Arrving in Porto
- Serena Knight
- May 30, 2024
- 2 min read
All the online research and reviews on budget airlines - I had gotten everyone up very early and stressed the whole way through the morning getting to the airport.
Our bolt (europe version of Uber) was late and it was a sign of things to come.
We had been advised of ongoing strikes at the airport, but we managed to check in days before, all our luggage fitted into “cabin luggage” and we sailed through customs. The flight was completely stress free, we had paid for speedy boarding and had seats in row 2. It was when we landed that the “shituation” started.
$2.25€ for the metro that would take us into town and 20 mins. An hour on the metro waiting for the train to depart, Gareth translated a message that said there was a signal issue and no known restoration time. I had checked bolt earlier and it was $12€ so we made the call to get off the train and get the bolt. Gareth plugged in the address and it was now $24€ and we suspected surge pricing, but we were over it and wanted to get to town. Turns out - not surge pricing, but the wrong address and we took a tour through some rural countryside. Using the translator app in bolt we managed to tell the driver we were in the wrong place, he laughed his head off and off we went to Porto.
We went into the first cafe we found and that’s where I found $1.30€ wine that is the RSA level pour. Something called Pica pau was on the menu and when we translated it - came up with woodpecker. Keen to try anything new, I was down for eating that little bird. Turns out - it's a slang name for the dish. This will be going on rotation in our house when we get home. Gravy, 3 different types of meat, thin layers of mozzarella and crusty bread to mop up the gravy make up this very tasty meal.
While the middle of our day was a bit crap, the food we are eating is totally making up for it.
Ooops, I guess you expect some hiccups along the way but they’re not fun a the time🙈😏😩, on another note-how’s the wine been treating you? I’m sure I’ve read somewhere that generally NZ wine contains more sulphites than other countries. Also, how were the famous Porto pastel de natas?
🤔🙄😏😂, Not much I can say to that, except that you got to see some of the countryside you wouldn't have seen otherwise. 🤣
Loving it! Great post haha
One of our favourite towns in Europe... Sorry your trip in was not as good as it should have been. Try and get to Taylors and have a look through - the tour is 20EUR each adult which is a bit steep (I can't remember paying this, however that was over 10 years ago), however the views are lovely. It is a pretty steep walk up to the port house. There are plenty of others as well, however we thought that Taylors was the best (at the time). There is a cable car from the top of the bridge down to Vila Nova de Gaia which is worth a go... Enjoy the Nata (Portuguese Egg Tarts)! While in Portug…