Porto (part 2)

We awoke to several helpful comments on our blog from a Porto native.  He, or she, offered several ideas and places to see which we took into genuine consideration.  With new energy, destinations, and sunshine, we headed out for the day.

I'll begin by posting a photo from yesterday of the trolley car which was noted as forgotten by our anonymous Porto friend.  They really are quite charming and I am not certain as to how we left this photo out of yesterday's mix.  

We began with an introduction to the metro system.  Like most metro systems that I have encountered, it felt initially busy and intimidating but quickly became logical and efficient. After figuring out how to purchase four tickets for the correct distance and going up and down the wrong escalator to the incorrect side of the train once (the busy and intimidating phase),

 

we  soon got turned in the right direction and ended up within a block of our first destination, Casa da Musica, in about four minutes (the logical and efficient phase).  As you can see, Casa da Musica, commands attention as it is a large contemporary presence in the landscape.

Unfortunately, there wasn't a venue or a gig for us to enjoy, however, we did savor a coffee,

 admire it's architectural design,

and wish we had brought a skateboard along.

Next, we walked through a park with a most interesting statue, the Monumento a Guerra Penninsular.  It is tremendous

and impressive and violent. 

Perhaps intense would be a more fitting word.

Next, we continued west to an eagerly anticipated destination, Casa de Serralves, Porto's contemporary art museum.  

Upon entering, Alex and I took one look around and realized we would be there for the afternoon.  As we mentally began scratching things off our day's agenda, we relaxed into the relatively new (ten year old) museum, 

sculpture, 

flower gardens, 

grounds, 

and farm.

Viewing art alongside children is exciting and fresh.  

 

The exhibits by artists Bethan Huws and Guy Tillim gave Alex, the kids and me much to talk about over an elegant lunch on the museum's top floor.  The forty five acres that our tickets gave us access to were enchanting to say the least.  In wonderful ways, certain images reminded me of home.

 

And on our way out, I couldn't help but marvel at the way the groups of school children marked themselves with precious hats.  

When it was time to move on, we took another tip from our Porto friend and headed to the Crystal Palace; its grounds were lovely and skirted the Duoro River. 

 

Had we not just spent hours meandering the gardens elsewhere, we may have lingered longer but we were a little tired and eager to check out our friend's next suggestion, Rua Miguel Bombarda.  This is a street devoted to art galleries and delightfully funky shops featuring the works of various artisans.  It was a street we would never have happened upon on our own, and it was a bright new way to walk back to the hotel.   

After an abbreviated rest hour, we walked down yet another cobbled alley to a recommended restaurant, Abadia, with a friendly waiter who encouraged our Portuguese and served us a delicious meal.  Our children are getting used to long and late dinners.  I am not certain that this will serve us well in the future, however, they are adapting well to this pace. In fact, they are adapting so well, that perhaps this is why Bishop spent an entire exhibit earlier today in this position.

 

Boa noite.