Day trip to Foz (The Atlantic Coast)
Beautiful day today! Weather is really cooperating with our stay here in Porto. Today the temps are around 680 and mostly clear skies. Great day to take one of the trolleys down to the beach and do a little strolling.
Porto has three trolley lines remaining from their heyday in 1895 when these were the way to get around the city. Today, they are mostly used by tourists and a few elderly people, the trolleys are more of a novelty than real transportation. The three trolley lines go through most of the city center but our choice is for trolley line #1, the coast line, it runs from Ribeira to Foz. The trolley parallels the Douro River until reaching the Atlantic Ocean where the line ends. It takes about 35 minutes for the complete one-way trip which is slightly better than walking but definitely not as fast as a bus. But the ride is much more nostalgic than a bus, for sure! Due to major construction on the underground metro, the #1 trolley is the only one currently running.
Trolley Line #1
The cost for this trip back in time is modest, 7EUR per person for a round trip ticket. There are 5 trolley cars on this line so synchronization is key, there is only one line with a few sidings where cars can pass! When the car reaches the end of the line, it doesn’t turn around, the conductor moves to the other end of the car, then simply pushes the seat backs to the other side of the seat and “Shazam”, now you’re ready to go the other way! Once on our way, the conductor (operator) uses a button on the floor to ring a bell to warn people to get off the track.
Inside the trolley
One of the houses along the Atlantic in Foz
The lighthouse. There has been a lighthouse on this point since Roman times.
Trying their luck…
No surfers here, way too rocky!
Fun ride and something you need to do if you’re in Porto. Much like riding the #26 trolley in Lisbon.
Fortaleza de Sao Joao da Faz (1647)
Of course, after all this exercise we needed to take a food break. Time for our lunch / dinner at one of the sidewalk cafes in Ribeira. Great meal, mine was roast pork w/ potatoes and sauce; Collette’s was the usual – cod w/taters. The wine was pretty good as well!
Bread, olives and tunabutter (yes, tunabutter!)
Cod (top) and Pork roast
And, after lunch, how about a brief show by the local girl scouts!
What a day!