PORTUGAL

September 2006

Walk down a dark deserted city street and suddenly run into a group of about a dozen

Asian looking folks looking for a Chinese Restaurant? Where are you? Northern Portugal of course! Coimbra, the old historical, hilly University town South of Porto. The Asians turned out to be Indonesian tourists.

If you want to get away from the average Tourist area go to Northern Portugal. Air Transat has non-stop flights from Toronto to Porto. An interesting old City and Culture with more than a dozen Port Wineries.

We rented a small Citroen car and spent 3 weeks driving through often spectacular countryside. Along the Douro River – full of Vineyards and Olive Tree farms and through some ancient villages dating back before the Romans and ending our trip in a coastal town.

We stayed in mostly small inexpensive accomodations called “Residencials” at an average cost of 50 Euros per night including breakfast.

Porto ----2 nights LargeHistorical Town

Pinhao ----1 night Small village on the Douro River

Gimonde----2 nights near Braganca – one of the many ancient and picturesque villages with 300 year old houses where the sheep and goats live on the main floor

Magodouro ---1 night ancient church and fort built on hill

Sabugal ----2 nights Rebuilt Castle on Hill top in centre of town

Monsanto ----2 nights Considered the most impressive ancient village in Portugal with a pre-Roman Fortress on steep rocky hilltop

Serra da Estrella ----1 night Mountainous ski region of Portugal. Hotel at about 800 meters overlooking the town of Covelha

Coimbra ----4 nights Lots of sites, narrow streets, magnificent buildings, University in former Palace

Luso---- 2 night Famous Spa and centre of “Luso” bottled water and the Bucaco Forest nearby

Ovar ----3 nights Small coastal town near many beaches and a Nature Reserve

Porto ----1 night at an airport Residencial

We drove less than 1400 km and had an interesting adventure. The bread, cheese and wine was memorable.