Douro Fantastico! Porto Tour! The First Evening

There was quite a threshold for this holiday. I was doing it "solo" as t'internet users love to call it now. On my todd. No attachments. My erstwhile GF hadnt committed despite offer of payiner her plane ticket. So there I was. The first holiday "abroad" on my own, with no friends or family to meet me, for 26 years when I came to think of it. I was very nervous about it all, and felt such despite the internet, in fact because of the overload of info and the nature or bias'es of info marketing wars. At the same time, you can get a much better feel as to where places are and what the district is like, the way to walk there etc. But it isnt the same as a good old paper map, which had a solidity to it. I think zooming and the info overload make phones a bit flimsy, and also you feel vulnerable with your x hundre quid priceless possession and connection to the world waving around for passing muggers to see. The scale stays the same on a printed map, so you get a better feel for distance often. Anyway, hotel #1 was booked down town Porto. It looked a bit of a ropey area outside from Street View. I was nervous about the driver, was he decent? A dodgy crook? Would he turn up? The plane route was a bit weird. We flew down over south land and exited Norwegian airspace maybe at Farsund or the like. Sea and clouds Then the French country side in late afertnoon sun and over biscay. We then flew past Porto and northwards over the city, which is apparently a frequent route, I think the last time I flew I sat on the outside but it is Starboard out you should book to get the vista of the city as the plane enters its final approach to OPO Wow. There she blows! The city which had impressed me was there spread out in the sunset looking amazing, the ribbon of the Douro curving up like a dark snake , with those wonderful bridges strung over making the town and Gaia side seem two halves of the same beating heart. After a delayed flight and 40 mins wait for baggage I had to wait more for my driver. But low and behold a bit of a thin, slightly deshevelled man appeared at Starbucks He was very friendly, but drove like a nut. By this time it must have been seven thrity , eight o clock. We had major diversion round Gaia, but then we descended into the ancient part of the south bank, following narrow cobbled streets and passing countless Port wine bonds. The hotel took a little of rangling with Pin code to get in, but wow, it was beyond my wildest expectations. It was classy despite being up a shabby side street, and only 2 mins from the main Sandemans experience, cable car, Dom Luis bridge etc.... And it had a pool on the roof! I was glad I had brought a secret dram with me, but once showered ventured out for a beer or two. Returning to my room, in the excitement I had forgotten my PIN for the room, and had left my phone inside. Somehow I remembered it. After shower and shift I headed out to try and find a really cool little side alley we had driven along. There was a string of bars there, and it looked like many locals drank there which meant , yes, nicer stuff and communication with the real people and not the usual crappy tourists and banal conversations. I compromised after a 15 min tour, and it was getting late. I dropped the red eye train for the 0920 ex Sao Bento, but that meant getting up at 0730.So I stopped at a less generic tourist trap pizza place on a Y junction just really where the tourist stip starts to think about getting going, but it was stylish and warm enought to sit out in shirt sleaves I Elected to have a last beer in the rather shabby cafes on Rua Cuindad dos Reis there I was living. The staff were nice, and the interior belied the plastic furniture outside. It was bit too well light. Back to the hotel then having only met a couple of waitors, and a business group and advised them on food. Where shall we eat, do they have a table for 6. Gubber kjerringer, and a token babe. Tired, slung together for a work " jolly" with thaht slight boysterous intensity business types get when off the leesh of the conference room. I felt like both a seasoned traveller but also jamais vu! back to the hotel and a final swm and chat up a woman from strasbourg who was having a relax on the balcony there. It was a whirlwind, but also I was able to take it all in MY own way, I decided, I met people and didnt have my uncertain or contrary woman friday with me. It was suddenly all very be-freeing. How I did wish she was there, but also, now I was on my own adventure