In Search of Chocolate--Always!

Our adventures in Porto continue. On Thanksgiving we traveled the metro with the intention of going to the end and walking the beach there. Instead, as we passed the small seaside Vila do Conde, the massive overhead aqueducts caught our eye and we got off to explore. The large church was under restoration, but we saw enough to be impressed by the monastery and convent of Santa Clara, which is now a very pricey hotel. We walked all over town, viewing small ornate shrines, a Portuguese sailing vessel and even a ship building museum. When it was time for lunch, Bill googled a couple of places that looked inviting, and we began trying to find them. Now, let me say here, Bill is a great navigator. I followed his directions without question in the Azores and in Porto. But...for some reason, his GPS was not cooperating, and we simply could not find the restaurant. Then, as we passed a small street in a shadowy side alley, I saw a barely open door. I glanced inside and noticed people at a distance, deep inside, all eating. I called to Bill, he took one look, and said, "The last time I went into a place like that I was greeted by someone with a machine gun!" Just at that moment, the door opened, almost of its own accord! Of course, that was a clear signal to me, so I entered, with Bill slowly following (what happened to his sense of adventure?)....

The rest is what I expected--a big meal at a great price--with stray cats getting fed kitchen scraps and sparrows picking up breadcrumbs from the outdoor tables. It was definitely a "family" place, and we enjoyed it. And, as we left Vila do Conde, ready to head back to Porto and a much needed rest, we stopped at a "Chocolataria/Bombonaria" and bought one of every dark chocolate bonbon they had, with plans to savor them as long as we could. Naturally, we ate them all that night!

We had planned a couple of side trips during our sojourn in Porto. I've told you about Germany. Well, this past week was Paris. I have been several times and Bill had been once, but that was years ago, and we were both keen to return and revisit museums and monuments. Bill has called Paris a "destination city," and that is a perfect description. So many, many people, from all over the world. It is truly a global experience to be there, and one that we enjoyed very much.

My mother-in-law once told me, the trouble with aging is that your brain still wants to do things that your body can no longer manage. As usual, Dot was right--and we proved that repeatedly!

Our bodies had a limit for walking on marble and concrete and cobblestone. Three hours per museum seems to be the max at this age, so we did one museum per day and then walked to various other sights we wanted to see. We ate at patisseries and brasseries, and any other place that looked like it would give us the strength to continue. Luckily, the Christmas Fair was in full force, and we found an artisan chocolate booth there. You can imagine the rest of the story!

Finally, worn and weary, we started the trip back to Porto. The Uber driver told us Trump was coming to see Notre Dame when it reopens Saturday (thank goodness we would be gone). We were a bit anxious about our flight, as the Air Traffic Controllers went on strike starting today. But all seemed to be going well for us, and we were seated and ready for takeoff when...the captain announced a small problem with a generator, one that provides air conditioning (but that did not need to be fixed, he said). Just paperwork to be completed and then we would go. Except...because of the strike, we would have to wait two hours for the paperwork. Groans from all. Then, another announcement--we were granted an exception, because there was no air conditioning (huh?), they were letting us depart. Better to have hot passengers in the air than on the ground, right? We arrived about an hour late, took the metro and bus back, stopped for fresh bread and fruit at the local grocery store, and here we are, feeling like we are home again!

Gimpy Lory and Wimpy Bill