This was a “rest day” in Porto, before my official Camino starts tomorrow morning. I started today alone on the hop on/hop off tour bus—figured I probably should not spend the day walking miles. The bus was cool — double decker, sitting upstairs in the sun. Eventually lots more passengers joined. Good way to see the city and take a shortcut to some sights. 

Liviraria Lello bookstore is so strikingly beautiful that you have to book time to enter and the lines stretch down the block. That was ok, though, because then I had time to listen to dueling  saxophones in the plaza, watch a man playing a hand-crank street organ with chickens on his lap and a host of doves (pigeons?) on little swings, and enjoy my first pastel de nata with a double espresso at a standup cafe. 

Later at Cafe Majestic, I had lunch at the very table where JK Rowling wrote the first few chapters of Harry Potter—apparently they always seat the solo women in the back corner table. 

Trekked across the Douro river to visit a port lodge, which is what they call the houses that have been making port wine for centuries. I went to Taylor’s, founded in 1692, did a little self-guided tour among the casks, had a tasting and bought a small bottle. 

Dinner at The Door — one of the best meals EVER.

Whew long day. Time for sleep so I can get up and start walking tomorrow 😮