Fun in Porto
andromeda of plymouth
Susan and Andrew Wilson
Fri 28 Aug 2009 17:41
|
After four days in Povoa we have decided, subject
to the weather, to move down to Leixoes and anchor overnight before undertaking
the 60 mile trip to Figueira da Foz where we hope to stay for a few days. We
will need to get some fuel and provisions and it has a reasonable reputation
from those ahead of us.
The wind has been something of a feature over the
past few days making the marina, although quite cheap, very rolly and
noisy. The port has been closed on numerous occasions due to waves, swell
and wind but that doesn't seem to stop folks arriving anyway. There are 5 ARC
boats here making their way south for the start in November - hopefully that's
what we will be doing next year. The GRIB files show a possible lessening of the
wind over the weekend which should make the journey south a little less rolly.
Sadly however, due to tide times, we will need to pass Aveiro on this occasion -
a Venice in Portugal it is said to be, but it has a tricky bar at the entrance
to the lagoons and tide, swell and wind have to be right to enter, but not for
us this time.
Porto is an interesting place, full of history and
culture, with charm and warmth from the people. We have explored one of the port
houses and tasted their wares and very nice they were too. We have explored on
foot and taken the historical open top bus tour which lasted quite a while and
covered a large amount of the city. There is only so much history we can
take in at one time and the number of architects, churches, plaza's, kings,
dukes, convents, Peninsula war heroes, wine merchants and architectural
styles become mind numbingly numerous - however the tour was very interesting
and well put together. We even managed to find a copy of the Observer and Daily
Mail here - a relic perhaps of the Portuguese link to England. We crossed
the famous double decked bridge, the Ponte Dom Luis, designed by certain
Monsieur Eiffel on foot (twice - both levels), by Metro (top level) and
tour bus (lower level) - and a very fine iron bridge it is I must say so.
Povoa is about an hour from Porto on the Metro
system which is very efficient, clear and easy to navigate - well worth spending
some time here if you get the opportunity, and not that far from Porto airport.
Povoa itself is a Portuguese holiday resort with lots of hotels, beaches,
casino's and plenty of clothes shops. The old town has the usual mix of small
houses, narrow streets and unusual shops - we even came across a Barclays bank.
Its not as expensive as France! Hurrah!
We have been travelling with Martin and Suzanne
from Germany, on their boat Raja, from Bayona, but they will be staying here in
Povoa for the winter so we will be saying good bye to them for the time
being - a very nice couple. Povoa would be a good place to leave a boat for a
period of time with most of the usual facilities needed to lift and maintain
boats - at least 2 or 3 other folks here are doing the same - not least due to
the cost. This marina is one of the cheapest in Portugal.
We have been exploring the challenges of Wifi
boosters and are having mixed results - we'll update how we get on - Vista isn't
being very helpful it must be said.
More is due course.........
Andrew & Susan
S/V Andromeda |