11/09/2024

 


 




Sunrise on our last day on the river

 

During a beautiful morning we were making way through lifting fog toward Porto/Gaia. We spent a lot of time on the sun deck watching the ship going through 2 last locks. Brian and Donna managed an invitation from the Captain to join him in the wheel house.

 




 

Helping the Captain

 

And before you knew it we were docked in Gaia exactly where we boarded several days ago. We had time to organize and get on a bus to Guimaraes (pronounced gim-a-resh). We were off-loaded near a castle/palace of the Duke whose family went waaaaay back.  And bumped into the Camino (again).

 



 


Paul on the Camino (again)

 

And we continued down the quaint streets which reminded us of Sienna.  There seemed to be excitement in the air.  When we rounded the corner, we found out why.  We found ourselves in the middle of a rehearsal for a festival. Hundreds of kids with drums, adults with kids in tow, old men and women, and tourists thronged the central square.

 


 








The Maestro

 

There was a head man they called the Maestro who had a baton and marked out the complex (kinda) rhythm and the big drums followed his lead while the littler drums kept a steady rhythm.  It was LOUD, it was energetic, it was fun, it was great!

 

We popped into a linen store (Guimaraes is famous for linen) and pickup up some presents for various people back home.  

 




 

Buying linen

 

The clerk spoke no English but communicated adequately so that we were all satisfied.  As we made our way back to the bus, we happened on a stair case that reminded us of the one in Orvieto when we took a picture of Shirley pretending it’s our casa.

 



 


Mi Casa

 

Many streets were closed due to all the drumming and so our busses could not make the rendezvous point.  Plan B took effect and some we were whisked off back to Porto/Gaia.

 



 


Sunset on the way back.

 

We did get back just in time to hop 3 taxi’s and off to Mass at St. Ovidio’s in Gaia.  This was a very modern church with lots of stark concrete and little rococo. But the congregation was large and varied--old and young and very young for a 7 PM Mass.  The kids were the choir with a guitar accompanist, and it was joyful!  

 

Back to the ship where the kitchen held dinner for us. Then to bed as tomorrow our luggage had to be out by 6 AM.  6670 steps today (many on the Camino).

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
Karl and Becky Fillauer invited Paul and Shirley along with 15 other guests to a first class vacation to Lisbon, the Douro Valley and Madrid leaving 10/29/2024 and returning 11/14/2024. We received the full itinerary yesterday and it looks like a dream trip.  Here is a link to our itinerary:    https://axustravelapp.com/shared/itinerary/476659cc-cc5f-4e3b-ab88-48a373bc15d7 We will spend 4 nights in Lisbon, then take a Uniworld cruise on the Euro River, then spend 4 nights in Madrid before flying home. Here's the Duoro River map:
Read more
Image
  10/30/2024     All 15 pilgrims (2 had to drop) ready to board the plane at the Chattanooga airport.   We all met at the airport, got checked in and through security.  Shirley and Paul split a smashburger, and we waited.  From 11:00 EDT on the 29th to when we landed, got through passport control, got our luggage, got out of the airport, it was 10:30 Lisbon time on the 30th! If my math is correct that means we were 19 hours 30 minutes in airports or airplanes.  As we boarded the flight to Lisbon, Shirley registered 13,857 steps.   On the flight from Boston to Lisbon we finally had some comfortable seats.  This was Delta premium – a class above comfort plus and below business.  We got ~4 hours of sleep, and good service and food.   We were met at the gate by a tour company that specializes in guiding passengers from the gate to the outside.  It was welcome.  Although we could have followed the signs and eventually made it, it was a comfort to be able to relax.  After luggage we went to
Read more
Image
  11-04-2024   We slept well last night.  The bed is comfortable and no extraneous noise disturbed us. The bathroom is on the small side … the shower is approximately 3 feet square and the controls were fairly obvious (no labels or instructions – It’s always an adventure as no two are the same anywhere).   They have a 24 hour coffee shop with cookies and water and ice.  The coffee machine grinds and dispenses a variety of servings from espresso to lattes. At 6 AM there was no line.  At 7 AM there was a considerable line. At 7 AM the doors to the restaurant open for breakfast.  We ate with Brian and Donna and Karl.  They have an omelet station with 3 pans.  There was a considerable line at 7:30. There was also the standard European fare as well.  Cold cuts, beans and great bread.  Alas they do not have a gelato station for breakfast.  I am hoping for one at lunch.   Our tour organized at 8 AM and we were packed and ready to go.  A bus took us to the top of the St. Catherine bridge and d
Read more