It is a truly wonderful city; it possesses the vibrancy, enchantment and appeal of an old Iberian port while it has retained a rather elegantly decadent look. Porto looks to the ocean where ancient Portuguese ships conquered the seas. Yet it has also become a modern metropolis where thousands of tourists land every day and cram the streets, the shops and restaurants. Porto is perfect for a short break, certainly. But upon departing, you may wonder if you've missed something you should not have missed.
Some of the shots I have chosen to show here follow. I hope you will like them as much as I enjoyed taking them...
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| Walking from bridge to bridge is an excellent way to see the Douro and get a good feel of how the people of Porto live their lives day after day. |
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| Another shot of the Luís I Bridge, which can be crossed on two levels. |
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| Graffiti painters go to extreme lengths to leave their mark. The Infante Dom Henrique Bridge. |
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| The maze starts once you leave the main roads and get lost. It's worth your while, to be sure. |
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| Who's watching you while you roam the lanes and alleys? |
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| Amazingly, communal laundries can still be found in Porto. |
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| From an art exhibition at the old University building in the city centre. |
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| Art is everywhere, though. You just have to find it. |
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| Just a different kind of art: the one you eat. Exquisite fish platter for two at O Marinheiro. |
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| And yet another kind of art: Porto celebrates its fishing heritage with a gigantic net by the western beaches near Praia de Matosinhos. |
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| Let us sail... Where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. The lighthouse at Foz de Douro. |