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After meeting the girls in san Santiago de Compostella, we drove off to Porto to begin this leg of the trip. Porto is all about the Douro river. Life along the north side includes all the commercial and government buildings, beautiful squares with great gardens (spring would be very pretty here), and of the course, the cathedral and the churches. There are many churches - one per religous order it seems. Life along the south side is all about the port - the bottled variety as well as trade in the bottled variety - and sheds to store the barrels. It was big business at some point - and still is but conducted quite differently today. But choose between a soft ruby, a nice tawny, or my favourite - a good vintage.
And of course there was a restaurant - S Consola - found after extensive interviews with the locals! We went wth the bus drivers opinion which was recommended as "I go there myself - I like it." A restaraunt can be rated on many things - this one was simple, crowded, with a menu boasting such delectables a seafood with rice! The stock was stunning. It had such depth. We were also recommended teh seasfood cooked in its own juice - another creation on a stock that was so different to the other - but again full of flavour and depth. Squid stew told a similar tale - the sauce was so different and so good - and the squid just perfectly cooked. The stock defined this restaraunt and had us in raptures. It was that kind of restaurant. The wine was local - and Mick, (who will particularly enjoy this reference) this is written exacatly as he said it as he recommended the dry white "it is not number one - but it is good" !! And is was so
After that day we drove to Lisbon. We stayed outside Lisbon at Cascais overlooking the ocean, where we watched sunsets and had an aperitif. Tough.
We caught the train to Lisbon - a place that has been on my bucket list since I saw the Russia House. Lovely hills around the river port, and we wandered the Alfama district - the old port buildings - had a lazy lunch of oysters and pirri chicken and wandered home. A good day
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Pat Thanks so much for news/photos of your travels . . . plenty of walking OK? I had never heard of Sintra! Fascinating entry in WP! I've done a little research on offloading my diesel Golf for a new vehicle . . . doubt whether it's worth the expense! I suspect the Stirling palates will continue to get a good workout . . . Cheers.