Falling in Love with Porto in Photos

Micki Kosman

April 12, 2013

Europe, Travel Blogs

I didn’t expect to fall in love with Porto.

And, to be honest, my first impression of Porto was that the city was dark (no thanks to the dark clouds and cold weather), cold and grimy.

As we drove into Porto, we were tired and chilled to the bone, thanks to a wicked cold snap roaring through Europe. Our GPS lost reception through the thick clouds, and we drove around in circles as Cole helpfully piped up “Mom, I’m think I’m going to be sick!” from the back seat. Such is the glamorous life of family travel blogging.

We were primed for a bad first impression of the city.

And yet, three days later, I found myself utterly in love with the city, and sorry to leave.

Here’s the story of how I fell in love with gritty, beautiful Porto, told through the lenses of our point and shoot Canon camera and iPhone.

Bride on steps of Cathedral Se

Medeval Pillory at Cathedral Se in Porto Portugal

Overlooking the Dom Luis Bridge and the Douro River, Porto, Portugal

Jordan and Daddy peeking out at the Douro River

Looking down from the hills above the Duoro

Porto Portugal Door to Abandoned Building

Door to an abandoned building

Smiling on the Douro River Cruise Porto Portugal

Jordan’s loving our boat tour of the Douro River

Boats on the Douro

Cobblestone streets near the port houses

Tour Boat on the Douro

Crumbling ruins on the banks of the Douro

Mom carrying child through the Cobblestone Streets Porto Portugal

Micki carrying Jordan through the steep Cobblestone Streets

Weathered door in Central Porto

Porto’s Ribeira district from the Dom Luis Bridge

8 Responses

Tammy April 12, 2013

Wow, beautiful pictures. I love all the colors in the architecture.
Tammy recently posted..Tales from MoonSail: Our Best Sailing

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Yishyeeene April 13, 2013

Oh I LOVE Porto.. and I’m glad you enjoyed it after all.

The first time I visited (October last year).. I booked a second trip within two weeks of returning from Porto…

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Stephen S. April 13, 2013

Wow! I’m also falling in love. The picture of the door to the abandoned building is my favorite. I like the contrast in color.
Stephen S. recently posted..Traveling Europe: Eurail VS. Busabout

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Kathryn April 24, 2013

One of my really good friends is originally from Porto so I always assume everyone who lives there is really nice! lol.

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Jenna April 30, 2013

Portugal is #1 on my wish list so I love to see what people have to say about it. Porto looks like a lovely city.
Jenna recently posted..Asilomar State Beach at Dusk: A Photo Essay

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Dan @ A Cruising Couple May 14, 2013

I haven’t made it to Porto yet but it is on the list now! Great photos! Porto is such a colorful city. Thanks for sharing.
Dan @ A Cruising Couple recently posted..Shopping at Wufenpu in Taipei: What’s the Deal?

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ADAM August 6, 2013

Hi Charles & Micki,

Did you have some tips about the wine produced next to porto in the Douro region ? After the extremadura region (Lisbon wine region) i really wanted to get some inside information from travelers 🙂

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sidhu March 6, 2014

Hello any tips for hotels in Lisbon and Porto + Duoro. I will be travelling end of April for 10 days with my husband and we are looking for some affordable place to stay.

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