Yep it is.
by SoulFisher
Port wine is a product of the long, but sometimes uneasy, relationship between Portugal and England.
In the XVIII century, wars between England and France often cut the supplies of wine to England. The wine started to be supplied from Portugal, an ally. The treaty which would set the conditions for wine exports to England is called the Methuen treaty, also known as the cloth and wine treaty, or the port wine treaty.
There were many political reasons for this Treaty. It was somehow imposed by England in return to the military protection that would help to keep Portugal a colonial power and free from interference from Spain and France.
According to the treaty, all the textile imports from England would be customs free in Portugal while the wine exports from Portugal would be duty free in England. The treaty was involved in the military alliance for the invasion of Spain during the Spanish war of succession.
Besides, England would start soon the industrial revolution and colonial Portugal was an important market. Portugal was discovering huge amounts of gold in Brazil, so it had plenty of money to spend while it was relatively backward in manufacturing and technology. Many Portuguese blame this treaty for the beginning of the decadence of Portugal, noting that the wealth coming from Brazil ended up buying products from England, so it made England rich and developed while Portugal would decay.
For Oporto and the Douro valley wine industry however, the treaty was beneficial. It launched one of the most famous types of wine of the world: the port wine.
The cellars of the producers are located, not in the city of Oporto, but in the twin town of Vila Nova de Gaia, right across the River Douro.
So, as you are in the center of Oporto right now, cross the D. Luis Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia so as to read my tip about this special fortified wine.
Have a boat trip in a typical...
by pel
Have a boat trip in one of the typical boats called 'rabelo' and feel the river Douro, it's marvelous bridges and the wonderful and typical landscape of Porto's 'Ribeira'... Everything, the food, the people the places. After all it's my home!
If you visit Porto around...
by ginguba
If you visit Porto around February/March, you should check out the cinema festival!! Really good! It's focused in fantasy films. Films like 'the cube' have won that competition.
You can check the website: http://www.fantasporto.com/
Siesta time
by agarcia
Just take things easy. If the locals sleep a healthy nap during the evening hours, why would you do something different? After all, the unbearable heat and the fact that most shops will be closed at those hours, will leave you with few alternatives...
However, I don't want you to get confused about the picture that I chose in order to illustrate this tip: sleeping your nap in the middle of the street would not be a wise idea. You might end up sharing your siesta with companions that you will definitely prefer not to... :-p
Winter
by pel
Travel light if you intend to travel in the public transports. Still the best is to take the special or a cab. Otherwise transports get crowdy and you'll need to bring clothes unless you cope with the rain. Most of the turists that I see around during winter mange to hold to the essentials and go around with the raining kit: umbrella and coat or water-proof coat with hat.
You might find it a bit cold around here but judging from what one sees around the north of Europe that really depends on how much you can cope with the temperatures.
It's hard to snow at most of continental Portugal. And it rarely snows on low lands. So you shouldn't expect nothing but rain and low winds in Porto.
The temperatures go around 10ºC medium temperature. But I wouldn't find it unusual to get temperatures around 15 or even 20ºC on some days on a good year. Flu or any other seasonal diseases. A flu jab is allwyas advisable, even on your own country... The Hospitals are, as in many countries, pretty full that time of year, so it might take a little while to be treated. Good warm light is still available on some days but the skies become somewhat clouded most of the time. So you ought to expect to take more photos indoors, perhaps with flash where allowed. If you intend to go outdoors in the sense of hiking or any other kind of outdoors sports you should prepare yourself. The rain here is heavy and gets into the bones when it hits you ;) It might dry off imediately afterwards and it mught not. So, good water-proof gear should be considered and some thick clothes depending on your abillity to cope with the temperatures.
As for the beach you might expect some good walks on a weekend afternoon but I wouldn't think of going in the water. The water temperatures are low, the beaches are unsurveilled and the waves are usually pushy.
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Mish Mosh of Bones below the church
Sé Catedral do Porto
Monumental Serenata (Serenade).
Arrabida bridge along the river
