After sailing 619 nautical miles from Bordeaux, the Balmoral arrived port of Leixoes, a major seaport located in the northern region of Portugal near the city of Porto, a vibrant and historic city located in the northwest of Portugal. Set along the Douro River estuary, Also known as Oporto, Porto is famous for its stunning riverfront, historic center, and port wine production. The city’s historic center, Ribeira, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is characterized by narrow cobbled streets, colorful buildings, and picturesque plazas.
The first time I visited Porto, I was onboard the now-scrapped cruise ship Black Watch. Although I didn’t know much about Porto at the time, I decided to join one of the ship tours, and I’m so glad I did – the places we visited were absolutely amazing!
I vividly remember the tour that took us back in time to Oporto’s 18th-century splendor. We strolled through the city’s imposing streets, visited beautiful squares, and explored the 12th-century Cathedral. After the walking tour, we hopped on a river cruise along the Douro River, which offered a unique perspective of the city.
The tour concluded with a stop at one of Porto’s wineries for a traditional port tasting. It was my first visit to a winery, and I was thrilled. While I’m not a heavy drinker and only casually drink at parties and family gatherings, I was very keen to learn about the winemaking process. This tour satisfied my thirst for knowledge about wineries.
I really would love to revisit that winery this time, but unfortunately, I couldn’t find the time. I have plenty of other stuff to attend to, but hopefully, I can make it next time.
