Ported

February 10 2025.

We started the day a little slow, then headed to the pool.

We were there about an hour.

I did about 20 laps, in a short pool. But I was still exhausted, but it didn’t help I wasn’t breathing.

I figured it’s better to practice breathing control.

Then we all got ready and headed out.

Our first stop was São Bento train station.

It was under some construction, but it was still pretty.

However, it was also very small.

We also saw Palacio das Cardosas and Cámara Municipal do Porto.

Then headed to meet Joachim at Livraria Lello.

I had booked us gold access, which really just let us go in before the other people, and gave us a bigger credit towards a book.

I don’t know if it was worth it, but it wasn’t not.

The bookstore however was certainly worth the trip.

It’s very pretty, and served as the inspiration for Flourish & Blotts in Harry Potter.

Hayley and I went in first, then we let Dimitri and his brother go in, while we watched the dog and the baby.

We then went to look at Igreja das Camelitas, Cardoaria Park, Clérigos Tower.

Dropped off the dog, grabbed pastel de nata at Castro, and headed back to where we were to get pizza at Slice of Porto and for Jay to meet us.

It had a 4.9, and while the service was nice, the pizza was not. Unless it’s really the good food Porto standards.

Then we headed to the Miradouros on the map.

We saw two, and missed one before it closed.

So instead we decided to walk over the top of Ponte de Luis I to get caught in the rain.

I was ill prepared, but I also was thankful I hadn’t been carrying anything around all day.

Back in Porto we went to Cafe do Cais.

It was good, I don’t think I could say great.

Then we headed back to the hotel, said goodbye to Jay and Joachim, and packed up and got ready for bed.

If I didn’t have my down jacket I could have fit it all in my rolling bag, I was pretty impressed.

Waking up early tomorrow to try to make the most of the day.

Until Tomorrow.