The Last Hike

Today is our last day in Amarante. It has been a nice and not too big town. 

Breakfast again - simple

The hike today is described as the most beautiful and most challenging! The walk through the Douro and Alto Douro Vinhateiro, a wine region UNESCO describes as being a living cultural landscape. We leave the town of Pinhao and climb, 400 meters

And it is hot.

But the views as we climbed are awesome.

And higher 

That blue bridge is where we started 

Way up but time for a wine tasting and a croquette! 

Val and me

The group 

Half way up 

And at the top

Still climbing 

And then we have to walk down

I discovered that I am the oldest person in the group! Yeah I did it! 

Now time for lunch 

Josh and Rhea but I was taking a picture of my coke😊

The Caprese salad was so good!

There are river boat cruises on the Douro River 

Big ships.

Now back to our hotel and time for ice cream

Before packing up for tomorrow.

We did a walk about the town, picked up some snacks and headed back to our hotel for picnic dinner again.

A walk across the bridge 

Dinner, picnic style 

What a day! Really every day has been good. Tomorrow we explore Porto for 3 days then head back to Lisbon to fly home. 

Hike to Casa de Loivos

We have left the OMG spa facility and are now in a very nice hotel in Amarante. Breakfast was ….normal. I had muesli with fruit and yogurt plus a piece of toast. 

Eggs and bacon also available 

Off on our bus to hike. A relaxing hike along a flat old railroad trail, except for beginning and end, straight up!

Incredible terraced mountain sides with grape vines 

Wonderful how the Portuguese can use every space they can find. Along the way so many broom plant ready to pop their seeds!!! 

and olive trees too 

At the end up a steep hill to find the church

And all of us.

Now the final fancy lunch!! 

Appetizer 

Mini ham and cheese, chicken sausage rolls and salted honey almonds.

Salad

Roasted potatoes, broccoli and veal

My plate 

and dessert 

Ahhh

It was a beautiful place with stunning service. Included was wine tasting- white, red and port. 

See what I drank 

Freshly squeezed. Outstanding.

Next the chance to see the Mateus museum. Unbelievable decadence from a wine family. So beautiful.

We walked through a number of historical rooms. The wood work on the ceilings was magnificent 

The library 

They had their own chapel 

Once we finished the tour, a glass of refreshing Mateus was offered. 

Beautiful colour

Back on the bus, some falling asleep. 

Time for us to walk about and find some dinner on our own. That’s exactly what Val and I did. Walked to a “Costco” like store, bought some food items. 

We had a perfect meal on our own table by the river! Perfect! 

One last hike tomorrow and to Porto on Sunday