Northern Portugal and the Douro Valley

There was wine.

There’s a lot more to write about the two days we spent in northern Portugal and the Douro Valley, but for some reason, it’s mostly a blur. I remember there was some beautiful scenery and two delightful towns where we stopped on the way from Santiago de Compostela. I remember we went on a boat ride on the Douro River. And then we drove to a winery, and then it all gets kind of vague in my memory.

I’m kidding, but a wine tasting in the Douro Valley, at least at the vineyard we visited, was more like an unlimited happy hour. And the fifteen other people on the tour really loosened up. I, on the other hand, was quiet and dignified the entire time.

Ponte de Lima

Our first stop in Portugal was Ponte de Lima. The name of the town refers to a bridge over the Lima River.

We actually walked from outside the town along the river and some fields carpeted with flowers. It’s amazing how quickly spring has come. It feels like just a few days ago the trees were bare.

As we approached the town, we walked through a pathway lined with sycamore trees.

There was a market going on in town, and there were musicians playing traditional music. At least I assume it was traditional. The drums mostly drowned out everything else, so it’s hard to know for sure.

There’s a legend about the Lima River. In Roman times the Lima River was mistaken for the River of Forgetfulness, and the Roman soldiers were afraid that if they crossed it, it would erase their memories Their commander, Decimus Junius Brutus, proved otherwise by crossing it and calling his soldiers by name.

Guimarães

The historic center of Guimarães is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. I’m not sure what I saw, exactly, that earned it a place on the list, but I suspect it was “its rich building typology exemplifying the specific development of Portuguese architecture from the 15th to the 19th centuries through the consistent use of traditional building materials and techniques.” 

I loved walking around here. I could easily have spent another couple of hours exploring the narrow streets and looking for other evidence of “a thousand years of Portuguese urban, architectural and societal developments.”

Douro Valley

We stayed two nights in a nice hotel right across the Douro River from a town called Peso de Régua.

We took a boat ride on the Douro, which passed through gorgeous scenery. Even on the bus ride to Pinhão, where we boarded our boat, we drove past some stunning vistas. Terraced vineyards seemed to cover the hills. 

And then we visited a vineyard. That’s where things went off the rails.

Next thing I remember, I was back in my hotel room in Peso de Régua, waking up from a nap. I managed to get myself outside for a walk and some fresh air, but I skipped the wine at dinner that evening.

Next day we headed to Porto, where I am now. Stay tuned for my next blog post. And meanwhile, check out my photos from northern Portugal and the Douro Valley.