The 500 Bus

Today was pronounced as Public Transport Saturday, our attempt to save the legs, especially for the bridge climb at the end of the day.

After struggling to figure out how to buy a day ticket for the public transport system, we hopped on the Metro for a trip to the flea markets. Success for me to the tune of 2 records and some Portuguese magazines.

Then back onto the Metro for 150m until we either hit a car or broke down. Whatever it was, they finally announced the problem in Portuguese, everyone got off and we headed on a 15 minute walk to a metro, where thankfully we got a service back near home.

Portuguese Tart refuelling complete, we headed back out with our cut lunch, dropped by a restaurant to check on our reservation status, then got a bus and walked across the lower level of a bridge, uphill (of course) to a monastery, downhill via lots of stairs to the river, and caught a bus back to as close to home as possible. Nothing like a one and a half seater for 2 people. Up and down, but it beats walking. 

Public transport is great.

Siesta time, because 'When in Rome', and out we headed via bus to the Crystal Palace Gardens perched on top of a hill for great views and bird watching.

We walked down a large hill, through little roadways and tried to catch a tram to our bridge climb. Of course our day ticket doesn't work on the trams, so we put our faith in the bus service. It wasn't coming for ages, so we walked.

Bridge climb found, we donned our helmets and harnesses and did the 262 steps up, took photos, drank the complimentary port served in a chocolate cup, because to get to the chocolate you have to go through the port.

There is no port left, was how Dad explained which side of a boat was the left side.

If you're in Porto, do yourself a favour and do the climb.

We then headed for the bus stop and cheated death running across the road to catch the 500 bus. Missed it by that much. Of course it left early. The next 500 bus was 15 minutes away for about the next 20 minutes. When it did arrive, it chose not to stop. The guide from the climb was there and explained that this is what the 500 bus does all the time.

Plan B was the 403 bus. Its reported arrival was between 30 minutes and never.

Plan C was to walk up the hill through even smaller dimly lit cobblestoned roads and catch the 200 bus.

It was due in 14 minutes and then miraculously turned up immediately. 

Our small walk back home required ice cream fuel.

Turkey kebabs for dinner with way too many frozen peas and carrots and our day using public transport was done.

Over 25,000 steps were used in the making of today's blog.

Footnote: We packed light so we were going to use the laundry at the front of the building when we got back. It was too late and we are exhausted so we will do it at 7am Sunday morning.

Relaxing holiday

Despite my years of award winning travel consultancy, the Editor is in charge of 99% of our holidays.

So after years of being up early, jam packing every inch of sightseeing into a day and regularly topping 20,000 steps in a day, times have changed.

Today we didn't have to catch a train until 09:20, yet there we were, walking to the train station before the sun came up because we woke up early.

The station was covered, surprisingly, with tiles.

We got on the right train at 08:20 to Guimarães, saw a palace, a castle, an old town and then having seen everything in a leisurely manner, made our way to the station.

Unfortunately, google maps had taken us to the bus station. A quick calculation had us getting to the train station with 5 minutes to spare. Of course the entire 19 minute walk was straight uphill. The biggest hill of the holiday. We did it in 16 minutes, spent 74 minutes on the train, wondering about all the eucalypt trees on the way and ended up back at our room (it's uphill all the way).

A quick break and we headed off to purchase fabric, Portuguese tarts and more music. 2 out of 3 ain't bad. No records purchased but if you are in Porto and want records, head to Vinyl Discs. It's on the 3rd floor in a tiny room with sooo many records.

Unfortunately with the recent boom in vinyl, prices have exploded. That, and the fact I already own most of the records I pick up, had me leaving empty handed. (Editor's note: I can wholeheartedly recommend stopping by Natas D'ouro for Pastel de Nata, which you would know as Portuguese tarts. I'm now on a mission to learn how to make such crispy pastry)

A quick trip to the supermarket to buy food supplies was followed by a quick trip to the same supermarket to buy the stuff we forgot to buy and all of a sudden the 20,000 steps of the past became the 20,000 steps of our present. Just as well. We needed to burn off the burger and chips calories.