A TRIP TO PORTO

Lunching in Porto, Portugal.

We did a dry run to the Santa Apolonia train station and making good use of our time we purchased our tickets for our upcoming trip to Porto.   It was easy as pie.  We got back to the neighborhood and stopped in the oldest cafe in Lisbon to have a cup of coffee.  For some unknown reason I pulled my ticket out to look at it and discovered the agent had us departing that afternoon at 1530.  It was now 2:45.  We hopped back on the bus and back to the train station and after explaining to the agent that we were not leaving today but tomorrow on the 9:30 train we were reticketed, for free I might add, and were set once again.  You'd think we'd learn to study the ticket while at the train station.  Marines emphasize - "attention to detail".  Well, I guess we've done a good job forgetting that lesson.   Usually the ticketing agent goes over the ticket with you but that did not happen that day.

We arrived in Soa Bento station in Porto.  The tile work in the station is unbelievable.  These decorative handpainted tiles show historical and folk scenes from the Douro region.  

We got to our hotel and checked in and then proceeded to lunch at a restaurant recommended by the hotel.  

I thought I should take a picture of the street where our hotel is located.  Notice that incline.  I am happy to report we do have an elevator but we will still be getting our exercise before returning to our room.  

We had a great little lunch and while drinking coffee Sharon studied the map.  

We headed to the square and found this beautiful restaurant.  

Yup!  McDonalds.  It used to be the Imperial cafe and is now one of the nicest McDonalds in Europe.  

Statue of Dom Pedro IV in the Prace da Liberdade - the heart of Porto with the City Hall at the higher end and the Intercontinental Hotel at the bottom.  

The City Hall of Porto.

After leaving the City Hall we wandered over to the Stock Exchange Palace.  It is neither a stock exchange nor a palace, but is a monument to civic and commericial pride, with some of the most lavishly decorated roooms in Portugal  In 1832, the monastery of Sao Francisco Church burned down, and the queen offered the property to the Commerical Association.   They seized the opportunity to show off, crafting a building that would demonstrate the considerable skills of Porto's tradesmen.  

Praca Infante Dom Henrique ( Henry the Navigator Square).

Inside you are given a guided tour to eight of the rooms in the "palace".  We didn't think pictures were allowed and only found out at the end of the tour that they were allowed.  The most beautiful room was at the end so I do have pictures of that and the first room we saw since we had to go by it on our way out of the building.

At the very top you can see the symbol of the nations that are trading partners with Portugal.

The staircase leads to the rooms we were able to view.  The floors were particularly interesting.  They were pieced together with Brazilian and African wood ( from Portugal's colonies) .  There was also an inlaid table that was created over three years using wood scraps from these same floors.  There is also a room that looks like it's made of finely carved woodwork and bronze but  is really just painted plaster and gold leaf.  

This is  the Arabian Room - the grand finale.  It was inspired by Granada's Alhambra, and was paiinstakingly decorated in the Moorish style over 18 years, with wood, plaster, and gold leaf. 

The floors are all handcarved and the pieces fitted together.

Our next stop was the the Sao Francisco Church which is right next door to the Stock Exchange Palace. 

We visited the museum first.

After the museum we went upstairs to the meeting rooms which were quite nice.

The ceilings were beautiful.

After the climb up stairs we went down stairs to the catacombs.

"Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones ...."

We then went into the church.  Unfortunately we were unable to take pictures.  There are lavish chestnut carvings slathered in gold leaf, 900  pounds of gold.  

The following are pictures from a phamplet which certainly do not show the beauty of the church and the wonderful works of art.

This was absolutely magnificient.  It represents the Tree of Jesse.  The Tree, carved in multi-colored wood, in which the twelve figures of the kings of Judah, in standing position, supported themselves in the branches of a trunk of a tree which rises from the recumbent body of Jesse, has, at the top, a sculpture of the Virgin and Child, preceeded by the evangelical figure of St. Joseph.  In the recesses surrounding the altar-piece the statue of St. Anne and St. Joachim can be seen together with those four Franciscan doctors who wrote about the Immaculate.  

The altar-piece of our Lady of Solitude.

The Altar-piece of the Annunciation of Our Lady .

On our way to the restaurant.  A very slim bicyclist. 

There is codfish under all these potatoes and vegetables.  Looks like a big mess but really was quite delicious.  My dinner.

Just plain old pork and roasted potatoes.  Sharon's dinner.

Our wine!  It was a good day!