Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Oporto: Four Days Next Door (Portugal)

Host family leaves for four days on vacation.  Thus, language assistant
(that's me) leaves on four day vacation as well.  Point of interest: Portugal.
Oporto.  A beautiful city about three hours north of Lisbon.

Saw most cathedrals, churches, bell towers, etc.
Loved the architecture and tile work throughout the vicinity.

Annnd.  Roosters/birds.  They're obsessed.
A sweet old man told me the legend.
I, unfortunately, could only make out a few
of his words through his thick, Portuguese accent:
"Men hate one Spanish man, people hang man,
man say rooster sing, rooster sing three time,
now is legend, all Portugal.  Very, very famous."

Visited the Serralves Contemporary Art 'Museu', 'Biblioteca',
and 'Parque'.  "Truck Alphabet" in the Biblioteca.

Grazia Toderi exhibition.
Cityscapes- video, animation, and photography.
Something new (for me), definitely.

Appropriate:
" . . . Artists are prisoners of trends."
Much truth in the statement.


Pretty flowers of all types throughout the parque.

Perfect day- had been raining all week.
Lush, tranquil, beautiful.





This may or may not be the best hostel I've ever stayed in.
Best in that it was clean- the beds, decor, and equipment
also on the newer side.  Minus the fact that it smelled of body
odor off and on, this pick was great.

Peeps at the gelato place, Cremosi.
We are all now the best of friends.
Every day, every day.

Pastries. Pastries. Pastries.




The BEST PASTRY I've had thus far in Europe.

"PASTEL DE NATA."
Delicious hot, cold, or at room temperature.
Perfect with a pinch of cinnamon.
Comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes with apples.
A mouth-watering egg custard baked in pastry crust.
Had at least two every day.
"Don't mind if I do."

Lots of markets, little shops, cafes.

Also stumbled upon the most ornate and gorgeous
bookstore I have ever stepped foot in.
Lello Bookshop.
(Sorry B&N... Still love you though.)

End result after having a complete stranger take
a snapshot with the "bridge and city" in the background.
Oh wait, nowhere to be found. Pity.

Casa da Musica.
Oporto's "architectural statement".

Took an evening to watch the Solistas da Sinfonica.
Violin, Viola, and Cello.
I'm a huge sucker for anything that involves the Cello.
This, was terrific.  Performed works by Mozart and Korngold
(first time hearing of him- nice name though right?).

Girl from the mountains appreciates a good seafood meal.
Fried prawns.  Yumma.


Obrigada, Oporto.
Até depois.

6 comments:

natalie said...

i was WAITING for this post and i'm SO glad that it is here.
looks amazing.
i love all the pics with you in them, and the gelato guy.
classic.
you look gorgeous.
looks like you're having a wonderful time.
live it up.

natalie said...

i was WAITING for this post and i'm SO glad that it is here.
looks amazing.
i love all the pics with you in them, and the gelato guy.
classic.
you look gorgeous.
looks like you're having a wonderful time.
live it up.

Melwel said...

my my my Your wanderlust never ceases to amaze me.

Lisa Childs said...

Love. Love. Love.
I'm living vicariously through your blog...

the pastry looked divine. Have you ever traveled to Japan? Best.bread.ever.

Thanks for posting. It brightens my day:)

Laur said...

You take such beautiful photographs! And you are so beautiful IN photographs. Your hair sure is getting long and you know how much I would've loved to be in Portugal. :( I'm soooo happy for you. I love you.

Karlie said...

IF I didn't love you so much, this post would make me hate you. :) ha. Because EVERYTHING IS GORGEOUS! You, the food, the buildings, the scenery- Portugal in general just seems like a very pleasant place to be for four days.

On another note- I leave! Quite soon! And I would love more than anything to have a gmail or skype chat or something with you before I go. Agreed? Email me- karlie.brand at aggiemail. Love you Brooke!

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