The port of Porto

Porto means port in Portuguese, as you might guess. Sometimes it's called Oporto (The Port) and it's one of a handful of cities to have a gender, as you just use em with most city names in Portuguese but it's no Rio and no Porto.

Porto also gave its name to the wine as this is where the practice of fortifying wine started. It's in a region which was part of the original Portuguese nation.

The city runs down the slopes of hills to the river Douro. Bridges of various eras span the Douro at various points along the river from high cliffs. The one near the centre has a lower vehicular deck and an upper light rail deck. Both decks have pedestrian lanes. We crossed the river on the lower deck to the other bank Gaia, where there are many port sampling establishments.

We walked up the hill following a narrow road, and this is the view from the top looking back on the city.

Being lunchtime we sought out and found a working person's cafe where they were serving standard fare. My companions had grilled fish with potatoes and veges. I had the cozido à portuguesa which is basically a stew with various meats, served with cabbage and potatoes over rice. Portions are large in Portugal and usually one should ask for a meia dose (half portion) unless famished,