After the experience of the Camino de Santiago, it took a while to make the transition from on the trail to being back in civilization again, but I did.

It is still incomprehensible to me that I spent days walking with no person in sight; the peace and quiet, just me, my thoughts and the environment around me.

I am now in Porto Portugal for 4 days and it must be one of the loveliest cities I’ve seen. Very busy so it is a shock to the system but my Walk gave me back my love of travel and a better appreciation of noticing things.

I still wake up early and walk before the city comes to life, and my first morning walk almost brought me to tears for the beauty this place possesses.

It reminds me that we must notice in order to be moved.

Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and the historical centre was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996 and rightly so. Located at the mouth of the Douro River and extends from the water up and up and up hills.

The maze of narrow streets, twisting and turning and around each corner another hidden gem can be found. Porto is a feast for the eyes.

The use of beautiful tiles to decorate the buildings gives Porto the feel of a city dressing up for a celebration.

How can one not be happy when these decorate your home?

While I am presenting the glamorous city, it is a city struggling, in need of work to maintain and restore its beauty, just the feeling one gets by walking around is magical. Even walking into the most beautiful bookstore in the world is inspiring and insanely busy!

After all the ‘pilgrim’ meals, it is nice to have some fantastic food, lots of fresh fish, including cod. I believe I have had 7 fish dishes in 4 days! Porto is so beautiful that even the fast food restaurants are a feast for the eyes.

There is so much to see and I have only scratched the surface. Today I move on to Lisbon where my adventures continue.

Good bye Porto