The Porto Album

[Porto, Portugal]

2008-PortSpain-04-Porto

Porto 3: Port in a storm

[April 7, Porto]

The name of the fortified wine port comes from Porto. The process of making port was discovered somewhat accidentally, by the need to add brandy in order to stabilize wine for shipping long distance. The British found that the necessity was in fact a virtue and have loved port ever since. British names (Taylor, Croft, etc) still dominate the industry.

Porto 2: On the waterfront

[April 6, Porto]

The most scenic part of Porto is the river "Ribeiera" district. It is the old working waterfront where from the 14th century flat-bottomed river boats brought wine and other goods were brought down the Douro to ship away. Once bustling, gritty, and commercial, it is now bustling, touristy, and commercial. And delightfully picturesque.

I have seen Porto, and it works

[April 6, Porto]



Porto is "the city that works", priding itself on a gritty and workmanlike attitude. The local saying is "Coimbra studies, Braga prays, Lisbon parties, and Porto works". Thus its attitude appeals to these two travelers from the working city of Houston . It also has a more "Atlantic" weather, and as you will see from some of the photos, rain and clouds are common.