Lisbon to Porto
 | 21-May-2008 | Today is a travel day: Lisbon to Porto. This is a 312km trip, according to the map, but here in Portugal that takes all day.
We started out on an “N” (national road, typically one lane each way and sometimes with a speed limit as low as 30km per hour) but after winding through town after town for four hours and covering only about a third of the trip, we hopped on the motorway to make up time. Our “N” road travels, however, were not without some sites. |
 Mosterio de Santa Maria da Vitoria in Batalha. A Dominican abbey; the first section was completed in 1435 with additions in the 15th and 15th centuries. This is some seriously crazy architecture. |
 Since we were 12km from Fátima, and it was on the way to the motorway, we decided to check it out. Front row, rockstar parking sealed the deal. We saw the Capela das Apariçoes (Chapel of the Apparitions) and the basilica. The grounds are set up to hold outdoor mass for 10’s of thousands. Considering the significance of the site, it was remarkably empty.
Amazingly, neither of us were struck by lightening during our visit to one of Catholicism’s holiest places. |
 Made it to Porto.
Bridge over the Douro in Porto. The port houses are on the south shore of the river – we’ll be checking them out tomorrow. |
Francesinha: beef, ham and sausage between two pieces of bread, covered in melted cheese and a tomato-y gravy. A Portuguese classic. |