We had only been together for about two months when I suggested we should go somewhere for a long weekend away... she seemed a little hesitant at first (after all it’s hard to escape from someone when you're trapped in a foreign country with them).
After a little searching on sky scanner (which I highly recommend if you are looking for cheap flights), we settled on Porto, Portugal.
Portugal is one of the oldest European states, politically very stable and with having low crime rates, it's considered one of the most peaceful countries in the world, and you definitely get that feeling while being there.
We arrived to a brisk and foggy Porto, which wasn't a big surprise as it was the beginning of December after all; saying that, it was still warmer than England with temperatures below freezing.
This trip was also the first time I’d ever used Airbnb. We stayed on the outskirts of Porto, it was mostly residential and felt more authentic rather than a city centre equivalent. The view from our balcony was dominated by Bonfim Church, built between 1874 and 1894 in neoclassical style; it sits on top of a small hill overlooking the district.
We lay down for a while before heading out.
The sounds of the city now clear, I began to realize that despite the locations quaint appearance, it was actually hot spot for what seemed like a constant stream of clanging delivery trucks rattling the century old apartment.
Heading south from the apartment every street felt like a photo opportunity, it was exciting and I could feel the instant inspiration flooding my brain. There's just so much going on; it's hard to take it at first. Most building fronts are covered with very intricately painted tiles called Azulejo, surprisingly they don't only serve as decoration, as originally they were used to help regulate temperature of the building.
On our second day we headed toward the main part of Porto, this is where we also experienced our first local dish, Francesinha.
Usually eaten at breakfast or lunch it's a sandwich comprised of fresh sausage, cured ham, linguiça and a healthy serving of steak or roast meat, the top is then covered with melted cheese, served in a spicy tomato and beer sauce with a side of French fries (the fried egg is optional but very tasty). As you can imagine it was a while before we felt hungry again.
Eventually we made it to the coastline; the sea was fairly rough, making it all the more interesting to watch.
Rock pools and muscles littered the water’s edge.
We stopped at a seaside restaurant and that's where I had my second traditional dish, octopus!
It might look funny but it was honestly one of the best and freshest tasting salads I'd ever had. As a huge fan of sushi, the idea of eating raw octopus didn't offend me, so if you can get over its appearance you should try it! It has the constancy of stake with a very subtle ‘ocean’ flavour, onions and olive oil complimenting it perfectly.
As the sun began to set I took the rocky beach as an opportunity to do some rock balancing.
We went to Porto not knowing what to expect, purely choosing the location based on how cheap the flight and accommodation were, but the low prices were in no way an indication of the trips value, I could easily have stayed another few days enjoying the various comfort foods on offer and walking down the tile framed streets.