Port 95 Oporto, Portugal

by Ed · June 21, 2022

Bom dia!

Jun 15th, 2022, proves to be another hazy, drizzly morning as we approach Oporto, Portugal.

The city appeares on the starboard side. That’s where I’ll be exploring today!

But an amazing array of machinery pops up on our port side! We start with this crane at the end of the breakwater. It appears to be rebuilding the rock outcrop of the breakwater.

Another crane is on its way somewhere on a barge.

Three backhoes are busy scraping a road into shape.

And then this monstrosity appears! There are massive grinding bits stowed up front. It wanders around the harbor, extending crane arms, dropping buckets then lifting them out of the water, but I never see it dump the contents, so I’m reluctant to say it is dredging the harbor.

We have no tours today, but I’m heading in to town on my own. Joy is spending the day with one of our neighbors.

I snap this picture of our cruise terminal as I’m leaving. It’s pretty wild! The tiles on it sparkle when the light is right!

I jump on the shuttle bus. We pass a lovely beach that is next to the port!

An old fort anchors the end of the beach!

I get a chuckle out of these kids! I know the teacher asked them to sit down, and this is how that ends up!

The shuttle bus drops us off in town at the Cordoaria Park (Jardim da Cordoaria). A bunch of beautiful buildings surround the park!

The Museum of the Central Hospital (Museu do Centro Hospitalar do Porto) sits at the corner of the park, and in front of the University Hospital!

This is the City Courthouse (Tribunal Judicial de Comarca do Porto). That is Justice standing on the left!

This is a beautiful neoclassical building with stately sculptures standing along the portico.

In the park are several bleacher-like sculptures with these laughing figures, entertained by someone who has fallen backward!

Around the corner from the Justice Center is this interesting, almost derelict-looking building. But it is the Portuguese Centre of Photography (Centro Português de Fotografia)! It is an active museum.

This is the facade on the left end – fabulous!

Standing in front of the Portuguese Centre of Photography is this statue “Love of Perdition” (Amor de Perdicao).

Continuing the walk up Rua de Sao Felipe de Nery, I’m in search of the Hard Rock Cafe here. Staring at me is this phenomenal tower! It is the Clerigos Tower (Torre de Clerigos), part of the church that sits behind it!

I go to explore, but find that there is a fee and long line of unmasked people to get in, so I move on. But this is the view from the other end – stunning! the Church of Clerigos (Igreja e Torre dos Clerigos) with the tower in the background!

OK, three guesses what this is! Give up? Would you believe this is a shoe shop? Yup!

We were told by the port speaker to keep our eyes open for blue tiled buildings.

The street is blocked by construction. I follow the detour and see this through a window in the construction fence. It appears they uncovered an old aqueduct that is in remarkable condition! I’m sure that brought a lot of the street work to a halt!

The detour takes me to this long plaza, the Municipal Plaza, surrounded by numerous fabulous buildings! This beautiful building stand at the north end of the plaza!

This is an example of the buildings along either side of the plaza. This one, in particular, is interesting! Any guess what it is? Would you believe it is a Burberry department store?

I find Hard Rock, and I think this display is perfect for our times! We all need to live by this message.

This is the Santissima Trindade Church!

Inside it is elegant, not overwhelming!

The altar is beautifully styled with a fabulous painting that appears to be the baptism of Jesus with God pouring water from above!

Looking to the back, the organ pipes are very understated here, but they are pretty and there are two beautiful angels flanking the pipes!

And the Stations of the Cross are beautifully designed! I think because the simple elegance, this church has become one of my favorites!

A few blocks away I was captured by the blue-tiled elegance of this church! This is the Church of Saint Ildefonso (Igreja de Santo Ildefonso). Unfortunately this church was closed.

I guess their tardises are only good for graffiti canvases!

Across a small valley I see the beautiful Porto Cathedral and head that way!

Out front is a glorious tribute to Vimara Peres, a Galician duke. Part of his name has been ripped off the memorial, but it’s still legible and verifiable!

Once I get to the front of the cathedral I can see a wedding that is trying to wrap up! The family and troupe are milling around, then cheers erupt whenever someone exits the cathedral. I don’t stick around – it’s HOT today! (98 degrees!)

This beautiful sceptre stands in front of the cathedral.

Any path from this cathedral is DOWN hill. So to get anywhere else is UP hill! I survey the landscape. Remember the red roof comment in Lisbon? Same applies here!

I lean over the wall that looks down to the monastery below. When I back up I see this sweet image! You gotta enjoy the sweet moments!

The Church of St Lawrence (Igreja de São Lourenço) is about 80 feet below the Porto Cathedral. This began as a convent – Convento de São Lourenço – but later was converted and modified into a church. The entire upper structure is a facade!

Trying to find my way back to the center of town, I encounter this cute moment in a store window! Tea time!

I encounter this fabulous facade! This is the Misericórdia Church (Igreja da Misericórdia). I can’t go in, but I hope you agree the artwork is incredible!

As I trudge uphill I come to this beautiful sight! This is the Church of Saint Anthony of the Congregants (Igreja de Santo António dos Congregados). The delft blue tilework is wonderful!

Inside the space is massive! Thick walls hold up the barrel-vaulted ceiling. The congregation doesn’t have to crane their heads to look around interior columns to see everything happening up front.

The altar is interesting with black-winged angels.

The back is dark with the organ pipes tucked along the side.

Finally, I find the Church of Carmelitas (Igreja dos Carmelitas) on the left attached to the Church of the Carmo (Igreja dos Carmo) on the right!

I can only go in the right side, Igreja dos Carmo. But a service is in progress, so I don’t get my usual stock photo layouts. This interior is a bit messy, with the altar hiding behind the heavy column and arch, and the gilded pulpits interrupting the wall lines. Most of the carvings in the nave side look more like tarnished brass than gold-leafed carvings.

The altar itself is incredibly ornate and beautiful! The Christ figure is offset nicely with red inside the canopy of gold!

When I step outside and head out I am surprised to see the side of this church is decorated in delft blue tilework! Simply gorgeous!

It’s time for me to head back to catch a shuttle bus. I take a shortcut through the park. This girl catches my eye!

Then I see this boy riding the back of an eagle, backwards!

I was surprised by this view! I know the photo doesn’t do it justice, but I tried to capture how significant the hills are in this city!

A bolt of lightning arcs across the clouds, followed 2 seconds later by a loud growl of thunder. I warn the people who just got off the shuttle that I think there will be rain in a few minutes, and don’t waste any more time climbing on to the shuttle bus myself! Within two minutes a downpour hits! But it only lasts about three minutes. I hope those other folks were able to duck into cover somewhere!

Back at the pier, I catch this view of Insignia next to the cruise terminal. This is my gratuitous photo of the ship today!