Porto is wine country

The Douro River, gateway to Portugal's wine country!

Porto took to me or I took to it right away. Portugal's second largest city is also one of its most popular destinations, combining history, scenery and Port wines.

The cab driver who picked me up from the bus stations dropped me at the foot of a steep, narrow, cobblestone street. So, I needed to drag my carryon bag at least three blocks almost straight up to the Lost Inn. Little did I realize that had he driven the street further uphill, I could have rolled down the steep incline one block. Lesson learned.

Narrow walkway in the historic district

Within minutes of checking in, I started chatting with Eva from Birmingham, UK who had also just arrived in Porto to join a Hen do - that's a bachelorette party. We latched onto one another and decided to head toward the riverfront in time for sunset. Surprisingly, that turned out to be the absolute best idea.

Dom Luis 1 Bridge

Walking downhill was decidedly easier and, by the time we arrived at Ribeiro (riverfront), it seemed the entire city was already there.

Restaurants with outdoor seating, cafes and craftsmen selling souvenirs and handmade items such as jewelry and sweets were set up near the dock. Since it was early, we chose to walk across the arched, double-decked Dom Luis I Bridge that spans the Douro River. The upper level is reserved for pedestrians while the whole lower level links Porto commercially to Vila Nova de Gaia, another city. On the Gaia side, there are wine cellars and opportunities to taste Portugal's fabulous ports. We browsed the handicrafts, but were more interested in wines. Eva's hen friends planned a wine tasting tour on a traditional wooden "Rabelo" boat for the following day.

Having already tasted white and red Ports in Evora, I was excited to try Vinho Verde, literally, green wine. Sounds awful, but it is delicious! Green wine is essentially young wine released three to six months after harvest. I was never a fan of Beaujolais, young French wine made from Gamay grapes, but I must admit, green wine was one of my most memorable Portuguese discoveries. Eva and I sat beside Ribeiro Square, people watching, and savoring our drinks. Although there are plenty of crowds in Lisbon, revelers in Porto tend to concentrate by the riverbanks, particularly at sunset when the sunlight reflects off the colorful buildings climbing the steep hillsides.

Sunset on the Douro River.

By 8 p.m., it was time to head back to the Lost Inn hostel for a sangria party. A number of us gathered on comfy couches in stone-walled community room until midnight, laughing and sharing travel stories. That was one of my wilder nights out. I should add that Lost Inn has private rooms as well as the dorms, but I never had a problem sleeping at any of the places I reserved off Booking.com or Hostelworld.com. Plus, in shared spaces, there were more opportunities to meet new friends from other countries and even explore the city together. Eva was a particularly lucky encounter.

With my playmate gone with her girlfriends the next day, I took the suggestion from the desk clerk and booked a "free" walking tour with a university student. Among the sites Sergio showed us were a 16th century cathedral atop of a hill overlooking the city. We passed by the famous library where J.K. Rowling penned the first chapters of "Harry Potter" and the most beautiful McDonald's restaurant in the world on Liberdade Square. McDonalds opened in the former Cafe Imperial, built with Art Deco design in 1936, featuring chandeliers, stained glass and ornate ceilings. Even so, there were modern amenities, so you could place orders online or at a kiosk.

Sao Bento, said to be the most beautiful train station in the world.

One of the more spectacular sites to see was Sao Bento train station, created inside a Benedictine convent built by King Manuel I in 1518. (The last nun died in 1892.) Constructed in the Beaux Arts style, the building's vestibule is covered with blue and yellow azulejos (tiles) depicting historic events. There are said to be 20,000 tiles.

I joined another tourist for lunch at a bohemian bistro that has been a favorite of university students going back to the 1920s. Of course, we ate Bacalhau, salted cod fish.

I want to say something about free walking tours as I took three in Portugal. The guides were amazing professionals who really knew their stuff. My guide in Braga had a PhD, but had been doing walking tours for six years because he did not want to leave home. I learned so much and tipped them generously, although there was no obligation. A tour guide myself, I know how much study and preparation is required to lead an informative tour and keep several visitors engaged. Do not hesitate to take a free walking tour!