Douro River Cruise Part 2

DAY 4: Pinhão, Pocinho, Vega de Terrón We headed ashore for a choice of excursions, including a tasting at a prestigious Port wine estate or a vineyard hike with a wine tasting at a local quinta. In the afternoon we went to Castelo Rodrigo, both the name of a hilltop castle as well as the village that surrounds it. The view from the top is incredible and the village is a charming place to ramble, relax and replenish. wonderfully scenic countryside—the region is noted for its honey, which derives its flavour from the fields of wild lavender and the almond groves you’ll pass—to Castelo Rodrigo, the name of both a castle and the village it shelters. The castle ruins stand high atop Marofa Mountain, telling the tale of border strife and Portugal’s struggle for independence in a single structure. Construction on the citadel began in 1209 under the auspices of the king of Leon, but it became part of Portugal within a century—though its local lords sided with Spanish rulers from time to time over the next four centuries. That’s why the palace adjoining the castle lies in ruins: Outraged citizens destroyed it after its Lord sided with Castile. Take in the amazing view from the ancient stone walls, then step down through the tiny cobbled lanes of the village, passing the old pillory, the Manueline church, and the town’s market square. It’s not all history, of course. You’ll also get to sample delicious local treats, such as honey, almonds, olive oil and cheeses, and a newly restored tea-house DAY 5: Vega de Terrón (Salamanca), Barca d’Alva Early start with breakfast provided at a hotel for us when we arrived at Salamanca which was a nice touch. We visit the historic university town of Salamanca—the “Golden City”—famous for its sand-coloured buildings and abundance of churches. Feel the centuries fall away as your ship winds its way through the pristine, dramatic UNESCO-protected landscapes of the Douro River Valley. Called the “Golden City” for its tawny sandstone buildings, Salamanca boasts a dozen beautiful and historic churches, including two cathedrals: the new one, built in the early 16th century, and the Old Cathedral, which dates to the 12th century and can only be entered from the New Cathedral. Walk with our guide through Plaza Mayor, lined with wonderful baroque buildings, to the university, which was founded by Alfonso IX in 1218. The ornate plateresque façade is stunning, and the interior rooms you see are equally beautiful. Salamanca’s food hall is one of Spain’s best, as you will discover when you sample chorizos, cheese, olive oil and ham. We had time to browse through the shops on Rua Mayor. You get back late on this trip as a long day but well worth it.The journey is 5 hours but toilet break stop is included. On my wife’s birthday they made her a special dinner which included scallops which she was very touched. She didn’t want any fuss or happy birthday sang to her as she gets embarrassed. In the evening Flamenco show DAY 6: Pinhão, Régua In the morning we had a cooking demonstration with onboard pastry chef, in making Pastel De Nata (Custard Tart) it was very good as we had samples to taste them. Our journey through the hills to Quinta do Seixo, a prestigious Port wine estate, We saw a unique landscape that has been shaped by wine growers for two millennia. The stone terraces curving around the steep slopes hold soil that is largely the creation of human intervention: People have laboriously broken up the native silver schist stone over the centuries and turned it into usable sandy earth; it’s called “anthroposoil.” The process of producing Port wine is a fascinating blend of tradition and modernity; the steepness of the slopes requires that grape vines be tended almost entirely by hand, but the wine itself is made using the most modern techniques. We toured the state-of-the-art facility and sample some exceptional Ports in a tasting room whose wall of windows looks out over spectacular views of the Douro Valley. In the evening, a special Captain’s Farewell Reception and Dinner DAY 7: Re´gua (Guimarães), Porto We explored Guimarães, the town where Portugal was born. Its well-preserved architecture and stylish young residents make it a pleasure to visit. “Portugal was born here.” So the sign on the city wall proclaims. Guimarães was home to the first king of Portugal, Afonso I, who managed to win his kingdom’s independence in the 12th century from neighboring suzerains. The wonderfully well-preserved Old Town, with its unique architecture (houses here combine granite with half-timbering) and charming little plazas, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; overlooking it is the grand castle that appears on Portugal’s coat of arms. Rove with your guide from the castle toward the beautiful main square, the Largo da Oliveira, and to the splendid Monastery and Church of Our Lady of Oliveira and the 14th-century Gothic Padrão do Salado. But remember that despite these historic beauties, Guimarães has the youngest population of any city in Europe, so the pedestrian area is full of lively and fun cafés and shops. DAY 8: Porto (Disembark) Sadly back home to the U.K., there was no need to pre pack our cases the night before. The highlights for us was seeing the 9 locks which are all very different whilst sailing on Douro plus the railway line running along the Douro with stunning scenery. Also going to the Port wine estates like Sandeman,etc sampling the different types of port including white,rose,and ruby port Plus Porto city tour. Porto is lovely city and would definitely go back again. A special thanks to Angela and Amy at Uniworld for arranging this wonderful trip. Amy was amazing before I made this booking .she was giving me lots of tips and advice, which really help make this trip enjoyable. I am now able to pass on my experience and advice to my future customers. Uniworld is good, as you don’t need to pay for anything like alcoholic drinks but you need to pay for spa treatments and some excursions. River cruise is for people wanting to experience new destinations most days in a smaller group with different nationalities. This cruise you never miss out on the scenery as no cruising during the night. The boat has to moor overnight which is good time to experience Portuguese culture. Please note some of this information could have changed since Covid.