We walked all over the city of Porto on Thursday. I really didn't expect to love the country of Portugal so much, and I'm not really sure why I thought that. I absolutely loved everything about it, and I can't wait to come back. Porto is a beautiful city and it was fun to do touristy things for a few hours. In years past, Brian has FaceTime'd me from this area by the big bridge, but seeing it through a phone is absolutely nothing compared to being there in person. This time I called him from the bridge! =0) This was actually the day of our anniversary, so I was really wishing he was there walking around Porto with me. We ate lunch at a Pizza Hut in a mall, and then set out to do some shopping. Portugal is known for producing cork and making all kinds of amazing things with it. Mackenzie got a new watch with a cork band that is really cool. Jamie bought Mackenzie and me cork purses, which was so very nice of him! One of my favorite parts of the day was walking around by myself while everyone was shopping, and eating an ice cream bar down by the water.
Something Mackenzie and I were very excited about was seeing a few of the places that J.K.Rowling frequented when writing Harry Potter. There is a little cafe, Cafe Majestic, where she actually sat and wrote part of the first book. We weren't able to go in, because there was a long line and we just didn't have enough time, but we took a picture out front. There is also a famous bookstore in Porto that is said to be the inspiration for much of the interior of Hogwarts. Mackenzie and a few of the other girls really wanted to go into the bookstore, but we weren't able to get in. Very sad! You either have to buy tickets in advance or get in a standby line, and the line was full by the time we got there. We were definitely a little sad about that, but at least we got to see the outside. If we come again next year, I will be more prepared and try to get tickets in advance. We took in as much of the city as we could in one day, and then we headed back to the vans to go to dinner. We were flying out of Porto very early the next morning, so this was our last day in Portugal.
Thankful.
Jamie drove this old blue van that was very hard to steer the entire time. It was quite humorous watching him make turns in it!
This statue...I don't even know what the actual significance of it is, but Jamie told the kids it was a lion wiping its butt on an eagle. I could not breathe, I was laughing so hard. Clearly, that is not the point of this statue, but it was too funny, and once you see it, you can't unsee it!
Fernando took the antenna off one of the old vans and gave it to me as a wand souvenir!
It wasn't London, but Mackenzie did get her pic in a red phone booth!
This blue and white tile work is everywhere in Portugal.
Inside Cafe Majestic, where JK Rowling wrote part of HP.
I'm so glad we got to see the ocean, but look what it did to my hair. Haha!
A "wet paint" sign would have been nice!
Oops! Thankfully it was just on her hands and didn't ruin her clothes.
Jamie picked this purse out for me. I love it and will keep it forever! It even has a c on it!
The architecture is amazing!
Mack's new watch!
We walked a longggggg way to get to this bookstore. Then we couldn't get in, so we basically took a few pictures and did a little more shopping in this area, and then started the long walk back to where we parked.
The staircases inside are said to be the inspiration behind the moving staircases JK Rowling wrote about at Hogwarts.
Next year, girls!!
Still such a great day!
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