PORTUGAL 2005 Part 8

(This story continue from Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 and Part 7)

**A TRIP TO OPORTO** (Cont.)

After visiting the Santa Maria da Vitória na Batalha (Batalha Monastery), the bus took off again, heading north. It took us a brief of time until we reached the Sanctuary of Fatima.

++Santuário de Fátima++

One hundred and forty-two kilometres (88 miles) North of Lisbon located Fátima, one of the most important shrines of the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This Sanctuary welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. The fame of this place is the result of the Apparitions of 'Our Lady of the Rosary' to three shepherd children Lúcia and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta that, between May and October of 1917, witnessed successive apparitions. The last one, on October 13th, was confirmed by a miracle witnessed by 70,000 people "on the day the sun danced". (source: PORTUGALVIRTUAL)

This sacred place is known as the most sacred in Portugal for the Virgin Mary. It was a bit sad for me since the rain again was fallen. I'm sure this place looks brighter and fairer in the full sunlight.

After a wet visit, the bus took off again, our company was heading north toward OPorto, the main city in the north of Portugal. Eventhough we took only one brief halt to find some refreshments, we arrived our hotel, Le Meridien Park Atlantic Porto, late and too tired to go out.

**OPORTO AT NIGHT**

I was spending 2 nights in Oporto, a city on the Rio Douro (Douro river), in the cosy hotel, Le Meridien Park Atlantic Porto. Our hotel was very nice eventhough there was no interesting place nearby. I had a chance to shoot some pictures on my first day training when our bus stopped. It was the nice pictures with the 'rabelos', the flat-bottom boats which was the vehicle used to transport 'PORT WINE' wine downriver from Vale do Douro (Douro valley), to be stored in barrels in cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river from OPorto, one of the six bridges and the magnificent view of Oporto herself.

Later that night, and the last night in Oporto, I and Mr. Praphon agreed that, even though we were tired, we have to explore OPorto's city, by night was better than none. So, we leave the hotel, heading to the nearest Metro station (newly open) which took us around 20 minutes walk. After trying to understand how to use the system for a while, we took off to a station which we assumed to be the central part of the city.

I, somehow, was in a part of the city but I hardly noticed where I was. The Oporto @ night was quite peaceful; not many people walking to and fro. The air was chill but since I was walking continuously, I wasn't felt too cold. If you can recognise the place in the pictures, please let me know by commenting this post.

: a very beautiful scene of Oporto

: Mr. Praphon and golden leaves (My picture is blur -*-)

: a church

: in the train station

: Mapa da Cidade do Porto (Map of City of Porto)

Thus conclude my nights in Oporto. It was magnificent!!! However, I had to leave this beautiful scenic city and heading South-East to Coimbra. I wish I could come and visit Oporto once again.

THIS STORY CONTINUES IN PART 9

PORTUGAL 2005 Part 7

(This story continue from Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 and Part 6)

**A TRIP TO OPORTO**

On Sunday morning, I and other participants travelled to Oporto, the second largest city in Portugal, some hundreds kilometres from Lisbon. Nunu was with us. Pedro "the driver" brought us from the nice hotel near Rio Tejo bank to the north. It takes only 3-4 hours driving from Lisbon to Oporto but Nunu was kind enough to stop and visiting some beautiful and historical places. It was raining all that day, especially when we got off the bus (-*-)

++Vila de Óbidos++

Our first stopped was the small town named 'Vila de Óbidos' (Town of citadel) which is located on a hill and is still encircled by a fortified wall. The well-preserved mediaeval look of its streets, squares, walls and its massive castle have turned the picturesque village into a preferred tourist attraction in Portugal. The Santa Maria Church of Óbidos was the setting for the wedding of King Afonso V with his cousin, Princess Isabel, on August 15th, 1441. (WIKIPEDIA)

: With 'Zubi' the kind and lively participant from Brunei, havn't seen you for a while, I miss you Zubi!
: Mr. Praphon and the church
: Me and the 'MAIN' road of the town...YES!! This is the MAIN ROAD...no larger than this, at the time of my visit, I can guarantee!

The rain which had begun to stop before we got off the bus began to poured heavily. O what a luck! We had to ran to the closest shop and, as the same as in Sintra, we took photographs but buying nothing. Thanks to Joyce and the other who brought things at that shop ^_^. After the rain was lighter, I and Mr. Praphon agreed that we couldn't visit the town of citadel without a picture with the old walls / castle. We couldn't find a castle in that rain but still can find some walls uphills.

++Santa Maria da Vitória na Batalha (Batalha Monastery)++

After a long run through the cold rain back to the bus, we went on again. But not too far before we reached the next stop. The rain started pouring again just after the bus stop (-*-) I really hate Portuguese rain!!!

Santa Maria da Vitória na Batalha, is a Dominican monastery in the Portuguese town of Batalha. It is one of the best and original examples of Late Gothic architecture in Portugal, intermingled with the Manueline style. It amazes the onlooker with its profusion of gables, spires, pinnacles and buttresses. It has become a symbol of national pride. The monastery was built to thank the Virgin Mary for the Portuguese victory over the Castilians in the battle of Aljubarrota in 1385, fulfilling a promise of King D. João I. The monastery took two centuries to build, starting in 1386 and ending circa 1517, spanning the reign of seven kings. It took the efforts of fifteen architects, but for seven of them the title was no more than an honorary title bestowed on them. The construction required an enormous effort, using extraordinary resources of men and material. New techniques and artistic styles, hitherto unknown in Portugal, were deployed. (From WIKIPEDIA)

:In the rain, in front of the monastery
:Some corners inside the fair monastery

Even the monastery took more than 2 centuries to built, it still wasn't finished yet...in one Chapel named 'Capelas Imperfeitas' (Imperfect Chapel - or Unfinished Chapel). The Octagonal Chapel is separated from other part of the monastery and was built intended to be the mausoleum of kings and descendants.

'After we finished the monastery tour, the rain was stopped' said I. 'I am starting to bore this type of rain.'

'True! it doesn't like in our country that the rain is pouring hard but it will stop soon.' said Mr. Praphon 'And then the air will clear up. But here it seemed like it can pour all days or whenever it likes to. I think we should go and take pictures in front of the monastery again.'

'Indeed!!,' I agreed 'we still didn't took any photo with that statue of general Nuno Álvares Pereira and after that, a picture with that red Portuguese postbox will be fine enough!'

:P' Praphon, I really like your last 2 picture ^_^

My trip to Oporto isn't finished yet... The Sanctuary of Fatima will be included in the next part...

THIS STORY CONTINUES IN PART 8