Trip to Portugal - Vila Chã Beach
Another day of physical exercise on the beaches of North Portugal. As I'm on vacation in this area, I take advantage of it and every morning I run/walk beside the beaches. It is also very good to run close to the beach.
Feeling the air on the beach is wonderful, it seems to clear your lungs. I really like the beach and the sea, but the beach in the morning is excellent, it seems that the air is more pure.
In this area we have long walkways to enjoy the landscape close to the sea. For me it is a spectacular place and I love running. You don't have a lot of people on the walkways, so you can run the race calmly without being in the middle of the confusion.
As you can see in the photos, here in the morning there is a lot of fog, but in the afternoon it is a magnificent day. I really like this area for being calm and the beach also has a lot of space.
Another day at the beach, another day well lived and we must enjoy life as much as we can. Life is two days, don't forget that! Travel, live, have fun, run etc... LIVE!
Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/Vila+Cha+Beach/@41.1628914,-8.7943215,10.83z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xdc5e98828f55d5!8m2!3d41.2902081!4d-8.7330526
Trip to Portugal - Congreira Beach
Early this morning I got equipped and went running along the beach walkways. I did 12 km in about 2 hours, it was a good exercise. It was not always running, as I took many breaks to photograph the landscapes!
From the photos you can see that it was very foggy, when it is early and it is quite foggy but with the sun already showing it means that it will be an excellent day at the beach. Little wind, hot day and milder water. At least here in the north of Portugal it is more or less like this!
Very foggy, but be careful as this is deceiving. Sometimes when it is very fog it is normal to catch scald if you are not well protected with a good sunscreen.
Even with a lot of fog people are preparing to settle in a beautiful place to enjoy the beach at its best. Here the sea is a little rough when it is filling, so it is good to know if the tide is low or high depending on the day.
Near the beach there is a good car park, however if they do not arrive early the park is full.
An excellent day, with a long run/walk in the early morning and for the rest of the day it was a wonderful day at the beach. Too much sun and too much water!
Trip to Portugal - Angeiras Summer 2020
This summer I decided to take a mini-vacation near the beach. Angeiras is not far from my house, it is around 30 km, but staying in a house minutes from the beach without having to drive is a feeling of greater relaxation.
Angeiras is a beach in the north of Portugal near the city of Porto, the water temperature is not hot but with high temperatures we will go for a swim on the beach anyway. Even though it's very cold!
This flag in the photo is to signal the area where the lifeguard is. As the sea in this area has stronger waves, it is advisable to stay in an area where there is a person specialized in rescue.
Even in the middle of August, the beach has not been full, which makes social distance easier due to COVID-19. However, it is advisable to always walk with a mask with us, because if we want to enter any establishment it is mandatory to enter with a mask.
The temperatures these days were between 24 degrees and 26 degrees and with little wind. However whoever comes to this beach I advise you to have a windbreak, as there are days when the wind gets a little strong.
In the late afternoon, you can see a beautiful sunset but in the late afternoon the temperature drops a little so the ideal is to be in warmer clothes.
Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/Praia+de+Angeiras,+4455-189+Lavra/@41.2583914,-8.7077696,10.8z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0xd2469e0b68d9fa3:0xb5366743a809fe19!8m2!3d41.2655319!4d-8.727259
Trip to Portugal - Senhora do Salto - Paredes #4
In this article I describe the final part of my adventure in Nossa Senhora do Salto. Now I will show photos of the other path along the Sousa River, which I consider to be the most beautiful.
Along the way we always see the river at our side. It is a very beautiful image. The colors of the trees and the river are highlighted!
In this area the river is wider because we are far from the area we call "Garganta do Inferno" where the cliffs start to narrow the river.
Here we find peace in the middle of nature. I came on a weekday because on weekends there are many more people doing the trail. Even so, I found some people photographing the place or even walking the dog.
Here we find peace in the middle of nature. I came on a weekday because on weekends there are many more people doing the trail. Even so, I found some people photographing the place or even walking the dog.
This path is really beautiful, and with the heat that was on this day I just wanted to take a dip in the river.
And I end this article with this photo that I love. This place Senhora do Salto really should be visited for those who travel to the city of Porto - Portugal.
Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parque+Natural+Our+Lady+of+Salto/@41.1366229,-8.6389366,11.44z/data=!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0xd2486296a0aae61:0xdc0c831f3fa62f6d!2sSra.+do+Salto,+Paredes!3b1!8m2!3d41.1286355!4d-8.4337607!3m4!1s0x0:0xa92a6db6c299e45d!8m2!3d41.1287284!4d-8.4336779
I hope you enjoyed this adventure!
Trip to Portugal - Senhora do Salto - Paredes #3
Back to my adventure through the land of Nossa Senhora do Salto in Paredes. Senhora do Salto is one of the highlights of the Route of the Romanesque. It is a place where the Sousa river is quite narrow, and when it is squeezed between two cliffs, forming a gorge that people started to call hell.
Just above the river, in the mountains you will find an atrium where you can do theater shows. I was very curious about this atrium and one day when there is a show here I will bring you pictures of what a theater scene looks like in this place.
The Sousa River runs through the quartzite rocks which, due to its hardness and resistance to erosion, forms a very narrow and deep valley with vertical slopes. In the stretches of schist rocks, with softer characteristics, the valley is more open, forming meanders and alluvial deposits.
These are some of the oldest rocks in the Iberian Peninsula, dating from the Precambrian and Paleozoic.
The Church of Nossa Senhora do Salto in the middle of these mountains is powerful, puts a lot of respect.
This was one of the paths I took towards the top of the mountains. In the next post I will show the path that we can take next to the river.
Venture with me in these posts in the middle of Portuguese nature and if you come to the city of Porto come and visit this mountain.
See you soon!!!
Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/Parque+Natural+Our+Lady+of+Salto/@41.1473456,-8.6181762,10.62z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0xd2486296a5f73f1:0xa92a6db6c299e45d!8m2!3d41.1287289!4d-8.4336776
Trip to Portugal - Senhora do Salto - Paredes #2
Continuing my adventures in the Serra do Porto, now at Senhora do Salto in Paredes.
It is perhaps one of the most appreciated places in the municipality of Paredes. This landscaped space, of rare beauty, is wedged between high mountains where the Sousa river flows.
In this place you can find the so-called "Boca do Inferno", it has special geological characteristics and with a lot of mysticism.
The Senhora do Salto site provides moments of relaxation, tranquility and freshness. Unique feelings when we are in the middle of nature.
Senhora do Salto has a legend, in which they say that a Knight got rid of death in order to protect the Lady after an inadvertent jump in the abyss. The knight for thanks asked to build the chapel of Nossa Senhora do Salto.
In the steep valleys, small oak groves resist, species that were once dominant in the landscape, but which ended up giving way to eucalyptus and maritime pine plantations. In the higher areas, I come across a formidable vegetation cover of heather, gorse, gorse and gorse.
These habitats support an enormous diversity of animal species, some of which occur only in the Iberian Peninsula.
If you travel to the city of Porto and really enjoy nature walks, you have to come here. This place is not far from the center of Porto. With a car you can reach this place easily and quickly.
Trip to Portugal - Senhora do Salto - Paredes
Today the walk was through Paredes by Senhora do Salto. It is about 15 km away by car and takes around 20 minutes. You may be amazed at what I will say, I had never been to this place. Very close to home and I had never visited this beautiful place, as is possible!!! But I finally visited today...
In these houses there is a coffe where we can drink something fresh to start the journey through this land. I still don't know for sure what awaits me. The bridge that you can see through the photograph is quite high, in the photo you can’t get a sense of height. The motorway passes on that bridge.
On this walk I took about an 1hour 30 minutes to explore what was within my reach. It was worth it and you will see the photos during the post.
On this bridge you can see the Sousa River, and you also see a holiday home right next to the river. A spectacular place to make a holiday isolated from the city.
The mountains here are quite high, so today I decided to take the hike down the road, on the next visit I will venture up the mountains and then bring the photos for you to see.
This place is called "Largo Nossa Senhora do Salto". You can reach this square by car and then easily follow these paths and also take a dip in the river.
This place still belongs to the "Serras do Porto", and you can go through some species that has been posted on the poster. Butterflies you will see a lot. In the next post I will bring new photos about this spectacular place.
Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sra.+do+Salto,+Paredes/@41.1219663,-8.5917717,12.28z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0xd2486296a0aae61:0xdc0c831f3fa62f6d!8m2!3d41.1286355!4d-8.4337607
Trip to Portugal - Valbom #3
Again in Valbom - Gondomar on the walk beside the magnificent Douro River - Porto (Portugal). Feeling the fresh river air while walking is really relaxing, as it calms the mind like our body.
This place is ideal for taking a walk with the family and if you want you can stop for a swim in the river.
In this place there is a small garden where you can sit in the shade to rest. On very hot days it is very pleasant to be sitting in the garden enjoying the Douro River.
There is also a bar, which was closed today, which I thought was strange. At this time of summer, a bar near the river being closed is nothing normal. Unfortunately I was unable to drink a juice in this explanation.
The Valbom footbridge ends here, but I was curious to see what was at the top of the stairs. I'm very curious so I didn't hesitate and went up to see it.
Here I found the Restaurant "Casa Lindo" which has a magnificent view while you can have lunch or dinner. As I had gone on this walk alone, I decided not to have lunch at the restaurant, but when I am accompanied in this area, I will definitely come here for a snack.
This place is undoubtedly beautiful, the colors, the river, the trees and the city in the background. A place that remains in memory and that we always want to return to.
Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/place/Restaurante+Casa+Lindo/@41.1437128,-8.6261393,12.54z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0xd2463c45a80b84b:0x690977a8d98b7e16!8m2!3d41.1252591!4d-8.5560388
Trip to Portugal - Valbom #2
Continuation of the article on my walk beside the Douro River in Valbom - Gondomar (Porto - Portugal).
This day it was around 30 degrees and this time I took a bottle of water with me, because with these high temperatures it is very normal to dehydrate quickly.
This area is very pleasant to walk, because in addition to the floor being certain, the walk is also quite wide and thus we are able to maintain the social distance that is necessary at this time.
During this walk I pass by a river beach that is very pleasant. In addition to being able to soak up the sun, you can also take a bath in the calm waters of the Douro River.
This river beach is very close to the city center of Porto, so in summer you cannot fail to take a dip in this area.
Right in front of the river beach you have a bar where you can have a drink or simply enjoy the view of the Douro River.
I was still halfway there, however you will find signs with directions to other locations.
This walkway is very good for those who also want to ride a bike or go for a run.
If you come to Porto do not forget to come for a walk at the foot of the Douro River, you will not regret it. Below I leave the map with the location marked.
Google Maps https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1515927,-8.6363825,12.69z
Trip to Portugal - Valbom
Today my walk was close to the city of Porto and next to our great river Douro. This hike lasted for about 1 hour and 30 minutes, but it felt good to feel the river breeze. The day was very hot, around 32 degrees.
On the other side of the river bank is the municipality of Vila Nova de Gaia. This place also has a magnificent view of the city of Porto, then you will see.
This time I did not forget to take a bottle of water, because with this heat it is very important to be well hydrated. However, along the way you have drinking fountains, but I prefer in this time of pandemic not to use for loss.
The walkways in this place are very good and have directions for people to walk. As you can see in Portugal we are taking a lot of care for tourists who come to visit our country and of course for ourselves mainly.
In the background is the magnificent city of Porto, which I will later bring more posts about the city.
Many people also come to this area to fish. A beautiful place to relax and do physical activity!
Trip to Portugal - Couce #6
Here I am again with an article on the magnificent nature of Couce - Serras do Porto. As I am close to this place I tried to take as many photos as possible so that you can get to know this area in detail.
It took me 1 hour and 30 minutes to reach this place, because I went on foot from my house in the center of the city of Valongo to the River Ferreira in Couce. In Valongo we have several walkways through the mountains so that tourists do not get lost in this place. I have known this mountain since there were no tourists walking in the mountains. It was good because I had a lot more privacy when doing my walks.
In the Ferreira river you can cool off but it is quite low in this area so you can't dive. Just wet the body with water and thus relieve the heat that these days have been in Porto.
If you come to Portugal in the months of July and August prepare yourself because it has really hot days, even in the north of the country.
The river landscape surrounding the mountains is magnificent. That is why whenever I arrive at this place I have to sit for a while to enjoy the view.
To leave later, we can go through the middle of the village of couce, but as I knew it still took an hour and thirty minutes to get home, I preferred to take the shortest route and thus just pass by the side of the village.
The mountains of Porto undoubtedly have to be preserved well, as there are many species of animals and the place is beautiful.
Trip to Portugal - Leça da Palmeira Beach
Today I did a different routine in my day, I woke up early in the morning, around 8 am and headed towards Leça da Palmeira. The beach is about 15km from my house, by car it is about 20 minutes without traffic. Very close when you want to take a dip in the sea.
The beach was very calm, thankfully because with the situation of the COVID-19 that we are experiencing at the moment, all precautions are important. There were few people on the beach and because of that it was possible to maintain safe distances between families.
If you notice the beach is the yellow flag, this is because the sea was full of waves and is a signal to be careful to enter the sea. For surfers the sea was spectacular.
The small castle-like tower isolated on the sands of Leça da Palmeira does not lie at its original location. Commissioned in 1980 by local benefactor João Pinto de Araújo, the tower was located near the Leça river mouth, and was used as a signaling reference for the returning fishing vessels, and also as a warning of the any weather changes for the boats still at sea. The construction of the Dock nº1 at the Port of Leixões, in the early 20th century, wiped out the former river mouth and led to the demolition of this structure, which was eventually rebuilt at the beach as a supporting building to local activities.
Right next to the beach we have MC Donalds in case you want to eat something, but I preferred to go home and eat my healthy food. ehehe I try to avoid fast food as much as I can.
This area, it can be said that it is a rich area of Matosinhos, recent buildings and the cost of each apartment near the beach is very expensive. So I prefer to be a few kms away from the beach but at the same time I am not that far away and everything is much cheaper.
In this last photo you can see that there is a very wide walk in this area, giving the possibility of running or cycling quite far from everyone. A good place to keep your social distance and at the same time enjoy the smell of the sea and the refreshing breeze.
Trip to Portugal - Couce #5
I return again with my 3 hour journey through the mountains in Couce - Serras do Porto. A wonderful place to enjoy nature and relax a little from city life. I feel more and more close to nature, and increasingly wanting to get away from the city. I always had this great connection for nature, even being a boy all connected to new technologies.
I love this photo. By the way, having a tree lying down like this and having to bend over to go under the tree, it looked like it was in a movie. How good it was that I changed a little bit of tragedy and found this way.
Walking with the river at the side, sometimes with some obstacles such as mud on the way and me jumping through the dry part. Funny how in those moments I forget about problems and focus on small things, like not being buried in the mud eheheh
My stop, my destination sitting on a rock in the river to cool me down. Relax and enjoy how beautiful nature is, how much we must preserve and remember that without it we don't exist.
Portugal besides its cities also has a lot of nature, we are a small country but with a lot to discover. Even living here near the Serras do Porto, I am still discovering magical places.
I hope you are enjoying my photos and adventure. I look forward to your comments.
Trip to Portugal - Couce #4
In continuation of the previous post of the big 3 hour walking to the Ferreira River in Couce - Serras do Porto (Portugal). A great walk and with many photos, the incentive was also undoubtedly to be able to show everyone this magical place to the community of the Hive platform.
Here in the middle of the mountains we can appreciate the sound of the river, the birds singing, the wind passing and in the background stop and reflect on our lives. It is good to stop, it is good to reflect, it is good to breathe fresh air. We are used to always running in the city, but we have to learn to relax and enjoy life, our only life!!!
This river has little depth, but if you want to cool off you can sit and get a little wet. I also like going to river very much, it is good to be in the water and enjoy the trees, the birds and the silence (with no one around) it is also good to be alone!
This place where I put the last photo, many families who know this place come here to have their picnics. I already miss being with a group of friends in the middle of nature talking and drinking a few beers.
Finally, I discovered another new path that will give to the river area that few people know about. Then I'll post more photos. A great walk and with lots of photos to mix.
I hope you are enjoying this Couce journey.
Trip to Portugal - Couce #3
Again I present the continuation of my long walk that lasted for 3 hours to the Ferreira River in Couce. It was a long walk but with the beautiful landscapes that I am showing in this article, you will understand that it makes me want to extend the walk.
In the picture above it was very close to the village of couce. But today I decided to pass just by the side of the village, because otherwise I couldn't reach the destination I had planned to reach.
Classified as Aldeia de Portugal, Couce invites you to slow down to the leisurely pace of nature, to socialize, to carefully observe the landscape, flora and fauna and to discover the vast mountainous territory integrated in the Parque das Serras do Porto, covering its pedestrian, mountain bike, trail running and equestrian routes.
QuoteWith each visit, a memorable experience!
In this last photo I tried to photograph a aircraft that was playing at the moment. At this time of summer, as it is very hot and the likelihood of fire is very high, it is normal to have a light aircraft watching the area to quickly detect a fire outbreak and thus alert the firefighters so they can catch the fire at the beginning and put it out more easily.
On the map above you have the possibility to see which paths you can follow and how far each one is. It also has a small graph of the route and its difficulty, it is very good for those who do not know this area and so you know what the right path you want to do.
I didn't follow any of these paths and I did my own route because I already know this area very well.
I arrived at the Ferreira River but I am not yet in the place I wanted to reach. I will leave for the next article the arrival at the place. It is one of the places I like most in these Serras do Porto.
Trip to Portugal - Couce #2
As promised I will continue to write about my adventure to Couce - Rio Ferreira. It was a 3 hour walk/run, and it was well worth it. The path is not complicated to do, but with the high temperatures the task always makes it a little difficult. Again I advise anyone who does this route to take water.
In the middle of the path I found a suspension bridge due to a small stream that runs underneath. As it is summer, this river is dry.
In the middle of these mountains you can find some houses, in which people live in the countryside. These people have a much more relaxed and natural lifestyle. I really appreciate these people who want to live in the most natural way possible. I highly value this choice!
Halfway we started to see the Ferreira River again, where you can enjoy listening to the sound of birds mixed with the sound of the river. It gives me a very relaxing feeling.
This is already the road towards the village of Couce that I mentioned earlier on my blog. There was still about 30 minutes to reach the village.
I was already close to the village and almost reaching my stipulated destination, which was to get close to the Ferreira River. In the next post I will present you amazing photos of the Ferreira River.
I hope you like my posts in the middle of nature/mountains.
Trip to Portugal - Couce #1
Today I did a walk and run that lasted around 3 hours. I can say that at the moment I'm very tired, however it was really worth the effort I made. In addition to the physical exercise I also started to discover a new place in these montains that I will later divulge in this series.
Today it was 32ºC/89.6℉, very hot !! On the mountain, it doesn't happen to be so hot if you are also near a river. In this case, Couce has the Ferreira River which cools the area well.
During the walk I found groups of people camping, with music, food and their children refreshing in the river. A good place to spend the weekend outside the city.
In the photos you can see that the path has a lot of shadows, that's why I put up with the walk with 32ºC/89.6℉, I only advise if you take a walk here with these temperatures taking water with you. Halfway through I started to be thirsty. As it was a 3 hours walk, I should have taken water, the next one I won't forget.
During this journey I found two fruits that I could pick up if they were ripe. The first was figs but I didn't take the picture of the tree, the second was the grapes as you can see they are still very green.
In the next post I write more about this journey to Couce.
Trip to Portugal - Mountain training Valongo
Running in the late afternoon is a habit I have had for 1 year. The decision to exercise daily was after I quit smoking. When you stop smoking the tendency is to eat more, so I had to find a way to fight it physically and psychologically.
These workouts have an average duration between 45 minutes to 1 hour. On the mountain it is always a little harder, as there are many climbs and the ground is not straight. But feeling the fresh air and being in the silence is worth the effort.
Mountain paths are sometimes narrow and care must be taken not to fall when running. It is necessary to be very attentive to running on these paths, because to twist a foot is quite easy as it has many stones.
This area is close to Santa Justa and Porto. For those who like to be in the middle of nature, you can not miss a walk around these sides.
Trip to Portugal - Beach in Lavra - Angeiras
Summer is strong in Portugal, even in the north of Portugal it has been very good days to go to the beach and without much wind. Here on the northern beaches it is very normal to have a lot of wind, but lately it has been very pleasant.
Anyone who has ever been to a beach in the north of Portugal is well aware that the temperature of the sea water is quite cold. Today even though I knew the water was very cold, I didn't hesitate and went for a swim at least to feel the sea.
This beach has a great advantage, there are few people. In this time that still remains from the pandemic of the COVID-19 virus, I prefer to go to places where there is not a large crowd of people for my protection.
Angeiras has a very simple beach, with long walkways and a sea with waves (for surfing is good) but it is a tip that it is a very calm place and without confusion. By car it is quite close to Porto.
Trip to Portugal - Streets of Porto #3
The city of Porto as you may already know is the city where I live. Today I bring some pictures of the riverside area of Porto. Here you will find the famous Ponte D. Luis.
This place with these views is located right in the historic center of Porto, Praça da Ribeira, next to the pier with the same name, is one of the oldest squares in the city.
It was in this area of Ribeira and in its commercial connection with the Douro River that the city began its rapid development and turned to the river.
The view from this place is to Vila Nova de Gaia, here you will find the best Port wine cellars in the area.
Ponte D. Luís, is one of the wonders of the city of Porto, continues to defy the times, now surrendered to the hardness of concrete.
One of the most emblematic works in Porto is, without a doubt, the majestic metallic bridge D. Luís.
A city that is definitely worth visiting and exploring.
Trip to Portugal - Streets of Porto #2
The streets of Porto are special, of course, being my city it is also normal for me to like this place very much.
In these streets you can feel history for every place you pass and every house or building you see.
In the historic center of Porto we have preserved our architecture a lot. If, for example, you buy a house in the center of Porto, you cannot throw the whole house down, you have to preserve the facade of the house so as not to clash with the rest of the place.
It may seem a little tough policy, because you bought the place and you have restrictions, but to have a historic city we have to have these rules, because otherwise our history would disappear.
If you visit the city of Porto and decide to go walk, prepare yourself, my city isn't practically flat. The city has many climbs and descents which makes it very tiring for those who visit on foot or do it by bicycle.
If you enter the historic neighborhoods you will also have many stairs. The photos in this post are more realistic from the point of visiting Porto and walking through the most remote places.
The city of Porto has a lot of reconstruction, since since there was a tourism boom, there has been a lot of investment in the historic centers, such as hotels, shops, museums, cafes, bars etc ... Now there is everything a tourist may need in a city.
They usually say that the city of Porto is very gray in terms of time, it is true in winter but a lie in summer as we have a lot of sun and heat in the months of July and August.
The city of Porto before the pandemic was at its peak of tourism, however I believe when this is over we will continue with the tourism boom. We have a lot of good things to show and whoever visits the city of Porto comes back again.
Trip to Portugal - Running through the mountains of Porto
Today was a training day in the middle of the mountain again. The day was not too hot, so I took the opportunity to pull a little more by myself.
In this mountain of the Serras do Porto there are some climbs that leave me completely exhausted. In the photos it may seem that it doesn’t go up much, but when we’re on the road going up, we feel the real pain of gravity.
When I'm not running, I look to see if I can find different plants, because in this mountain there are carnivorous plants that are quite rare. I haven't found any yet.
Stopping to feel and hear the wind in the middle of the mountain is something I love to do.
The Serra do Porto is an excellent place to get out of the hustle and bustle (that is, the big city) and relax a little. For those who like nature I recommend coming to spend a few hours in this mountain. And don't forget not to throw garbage on the mountain. Thank you!
Trip to Portugal - Streets of Porto
Porto is the second largest city in Portugal and it is my city. It is the city that gave Portugal its name.
It is a city known worldwide for its wine, its bridges and contemporary and ancient architecture, its historic center, the quality of its restaurants and its gastronomy, its main football team, Futebol Clube do Porto (of course it is the my football team), for its main public university the University of Porto (where I studied), as well as for the quality of its hospital centers.
Porto is the construction of time and the passage of many peoples. The Romans stayed for several centuries on the Morro da Sé, which they defended with a wall. They baptized the city "Portus", as its an important fishing port for river and sea.
The city of Porto for me is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It has the Douro River, with its six bridges, the typical houses and streets, the beaches that are cold but beautiful, the gardens and squares, with a lot of party and is a meeting point for university students from all over the world, not to mention Portuguese gastronomy, which is even more special.
If you like history, architecture and a hapiness, you have to visit my city Porto and you will be very welcome!!
Trip to Portugal - Constância
Constância is a beautiful village, seat of the municipality, located in the center of the country, between the beautiful Tagus and Zêzere rivers, in a kind of peninsula. It was the place of residence of the great Portuguese poet, Luís de Camões, who inspired it for some of his works.
Constância stands proudly in white dressed up the slope, with the purity of the rivers at her feet. In its narrow whitewashed streets, history is breathed, cheered by flowers, colors and peace of mind.
Its ancient history is inextricably linked to these two important rivers that bathe it. Here lived Iberians, Romans, Visigoths and Moors. Constância lived a lot from river transport, construction and ship repair, crossing and fishing.
An annual event that attracts a lot of people to Constância are the Feasts of Nossa Senhora da Boa Viagem, which take place around Easter, in which the town presents itself in its greatest splendor, with the streets decorated with colorful papers and animated by the many small taverns that meet a little bit everywhere. The highlight of this festival is the Monday after Easter, where a procession of ornate boats takes place.
This beautiful village offers relaxing walks on the banks of the river, a perfect place full of vegetation and lush gardens.
Trip to Portugal - Évora Museum
The Évora Museum emerged after the foundation of the public library in 1804, an initiative of the Archbishop of Évora Frei Manuel do Cenáculo to present his collection of archeology and art.
The Évora Museum, is over 100 years old. The interior of the building itself is already worth a visit. The collection started with articles collected by Dr. Augusto Filipe Simões during the 1870s, containing Roman, Visigoth and Arab pieces that used to be part of the Roman Temple, Palácio D. Manuel and Praça do Giraldo.
This museum is really big and we can find several paintings and sculptures, sometimes a little strange. In art we see a lot of strange things too because I don't understand it.
When I go to a city I usually visit a museum in the city. Because I also find the art of each area of the country interesting. If you come to Évora come and visit this museum.
Trip to Portugal - Exhibition at Guimarães Castle
Guimarães Castle, located in Monte Largo.
Mumadona, Galician countess, had a castle built in this place, around the year 968, where the population could take refuge from the constant assaults of hordes of Vikings, coming from the seas of northern Europe and from Muslims who flocked from the territories they occupied to the south.
When Count Henrique received from his father-in-law, Afonso VI, the government of the Portucalense province, he ordered the construction of another larger and more solid building, which constituted the beginning of the important defensive complex that we see today, dominated by the keep. Although the fact is not documented, it is likely that the building that is leaning against the inner part of the north wall was the home of Count D. Henrique and the birthplace of his son Afonso Henriques, Portugal's first king.
The military history of the foundation of the kingdom is linked to the castle in the various combats in which Afonso Henriques faced in 1127 his cousin Afonso VII, king of Leão. of the infant's word when he, seeing that he was unable to overcome the siege of Afonso VII, promised to become his vassal, having reneged on the promise on winning.
Until the end of the 14th century in the castle of Guimarães there were heroic battles to defend the integrity of the young kingdom of Portugal, shaken by dynastic issues with Castile that made its independence vulnerable. With the birth of the new artillery weapons, the castle of Guimarães, like so many others, experienced the beginning of the end of its glories.
Afonso Henriques (Afonso I of Portugal) was the first king of Portugal. Called “The Conqueror”, he reigned 42 years, from 1143 to 1185, and left a nation as a legacy.
Trip to Portugal - Foz do Douro - Porto
West of Porto, Foz do Douro is known for being one of the most expensive areas in the city.
Foz do Douro is a privileged place, where the Douro River meets the ocean and offers beautiful landscapes, embellished with its promenade, beautiful and cosmopolitan terraces, bars and gardens, being a busy place by day and night.
An area portrayed in many of the works of artists of all time, Foz do Douro is also classified as a Municipal Natural Heritage for its Metamorphic Complex, in 2005 the Foz do Douro Geological Walk was created in order to preserve and publicize this set of rocks of great scientific and pedagogical value.
Here, the houses of the bourgeoisie are on the edge of a beautiful promenade, the palm trees treat the ocean for you, and the sun shows off at nightfall every day to the people of Porto. Foz, as this is what it is all about, despite not being a historic center, has a quality of life for its out-of-the-ordinary residents, which I invite you to discover.
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Trip to Portugal - Walk through the mountains
Today in Portugal on the outskirts of the city of Porto it was 27 degrees and it already felt serious that summer has already arrived. Who likes to go to the beach was an excellent day, who likes to walk on the mountain was also very good.
Today in Portugal on the outskirts of the city of Porto it was 27 degrees and it already felt serious that summer has already arrived. Who likes to go to the beach was an excellent day, who likes to walk on the mountain was also very good.
At this time, unfortunately my country usually has a lot of fires due to the heat and unfortunately also people who like to set fire. I hope this year will be more peaceful for all of us.
What was missing was going to the river, but as it is a little far away I didn't have time. On the next mountain ride I will try to pass by the river.
Trip to Portugal - The messenger - Porto
Another day and another walk along the waterfront of Porto. In these days that the weather in Portugal is not too hot, nor too cold it is quite pleasant to walk beside the river. Appreciate the image and monuments that appear in front of us.
In the first photograph we have the statue of the Messenger, in which from the back it is possible to see the Ponte da Arrábida, one of the main bridges to cross the Douro River.
On the other side of the river we have the city of Vila Nova de Gaia, where there are the main port wine. If you come to Portugal and visit the city of Porto it is mandatory to go to the Port wine cellars and taste the various wines that we have here. You will not regret it!
In this area there are also people who usually come to do their fishing and get some sleep! With this environment it is very relaxing to fish around here and next to a city.
Along this walkway you have benches to be able to rest from the walk and enjoy the landscape that surrounds you. It is a very beautiful place where you can enjoy the junction of the sea and the river!
These boats are typical in the city of Porto. They are fishermen who park their boats after going to the sea.
In the month of June it is very good to take a walk beside the river douro.
Trip to Portugal - Jardim do Passeio Alegre - Porto
Jardim do Passeio Alegre, in Porto, is one of the most beautiful green spaces in this city in northern Portugal. It is in the Foz do Douro area, that is, where the Douro river meets the sea. For that reason it deserves a visit, but it has more reasons to go there for a walk.
The garden was built in the late 19th century by landscape architect Emílio David with varied gardens and the planting of different trees that take on new colors each season. On one side there is the lane of palm trees and, on the other side, portentous trees that give the proper shade on hot summer days. In autumn it is a beauty to watch the leaves fall from the trees, with different shades. Also next door, the electric car passes in front of the stately homes of Foz Velha.
Also noteworthy are the public toilets and the yellow building built in 1910. They are decorated with Art Nouveau tiles, and still retain part of the original English dishes. If a bathroom is worth visiting, this is it!
There are also several architectural elements in this garden: the granite fountain, which came from the old Convento de S.Francisco, the two obelisks, which mark one of the garden entrances, originating from Quinta da Prelada, the romantic chalet that is now a café-bar, built in 1874, a mini golf course, for kids and adults to have fun and a gazebo used in many of the events that take place in this garden.
The public garden thus became a place of choice for families to enjoy landscaped and wooded areas, with shadows to escape the heat, with benches that could promote rest and conversation, socializing or contemplating the river and The different forms of sociability could thus be cultivated in these public gardens, both by the aristocracy and by the bourgeoisie, who found a common place here.
After Jardim do Passeio Alegre, there are beaches, esplanades, bike paths always full of skates, bicycles and people walking.
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