Sunday Sailing

The hotel had a breakfast available today and it was outside in their garden so I decided to have it, it was sunny but pretty cold out. This morning I decided to head to the waterfront it was a bit of a walk from where I was staying and downhill with my knee not good but I handled it.

breakfast in the garden

I then got ready and headed back down the hill to explore Porto some more. I got a coffee in Mickey D's and used their toilet. I was walking around taking photographs in Liberdade Square (Liberty or Freedom Square) I could hear music coming from the top of the square so I headed up there. I could see people dressed and dancing around there were chairs here and there so I found a good spot and sat down to watch the performance. It was quite interesting there were several performances including one of  the "dancers" moved around with a magnifying glass and he would walk up to people sitting there and examine them or places on the ground, the other dancers would sometimes join in it was all very interesting to watch. I found out that they were a group from Brazil and they were going to be part of some sort of show in Porto and Lisbon.

Liberdade Square

Brazilian Dancers

Liberdade Square

I then set off to find the church I had seen from Clérigos Church  when you look down the street from there the view is amazing and you can see another church up a hill (it was like someone painted it) and I decided to walk there and see it up close. It was a bit of a walk and at times hard going down hill with my knee but I took my time and stopped and enjoyed the many beautiful places on the way, snapping photos as I went and falling more and more in love with Porto. 

inside Clérigos Church

Church Of Saint Ildefonso

Church Of Saint Ildefonso

  

Church Of Saint Ildefonso as seen from Clérigos Church

I decided to take the boat trip  Seven Bridges on River Douro I bought a ticket but saw the boat was nearly full and I wanted a decent seat so I went back and asked for the next trip and the man hesitated and then said okay, They had a market selling handmade items and I saw something I wanted but had booked a boat trip and I asked if I could pick it up a later she said sure I offered to pre pay but she said no need. I was one of the first in line so I got a seat right up front, it was really getting hot out and very sunny the trip was good we went the river and to the entrance of the Atlantic ocean, we passed some interesting places but there was no narration.  I then looked around the the waterfront for a bit and picked up my purchase.

cruise landing

along the river

Cricket and I on the Douro river

I had a steak sandwich for dinner where they had it cooking over a fire outside and then cutting it off not a lot to it but enough to fill me.

Cooking my dinner

Saturday Saturday

The flight was uneventful had a nice chicken dinner and then slept after drinking a glass of white wine.  We arrived pretty much on time and I went through security etc, all they did was stamp my passport did not ask any questions which is unusual and then headed off for my flight to Porto, that was a short flight less than an hour. I arrived and then caught the metro into town and arrived in the metro station near my hotel which was a good 25 min walk and all uphill it was streets of San Francisco.  Dragging my suitcase up hill and when I got to the end of the hill I had to stop a couple minutes to catch my breath. There were a group of 6 young people and they appeared to be more out of breath than I was coming up that hill so I thought pretty good for an old hag. I checked into Guest House Alvares I had to wait a bit because someone ahead of me was asking all sorts of questions so I just sat on the couch.  I had to haul myself to the 2^nd floor which meant 4 flights of stairs lucky the man there took my suitcase while I sat there waiting. The room was really different quite interesting looking especially the bathroom. I did notice that the bed was really short and I was thankful I was not a tall person. 

Clérigos Church

I decided considering it was now after 3 pm (no time to nap) that I would set out to see some of Porto this time it was a downhill walk to the center of town. I did fairly good walking down hill and got where I wanted in about 30 mins There were some beautiful tile churches I wanted to see. I loved them because they were blue and white tile.  I was able to look inside one and it was beautiful but was only able to stay a few moments as they were closing The other one was locked. The two were next to each other one was Carmo church and the other was Balhoa church sort of attached. 

Balhoa church, Porto

I decided at this point I was hungry as I had not eaten since the night before. I found an outside place enclosed in glass and placed an order, it was pork stew with fries it was different to say the least. Afterwards walked around a bit further and decided to work my way back to my hotel. By now a tourist/party bus was parked and people were on it dancing while a dj was playing all sorts of rocking music.  It was fun to watch for awhile there was an old man dressed in a pink jacket and bopping away I enjoyed seeing him. The  bride and groom appeared on their way to their reception, they stopped near the bus and started to dance and then kiss in the street much to the bus crowds approval. They then decided to climb about the bus an open double Decker and danced a few moments on top. At this point I was getting tired and started working my way back to my hotel uphill but not as steep as the hill from the bus station.

Amazing life like statues

  

Munich in the rain rain rain

Early morning train to Munich in the rain, I had spent an extra 4 euro to reserve a window seat for my journey from Ljubjlana to Munich, I got on the train hoping to find my seat but to make a long story short the ticket did not have a number on it.  So paid 4 euro for nothing so much for German efficiency (or being ANAL as I call it) I found a window seat but it belonged to someone, I dragged my suitcase with me looking for a seat and also some place to put my suitcase. I finally found a seat sat down and pulled my case in  between the table and seat with me. A couple of girls came over and said that they would put the suitcase up on the top luggage (another brilliant idea lets see have suitcases only placed on a rack over your head, no spots lower down)for me and I watched how easy they were able to do that ah to be young again. They asked me where  I was heading to and I said Munich and they said they would get it down for me when we arrived.  I had a seat but the train started going backwards and well the one girl who turns out was from London changed seats with me, as I hated being backwards. Later on as we made stops and people got off I moved to another seat so she could have her seat back and she could spread out and sleep, she had been sharing with others. 

not the view  I had hoped for

Of course because of the rain the view that is suppose to be one of the most beautiful trips through the mountains was anything but that. Then again if I knew that was not going to happen good weather on that train trip. At one point I walked around the train to stretch my legs a bit and found the area I would have been sitting in if I got the seat I paid for (so much for the famed German efficiency) it was a great area where the cars were enclosed by doors, but you could stand by a window outside the door and view the scenery.

I arrived to clear skies walked million miles out of way to hotel because of wrong direction from the tourist booth at the train station. I finally asked a Doorman at a hotel where mine was and he directed me to another area which was quite a hike back and very close to the train where I started.  I checked in and ready to head out but by now lots of rain I got pretty soaked I had dinner at a Turkish restaurant veggies and sauce and chicken yummy then the owner came and gave me  a little glass full of tea to warm me up.  He was so sweet I was the only non Arabic person in there.

hot tea

I napped  and came too at 10 pm stayed up about and hour and back to bed around 11 I woke up 15 to 6 saw it was not raining so I got up and got ready to go out. I was out at 6.30 and the place I saw last night with pasty was open got a yummy one and coffee went back to hotel and ate.  Then I was out by 7 am I was determined to see what I could before the promised rain.

I took  a tram and it was good I got there and started walking around all the garden areas are free and the are extensive. Some woman and her child had bread and the swans and ducks were going nuts as they were trying to get some took lots of photos and videos and plain enjoyed. I walked the grounds for awhile after buying ticket for the palace and I saw a sign to garden so I went there. It was separate not part of the palace it was 4 euro but  I decided to go in because I could see tons of  rhododendrons  or rhodys as I call them I was in heaven so many colors and kinds each one had little signs naming  first place I saw that. It also had a hot house area and all kinds of cactus and also turtles who I filmed as they came in and out of the water they were interesting to say the least. I found out this was the Munich Botanical Garden and it was well worth visiting. I saw a couple posing for their wedding photographs nice backdrop.

one of my fave flowers

Botanifcher Garten

I got hungry as breakfast was not much and hours ago and ordered a sausage and potato salad lets just say it filled me, sorry am not one for German food that sausage was pathetic.  It started to rain then at 1 pm but it was light rain. I went in the palace and you take photos but with no flash. I had to pay for a locker for my bag because it was too big and without thinking locked up my NIKON I looked around awhile the rooms were pretty and I was snapping away or just plain enjoying. I then  went to the carriage house and that was supreme I never saw anything like it the coaches each one different and so wild I will post photos later seemed like a fantasy I do hope they turn out.

photos do not due these justice

Then I  walked in the rain to another place but it was closed think it would have been better to have a sign saying closed rather than people walking all that way for nothing.  By then the rain picked up and I decided that was enough of that as the location was  even further away and I could not count on it being open, rather clever trick charging extra for tickets to see a place that is not even open, which is why I guess they do not inform you in advance. I then took the U back to Karlsplaza and then finally back to hotel as was so beat and napped for 45 minutes.  I just had dinner again in a Turkish restaurant it was a gyro and it was so damn good it had a few french fries wrapped in it.  shared the table with a man from Greece (he offered me a drink I said no thank you)and his friend she knew English so we talked a bit as I was leaving. Going to miss the good food from Europe its hard to find here.

Carriages Nymphenburg Palace

Gyro yum

Well since the rain let up I decided to hop the U back to the Marienplaz and just walk around and get some night photos. I heard music and there were street performers actually a little band. There was a man on violin and he was performing some song and getting people to join in he was  a bit of a mad man so he was playing crazy and then he would be "crying" another man had a big bass fiddle and he would straddle it as he played. They were quite entertaining and I dropped some change in the hat,  I stood and watched several songs before moving on.  Then it was time to get back to the hotel and turn in for the night. Off to home tomorrow will add photos to this later

ceilings Nymphenburg Palace