COOLTOUR OPORTO (morning)

Pedro, our guide for the day picked us up at the hotel and we started on our tour of Porto. We were very fortunate to have Pedro all to ourselves.  A private tour.  

Our first stop was in front of this church which was actually two churches.  They had been a monastery for nuns and one for monks.  Between the two churches is a "house"  .  Walls were not allowed

to be built between buildings so to provide a barrier they just built a very narrow house.  Notice the little green door.   This door separates Igreja do Carmo and Igreja dos Carmelitas

We went into the Church of the Carmelitas - barroc style with richly gilded interiors.

Commonly known as the Jardim da Cordoaria, it's real name is Joao Chagas  named after the writer, poet, journalist, politician, and critic of the monarchy.  This whole area including the park has been completely redone in the last few years.  What used to be run down buildings are being fixed up all over the city.  

These maple trees suffered fromsome disease    when they were saplings which caused the "odd" base of the trunk.

One of four such sculptures in the park.  

This again is an example of new construction in Porto.  Businesses are moving in to support the new neighborhoods.

This is a very fancy bookstore, Lello & Irmao.  It boasts a lacy exterior and a fancy Art Nouveau interior. It looks ike wood, but it's mostly made of pianted plaster and gold leaf.  Pictures are not allowed here.  Rumor has it that J.K. Rowling's inspirtation to write Harry Potter began in Porto, particularly at this library.  Rawlings lived in Porto for 10 years working as an English teacher.  She used to drink coffee at the second floor tearoom.  There are indeed great similarities between Lello's staircase and the one described in Hogwarts. 

No photography is allowed inside but you can find plenty of pictures on the internet.  Because it was so beautiful and unusual I put a few in here.  

Our next stop was at the Clerigos Church.  It has just recently gone under major renovation and we were very fortunate to be able to see it.  The church was buillt for the Brotherhood of the Cleigos ( Clergy) by Nicolau Nasoni, an Italian architect and pianter.  Construction began in 1750 and was finished around 1750. 

The Chapter room upstairs in the church.

This was the desk Nasoni used when designing the church.

The high altar- a weding cake structure with Mary on top- and the tomb of Nasoni, who asked to be buried there.  

He unfortunately built a bell tower and because it was there Sharon and I had to climb 240 steps to get to the top.  I might add this was after climbing 100's of steps going around the church.  In 1763 when it was completed it was the tallest structure in Portugal.  The record now belongs to Vasco da Gama Tower in Lisbon.  Oh goodie!  Close by so we can hopefully climb it before departing.  I know Sharon will be excited!

Beautiful views of the city as you climbed.

Narrow little staircase.

Awsome views although it started raining as we neared the top.

There were plaques on the railings showing what building you were viewing from the various viewpoints. 

I started down the steps when Sharon arrived and all of a sudden I remembered we needed to document this climb so I climbed back up to snap this picture of Sharon and get my picture taken.  

Praca Gomes Teixeria Or Lions Square. 

We next drove to the Ribeira neighborhood.  Full of restaurants and twisty streets.  A fun place to walk around.

I happened to lookup and saw the figure in the building and I thought it was some kind of a person holding spagetti.  I asked Pedro and he informed me it was St. John, the patron Saint of Porto.  

I still think it looks like someone holding spagetti.

This bridge, the Luis I Bridge,  was built by a protege of Mr. Eiffel, of Eiffel Tower fame.  

Mr. Eiffel also built one of the six bridges , the Maria Pia Bridge, that cross the Douro River.  Both bridges were originally projects of Mr. Eiffel but a difference in opinion and then a disinterest in sharing of the revenue from the bridge caused problems between the two men and Eiffel left the project to Seyrig to finish.

The actual name of the Luis I Bridge was the Dom Luis I bridge, named after then King Luis I.  That translates something into the "gift for King Luis I".  When the king never showed up at the inauguration of the bridge the locals dropped the "Dom".  Why the king never showed up isn't certain, but he largely  despised being a leader ( which he wasn't very good at) and ignored many of his royal duties until his death 3 years later. 

This is a staircase leading up to the "real Porto" so Pedro told us.  At the top of the staircase  and through the street we would come to a beautiful church that most tourists don't even know about.  Of course we wanted to see it.  Away he goes and we follow.  

Some views looking down as we climbed.  

I know you wanted to see the steps.

More steps. 

Oh, just a few more.

Here Pedro turned around and asked if we were sad with him.  We were just a little behind Pedro and we just explained that although we may look like we're only 48 (ha) or so we really were much older.  He was stunned I'm sure.  

As I was climbing these steps I just couldn't imagine how the people living on this street ever got their groceries home or furniture delivered. 

At last the Church of Santa Clara.

The facade is plain, but the interior of this 15th century church was transformed into one of Portugal's most exceptional examples of woodwork and gilding in the 17th century. 

After leaving the church we were informed it was level or downhill all the way over to the Cathedral.  Don't young people know  it's almost as hard to go down hill as up hill at our tender age.  

Sharon got a little helpiing hand.  I didn't need  one because I am her younger traveling campion.

The courtyard around the Cathedral and the pole you see was used for hangings.

Again, just another beautiful view.  I never get tired looking at these red tiled roofs. 

The church is 12-century Romanesque.  IHenry the Navigator was babtized here and it was the scene of many royal marriages.

This altar is the Silver Altar of the Holy Sacrament - 1500 pounds of silver.  When French troops under Napoleon pillaged Porto, the townspeople plastered over the altar to hide it.

Rua das  Flores.  After the church we started to walk down this "Street of Flowers" and when we told Pedro  we had walked down the street the day before we headed back to the car and headed to lunch driving through an area known as the Foz which is one of Porto's trendies, greenest, wealthiest, and most relaxing quarters situated where the river meets the Atlantic.  

The weather was not good and the waves were gigantic.  I was only able to capture this little crashing wave as we were driving by.  We then took a ride over the bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia.

Here we are enjoying a ittle Portuguese lunch - 3 kinds of meat plus sausage, french fries and rice and a little "green wine" to go with it.  I had no truble devouring a good share of it.  Those steps made me hungry!

I'm going to continue our tour on another blog since this one is so long!