Portugal 2007 (Oct): Coimbra

Friday, 5 October 2007

We spent a great deal of time just wandering around Coimbra today, both the Old City (upper) and elsewhere. As is often the case in Portugal, there are a lot of hills involved!

Lunch: We ate ‘out’ on one of the many benches in the well-kept median of the Avenida Sá da Bandeira.

Dinner: We wanted to return to the place we dined last night but it was closed for today’s holiday, Implantação da República. We found a place not too far from our hotel called Restaurante Giro which provided us with a good dinner: carapau for Steve and an amazing açorda de camarões for Susan.

Weather: The weather was a lovely 2.5+ today, with only some occasional clouds.

On the streets of Coimbra, just off Rua do Brasil. — On the streets of Coimbra, just off **Rua do Brasil**.

Elevador e funicular. Saves a lot of climbing! — Elevador e funicular. Saves a **lot** of climbing!

Exploring limits on the steps of the Igreja de São Tiago. — Exploring limits on the steps of the **Igreja de São Tiago**.

Waiting for the o Basó ias. — Waiting for the **o Basó ias**.

The "o Basó ias" [un]loading. — The “o Basó ias” [un]loading.

Saturday, 6 October 2007

Lunch: We travelled across the Rio Mondego (south side) for a picnic on the grounds of Quinta das Lágrimas. Lovely place, very peaceful.

Dinner: Back to O Cantinho dos Reis for a dinner of cherne grelhado which was very tasty. It was served with boiled potatoes and a salad and of course we had some vinho tinto de casa. Dessert was the usual port and chocolate back at our hotel.

Weather: Beautiful day – a perfect 3.0 on the Knowmark Weather Scale.

Our pastelaria of choice in Coimbra. Great pasteis de nata here (on Avenida Sá da Bandeira). The people aren't waiting to get in - it's a bus stop. — Our pastelaria of choice in Coimbra. Great *pasteis de nata* here (on **Avenida Sá da Bandeira**). The people aren’t waiting to get in – it’s a bus stop.

Fun with shadows. On Rua Olímpio Nicolau Rui Fernandes. — Fun with shadows. On **Rua Olímpio Nicolau Rui Fernandes**.

On the grounds of Quinta das Lágrimas. Our view at lunch. — On the grounds of **Quinta das Lágrimas**. Our view at lunch.

On the grounds of Quinta das Lágrimas. Unusual submerged pots with lily pads planted in them. — On the grounds of **Quinta das Lágrimas**. Unusual submerged pots with lily pads planted in them.

Our home in Coimbra. This is shot from our balcony. The staff here are very nice. — Our home in Coimbra. This is shot from our balcony. The staff here are **very** nice.

Sunday, 7 October 2007

Lunch: We climbed (with the car) high into the Serra de Buçaco, specifically in the Buçaco National Forest for lunch (the usual picnic) today. It is a beautiful area.

Dinner: Dinner this evening was in a mall (yes you heard right!) attached to the Estadio Cidade Coimbra where we were attending the football match later. The restaurant was called Siga de Vaca and we had a very good meal of lombo de frango grelhado which came with nicely grilled bacon and espinafras.

Weather: Another lovely day, marred only by a few clouds. So, 2.5+.

Lunch companion. In the Buçaco National Wood. — Lunch companion. In the **Buçaco National Wood**.

FC Porto at Buçaco. We went to visit the magnificent grounds around the Palace Hotel do Buçaco, and found this bus! Apparently, the team stays here when they play Académica (9:15pm kick-off tonight). — FC Porto at Buçaco. We went to visit the magnificent grounds around the **Palace Hotel do Buçaco**, and found this bus! Apparently, the team stays here when they play **Académica** (9:15pm kick-off tonight).

Everyone wanted to be photographed next to the bus.

On our way into the stadium for the match, we spotted the FC Porto bus again, so we had to take another photograph to go with the ones from earlier in the day. — On our way into the stadium for the match, we spotted the **FC Porto** bus again, so we had to take another photograph to go with the ones from earlier in the day.

Discussing the penalty. The penalty resulted in the only goal of the match: 0-1 Académica-Porto.

Monday, 8 October 2007

Today was a travel day, as we left Coimbra after our first visit there. We enjoyed the city and surrounding area quite a lot. The initial part of our drive was very scenic, from Coimbra to Panela on N110-3 and N110.

Lunch: We picnic’d at a lovely spot on N237, just west of Aldeia de Ana de Avis.

Dinner: We have eaten at O Cabaço during our two previous visits to Portugal and never been disappointed. Nor were we this time: Steve had arroz de polvo and Susan had porco alentejano. We didn’t recognize the wine we ordered (that’s why we ordered it) but the owner Senhor Luiz not only remembered us, but remembered that it was the same wine we ordered last time we were there in April!

Weather: Another perfect 3.0.

Steve at the centro geodésico de Portugal.