As much as I love the alleyways and narrow, cobbled streets, Porto has a beautiful waterfront too. We walked and we took a boat trip to see the colourful houses from a distance. And we were not disappointed.
Walking down to the river…
…or walking up from it – was always a treat. I even met some dogs enjoying the shadow.
Colourful and happy houses makes the wanderer happy too!
The bridge across the river made for beautiful views all over. The city looks delightful any time of the day.
A boat trip along the river is always to be recommended. I am not a boat person, but you will see all the bridges and the waterfront up close.
As we were lucky with the weather, there was no wind either.
So far we had only walked the Porto side of the river. Another day we would walk the Gaia, where there are many good restaurants and all the wineries.
Gaia photographed from another bridge. We couldn’t get enough of the river – or the many bridges. We’d had a delightful day, so thank you for coming along!
This weeks challenge is hosted by Patti, who once again wants us to think photographically – One subject three ways.
I am just back from Porto, and I have to post from the amazing Livraria Lello – ”The Most Beautiful Bookstore in the World”… and a bit more than three images it had to be. How do you portray a staircase like this? Hope you don’t mind, Patti! I stayed for an hour and a half to work this shot…
There were so many people in queue to come inside, that we had to try three times to find a queue that didn’t stretch all over Old Town Porto.
And I really don’t know how many books were sold or borrowed or… most people were there for the same reason as we were there – for the love of the architecture and for photographing.
My photos are all crowded, but there was no chance of shooting without people getting in the way…
…taking turns posing or just standing in awe. But for a second or two, suddenly there were only two people in the staircase!
I loved it almost more from behind …but every minute here, I was thinking ”Harry Potter”…
This is my favourite perspective and the lady looking upwards shows there is more to see up there – a beautifully painted glass ceiling for example. But that will be for another post, this one was all about the spectacular staircase!
Patti says: ”This week, we invite you to “work the shot.” Post 3 photos of the same subject–from your archives or from a recent outing. Vary your distance from the subject, try different perspectives, zoom out for the big picture, or zoom in on the details. It’s up to you. You can even experiment with processing the photos differently–in black and white or color, cropping, or trying different filters or effects.”
As usual, be sure to include a link to the original post and use the Lens-Artists tag so we can find you in the Reader.
I, Ann-Christine, will host next challenge, LAPC #221, so be sure to visit Leya, next Saturday at noon to get all the details. We hope you will join us!
So, we finally went to Porto, a trip cancelled two times due to covid. I must admit it felt strange to travel again…boarding a plane, walking in the sun, taking photos, eating out… My guess is I took more photos than I usually do.
I will share my first impressions of this friendly city today.
We arrived in beautiful evening light, and it felt so good to finally be there. A stroll in the park, and then a good night’s sleep before next day’s adventures.Early in the morning we realised people were absolutely right about the steep streets, mostly cobblestones too. Big parts of the city were under reconstruction as they were enlarging their metro system. Taking photos in the central parts were quite impossible.The beautiful azulejos were everywhere. This church and the trainstation were especially amazing.
But, the azulejos were not the reason why we went to Porto. I knew from my blogging friend Viveka (Myguiltypleasures), that the narrow streets and alleyways, the old houses and the charm of the river Douro – and good food – was THE reason.
View from the upper part of the bridge between Porto and Gaia.
Stairs and steps…but worth the trouble!
This old man watering his flowers had a grand view of the Sé Cathedral from his balcony.
No words for this path – it was just my kind of path…
More of Porto later on – hope you enjoyed the first piece. We also went to the wine district in the Douro valley. I hope you will enjoy more of Porto later!
Tina’s challenge this week is about treasure hunting! You can do one, many or all of the objects in the treasure hunt, which are listed below. Visit Tina’s beautiful blog for more inspiration, and please remember to link to her original post and to use the Lens-Artists Tag.
My treasure, Milo – of course!
Three things cannot long be hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.
– Confucius
Winter sun and clouds at home
Moon over the golden Buddha in Bhutan – fun find? Early morning walk and a great surprise at least. 52 meters high and containing 125000 small Buddhas inside.
Time is the only treasure I have on earth. ― Mitta Xinindlu
Autumn foliage and reflection
Don’t let a man put anything over on you except an umbrella.
– Mae West
Umbrellas through the rainy window
All I’ve ever wanted is a nice truck, and that’s what I got.
– Cole Swindell
A truck, a driver and a new wall
Children are the world’s treasure. ― Matshona Dhliwayo
Cousin and family visiting
Sincere thanks to Donna of Wind Kisses for guest hosting last week. Her beautiful post was inspiring for all of us, and your responses were truly wonderful. We hope you enjoy this week’s Treasure Hunt. Here is the list of items:
A pet or pets (yours or someone else’s)
The moon or the sun (extra credit for both in one image)
Clouds (extra credit if you also include rain or snow)
A reflection
A child (extra credit if with other family members)
An umbrella (extra credit if you include a person using it)
A truck (extra credit if you include the driver or what the truck is hauling)
Autumn foliage (extra credit if it’s something that only blooms in the fall)
Something fun you found on a walk
We look forward to seeing your treasures. Until then, please stay safe and be kind.
The first flight since covid, almost three years ago. We had a lovely week, and… I will be sorting the photos for some days. Wishing you all a lovely weekend!
We are pleased to have Donna of Wind Kisses as our guest host this week, and she wonders what ”Over The Hill” means to us. Please visit her wonderful site for some more inspiration!
My interpretation is mostly an intuitional one…and my first thought was of The Great Wall of China. Climbing all those hills and mountains, at the cost of thousands of lives. And they were all buried in that great wall…
I think that I cannot preserve my health and spirits, unless I spend four hours a day at least – and it is commonly more than that – sauntering through the woods and over the hills and fields, absolutely free from all worldly engagements.
– Henry David Thoreau
Literally…these children are walking over that hill.
”Over the hill” also means the hardest climb is over and the view is terrific. So, after 12 years at school – you are over the hill too!
Just remember, once you’re over the hill you begin to pick up speed.
– Arthur Schopenhauer
Hiking in the mountains often brings amazingly magical views. Again and again…
After climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.
–Nelson Mandela
In Switzerland we saw this nun contemplating the grandness of God’s Creation, and maybe the road meandering over that hill.
Over some hills you don’t reach another hill – but something totally different – maybe a volcano abyss…like this one in Iceland.
And after a volcano eruption, there are endless lavafields covering the land – the plains, hills and mountains.
I will turn 65 next week…and as I’m ageing I often wonder… when I finally have struggled up that hill – will I see The Light? The Light that our religion talks about?
And what about our animal friends? They must be even more overwhelmed by the vast views from up there…especially if you are a cat on a (hot) tin roof…
And what an impossible task for the tiny scarabs climbing this seemingly endless hill of sand.
But remember:
It is easier to go down a hill than up, but the view is from the top.
– Arnold Bennett
Thank you, Tina, for last weeks fun challenge of Opposites! So many clever and mindblowing examples. Hope to see you all this week as well. Tag your entry and link to Donna’s original post.
Next week, Tina will lead us again – on a treasure hunt…Until then, please stay safe and kind.
Leya 
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