Kevnjan's new adventure.

Wed. 1st. May. Goodbye April, hello May. Unbelievable, going back to England this month!! We made it to Opporto on Sunday afternoon and booked on a pretty crappy site for two nights only at Gaia. Early Monday morning we took the bus into the city. What a white knuckle ride that was - through narrow streets, littered with parked cars, seemingly abandoned by thoughtless drivers. Who'd be a bus driver in Portugal? Not me that's for sure. The city itself was pretty much as I'd imagined it. A little faded, jaded and down at heel but overflowing with charm and character, the riverside is a real treat. We took a train ride up the Douro Valley, a trip I've been promising myself for years. The scenery was pretty and it was worth the fare but somehow I felt disappointed. Perhaps it was just that as we stepped off the train Regua the clouds, whic had been threatening all morning released their rain and we had to head for the shelter of a restaurant where we had an excellent 3 course meal with drinks, coffee and port for €7.50 each. Wonderful quality, terrific value. Kept us busy until the train left to go back to Opporto. Te railway station at Opporto is a work of art with acres of walls covered in tiles depicting various scenes from Portugals history. Sadly, much of the city is being re-piped, the roads and pavements have been dug up and much of the town is a big trench. I don't think we saw it at its best. We decided one day was enough and moved on on Tuesday. I'm sorry to say that the good weather has deserted us - temporarily I hope. It is cloudy, cold and windy. Today we are staying in a small town on the banks of the Rio Minhas, a few kliometres short of the Spanish border and tomorrow we will leave Portugal. It's been a great 2 months. Portugal is wonderful but I'm looking forward to getting back to Spain where I can understand what they're saying. Thanks Portugal, we'll be back. Probably leave the crepes alone next time though.