We arrived at Porto airport after a pretty uneventful 2.5-hour flight. Once we started disembarking, there seemed to be a blockage on the skybridge and we were left standing for a while. With little communication as to what was happening, staff eventually directed everyone back off the skybridge and down onto the tarmac, where buses took us to customs.
We managed to collect our bags and pass through customs, and noticed the airport appeared to be without power—which meant no Wi-Fi. As we made our way out towards the bus terminal, we suddenly realised how chaotic things had become. We knew we had to catch a 601 bus to get to our Airbnb, but with so many people queued up for buses, we just had to join the line and wait.
Jake was interviewed by CNN while we waited, which was amusing. Eventually, we made it to the front of the queue and, taking a stab in the dark, boarded the 602 bus—there really wasn’t any other option. This was a proper sardine can, which felt fitting, as the Portuguese do love their tinned fish. There was no space on the bus, not even enough to take my backpack off. It became a fun endurance test, standing for close to 90 minutes without being able to move.
Jake managed to get some advice from locals on the bus about where we should get off. He was also able to sporadically get signal on his phone. We finally jumped off the bus about a 10-minute walk from our Airbnb. We were just over an hour late from our planned arrival time, but thankfully the host met us outside as soon as we arrived.
We learned that the whole of Portugal and Spain had been affected by a major blackout. Luckily, the Airbnb’s hot water was still working. We freshened up and went to explore the town. The chaotic start to our arrival slowly faded as the gorgeous, powerless Porto revealed itself.
We made our way across the very high Ponte Luiz I bridge to a hill named Jardim do Morro. Many people were gathered there—this is where locals traditionally applaud the sunset. Jake sourced some cold beers (Super Bock, 500ml cans), and we relaxed while waiting for the sun to lower to see if people actually clapped. A battery-powered band was playing Red Hot Chili Peppers covers, and sure enough, as the sun dipped below the horizon, people cheered and applauded. A great way to end a chaotic day.
Jake and I struggled to find anywhere for dinner due to the blackout. As we roamed, power slowly began returning to parts of Porto. After a good walk and a bit of luck, we eventually came across a restaurant down by the river that was open and packed. We waited a little while for a seat, but it was worth it: meats, cheeses, octopus salad, cod and chickpea salad, and bread sausage. Combined with another beer, it was a great end to the day. After a long hike up many stairs back to the Airbnb, we returned to find the power on and enjoyed a comfortable sleep.
Day 2 in Porto
Our accommodation was comfortable and in a great location. We headed out for coffee and breakfast at the famous Mercado do Bolhão, a fresh food market with lots of delicious offerings. After a wander, we returned to the Airbnb and decided to hire some bicycles and ride out to the coast for lunch.
It was an enjoyable ride, giving us the chance to see much more of Porto and its rich history. The coast was gorgeous, lunch was great, and before long it was time to race back and return the bikes before heading out on a wine and food tour of Porto that Jake had organised.
The tour was great fun—mostly Americans, a couple from Belfast, and then Jake and me. Our guide, Sérgio, led us through some great food and wine spots, finishing with a port tasting. Worked for me, since Jake doesn’t like port—I got double.
After the tour, we strolled back to the Airbnb. Jake did some shopping and we finished the day off at a football club with an amazing view of the river, the bridge, and the Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar (also known as Mosteiro Santo Agostinho da Serra do Pilar).
Tomorrow promises rain as we leave Porto and head out to visit the Douro Valley.
