We had a fantastic spring break trip in Portugal. We split our time between Porto and a country house inland on the Douro River. Our first Airbnb was in Vila Nova de Gaia, and had amazing views of the Douro and the Maria Pia bridge. We spent our first day wandering the city with Deutsch and Tiff. The blue tiles in the Porto Cathedral made a typical small cathedral feel extraordinary. Late in the day Ben and Hil joined us and we had a full next day with the whole gang. We explored the Palacio da Bolsa, climbed the Clerigos Tower, and tolerated the crowds in Livraria Lello. Elyse, Auggie and I had a fantastic meal at Gazela Cachorrinhos da Batalha, and later that day we enjoyed some wine in a converted 15th century chapel. No trip to Porto is complete without a port tasting, and we chose Taylor’s for our required drinking. On our last day we ate at a small fishing village and had a feast of grilled fish and squid. The uniquely tiled homes of the town were a trip favorite for all of us.
On our way to our second Airbnb we stopped at the castle of Santa Maria da Feira. It was a picturesque castle - the perfect size for an excited Auggie (and Deutsch) to run around. The second location was perhaps the nicest place we’ve ever stayed, and the setting, and multiple nestled patios made it hard to want to do anything besides stay put. We celebrated Auggie’s 5th birthday there with a delicious cake made by Hil. We did manage to leave the Airbnb to go on some wine tastings, the best being Sapateiro Winery. We loved our time in Portugal and look forward to exploring more of the country. Traveling with Auggie and our friends is so special, and we’re grateful to those who choose to share these adventures with us.
