Monday 4.13.26 – Porto
Good full day in Porto. Felt like we settled into it properly.
We started at the Centro Português de Fotografia, set inside the old Cadeia da Relação prison. Proper solid place. Thick stone walls, big staircases, you can feel what it used to be. It’s been turned into a photography museum but it hasn’t lost its edge. You’re walking through history, not just looking at photos.
Outside is Largo Amor de Perdição with the statue of Camilo Castelo Branco. Worth knowing the story. He’s one of Portugal’s big writers, known for intense romantic tragedy. He was actually locked up in that prison after a love affair that caused a scandal, and while he was inside he wrote Amor de Perdição. That book is a big deal here. So the statue, the square, and the prison all connect. Once you know that, it lands differently.
From there we headed down to Ribeira along the Douro. Classic Porto. Bridge above, river moving, buildings stacked up the hill.
We had dinner down by the river. Great setting. Food was average if I’m honest, but we had a good bottle of wine so that carried it.
After that we just moved. No real plan, just walking, talking, letting it unfold.
Ended up at the Royal Cocktail Club. Proper spot. Good drinks, good energy. Then finished with ice cream. Coconut. Right call.
Best part of the day was the feel. Easy. A lot of laughs. Conversations went a bit further than expected. Probably too many disclosures, but the good kind.
Tuesday shifts things. Victor arrives, Sophie heads back to England.
Camino starts Wednesday.
