Will You Be My Porto Valentine?

Valentine's Day is quite well advertised in Porto, in many shops and restaurants, as a Day of Love.

About 9:30 we took metro to the João de Jesus stop at the El Corte Ingles department store for some shopping then meetup with expats in the restaurant: about 15 men at one table, and 25 women at another table! I met Ron, who started the group–I added my number to his whatsapp group. Also there was Bob and Victor, from church. A nice mix of newbies and old-time expats, discussing visas, property, and general topics. Barb met with the women. At noon we took the 903 bus many many stops west to Arabbiada Shopping Mall, for the long walk down narrow streets to the riverfront village of Afurada. We found the FCPorto Afurada restaurant! Cooking fresh fish over charcoal stoves outdoors – dourada and salmon, beer and wine and salad and bread, totaling $40.

Afurada is very picturesque fishing village, but completely remote from public transport. We walked along the riverfront a ways, then took a Bolt back home so that Barb could join her bible study group online at 3pm.

We went to Jazz at St.James, 8:30-10pm! performance by Brazilian duo: singer & guitarist/trumpeter (unnecessarily amplified), then wine & snacks afterwards – we helped clean up. Bolt car both ways, as the bus schedule is too unreliable.

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