Porto and Bilbao

Finally I get to finish and publish this post! Having a sick day and just lying in bed and coughing my lungs out. Charming. But here it is, about my visit to Porto and Bilbao!

Since I had 3 days off, from Saturday to Monday, had to go somewhere, and I chose Porto. I did the bookings on Thursday so I didn’t really check anything what to actually do in Porto. Except drink port wine of course. I took the bus from Lisbon Sete Rios station, return ticket cost 34 € and you can buy it online. It takes 3,5 hours and the busses are very comfortable! Unless you have a screaming baby which for some odd reason always happens to me 😐. My record is 6 screaming babies on the same bus.

The bus arrived to Porto at 15 on Saturday, and it was just 500 m from the apartment I rented for 2 nights. The apartment hotel has only 5 apartments, doesn’t really have reception, so you have to let them know beforehand when you arrive. The name of that place is Bonfim 234 Townhouse and it was absolutely great! Ana checked me in, gave me maps and recommendations where to go, how to get there, what to see, where to eat… And the apartment was just perfect, separate bedroom, I had kitchen and a fridge (!!!), and the best part; a record player! In the hall there were records you can play, including Grease soundtrack, Rod Stewart, Rolling Stones and so on. The place was paradise, very clean and modern and great location, and it cost only 88 € for 2 nights even if I booked just last minute. I enjoyed that place so much, and it was nice to cook again, haven’t had a kitchen or a fridge in over a month now.

I walked around the city, took a bus tour to see a bit more than just the centre, went across the river to the wine cellars to have some nice port! Some cliches you just have to do ☺. I also got SERIOUSLY lost. Everybody knows I always got lost, but now I went walking to a trail because the view from up there was amazing. I kept walking the trail thinking it has to lead somewhere. Yeah, to a dead end! Couldn’t find my way back and I always found a dead end. I even fell down but only on my ass 😁. Sun was going down and it was getting dark and I had no idea which way to go anymore. Finally I found a bigger trail and the road. It was literally totally dark in five minutes when I got to the road! It was getting a bit scary and I just got Uber back, didn’t feel like walking anymore... The situation needed a long warm shower and a huge glass of red wine!

Photos of Porto

The next weekend I also had 3 days off, from Sunday to Tuesday. I had been talking all the time about going to Salamanca then, so naturally I went to Bilbao. I booked my flights and hotel on Saturday, considering that I got a pretty good deal. My flight was 189 €, and the hotel for 2 nights was 120 € including breakfast. The flight takes only about 2 hours from Lisbon. The hotel was Bilbao Plaza and it’s located by the river, 400 m from the city centre and about 1 km from Guggenheim. The hotel has only 2 stars, but in my opinion it should have 3.

Sunday was cloudy and rainy, so I went to Guggenheim then, and also because it is closed on Mondays. The entrance is 10 € and the place is totally worth visiting! I had wanted to visit for a long time and now I finally did it! Spent a few hours there, and it was raining when I left, so I just had dinner and spent the evening at the hotel. On Monday morning it was rainy again, but luckily it cleared during the day. It was still quite chilly, only 12 degrees but I was prepared for that so it was ok for me. I can handle cool weather, I’m a Finn! That is the stereotype but I can assure you it is not true!

Monday I visited the cathedral, and because with the same ticket you can also see St Anton church, I went there as well. The fee was only 5 € and the audio guide is included in both places. They were both very beautiful! I have been asked sometimes why I visit churches quite often as an atheist. The answer is very simple, I am interested in history, architecture and art. Churches are usually the only places to experience all that, and old churches are beautiful. I don’t visit to pray or because of what they represent, I just like to admire the places and hear about the history. Too bad it’s usually only churches left and maintained, or at least usually the only places you can visit (also castles). I walked around the city for hours, and Bilbao seems very beautiful too! It is very different from Malaga of course, but I really enjoyed Bilbao.

Photos of Bilbao

On Tuesday afternoon I returned to Lisbon… back to the small and dark hotel room. Yep, still in a hotel, 7 weeks now. Next week I will start morning shift, I will be so happy getting up before 6 a.m.! Sarcasm intended. I hate f--king early mornings! I won’t have three days off for a month, then a friend is coming for a visit and I am really looking forward to that! Right now I don’t have travel plans, maybe take a week off in the near future and visit northern Africa but nothing more specific is planned yet. As I said at first, having a cold right now (from air conditionng again) and getting bored. Can't even make tea in this hotel room and have to get out to get something to eat! Soon I will be fine again ☺. 

In the end one tip for female travellers... It is a website and a group for female travellers, you can ask and share ideas and  information. And they are not paying me for this! Most conversations of course are not interesting for everyone, but I've read some good tips there. So visit and join if you are interested https://www.facebook.com/groups/gowonder and the website www.letsgowonder.com.