Today was billed as some of the prettiest scenery we would see of the trip. Along the way I was luckily seated on the right side of the bus for some spectacular views of the hillside vineyards of the Douro Valley, where port wine is made. Bear in mind that all these photos were taken from a moving bus! In September the grapes are harvested by the locals as well as foreigners who pay €80 for the “privilege” of the backbreaking work of picking the grapes. According to our guide, Pedro, just one day of picking grapes would be the end of him!

Our first stop this morning was at the Mateus Palace, located in the civil parish of Mateus, Villa Real, Portugal. We didn’t see much of the house but the gardens were stunning. Many of the trees and plants were planted at the same time as the building of the house, which dates from 1870. I especially liked the shape of the cypress and cedar tree trunks near the entrance.

The gardens were just gorgeous and apparently there is only a staff of 6 people who take care of it all.

We stopped for lunch in the quaint little town of Guimaraes, whose historic town center has been listed as a UNESCO port wine

World Heritage Site since 2001, in recognition for being an “exceptionally well-preserved and authentic example of the evolution of a medieval settlement into a modern town” in Europe.

This was one of two places that Pedro said we could buy chocolates with port wine inside so that’s what I did! He said that if he didn’t buy some of these chocolates, he wouldn’t be allowed back home!

Our hotel, the Neya in Porto, is one of the most modern hotel room I’ve been in. All the hotels on this trip are 4-stars, but this one is really nice. And … I’m enjoying the king-size bed, all to myself!