Day 4

2022-July Resistant Traveler blog update 2 – Porto, Portugal

 We were in Lisbon for three days and then off to Porto by train for a couple of days. Not knowing we should have purchased train tickets ahead of time, we showed up at the station ready to leave on an 11:30 AM train.

 Unfortunately, the 11:30 was fully booked, and the next train that had seats would depart at 15:30, which only military people and European people understand to be 3:30 PM. So, we had to cool our heals at the train station for four, count ‘em, four hours!

 Then when we arrive in Porto, we have no idea how to get a taxi. There are no signs, there is no train personal to suggest anything, and a crowd of people standing around, but no organized line.

 Dianne, my wife, stopped one taxi that had passengers, and the driver handed her a card and said to call that phone number if she wanted a taxi. So, we called and finally a taxi arrives, BUT it is not there for us.

 It turns out the crowd was a line and while we are putting our bags in the trunk an elderly lady tells us that people in Portugal wait their turn and don’t steal the taxi from others who are waiting. She tells the driver she will call the police, curses us, and kicks the cab as we depart.

 Welcome to Porto.

 I will write some other blogs on our experiences in Porto, the hotel, the street construction, the tour bus, the beaches, trolley and a museum. Eventually we will get to the cruise ship for a relaxing and peaceful journey.