| Introduction:- | | | | de Lima on a lovely sunny day. Again about an |
| | | | hour drive to the golf course, but very |
| Last year was our first trip to Oporto in | | | | scenic and somewhat mountainous - buggies a |
| North Portugal, via a week's cruise down the | | | | necessity. Drinks and a sandwich first, but |
| Douro River, brilliantly organised by | | | | you never need to be in a hurry in these |
| PortGolf. At the end of that week, Peter | | | | places which was a good job as the round took |
| Evens, who runs PortGolf, suggested we should | | | | over five hours, something we are just not |
| return for the festival of S. Joao and | | | | used to, but we're on holiday so what the |
| perhaps play some golf. This seemed a good | | | | heck. A quick shower and drink before setting |
| idea so on our return to the UK we organised | | | | off to Restaurant Acude. A limited menu and |
| a dinner for two other couples, one of whom | | | | quite expensive for the region, but we |
| (Gerry and Catriona) had played golf around | | | | enjoyed it. Drove back to the club and home |
| Oporto and Jim and Margery. We discussed the | | | | by 12.30am - a long day. |
| idea and it was agreed that eight would be a | | | | |
| good number. Shortly after we had supper with | | | | Â |
| another couple, John and Marion who | | | | |
| volunteered to join us. None of us had ever | | | | Wednesday 27th June:- |
| holidayed together before so it would be a | | | | |
| test of friendship. Due to other commitments | | | | Â |
| Gerry and Catriona and John and Marion would | | | | |
| stay for a week whilst we and Jim and Margery | | | | Up at 8.15am nice shower and a leisurely |
| would stay for twelve days. | | | | breakfast. Today is a relaxing day where we |
| | | | all do our own thing. A day by the pool for |
| There follows a Journal of that Trip:- | | | | some, shopping for some of the ladies and |
| | | | bridge for others. We all meet in the bar at |
| Â | | | | 8pm for tonight we are eating in the club's |
| | | | superb dining room and prize giving. It |
| Thursday 21st June:- | | | | worked out that everybody got a prize of |
| | | | sorts and Margery and Jim won Peter Evens |
| We decided to catch the first Porto flight | | | | "PortGolf" prize for the best score on the |
| out of Gatwick at 6.30am whilst the others | | | | Stroke Index 1 holes on all the courses we |
| were catching the 1.30pm flight. We were met | | | | played. Food, wines, service and atmosphere |
| at Oporto Airport at 9am by Peter Evens who | | | | could not be bettered a fantastic end for |
| whisked us off to the four star Hotel Fenix, | | | | those departing the next day. Somewhat late |
| conveniently placed close to the Boa Vista | | | | to bed! |
| area. The weather was bright with a light | | | | |
| shower around midday. Having unpacked in our | | | | Â |
| spacious room on the 9th Floor with splendid | | | | |
| views of a truly magnificent cemetery and the | | | | Thursday 28th June:- |
| city we set off on our first adventure to | | | | |
| walk to the city centre and explore the area. | | | | Â |
| We had a pasta and wine lunch at the Simbiose | | | | |
| Restaurant (€30) overlooking the | | | | Missed our farewells to Catriona and Gerry, |
| river and watched the Port wine boats | | | | but managed them for Marion and John who were |
| ferrying people to and fro. Walked back | | | | catching a later flight. Today Peter is |
| uphill to the hotel calling in at the local | | | | taking Margery and Jim and us for a road trip |
| supermarket for gin and whisky for nightcaps. | | | | up the Douro Valley Tour. We set off at |
| The rest of the gang arrived at 6.15pm | | | | 9.45pm again with glorious sunshine. Our |
| somewhat late due to delays. Having checked | | | | first stop is at the winery of Quinta de |
| in we all got into the lift to travel to the | | | | Aveleda. |
| 9th floor. Now this lift has a notice that | | | | |
| says it is for 10 persons - unfortunately, | | | | A guided tour including tastings with cheese. |
| they mean 10 Portuguese persons who happen to | | | | We wandered round the grounds which have |
| be somewhat smaller in stature than 8 Brits | | | | beautiful gardens including resident |
| for the lift decided to descend to -5 floors | | | | peacocks. In the shop, a loud mouthed |
| before coming to a halt with a resounding | | | | American, who was buying a six pack of wine, |
| bang. Not exactly the start we were looking | | | | was boasting to the young lady at the counter |
| for, but we managed to extract ourselves and | | | | that back home he had a thousand bottles of |
| walk back to the ground floor we proceeded to | | | | wine - to which she replied, "And now you |
| travel in the 2nd lift and the service lift - | | | | have a thousand and six, sir." - priceless! |
| time for a drink! Peter found us in the bar | | | | |
| at 8pm when we were taken in two vehicles to | | | | Â |
| the Maria Moita, a local Porto restaurant for | | | | |
| dinner. Peter stayed on to interpret as not | | | | Our next stop was at Amarante to see the |
| much English is spoken and take photographs | | | | famous bridge and a quick walk round the |
| of the evening. Fun food with an interesting | | | | town, very pretty. On through rolling hills |
| menu and carafes of wine. Bed by 11.30 | | | | filled with vines to Regua and stopped for |
| somewhat exhausted. | | | | lunch at the Pousada. Sat outside in the |
| | | | glorious sun and admired the views across the |
| Â | | | | valley. We moved on to Quinta do Panascal - |
| | | | Fonseca winery/ port lodge, had a guided tour |
| Friday 22nd June:- | | | | through the grape terraces with the aid of an |
| | | | audio tape and earphones giving a history and |
| Â | | | | the workings of the company. Back to the |
| | | | lodge for more tastings then a return journey |
| Up at 8.15am, dry, but grey with a smattering | | | | via Vila Real through mile after mile of |
| of blue. Breakfast, then a quick look round | | | | hills laden with vines from top to bottom. |
| the local shops. Peter and Paolo collected us | | | | Back to the club for a shower and change |
| at 12.30 for our first game of golf at | | | | before Peter dropped us off at the Oporto |
| Estela. | | | | Restaurant. We were all intrigued to see |
| | | | Jim's starter as he had ordered 'fish soup in |
| The course lies about an hour from the centre | | | | pastry'. (the pastry was on the top!) |
| of Oporto on the Atlantic coast. The drive | | | | |
| was pleasant and informative and the entrance | | | | Â |
| guarded by two automatic gates. A drink and a | | | | |
| toasted sandwich started the event which was | | | | Friday 29th June:- |
| a four ball better ball with husbands | | | | |
| partnering wives. Typically for a links | | | | Â |
| course, the wind blew like hell and was a | | | | |
| contributing factor to the round taking | | | | Breakfast at 9am - today we are back to |
| 4½ hours. Gerry and Catriona were the | | | | Estela golf course, but what a difference, |
| winners and copious amounts of gin & tonic | | | | loads of sunshine and no wind. Girls versus |
| and beer was consumed. Showered and change | | | | the Boys (yes, of course the Girls won, but |
| before whisked off to Casa do Frango in a | | | | only at the 18th) - back to the club for a |
| nearby town - problem was our driver dropped | | | | rest and shower. |
| us at the wrong place which held up | | | | |
| proceedings, but didn't stop the wine flowing | | | | Â |
| before the chicken and chips arrived - turned | | | | |
| out to be a fun night and tested some | | | | A special evening as we meet Peter's wife, |
| people's ability of alcohol consumption. On | | | | Anabela, for the first time and we go to |
| our return to the hotel John and Marion | | | | Praia de Luz for dinner. A great meal with |
| joined us in our room for a nightcap and left | | | | lively conversation and a beautiful sunset, |
| at 1.30am. | | | | of which we have several photos if anyone |
| | | | wants a copy. Home to bed another long day. |
| Saturday 23rd June:- | | | | |
| | | | Â |
| Â | | | | |
| | | | Saturday 30th June:- |
| Up at 8.30 am and a glorious summer day. | | | | |
| Everyone into city centre to sightsee, but | | | | Â |
| for us it was to shop for prizes meeting up | | | | |
| with the gang at Majestic café - the | | | | Despite last night's sunset, we wake to a |
| 'in place' to be seen - coffee and brandy was | | | | grey sky and much cooler temperatures. The |
| the order of the day. Off to lunch to Foz at | | | | girls, (I use the term loosely), go off |
| Praia da Luz, a super restaurant on the beach | | | | shopping to Vila Nova de Gaia, "Corte |
| which we had sampled last year - great food | | | | Ingles". Us chaps do our own thing reading |
| and wine with a variety of local dishes, | | | | and watching the members who are barbequing |
| ridiculously cheap at €30 per | | | | for lunch - Jim tries the sardines. Lorna and |
| couple. Back to the hotel at 4pm to rest | | | | Margery arrive back at 2.15pm and after |
| before the night's activities. At Midnight | | | | hearing of their adventures we have tea and |
| Oporto celebrates the S. Joao festival. | | | | scones - how civilized. |
| | | | |
| Â | | | | Â |
| | | | |
| Peter and cab collected us at 9.10pm and we | | | | Peter collects us at 6.45pm as we are to have |
| are taken to Taylor's Port Wine Lodge where | | | | drinks at his house at Senhora da Hora. We |
| the atmosphere is electric - a couple of | | | | meet up with Anabela again and also later |
| hundred people are seated at round tables for | | | | with Jacquay one of his twin daughters who |
| a set menu of Kale & Potato Soup; breads; | | | | entertains us on the piano. Then we are off |
| sardines; Roast Kid & Vegetables followed by | | | | to a fish restaurant, O Manel in Matosinhos - |
| Almond tart and ice cream. The best wines are | | | | no English spoken and we struggle with the |
| served and we tried a couple of bottles of 20 | | | | menu, not the best place to eat in our |
| year old vintage Port. The lodge is situated | | | | opinion, also quite expensive. An early night |
| at Gaia on the southside of the Douro River | | | | for all. |
| and at 12.05am we adjourn to the terrace to | | | | |
| watch a firework display over Porto which was | | | | Â |
| out of this world - we are all stunned by the | | | | |
| magnificence of the scene. John & Marion have | | | | Sunday 1st July:- |
| to leave by cab due to John's bruised | | | | |
| Achilles heel while the rest of us have to | | | | Â |
| walk as no vehicles are allowed in the area | | | | |
| other than for medical reasons. The crush is | | | | A free day - weather a bit grey and not very |
| worse than a cup final at Wembley, but | | | | hopeful. Margery and Jim decide to tour the |
| everyone is in such great humour and it seems | | | | city by open-top bus whilst we decide to walk |
| the whole of Oporto's inhabitants are bashing | | | | to the Palacio de Cristal a spacious park |
| you over the head with a plastic hammer or a | | | | which houses a circular building for |
| long garlic plant (both old traditions) - we | | | | concerts; there are also some nice views of |
| eventually stagger across the bridge, which | | | | the river and across the city. We continue |
| had been closed at one point due to too many | | | | our walk through to S. Bento Metro Station |
| people on it causing it to sway. Street | | | | where we attempt to purchase from a machine |
| parties, dancing and singing all the way back | | | | two day tickets - we fail miserably despite |
| to the hotel and so to bed at 3am having | | | | the help of a couple of locals, but were |
| survived a most enjoyable adventure. | | | | rescued by a station security guard who |
| | | | helped us to purchase the correct tickets. |
| Â | | | | The Metro is very modern and is a cross |
| | | | between a tram, a trolley bus and an |
| Sunday 24th June:- | | | | underground train - very clean and quiet. Out |
| | | | first journey takes us across the very top of |
| Â | | | | the Ponte do Luis and up to the terminus |
| | | | outside "Corte Ingles". We return back down, |
| Up for breakfast, lots of orange and black | | | | but alight at Jardim do Morro where we have |
| coffee seemed to the order of the day. Later | | | | been advised there are some good photo |
| collected to go to Amarante Golf Course | | | | opportunities across the river. We then |
| another hour drive away. Seems we had the | | | | decide to walk over the top of the bridge |
| course to ourselves. Said to be hilly, true, | | | | rather than ride. In hindsight this was not a |
| difficult to find your way round at times; | | | | good idea as we reckon that the bridge is |
| some spectacular holes accompanied by bangs | | | | similar in construction and height to the |
| all afternoon as S. Joao continued to be | | | | Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia - we |
| celebrated. Men versus Ladies this time, the | | | | wouldn't walk across that even if they do |
| men had no chance. Showered and changed off | | | | chain you to the railing so what on earth are |
| to a restaurant in Amarante - problem was our | | | | we doing here? So being English, we put our |
| driver seemed to have forgotten until he was | | | | heads down and just keep walking until, |
| informed by Peter via mobile phone then he | | | | somewhat relieved, we get to the other side - |
| proceeded to drive at 120 kph to get back on | | | | phew! I have to add that the Metro trains are |
| track. No English spoken at all at the | | | | passing by you just inches away which tends |
| restaurant which made life a tad difficult. | | | | to add to the excitement. We did get some |
| Food quite nice, but we appeared to be in a | | | | nice pictures of the trains crossing the |
| quieter mood - at our age very late nights | | | | bridge and entering the tunnel below us. With |
| can play havoc with some people's | | | | shaking legs we descended hundreds of steps |
| constitution. | | | | and through winding alleys to get to the |
| | | | riverside where we had a bottle of wine and |
| Â | | | | lunch and watched the world go by. We |
| | | | returned to the station and went as far as |
| Monday 25th June:- | | | | the Estadio do Dragáo, a recently |
| | | | completed stadium before returning back down |
| Â | | | | to our nearest station to home, the "Casa da |
| | | | Musica". The weather had much improved by |
| Today we are moving to the Oporto Cricket & | | | | this time so we walked back to the club in |
| Lawn Tennis Club, so its bag packing time as | | | | sunshine. |
| six of us are off on an adventure - a day | | | | |
| trip on a boat up the Douro. Gerry & Catriona | | | | We met with Margery and Jim by the pool and |
| have done this trip before so they go back to | | | | exchanged stories and adventures, then |
| Estela for golf. Superb weather and the trip | | | | snoozed for a while before getting ready to |
| is just fine with breakfast and lunch | | | | embark for our last night to the "Cafeina" |
| provided and the river is so peaceful. We | | | | Restaurant. A very smart establishment and |
| make friends with Lourdes who is the tour | | | | nice food, but again would not be in our top |
| guide. Later she is surprised to find us | | | | five. Peter collected us and returned us |
| drinking champagne - she asks what we are | | | | safely back to the club. |
| celebrating, we tell her a birthday, she asks | | | | |
| whose birthday it is and we tell her we don't | | | | Â |
| know, but we are pretty sure it's someone's | | | | |
| birthday somewhere. We arrive at Reguá | | | | Monday 2nd July:- |
| at 4.15pm and are taken by coach for about | | | | |
| 200 yards to the railway station where we are | | | | Â |
| to continue our adventure by train back to | | | | |
| Oporto a journey of about 2 hours. Peter | | | | One wonderful attribute of the club is that |
| meets us at the station and takes us to our | | | | clients are not required to vacate their |
| new quarters at the O.C. & L.T.C. a little | | | | rooms until midday. We took advantage of this |
| oasis in the middle of Oporto. Very colonial | | | | by having time to pack in a leisurely manner |
| style and every one is so friendly. Shower | | | | and having stored our bags we were collected |
| and change and meet for drinks in the lounge | | | | by Peter to take us for lunch at "Ar de Rio", |
| before walking a couple of hundred yards up | | | | a modern riverside restaurant in Cais da |
| the road to Capa Négra 2 a local | | | | Gaia. We sat inside by an open wall looking |
| restaurant where we are served by Olivetti | | | | out across the Douro River in glorious |
| who speaks good English and advises on the | | | | sunshine. Peter collected us and took us to |
| local dishes. Plenty of wine and a fun | | | | Crofts Port Wine Lodge for a tour and tasting |
| evening all for the princely sum of | | | | - a lovely way to end a holiday in Oporto. |
| €30 per couple. John and Marion | | | | |
| insist on having a nightcap in our room - | | | | We collected our baggage from the club, said |
| another late night. | | | | our goodbyes to the staff and Peter dropped |
| | | | us off at the Airport in good time for the |
| Â | | | | flight which was delayed for fifty minutes. |
| | | | |
| Tuesday 26th June:- | | | | Â |
| | | | |
| Â | | | | All in all a most enjoyable holiday, well |
| | | | organized by PortGolf in the shape of Peter |
| Breakfast at 9am then walked around the | | | | Evens whose care and attention of his clients |
| grounds of the club and inspected the tennis | | | | is second to none. |
| courts, cricket pitch (thought we would bat | | | | |
| first) and the swimming pool. We got ready | | | | Without a doubt we shall return once again to |
| for golf and soon we were on our way to Ponte | | | | this most interesting of cities. |