Porto, Portugal

by Durene Scott · December 7, 2024

We enjoy traveling in the United States and outside our borders. This year, our international travel took us to Portugal. Our companions were our daughter, son-in-law, and 9-month-old granddaughter. Never having traveled with one so young, we were prepared to have a new experience. The flight from Dallas to Madrid was roughly 9 hrs, with a connecting flight to Porto. Due to Hurricane Helene, we arrived late and missed our connecting flight. The next flight out was totally booked, but the rep looked at our sleeping baby and asked us to give her 20 minutes. I genuinely believe our granddaughter was the reason we took off another airline to Porto within two hours. Arriving at our Airbnb that evening, we were greeted by seven flights of steps with the baby in tow and multiple pieces of luggage. We were surprised at how well the baby did. It was time to rest as we had to be ready by eight am for our first excursion.

Wine Tour—Our daughter and son-in-law booked a private wine tour because they felt it would be more accessible with our granddaughter. A bus would not have a car seat, nor would it stop for diaper changes and the other necessities a child would need. Our driver, Pedro, was knowledgeable and very accommodating. It was an hour-and-a-half trip. When we arrived in the countryside, the scenery was outstanding: hills as far as one can see and rows and rows of grape vines. It amazed us as to how they were even able to cultivate and harvest the grapes from these steep hills. Pedro informed us that we had to traverse this very windy, narrow dirt road to get to this winery and wanted to know if we got car sick. I don’t get car sick, but this drive felt like a roller coaster at an amusement park, and I was happy when we arrived at our destination.

Wine and Soul Winery—The tour and wine tasting were enjoyable. The winery’s owners were a couple who had three kids. Thankfully, they were used to children’s accidents and were prepared to help my daughter. Their wines were delicious. Portugal is primarily known for its port wines and the blends of grapes that make up much of its wine. We loved the red blends—port wine, not so much. It was now time to have some lunch.

Cozinha da Clara—This restaurant is right on the Douro River waterway, and it was a picture-perfect day for a leisurely lunch. This is a popular lunch spot, but we arrived just as the restaurant opened and had the place to ourselves, but not for long. By the time we left, people were waiting to get in. While the meal was delicious, the best part was taking my sleeping granddaughter outside as she lay on my chest. I enjoyed the sunshine and watched the boats cruising down the river. Next stop – our second winery.

Quinta Da Corte—Fun fact: A quinta is a rural property, especially those with historical manors and palaces in Portugal. It is widely used for agricultural estates such as wineries, vineyards, and olive groves. Interestingly, olive trees were planted to acknowledge the property lines of the estates. This winery offered wine tasting, a quaint eight-room hotel, and restaurant facilities. In addition to the wines offered, they had bottled olive oil harvested from the property. It was time to head back and prepare for sightseeing around Porto the next day.

We were warned about the cobblestone and steep streets, but some were absolute killers. Thanks to our many high-elevation hikes throughout our journey, I was better prepared; otherwise, it would have been grueling. Kudos to my son-in-law; he climbed those hills as if the inclines didn’t exist, all while carrying our granddaughter on his back. I adore European cities because of their rich culture and outstanding architecture. The narrow streets are lined with various small shops, which are charming and almost make you forget about the climb to get there. A popular item was sardines. Dedicated stores were selling just canned sardines with an added twist of putting years on the front of the cans. My dad loves sardines, so I brought home a decorated 1938 can. We stopped at a park and enjoyed the beautiful weather as my granddaughter needed to get out of the carry-all and roam for a while. It was a nice respite, and we were thankful as we watched her laugh and play with her parents. It doesn’t get any better than this. As one could imagine, our cameras never stopped snapping pictures, but hopefully, the slideshow will be a highlight of our time in Porto. Next stop, Lisbon.