Touring the Douro - Day 2

We were picked up this morning at our hotel by a taxi, taking us to meet our guide for 2 days, Francisco. The skies were blue, and the temperature reached the low 80s by afternoon. We walked through vineyards above the Douro River, visited Sandeman winery, and had a great picnic lunch out among the vines.

Our guide, Francisco, along with Janet, Nancy and Pam

On the Sandeman winery tour

Francisco had set up a picnic, provided by a caterer, in a little shady area at the edge of the vineyard. We had a rose, white wine and port with our lunch. We had a few salads, along with a meat tart, bread and cheese. For dessert, a walnut tart and grapes. It was all delicious. And, the table was set with three different wine glasses, and a water glass, at each place. For a picnic!

Lunch out along the vines at Sandeman winery

I took the wrong stone stairway up to the little building with the bathrooms, and found myself 15 feet above the ground, facing a row of grapevines. Rather than turn around, and go back down the stairs (with no railings on either side) I inched my way along a ledge, holding on to the wires supporting the vines, until I reached a place I could get through. My judgement may have been impaired by the wine tasting earlier at Sandeman, and the 2 glasses of wine I'd already had with lunch. Whatever the reason, this was the closest I came to death on the trip.

After lunch Francisco drove us down to Pinhao to catch a sightseeing boat for a trip up the river and back. From the boat, he pointed out his vineyard, Casa da Quinta das Tecedeiras, and told us about the history of the area, and of his family. We all felt that we'd seen the best of the river this way, and were glad we weren't on a week-long cruise, going by lots of less scenic areas.

Lots of these little day tour boats go up and down the Douro

Back at our little hotel, we tried, for the second time, to swim in the pool. Nancy got all the way in, but the rest of us ended up just dangling our feet in the icy water.

The view from the pool at our hotel

Dinner at the big dining room table was fun again, with lots of interesting conversation. Our meal was a different creamed vegetable soup, salad, and a turkey or chicken filled pastry. Another great cake for dessert - maybe tiramisu this time.