog, it is a snack-bar I would choose for lunch and a couple of beers if I had some friends visiting me at Oporto and I’ve never seen a tourist inside it! The few that are seen usually walk outside on their explorations without noticing the great food locals are eating inside.

Special Hot Dogs

The snack-bar entrance

“Prego em Pão”

“Prego em Prato”