She's climbing the Staircase to Heaven

I got on the metro at San Bento Station I had read how beautiful it was inside with the various wall designs so I looked around while I was waiting for the metro it was. I was headed to Braga, I was not sure where to catch the bus to Bom Jesus Sanctuary  (Santuario do Bom Jesus do Monte. I saw a sign saying information and followed it but there was nothing so I got in line at a window selling train tickets and found out the bus left from outside and I ran out and the bus was just pulling away I waved him down and he stopped and waited for me. It was about 25 minute ride and I got to see some of Braga on the way and it was quite uphill (like most of Portugal appears to be) and finally arrived at a parking lot. There were other people arriving and they headed for the Funicular but I wanted to walk up because I read you can experience everything and then tale the funicular down. I started climbing the steps, and it did not even look like the photographs I had seen. I  have to admit the first half of the walk was not that interesting, there were various little caves to look into and the scenes were mainly leading up to the Crucifixion and hard to see cos of the darkness of the caves.

"Building of this staircase was begun in 1722 under the archbishop of Braga. The stairway pays homage to the five senses and the three virtues (Faith, Hope and Chastity) by snaking through a series of themed statues and fountains. Each landing has a fountain. At the base of the stairs is a section of patterned pavement with benches featuring a good view of the Braga plain on a clear day."

I started the climb taking my time and resting I finally got to the point that I had seen in photographs Bom Jesus is famous for the ornamental Stairway that zig zags across the hill towards the church it is Baroque and it was beautiful to see in person.  It started to become very warm out and I saw more and more people who had opted to take the funicular up and then walk down the main staircase. There were many statues and then water fountains at various landings.  I finally made it to the top and spotted a outdoor café they also had an ice cream place since I was so hot I decided ice cream was what I needed (hey any excuse will do) I tried my first “feast” ice cream bar  “these ice creams are to die for they taste so yummy  I could eat it all day, there is a solid block of chocolate in the middle covered by chocolate that have nuts.” Is a review I found and that pretty much sums it up, I pretty much had one every day the rest of my trip, usually in place of lunch. 

Cricket enjoyed the feast too

I walked around admiring the gardens looked in the church and the gift store I bought a postcard and stamp there was a bit of confusion getting the stamp making sure I was getting International stamp and not Europe but finally settled that, and sat down and wrote and mailed it.  It was starting to get pretty hot and I decided it was time to head down on the funicular.

The sight fountain

Sacred Stairs Bom Jesus Sanctuary

granite and plaster stairway

"an old, water counterbalancing funicular that will take you nearly 300 meters up the 400 meter hill to the pilgrimage site of Bom Jesus. Built in 1882, it moves by loading water into the car at the top of the hill, which weighs it down so it sinks to the bottom, at the same time drawing the lighter, drained car up the hill, where the process starts all over again."

funicular

I had to wait a bit for the bus but there was a place to sit out of the direct sun which at this point was really starting to get to me. Once I was back in town I was hungry and I started to look for a place to eat, I was not in an area that had much of a choice of food, so I settled on a hamburger with fried egg on top and rice and fries (I later learned this was called a Portuguese hamburger the fries were so yummy I was wondering what the coating was. I walked around  bit more but appears I was quite a ways from other attractions so I decided it was time to get out of the sun and catch the metro back to Porto.

Once back in Porto I walked around some more I went to the Cathedral it was a bit of a walk to it and it was uphill as most places are in Porto. I had a really great view up there and it was the sun was starting to set it was a totally awesome view.

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