Porto

Posted in France
So, I am accompanying again, this time to Porto. And yes, the port is very good, often a little lighter and less sweet than in other places, but so far not served with Stilton.
The city rises steeply from the Douro river. It doesn’t seem to have a plan, just narrow streets and chaos. Then suddenly a street will open into a park or plaza.
Just across from this park is a bookstore where JK Rowling would come to outline her Harry Potter novels. Apparently she lived in Porto with her first husband, who was Portuguese. She anglicized local place names for use in the novels. The bookstore has become a pilgrimage destination and even charges admission, though the money is refunded if you actually buy a book. Shakespeare and Co might want to adopt that practice.

Anyway, it’s a lovely city, albeit one that it would take some time to make sense of. I think that would be time well spent.

6 thoughts on “Porto”

  2. Portuguese port wine! Yum! I have a bottle of Fonseca Port Guimaraens that I’ve been nipping on over the past few months. Delish. I envy you your trip, it looks delightful.

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    1. It has been good, if a bit alcoholic. I can recommend Graham 40-year tawny port and a cocktail of white port mixed with tonic water. Not both at the same time, of course. One after the other. Of course.

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      1. I like Port but at our local price of $150/bottle for the Graham’s Tawny 40, I’ll revert to my beloved cognacs, armagnac and bourbons! Not at the same time, of course. 🙂

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        1. Oh. $150 a bottle is serious money. I’ve been told I can pick it up here for 40 euros. Maybe I should get two bottles. If I were ever to return to California, it would make a great hostess gift. Or trade it to a visiting California friend for a bottle of good mezcal. Gives new meaning to “drink responsibly.”

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