HOW TO BEAT JET LAG
September 22, 2023
Some say the best way to recover from jet lag is to keep moving until you can’t stand up a minute longer.
Edie Morrill and I have returned to Porto to walk the Camino Portuguese with a group from Insider’s Travel.
A year ago we spent two weeks with Insider’s founder, Joanna Wivell, walking the Camino Portuguese, checking out the route, the hotels and the restaurants. We started in Porto just because it is so beautiful and interesting. It was good to be back.
Four Rhode Islanders flew from Boston to Madrid where we met Edie. Together we flew on to Porto. We arrived on a beautiful day- brilliant blue sky, warm sun and a gentle breeze.
This year we were staying in Vila Nova de Gaia over the bridge on the opposite side of the Douro river.The hotel is beside the wharf where the Port Wine business was, and still is, conducted.
In addition to the ships which originally carried the wine barrels down the river, the wharf has an interesting array of shops, museums, and sidewalk temptations.
After a welcome glass of champagne, we were were ready to explore the neighborhood while we waited for our rooms to be ready.
Temptations abounded. Some of us bought a cashmere shawl or two; others sardines to stuff into our already bulging suitcases.
Adjacent to the wharf was The Lodge, our hotel for the next two nights. There was plenty to see here also, both inside the hotel, around the pool area and from our windows.
By dinner time ten of our 14 member group had arrived. We took a stab in the dark and got a outside reservation at the closest restaurant with a view of the river.
Our group bonded over delicious food and vino verde local wine chosen by the bartender. Only as we were leaving and he offered us a farewell glass of limoncello, did we dicover that our young bearded “ bartender “ in the center rear of the photo below, was the thirty year old owner of the restaurant, which he had opened only three weeks ago. If opening a restaurant wasn’t enough, he was due to be married the following Saturday. The restaurant was great; the food delicious; and the bartender/owner talented and charming. I will return.
Back across the street to the hotel. One last peek out the window, and at midnight Portuguese time, we fell into bed. We couldn’t stand up a minute longer. Not a bad way to beat jet lag.
nancyelnorte 