Porto- Gaia

I set out on a sunrise run to see the six bridges of Porto. It was still pitch black when I began, and the city felt quiet and mysterious. As I approached the iconic Luis I Bridge, it was beautifully illuminated, with the glowing monastery beside it casting a soft light over the river. At one point, as I ran toward the bridge, a train passed overhead while bats darted in front of a pale moon—an eerily beautiful scene.

Unfortunately, the sunrise was muted by the lingering haze, but the tranquility and magic of the early morning more than made up for it.

I made it back  in time to get the kids ready for a full day of exploration. Our first stop was the Photography Museum, housed in a former prison. There wasn’t much to write home about, but it offered a glimpse into the city’s history. Afterward, we had our pre-booked slot at Livraria Lello, a visit I wasn’t entirely thrilled about. Charging an entrance fee for a bookshop felt like a bit of a scam to me, but the kids were eager to see how it supposedly resembled Harry Potter. They enjoyed the experience, so I suppose it was worth it in the end. Personally, I found more pleasure later when we visited another, more traditional bookshop in a local mall.

Next, we strolled across the Luis I Bridge to Gaia, the neighboring town. Walking along the upper level, sharing the space with trains while cars passed below, was thrilling. On our return, we took the lower level, which gave us a different perspective of the city and river.

Our next stop was a port wine tasting—a must in Porto, as this is the only region where true port wine is made. The kids, however, were less than impressed, finding the taste absolutely horrible! The riverfront was lined with wineries and their boats, a picturesque sight as we sat by the water to relax.

While we were resting, Savik had a sudden entrepreneurial spark. He convinced Aanya to join him, and together they started dancing to the street music nearby. To our surprise, passersby actually gave them money! We couldn’t stop laughing as the kids kept dancing, collecting coins from amused tourists.

Fifteen minutes later, with six euros in hand, Savik and Aanya were ecstatic. They eagerly spent some of their earnings on a small souvenir to remember the moment, while also giving a portion to a homeless man. It was a heartwarming and unexpectedly hilarious highlight of the day.