Porto-Douro-Espinho 2017

Well, when there are suddenly bargains, you fly to Porto in November. With an average of 17 degrees, often over 20 degrees, lots of sunshine and blue skies, you forget about the gray soup at home.

We stayed via Airbnb right next to a great bakery, where we could devour coffee and cheese tarts for €1 and it tastes super delicious....Coffee pleasure is super cheap in Porto anyway, if you want to order the usual filtered coffee like a 'Cafe Americano', otherwise there is only a small cup of strong coffee.

In Porto there is also a lot to pass the time. Strolling through the old town, which can be very exhausting - uphill and downhill and cobblestones. There are many small shops, cafes, restaurants. Beautiful facades.....sitting by the Douro in the afternoon, evening, enjoying ice cream, Café and e un Polo or drinking Sherry....pure deceleration.

It is worth taking a trip to Espinho, on Mondays there is a huge market there and you can buy EVERYTHING there - from toilet brush, to potatoes, shoes, jeans, carpets, fabrics, sweets....everything

You can get there quickly and it's cheap by train. The beach there is fantastic, the Atlantic roars and there are many small pubs and cafes to get out of the wind for a while.

You can also linger at the beach of Porto 'Matashinos' by bus, enjoy great views along the way, visit a lighthouse (Foz do Doruro)...and have brunch, have coffee at fabulous prices....

Slightly wave when the bus arrives at the bus stop, otherwise it will pass you.....you learn from experience ....

A visit to the botanical garden is also relaxing, lots of palm trees, roaming peacocks, sculptures and beautiful views of Porto and the Douro...