Last night in Porto

One last adventure before we depart Porto, a tour of the famous bookstore, Livraria Lello. Listed as one of the “best things to do in Porto”, the bookstore is a work of art in itself. Conventional wisdom claims that this bookstore was the model for the Harry Potter moving staircases, but no one knows for sure.

In 1906, the Lello brothers opened this bookstore to much fanfare and hoopla. The media was on hand as was many aristocrats and great literary figures from Portugal, like Guerra Junqueiro and Júlio Brandão. (Sorry, you need to look these guys up for their works.)

And why would the media and others be interested in this bookstore? Just take a look. The exterior is Neo-Gothic and the interior is stunning. Designed by Xavier Esteves the detailed wood carvings from floor to ceiling, and the elaborate staircase are certainly very impressive, earning this store the title of, “third most beautiful bookstore in the world.”

Entry

Rare moment – almost no one in front of the stairs!

Stair detail

View of stairway from second floor

Second floor

But to see this marvel, you need to buy a ticket. That’s right, you have to pay to go into this store even if you are only wanting to buy a book, which some people do. To help with that “pain”, they take the price of the ticket off your book purchase. How nice. So, shell out the 5EUR and select a time (yep, gotta line up to get in) to view this work of art. It really is worth the 5EUR, even if you don’t buy a book!

Enough bookstore viewing, time for a cocktail in the park. Off to “The Base” for a glass of wine and some music that neither of us has ever heard before, except the last tune, “Get up off dat thing.” Then dinner at this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant down the street from the apartment, “Tabera D’Avo.”

The Base – nighttime hot spot!

Clerigos Tower at night

Strange tradition in the restaurant. Stick money in the wall. That’s our .5EUR in the center.

Nearing the end of our stay here in Porto. Sunday we leave for Bratislava, Slovakia at 10AM so Saturday is a packing day. The apartment has been nice, convenient, but it is an apartment with all the good and bad that comes with an apartment. That’s the way it is.

Next stop, Bratislava…