Again, we rode the buses right after breakfast. Our destination today was the sizeable city of Lamego, which is home to a hilltop cathedral. Pilgrims in the old days climbed the 600-plus steps to the cathedral on their knees.
Our bus delivered us to the top of Lamego’s hill, so we didn’t have to walk up on our knees. This was our first view of Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, the cathedral.
Across the plaza from the cathedral was one of Lamego’s ancient chestnut trees. They claim that they are over 700 years old.
One of the two bell towers of the cathedral.
Beside the cathedral was this fountain that is an outlet for a spring. It still provides potable water to anyone who brings a container.
A view of Lamego from the cathedral plaza.
The front of the cathedral
While Elaine rode the bus down to the town, William walked down the 600-plus steps with some friends from the cruise. This is where he began his descent.
Cruise buddies.
A fountain in one of the plazas on the way down.
William poses about half the way down.
Beautiful azulejos adorn most of the plazas on the staircase.
A spooky fountain near one of the staircase plazas.
Another fountain on the way down to Lamego.
The view of the stairs and the cathedral from the town.
Our Lady of the Assumption Cathedral in downtown Lamego. Our guide Nuno had done a paper on some of the statuary in this cathedral.
Another Camino de Santiago marker, in Lamego.
A castle is on top of the hill. We had no time to visit.
Exterior of the Teatro Ribeiro da Conceição, which was rebuilt in the 1920’s but maintained it’s 18th century facade.
We returned to the Torgil, which was in a different place than where we left it, and began our cruise back to Porto.
The last dam and lock of the journey are up ahead.
Our captain steers the vessel into the lock with a joy stick.
Entering the lock.
William’s favorite windsock, and a hydroelectric dam.
A crew member makes sure that we stay clear of the concrete walls of the lock. He signals to the captain if the vessel gets too close.
The same thing happens on the other side of the vessel.
Hingy levers that open the water-gate.
Not long after we emerged from the lock, we saw a double rainbow.
Here are some time-lapse videos showing the descent through the last lock on the Douro on our way to Porto:
We relaxed in the lounge, and were delighted to be served afternoon tea and then had a demonstration of how to open a bottle of vintage port.
Lovely tea sandwiches, scones, and pastéis de nata.
After tea William went for a walk near the dock in Gaia. He spotted Elaine and fellow-passenger Philip chatting away near the port-side window.
The Viking Torgil at the dock in Gaia.
The Douro flows under the Dom Luís I Bridge that connects Gaia and Porto. Rabellos are moored near the shore.
Looking toward the sea, with Porto on the right.
Beginning of a demonstration of opening a 2013 vintage bottle of tawny port. It is a tradition to buy a bottle of vintage port upon the birth of a child and to open it at special celebrations later in the child’s life.
You heat a special pair of tongs, then apply them to the glass bottle neck to heat it up.
Finally, you pour ice water on the bottle to crack it open. Supposedly this is safer for the port than using a corkscrew because it prevents cork from getting in the wine. There should be an audible cracking sound. However, in this case there was not. But Mitri was such an expert that he was able to work the ice and open the bottle properly.
Cannery, sight-seeing, bridge, and the last night on the Torgil