Day 6: Cycling in Porto/Faire du velo à Porto

Yesterday we called into a cycle shop to enquire about hiring bikes. They seemed to have reasonable cycles and given the weather was forecast to be good, we decided that it would be ideal for doing a cycling trip around Porto. We arrived around 11 o’clock in our cycling gear (Bev decided we were not blending into the surroundings well, but that was the point). We were quickly provided with suitable bikes. Interestingly the tyres had less air in them compared to how we pump them up in Wellington and Sydney. We were pleased they were softer as it made riding on the rough cobbled surfaces much easier. The person who served us spoke three languages fluently, Portuguese, French and English. Lucky man! He described the Portuguese people as being soft compared to other European cultures. I am not sure those are the words he meant exactly but we have found people helpful when asked.

Showing ripped cycle pants

The cycle trail was nominally separate for about halfway along the route we were taking. I say nominally because despite having marked lanes, most of the cyclists spent a good deal of time dodging pedestrians and unrestrained dogs and children. Fortunately we were not in a hurry to get anywhere. The route took us along the river toward the Atlantic coast. It was easy riding being flat. While the day started rather cold it was pleasant riding. The area we went to was called Minhos which is a seaside suburb with a lot of new housing. There was a broad golden sand beach which was clearly an area that the locals use during the summer.

Hardly blending in. Even the seagull is perplexed

Our destination was a street where there were lots of seafood restaurants across the road from the fishing port. We had been recommended one called Tito II which we easily found and were given a table on the street. I think our riding gear might have excluded us from an invitation inside (into the more formal part of restaurant).

The server spoke adequate English and explained the menu. We decided on grilled sardines to start and then bacalhau for the main. The food was simple, the fish being cooked on a barbeque in the street, but so well flavoured. It was Bev’s first experience of fresh sardines. They were really tasty. The bacalhau

Sardines almost finished

was interesting. I enjoyed it. The fish is cod and I assume it is a deep sea fish. It flakes a little like groper but even more so and is quite meaty. I liked it and despite having been salted it tasted fresh. It was served with roasted green peppers, olives, hard boiled egg and potatoes. To accompany it we had a bottle of white wine recommended by the server which was a perfect accompaniment to the fish. I was smiling from ear to ear. There is nothing better than being on foreign shores, eating and drinking the local produce in the sun, all part of a relaxed bike ride.

Bacalhau

After finishing our meal we began our return. We were told that there was a ferry that would take us to the other side of the river. A different route appealed and it also gave us a brief boat ride on the Douro. We then biked some distance toward the southern beaches but turned back after a couple of kilometres as we were a bit tired and it was rather windy. The ride back took us over the “Eiffel” Bridge and through meandering tourists along the waterfront to our bike rental store. My app told me that we had ridden about 26 kilometres.

I was so full from our lunchtime meal that I did not need anything else other than cheese and strawberries. I forgot to ask Bev if she wanted something and it turned out she did. Fortunately there were some leftovers from the previous evening.