It’s Wine O’Clock

I’m going to be rolling home. I will probably have to ask for a seat belt extender on the flight. What a grand time we have had in Portugal. They have the best bread, olive oil, and wine in the world. Well, perhaps I haven’t tasted all of these in every country but these are scrumptious. I also have plans to go into one of the pastelerias before we leave for home to have a taste of several of the heavenly desserts I see on every block of the city. Yep, rolling down the gangway, that will be me!

We have visited wineries in every region of Portugal. Since we’ve been in Porto, we have visited wineries in the Douro Valley, the Vinho Verde (Minho) region, and today we just finished a food and wine tour in Porto. Right now I am enjoying a wine from the Douro Valley so if there are misspellings and typos, please excuse!

In the Douro Valley our guide Celia, took us to two wineries, a river cruise and for a typical and very tasty lunch.

And then we went on the river...

Then on to lunch with a fabulous cod casserole, honest, just great! And for Jim and Dennis, grilled goat with batata fritos. And then on to another winery...

In the Vinho Verde region, Jorge took us to Ponte de Lima for a look at the oldest village in Portugal with a visit to a pasteleria for typical pastries and coffee, a winery, lunch and another winery.  He was an amazing guide and spent about 12 hours with us making sure that we saw everything that was promised on the tour.  

At Ponte de Lima

Bridge begun by the Romans

The market at Ponte de Lima...

With Jorge

Our first winery with Jorge...

With Monique

Then we had lunch back in Ponte de Lima in a local restaurant with bowls of red wine. I am so sorry that I didn’t take any photos. The final winery took us a lot of time to get to but Jorge got us there and Maria Francesca’s winery was great—fabulous brandy! Jorge dropped us off at the Poet’s Inn 12 hours after meeting us in the morning, a spontaneous and persevering guide, able to handle whatever the journey demands.

Maria Francesca

 What a great surprise when we went to the Mercado and found alverinho, Francesca’s wine!

Today we went to the Mercado  Bolhão with V as our guide. His inspired tour included ham, several kinds of chorizo, canned sardines of several varieties and cod, cheeses, wine, dark brown corn bread, olives, lupins.

And alverhino wine from Maria Francesca’s winery. OMG and we weren’t done when we finished all of that.

Next we went down the street and around the corner for a pastiche da nata sprinkled with cinnamon or sugar or both, your choice.

Walk a few more blocks for soup and croquettes and another vinho verde wine, walk a few more blocks for a common soup, papas de sarrabulho made with pork, blood, garlic, wine, and cumin. It may not sound delicious but it is. If I hadn’t been so full, I would have eaten more. We also had a calamari salad and a pork sandwich.

Finally we finished just a block from where we are living with cake and coffee.

The Gospel According to Dennis:
Wow! Just read Cindy’s account of our adventures over the last few days and there isn’t much I can add. She pretty much nailed it and her pictures were outstanding. We’ve seen, ate, drank and done so much it’s hard to keep it all straight but with her journaling and photos we can relive and share these experiences with you.  She’s already planning a DVD, so be warned. Hope to see the spring flowers in the neighborhood on our return.
Jim and Pat will be leaving for home tomorrow and will precede us by about two weeks so don’t beleive everything they say about traveling with us. Before forming any opinions please give us a chance to defend ourselves! We plan to return to FN around 3/20.