Surfing to Porto

 

The next morning with fresh laundry a la Joe (so much laundry traveling with kids), we had a very yummy breakfast at our hotel before setting out for more stops. Toobular beach was a bit toobless but the kids loved it all the same and then we joined the chocolate festival in medieval Obidos while shopping and walking around. The kids enjoyed a giant donut and chocolate fondue candy on our way out. The next stop to Nazare was spectacular and well worth a visit. The city with the tallest waves IN THE WORLD, Nazare is a surfers dream with 4/5 of the Guinness book of world records set there for surfing the tallest wave (80 feet high). We hiked to the lighthouse end and watched the powerful ocean sputter and snarl. It’s angry froth meeting the happy waves. Truly spectacular; I enjoyed watching from a safe distance!

We finished our driving for the day in the city of Aveiro and arrived close to 8:30pm. We found our hotel eventually and kids crashed on phones while we enjoyed a drink with Nin and Dunc in their adjoining guest house. The funky smell was not appreciated but the company and drinks made it all worth it ;)

Breakfast in Aveiro turned out to be outstanding and fresh! The boys enjoyed their first Nutella crepes while the adults ate yummy omelets with salad and bread. The kids ran off their morning sillies at the pirate park across the way from the imitation Venice gondolas and foot bridges adorned with colourful hanging ribbons. Such a quaint town, it’s a pity we didn’t have more time. Our first stop outside of town was the Costa Nova city to check out the stripped houses lining the ocean. I have fallen in love with the city and am contemplating when I can come back and live here for a month or more and write. We met an older British couple who also came on vacation once and never left! Our lunch on the beach with more vino verde and ahi burgers was yummy to say the least. Unfortunately we couldn’t stay long as I would have liked: our port tasting awaits!

Who doesn’t love wine barrels, a dark cellar and the dusky smell of fermentation? 2/3 of my children!! The tour was super informative and three glasses of port served with chocolate at the end to cap off our Portugal experience. We rushed to return our cars and board our plane to Paris, France!