After many trips to France and Italy, we wanted a new culture, new architecture, new food, but the same good weather — so we decided to go to Portugal for a change. Pictures are here.
We spent the first week on the Atlantic coast, in the south-west corner of the country, called the Costa Vicentina, had a vacation home in Salema. We went on a dolphin-watching tour that promised a 95% probability of seeing dolphins … but we were the other 5% 🙂 … and then we saw Orcas, very rare!
The second week, we drove north. We stayed in a former monastery in Evora (Pousada Convento Évora), explored the city, and the last night found a lovely restaurant: Tábua do Naldo.
Next stop: Coimbra, where we visited the famous university with its historic library (didn’t see any bats, they are supposed to live in there). Another great restaurant discovery: Passeite, Taberna do Azeite, where they use olive oil for everything, including the desserts!
On the way to Porto we drove along the Douro valley, where the grapes for Port wine are grown.
Last stop: Porto and the town across the river where Port wine is made, Vila Nova de Gaia.