Lazy Sundays in Porto...

It is warm - very warm and yet a refreshing breeze comes from the Atlantic and keeps things comfortable.

If you are looking for holiday where you can experience the charm and festivities of traditional street fiesta's, then Portugal is for you.

The Portuguese love to celebrate. Most weekends will bring the sound of mortars booming in the background in celebration of something important. If you like fireworks then Portugal will impress you some more. Any opportunity to gather in the streets and enjoy community, music, singing, food and fireworks is taken seriously with serious merriment!! Local councils are well practiced in the art of fun yet safe street celebrations where everyone from the newest of arrivals, whether baby or visitor, to the oldest family members take to the streets and enjoy themselves in groups of family and friends.

For example, last Tuesday was the Festival of San Joao - a particularly northern Portugal annual celebration and public holiday held on the 23rd June. For a few days before, the streets are full of people selling long green and white garlic bulbs from roots to tips of darl green leaves complete and tubs of marigolds vivid bright green foliage and orange flowers.

The idea is that on the Festival day and the night before, whilst there are street processions and stages full of music and dancing, people can go around and whack each other on the head with the garlic and know that the marigold pots will ward off the evil spirits for yet another day. You can only imagine how the little ones smile as they carry out this ancient tradition with a skillful clout on the skull of their parents or siblings with full permission!

In the evening, delicate paper lanterns sail overhead and carry away your worries and fears with a praer for help from above. This powerful symbolic ritual is for me very touching and even if I do not send one myself I take a moment to reflect on my life, m priveleges and my challenges and send up a request for assistance along the bumpy road of life ahead.

All the activity of the week and a great concert last night from Remix Enselmble at the Casa de Musica up the road from my apartment, here in Porto, had left me smiling and used up alot of energy especially after a full day walking aorund the fascintaing back streets of the Foz, origianlly the fishermans area directly on the sea front immediatley north of the harbour mouth.

So today was a perfect day for a gentle stroll through the Parque de Ciudade. Originally a farming area and then later some industrial development, the local council realised the value of having a sizeable green space dedicated to local flora and fauna with plenty of space for families and individuals to enjoy all that nature has to offer us. They have a done a grand job of reclaiming the space and it is truly a very beautiful place to wander and refresh.

In the mood for less exercise than more, I found a quiet water pool fed by a small stream, dusky pink and pure white water lilies in full bloom and amourous frogs - delicate small green/yellow and larger brown ones with big voices strutting their stuff. From time to time salamanders popped their heads up between the lily leaves and together with the odd moorhen padding around the edge of the pool, it was an absolute delight to stop, sit and enjoy.

If you are traveling to Porto, make sure to take a stroll through Parque de Ciudad. If you want to know all the special places there, contact me to organise a special tour through the Parque, onto the Foz and enjoy the charm of the fishermen's cottages in winding cobblestone streets. Now one of the trendy areas, there are plenty of good cafes and restaurants for morning tea, lunch, mid afternoon or dinner, local food specialities at the deli and fine wines and ports. If it catches your fancy, shops for designer wear, shoes, handbags, sunglasses and more along the fornt. Check out the sunset over the Atlantic horizon wit ha cocktail or two!

Unique travel adventures, tours and events made just for you! discovery@amandafrost.com tel: +351 226 094 050 or skype: amandalla

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