Day 8 Oct 21st Lamego and Régua

 Bom Diá. Good morning.



A quick morning stop at the Croft winery to learn about making port (and a tasting). After the grapes are picked they are smashed with (clean) feet for 4 hours. Then brandy (77%, not 78%... then you would have to pay a higher tax) is added to stop the fermentation, resulting in a high sugar content and high alcohol level. Yummy. They make a white and a rose port in addition to the common red variety.


Back on our boat and cruising to the port of Régua. We hopped on our bus and proceeded up the hill to Lamego. The bus took us up to the top of the boulevard to "Our Lady of Remedies" It is one of the oldest ecclesiastical districts in Portugal. As a pilgrimage a person can climb the 684 stairs up to the church. OR like we were offered walk down the steps to the city. 


An afternoon treat.

 


Returned to the boat for a Portugese dinner. Had a celebratory cake and towel sculpture to acknowledge my birthday. We attended a short lecture on producing wine in the Duoro valley at the Duero museum ending the night.




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Truly last post Oct 31st

 No pictures. Just random bits of interest on Madiera. There are no snakes on the island.  The highest elevation is 6106 ft. It is 35miles by 14 miles. The uninhabited island was discovered in 1419 by a portugese explorer João Zarco. There were no indegious people, just forests.  Even though the island is small there are 4 distinct microclimates. There are between 100 and 150 tunnels. In 2002 the newly extended runway (9100 ft) at the airport opened. It was built out on the ocean. There are miles of lavedas (or aquaducts) on the island. These are water canals that collect moisture and rain and spring waters in the mountains and deliver it to the cities below. There also miles of walking paths along many of the lavedas. People travel to the island just for some of the hikes. The vast interior which lies mainly above 3000 feet is unpopulated or cultivated.
Read more

Day 6. Cruising the Douro Oct 19

Image
Our first morning on the boat. Hopped on our tour bus and snaked up the steep canyon walls to Castelo Rodrigo, a medieval village, which still houses about 50 locals. It is located on the border of Spain and Portugal. It was first occupied in 500 BC and went through several kingdoms as groups fought over its allegiance. We took a short walking  tour (in a stormy wind) and ended at one of the 2 TINY gift shops and tasting rooms. Enjoyed flavored almonds, local sheep cheese and almond and chestnut liquor. Dennis really enjoyed the church of Our Lady. The dark atmosphere was serene. It houses a statue of St James, the Moor slayer which dates back to 14th & 15th centuries.   St James   Back to the boat, lunch and a trip down the river. Passed through 2 locks on our way to our evening docking at Pinhão. After dinner, A nice evening walk along the dock.
Read more

Day 12 Oct 25 A trip down the coast

Image
 A day of bus travel, but we had some wonderful stops as we headed to Lisbon.  A stop at Nazaré, a sea coast town of about 10,000. Its fame is BIG surfing waves (around the other side of the rock cliff). It's a popular fishing port and holiday location. We saw where the local fisherman were drying the fish along the shore (and yes that's octopus in the foreground) We had a great fish luncheon provided for us. And we managed some nice weather in between showers.  Then on to Óbidos, a medieval city, now inhabited by about 3100 people. Originally a Roman city, it fell to the Moors in the 700s. Later the city was given to the Queen as a bridal gift from King Dinis. She and the queens that followed were in charge of the city. Most of the city was destroyed in the Lisbon earthquake of 1765, but was later rebuilt. At one point the local nuns starting making a sour cherry liqueur called ginja. The locals now serve it in little chocolate cups.  Oh so good.  
Read more