Lisbon to Porto...in the rain!

Goodbye, Lisbon! Of course, it’s bright and sunny just as we are leaving but the weather soon closes in and it’s pouring rain as we take a quick diversion to Fatima. After walking around and around and across the road, and finally locating the church, I decide it’s too far to walk in the pouring rain as I only have my thongs on and my feet are starting to become iceblocks. I didn’t think it would be so far from the parking lot.

Back on the motorway for an almost uneventful trip to Busacco, save for the toll ticket not working when we try to get off the motorway. We only took the ticket when we entered at Fatima so it hasn’t had a chance to get wet or dirty, but this has happened once before in Portugal so Ross takes it all in his stride.

Up, up, up to the Royal Palace Hotel at Busacco and of course it’s pouring rain. We run in, check in, check out the room, and head to the restaurant for a bite to eat, as dinner isn’t until 8 tonight. We order delicious hot fennel and cream soup with little salmon ravioli, a plate of cheese and sauteed oyster mushrooms with complimentary champagne. Mmmm… this is the life. We collect what we need overnight from the van and head up to our room for a hot shower and a rest. Of course the lift doesn’t work for me, and when the attendant opens the door to a deep gaping hole, I decide to mount the several flights of stairs to our top floor room. We had world news on TV in English so we now know what’s happening in the world, but would rather not know, actually. We both fell asleep and were only woken by the alarm at 7.30. This travelling sure is tiring!

Down to the beautiful dining room where complimentary champagne is once again served. It was nice to dress up for dinner for a change. I don’t know why but I chose the Royal Tasting Menu, which had fish soup and codfish as two of the courses. However, the half bottle of 2009 Busacco Red helped me wash down the whole meal! Ross chose individual dishes, all of which were delicious. I changed my dessert to the pineapple carpuccio and coconut ice cream, which I really enjoyed.

Up to our cosy room, where I slept an almost dreamless sleep waking up just in time for breakfast. Yay! Complimentary champagne again! It’s Christmas Day for Orthodox Christians so I immediately decide this is my Christmas Day too and have champagne for breakfast as well as a poached pear, coconut yogurt, and bacon and scrambled eggs on toast. Toast…mmm! I hadn’t tried poached pear before but this was really delicious. Coffee was brought to us in a pot with hot milk in a separate jug; just how we like it!

After breakfast, I check out, Ross loads the van and we’re off to our caravan park just outside Porto. I’m not sure if it’s to the north or south but it’s 6.5 kilometres out of town. The weather is overcast, but the mist has lifted and I’m actually starting to relax when travelling.  We arrive in Porto and go over the bridge so I assume the campground is on the north side, but I don’t really know why the GPS taking us right through the centre of town where the streets are narrow and difficult to negotiate especially when people either double park or don’t park close to the gutter. It’s one of these latter vehicles that Ross collects- just the mirror. Our mirror smashes of course, but there’s nowhere to pull up so we just keep going; twisting and turning through the narrow one way streets and streets with just tram-lines that we have to drive on! I can’t remember if Porto still has trams or not, but I’m petrified. Finally in the square fair smack in the middle of town, the GPS says, ”You have reached your way point!” I wanted to scream and cry at the same time, but instead just swore at it! This was exactly what I wanted to avoid. I do not, repeat, do not, want to be driving in the centre of cities. I would rather walk!  And that’s saying something.

Out of town at last and across another bridge, I realize that our campground was actually on the south side of the Douro River and I didn’t need to go into the city at all! To overcome my frustration and calm my nerves, we play a game of cards then go for a walk along the beach where I start to feel better. The ocean always has a soothing effect on me, and today is no different. It’s windy and the ocean is rough, but it isn’t as cold as you would expect.

We call in for a coffee at a little place on the beach called Tappas Caffe, but instead of coffee, we order beer and a francesinha to share. Breads, fritters and delicious olives are brought out as starters as soon as we sit down. The francesinha gave Lucimar’s a run for its money. A huge piping hot sandwich of cheese, chorizo, ham and steak  in a hot spicy sauce was divided in two for us so we each receive a triangle; so glad we didn’t order a full one each! It’s 7pm, Ross is asleep, and I’m still not hungry.