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A few extra days in Porto

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 A morning walk to the Bolsa Palace, everyone said was amazing. Bolsa Palace After breakfast we walked from the hotel to the Bolsa Palace, the old Stock Exchange building that was essentially a beautiful palace!  Ate the best custard pastry (pasteis da nata) and an excellent latte. The best latte and pastry Took a taxi to the market for lunch. Lots of variety - flowers, seafood, cheese, fish, chocolate, and sandwiches, etc. Walked back to the hotel for dinner - pork cheeks and salad! Rain came in the night and next morning keeping things fresh! Porto Market Next day we walked to the Porto Cathedral and visited the Bishop's Palace. Rain started while touring here but cleared mid morning. We met up with friends from the tour for a great lunch! The Church near the hotel was open for viewing. Had dinner near the hotel (veggie portobello and Ratatouille). Off to bed to rest sore feet! Our last day - walked to the Lello bookstore, the Lion's fountain and the two churches on the squa...
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Porto

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  This was day 7 of our tour, having arrived by train yesterday from Coimbra. We met the group in the morning to walk to the Dom Luis I Bridge. It was a nice, cool sunny day and then walked down to the dock on the Douro river where we boarded a small boat to cruise beneath 5 bridges.  After the boat tour we walked to the Funicular (4 Euros) and to the top and a short walk to the hotel for a rest.  Funicular Burmester Port Cellars Met the group to walk to dinner, down the old staircase to the river and across the bridge on the lower deck to tour the Burmester Port cellars and a port tasting afterwards - light, tawney and ruby ports all were great. Then it was off to our final dinner with the group at Barris do Douro in the Vila Nova de Gaia area on the south bank of the Douro. Rained while we ate dinner and then took a taxi back to the hotel.
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Coimbra to Porto

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  Coimbra Train Station Late one afternoon we took the train from Coimbra to Porto, only about an hour arriving at a very busy train station. We caught taxis and slowly made our way to the city center and the Mercure Porto Hotel. It was in a great location.  Mercure Porto Hotel Santa Catarina After checking in we went for a long walk to the Porto City Hall square and to the Lello Book store, made famous by J. K. Rowling who apparently hung out there and was inspired by the design of the staircase for the moving stairs in the Harry Potter stories. View in Porto from Hotel dining room Bicycle themed dining room and hotel Group ready to walk Very busy streets of Porto
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Coimbra

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City of Coimbra - University on the top of the hill   After departing Tomar, we continued to Coimbra, the University city and Palace. More hills to climb, more pastries to eat, fish and gelato! Since we had such great weather, lots of warm walking ending with delicious dinners in town.  Pasteis da Nata and meringues The University and Palace-  Palace gate The Oldest University in Europe Royal Palace of Coimbra Students about to graduate dress in black capes - a souvenir of their student life! Cod fish dinner Only one night in Coimbra and a special full moon -  'a pink moon' over the city after sundown!
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Tomar and the Templar Castle

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  We got up early for breakfast and on the bus 8am for 2 hours to Tomar, the seat of the former Order of the Knights Templar in the 12th Century. They build the Convent de Cristo, a beautiful fortress and Church. 
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