Five days by the ocean
When we were just going to Portugal, we laughed that we were going to the "backyard" of Europe. It was very interesting to compare. Opinions in the company were divided, who said that it was dirty, poor, etc. And my husband and I really liked it, What? Probably, that there is not that sleekness, cleanliness and decorum as in Central Europe. very colorful.
People are very smiling, attentive, sympathetic. Both we and they have problems with English, but we figured out nothing (facial expressions, gestures, etc. ). They live in poverty, but this does not upset anyone, no one is in a hurry. They start cleaning the streets after 9 o'clock, but in the pastry shops they sit with coffee and sweets from 7-30.
The main impression is the ocean, we saw it for the first time. The fact that this is not a big sea is immediately felt, the elements are even breathtaking.
Porto is a good city. what to see, where to sit and relax. Hotel "America" .3 *, almost in the center, on Santa Catarina Street No. 1018. True, when you can barely move your legs in the evening, it seems that it is very far, even uphill, but you can drive up, the ticket costs about 1 euro. The hotel is small , but very cozy, clean, warm, but there is heating only on the first floor, electric heaters are higher. Very good three stars can be given to this hotel. The staff is attentive, neat. that the money from the cards was blocked, but the payment did not go through. We paid in cash, tried to make a fuss, it didn’t help. At home, the bank showed receipts for payment, and a fax about the reservation, when printing out the expenses, it turned out that no one had withdrawn money from the VISA card. So we were not at a loss. At the end of March, it’s not yet the season, but the weather was fine, not cold, not hot, just right to roam around the city. And on discount rooms, a double cost 50 euros, and without a discount on the price list 100.
Portugal is generally an inexpensive country compared to the rest of Europe, both products and things (as much as we bought on this trip, we didn’t buy anywhere 5-6 items of a summer assortment of 50 euros, a swimsuit 20, etc. ). Fruits are very cheap, and what a variety, you can only eat them. The city has a sightseeing bus, traditionally two floors and an audio guide. We saw the bus when it was passing by, but the landing, i. e. The beginning of the route was searched for a long time, but whoever searches will always find it. It's just that the sign was very small, we didn't see it right away. And the answers to our questions in very, very, very bad English were understood with great difficulty. Therefore, the difficulties. Conclusion, learn the language!
Porto is the birthplace of Port wine on the left bank of the river, wine cellars and tasting rooms. In bad weather, you can spend the whole day there moving from one cellar to another and tasting wine, inexpensive port wine is free, you will have to pay for vintage. But the pleasure and taste sensations are worth it.
The conclusion from the trip I can make is that it is worth coming to Portugal, you don’t have to think that these are “backyards”. We really want to get to Lisbon now.