O Porto (still): cloud & rain, 20

What Do You Do On A Rainy Day?

Last night the weather changed, and not for the better. The rain arrived for 24 hours,

but we made it out the door to a very traditional restaurant before the sky opened and basically drowned Porto. 

We had an excellent meal with wine and appies for a song. This little place is so popular that they were turning folks away all evening.

We walked past earlier in the day and I asked if they took reservations in my flash Portugese and the fellow answered "yes" in English. I tried!  I had the traditional bacalao cod dish made from salted cod and soaked in water well ahead to get the salt out. Just excellent! 

The cheese appie was very good. In Portugal they put various appies on your table...if you eat, you pay. If you don't, you don't.

We woke fairly early to see that it has rained much of the night and was looking like more on the way.

So what do you do on a rainy day in Porto? 

 Well, you can go to the mall...good stuff there if you like mall shopping. My favourite.

Not your usual mall!

Window shopping?

You can reminisce about past concerts and see if there is a way to make sure to be here Sept 30th...hmmm?

You can move your gear into the 30th place you've stayed since leaving home...I get to sleep with Marilyn tonight...really...the lady who runs this place said so!

Then when the rain starts again you can find a cheap lunch is a small local cafe and eat hot soupa....yummm!

Then you can go for a walk... I was carrying three small ice cream Magnum bars in my day pack from the other apartment freezer. When I offered one to Annemarie as we walked to town she said, "no thanks, not right now". Really? So how melted do you like yours to be? We enjoyed the ice cream immensely:-)

On our walk we met new and interesting people...

Then after you're talked out, you can challenge yourself...really challenge yourself!

By walking over a freaking high bridge! OMG!

Annemarie wasn't waiting to see the view...never seen her move so fast! Some support she turned out to be.

I lingered, so enjoying the feeling of rising to the challenge. I paused to take in the local art.

Take a photo or three.

When I walked off the bridge at the other end I knew I'd sleep well the night before the Caminho brought us back over it again next week.

Annemarie feels a little differently. 

Then you can always walk down to check out the port wine shops.

Then you can kill some time with a little taster of white port...thanks for the tip David! Nice when you add a couple of Napoletanas de Chocloates!  We are going to be in such trouble when we start walking again! But we also come for the tastes of another culture. We tell ourselves that we will walk it all off in a day or two!

We decided that we could weave along the river...

Then it was back over the lower level of the bridge...piece of cake.

You can also consider new opportunities. No experience required to join the crew of this Dutch 'Bark Europa'...probably just a fat bank account!

Very tempting...naw, they'd likely want me to climb up to help with the sails.

It's also possible to learn how the Portugese move apartments...you need a mattress to break the fall!

As you can see, rainy days are hell. Nothing to do. So you may as well have another glass of port. And we did!

Have sent an email to Neil and Sarah to see what their plans are from Coimbra. They will arrive a day early, tomorrow, and we'd planned to walk out with them on Monday. However, we'd be prepared to walk out a day earlier. So bored here. Will be interesting to hear their response. Depends on their recovery needs. We are fine either way. 

Love this town!