PORTO I

By the river and by the sea

       My brother lived in Porto for 16 years; he studied, worked and married there. Many years before, my mother had also studied and lived there with an older sister. Along our childhood and teen years we visited this city several times, usually in the Summer. The North beaches are richer in iodine than the ones of the South and, for that reason, all the doctors would “prescribe” sometime in the North beaches. Apparently, it was really good to prevent throat and breathing problems, to increase immunity to virus and it helped to make the bones stronger. 

     Before the “digital era”, my brother and I took hundreds of pictures of this city. In the digital era, he took thousands and I took some hundreds. From this period, I only found some hundreds by him that I can’t use. They all have that horrible date stamp on the right corner in bold yellow letters…
    Since his death, two years ago, I didn’t return to that city. I was afraid of doing it. I knew that it wouldn’t be the same… but two weeks ago, finally, I decided to return to Porto. The beauty, the picturesque, the warmness and authenticity that emanates from everything seems intact… but there was really something missing… People are irreplaceable mainly our beloved ones. People are a part of the places… sometimes memories are not enough to rebuild emotions… they just help to create the illusion of an unchangeable scenery. And the scenery remains magic as always…

       The photographs below are mine, I took them during this last trip to Porto. This first post about Porto is dedicated mainly to the heart of the city, the river and the old city... and, of course, Gaia on the other side of the river.

 

 

Typical Rabelo boat near D. Luiz Bridge (a project by Gustave Eiffel)  and Gaia on the other side, photography by São Ludovino.

 

 

A bar close to D. Luiz Bridge, photography by São Ludovino.

 

 

Typical Rabelo boats on Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

 

 

Typical Rabelo boats on Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

 

 

 

 Typical Rabelo boats on Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

Cruises on the river are non-stop, the passengers are from all over the world,
photography by São Ludovino.

Typical Rabelo boat near D. Luiz Bridge and Gaia on the other side,
photography by São Ludovino.

Walking on the "Wall", the "Wall" is like an endless varanda along the river,
the houses are just a few meters from the river... and that has a price in times of flood,
photography by São Ludovino.

Porto, the old city seen from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto, the old city seen from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

Crossing D. Luiz Bridge  towards Gaia, photography by São Ludovino.

D. Luiz Bridge seen from Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

D. Luiz Bridge, a Gustave Eiffel's work, detail,  photography by São Ludovino.

 D. Luiz Bridge, a Gustave Eiffel's work, detail,  photography by São Ludovino.

D. Luiz Bridge, detail on Gaia side,  photography by São Ludovino.

D. Luiz Bridge, detail on Porto side,  photography by São Ludovino.

D. Luiz Bridge, view from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

D. Luiz Bridge, view from Gaia's cable car station, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto, downtown, the old city seen from Gaia, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto, downtown, the old city seen from Gaia, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto, the old city seen from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto, the old city seen from Gaia's cable car station, photography by São Ludovino.

View of Ribeira, Porto, from Gaia  side, photography by São Ludovino.

Windy afternoon, Douro River, Porto, Portugal, photography by São Ludovino.

Douro river seen from the lower passage of D. Luiz Bridge, photography by São Ludovino.

House of the Infant, historical archive, Porto, Portugal, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto, downtown in the old city, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto, downtown in the old city, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto, downtown in the old city, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto, downtown in the old city, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto, downtown in the old city by Douro river, photography by São Ludovino.

Partial view of Clérigos Tower, a project by Nicolau Nasoni, XVII century, 
photography by São Ludovino.

 Art Nouveau windows, Porto, downtown in the old city, photography by São Ludovino.

Art Nouveau windows, Porto, downtown in the old city, photography by São Ludovino.

The whole world is on the street, tourists from all over the world, photography by São Ludovino.

Academic choral group singing in the street, photography by São Ludovino.

Colourful tourists, one of the many archs below the Wall, photography by São Ludovino.

Mob dance a board, Douro River, Porto, photography by São Ludovino.

 Children jumping to the river, photography by São Ludovino.

Children jumping to the river, photography by São Ludovino.

 Children jumping to the river, photography by São Ludovino.

Children jumping to the river, photography by São Ludovino.

 Children jumping to the river, photography by São Ludovino.

Children jumping to the river, photography by São Ludovino.

Cruises on the river are non-stop, the passengers are from all over the world,
photography by São Ludovino.

 Cruises on the river are non-stop, the passengers are from all over the world,
photography by São Ludovino.

Cruises on the river are non-stop, the passengers are from all over the world,
photography by São Ludovino.

 Cruises on the river are non-stop, the passengers are from all over the world,
photography by São Ludovino.

Cruises on the river are non-stop, the passengers are from all over the world,
photography by São Ludovino.

 Cruises on the river, boats resting between trips, photography by São Ludovino.

 Cruises on the river are non-stop, passengers for a new trip, photography by São Ludovino.

D. Luiz Bridge, S. João Bridge, D. Maria railway bridge, also by Eiffel, and Freixo Bridge, photography by São Ludovino.

 Crossing D. Luiz Bridge by the upper passage, from Gaia to Porto,
photography by São Ludovino.

Douro river, late afternoon, photography by São Ludovino.

Looking to the other side, from Porto to Gaia, photography by São Ludovino.

 The white seagull, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto, downtown in the old city, photography by São Ludovino.

Ribeira seen from the Wall, photography by São Ludovino.

 On the Wall, Porto, Ribeira, photography by São Ludovino.

 Old houses at Ribeira, photography by São Ludovino.

Old houses at Ribeira, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto Cruz cruise boat, photography by São Ludovino.

Young seagulls... before they turn white, photography by São Ludovino.

Typical Rabelo boats on Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

Music on the top of a bar-restaurant, photography by São Ludovino.

 Gaia, by the river seen from the cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

 Partial view of D. Luiz Bridge and Ribeira from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

View from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

View of Porto, Ribeira, from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

 View of Porto, Ribeira, from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

View of Porto, Ribeira, from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

View from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

View from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

View from Gaia's cable car station, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto, Ribeira and the old city, view from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

View from Gaia's cable car, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from a Gaia's garden near the upper passage of D. Luiz Bridge,
photography by São Ludovino.

 View from a Gaia's garden near the upper passage of D. Luiz Bridge,
photography by São Ludovino.

 View from a Gaia's garden near the upper passage of D. Luiz Bridge,
photography by São Ludovino.

View from a Gaia's garden near the upper passage of D. Luiz Bridge,
photography by São Ludovino.

 Me - View from a Gaia's garden near the upper passage of D. Luiz Bridge,
photography by Luzia, my daughter.

 Me - View from a Gaia's garden near the upper passage of D. Luiz Bridge,
photography by Luzia, my daughter.

Me - View from a Gaia's garden near the upper passage of D. Luiz Bridge,
photography by Luzia, my daughter.

View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, Porto from Gaia side,
photography by São Ludovino.

View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, Gaia side, photography by São Ludovino.

View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, photography by São Ludovino.

View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, Ribeira, Porto, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, photography by São Ludovino.

 View from D. Luiz Bridge upper passage, coming out of the bridge, Porto side,
photography by São Ludovino.

The old cathedral, partial view, photography by São Ludovino.

S. Bento railway station on the right, photography by São Ludovino.

 

Old fountain, detail, Mouzinho da Silveira street,  photography by São Ludovino.

Infante D. Henrique statue, Porto, Portugal, photography by São Ludovino.

Infante D. Henrique statue, Porto, Portugal, photography by São Ludovino.

Infante D. Henrique statue, Porto, Portugal, photography by São Ludovino.

The clock tower of Bolsa Palace and Infante D. Henrique statue, Porto, Portugal,
photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Mouth of Douro river, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Pergola by the sea, detail, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Pergola by the sea, detail, photography by São Ludovino.

 

Foz do Douro - Pergola by the sea, detail, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Fishermen in the pier, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Pier, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Bar by the sea, photography by São Ludovino.

Foz do Douro - Terrace of a bar by the sea, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Pergola in the distance, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Seaweeds, photography by São Ludovino.

Foz do Douro - Rocks, photography by São Ludovino.

Foz do Douro - Yoga, photography by São Ludovino.

Foz do Douro - Pier in the distance, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Pier in the distance, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Sunset, photography by São Ludovino.

Foz do Douro - Sunset, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Sunset, photography by São Ludovino.

 Foz do Douro - Sunset, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto - Palácio da Bolsa close to night, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto - Downtown by the river to have diner, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto - Downtown by the river, street artist... demands payment, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto - Downtown by the river, giant bubbles made by a street artist, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto - Downtown by the river, giant bubbles made by a street artist, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto - Downtown by the river, statue man, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto - Downtown by the river, Ribeira at night, photography by São Ludovino.

Porto - Downtown by the river, D. Luiz Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar,
photography by São Ludovino.

Porto - Downtown by the river, D. Luiz Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar,
photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto - Downtown by the river, D. Luiz Bridge and Monastery of Serra do Pilar,
photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto - Downtown by the river, Ribeira, photography by São Ludovino.

 Porto - Downtown by the river, Ribeira, photography by São Ludovino.

View of Vila Nova de Gaia from Porto, photography by São Ludovino.

View of Vila Nova de Gaia from Porto, photography by São Ludovino.