Geoff Brock & Bruce Gamble
         
     
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Morning visits to Aveiro and Cockburn's Cellar in Porto. Afternoon at leisure.
Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Our last full day in Porto and it was another beautiful day. Bruce chose to take the morning excursion down the coast to the canal city of Aveiro. Geoff chose instead to join the group tour to the Cockburn's Cellar in the city. After lunch together back on the ship, we strolled around the area close to the ship, listening to the buskers and generally enjoying the sunshine. In the evening, we dined with Katia and David, who were celebrating a significant anniversary.
The coach drive to Aveiro took us south along the dark blue route and back to Porto along the light blue route.
 
Aveiro, the city of canals.
 
 
We boarded the canal boat close to the roundabout near the Forum shopping centre. Sailing towards the right of the map, we did a loop and sailed back, passing our starting point and then along a wider section of the canal. Turning right, we sailed to the end of the canal, before turning around and heading back to our starting point. We were on the boat for about an hour.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This is the point where we looped back.
 
Sailing back towards the starting point.
 
 
 
 
Passing our starting point.
 
 
 
Now on a wider section of the canal heading in the direction of the coastline.
 
Looking back.
 
A right turn under this bridge into a long side canal.
 
 
Looking into a side canal off the side canal we were in.
 
 
 
At the end of the side canal, we turned back.
 
 
 
 
 
 
The guide has clearly done this many times. I was sure that she was going to be decapitated as we went under the bridge, but she just made it. She had to go as far forward as she could in order to check that there wasn't another boat coming along the main canal, before we could enter it. Mind you, at the speed we were going, I'm not sure what we would have done if there had been another boat coming.
 
As we were approaching the end, our guide decided to sing for us!
 
 
I don't have a photo of our boat, but it was almost identical to its sister boat below.
This is where we disembarked.
 
 
After the canal boat tour, we had some free time, so I did a little exploring on my own.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Back on the coach, we headed back to the ship in Porto.
While Bruce was enjoying his morning in Aveiro, Geoff took the group excursion to the Cockburn's Cellar in the city.
 
 
 
The art of barrel making!
 
 
 
 
A selection of rare vintage ports. If you have to ask the price, you can't afford them.
 
 
 
Both of us were back on board in time for lunch, after which we went for a stroll around the area where the ship was docked. There were lots of people out enjoying the music and the warm sunhine.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Later, the gorgeous sunset was a fitting end to the day.
 
 
 
 
The excitement wasn't over yet! We felt privileged to be invited to share a table at dinner with Katia and David, who were celebrating a special anniversary. We congratulated them and wished them everything of the best for the years ahead.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
©Geoff Brock and Bruce Gamble