I sat on the shore, watching the red sun descend into the ocean. This was truly a beautiful place.
I just spent the last two weeks in Porto, Portugal, in the country’s north. This seaside town filled with beautiful architecture and great food is a must-visit!
Let’s Eat!
For me, food is the focus of any trip. On my first night, I had dinner at a real old school Portuguese restaurant: Murça No Porto.
Located right in the center of town on the aptly named Rua de Alegria (Happiness Street), Murça No Porto dishes up traditional Portuguese food to locals. I ordered caldo verde, sardines and potatoes, and walnut cake.
The soup was richly flavorful, made creamy by pureed potato, something I’ve never seen before. The sardines were fresh as could be, and the walnut cake was deliciously fluffy.
All that, plus bread, any drink you want (including wine), and a coffee was less than 9 euros. That’s under $10 US.
Good luck doing that in New York!
Azulejos and More!
But there’s more going on in Porto than just food. After dinner, I took in the vivid azulejos of Capella das Almas.
Azulejos are traditional white and blue tiles containing intricate images. They cover churches and train stations all over Porto.
They can even be found on a humble rowhouse.
Mercado do Bolhão
Okay, back to food. 🙂
I stopped at Mercado do Bolhão, a lively market selling everything from wine to live shellfish.
This market is home to the naughty fishwives who made fun of Anthony Bourdain when he visited to film Parts Unknown. In fact, I think I saw the naughtiest one at her stand — although she seemed to have cleaned up her act.
This market is a must for any visitor to Porto. The sheer variety is mesmerizing, as are the smells of cheese, port, and fresh pasta.
I grabbed a bola de berlim and strolled past the stands, taking in the atmosphere. A bola de berlim is a cream-filled donut bigger than your head. They’re everywhere in Porto, and not to be missed.
The Hospitality of the Portuguese
Unfortunately, I picked up a nasty stomach flu a few days into my trip. But it was this sickness that showed me how great the Portuguese are.
I was to meet a young tech company founder named João the next day, but had to postpone. That night, he brought soup and light snacks to my hotel, the only thing I was able to eat.
All this, for a person he hadn’t even met yet! What a great country.
The next day, I met him and his lovely girlfriend Flor. We strolled through the verdant Parque da Cidade and then took in the surf crashing into the seacoast at Foz.
Getting to Porto
If you’re looking to take a vacation, I can’t recommend Porto highly enough. And you can even get a direct flight from Newark airport!
I stayed at the very central Eurostars Aliados, which was excellent. Get the breakfast — it’s phenomenal!
In this wide world, I am so grateful for all the beautiful places and kind people. And that I have the privilege to experience them.
Have you been to Portugal? Would you like to?
Leave a comment and let us know!
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