Rio Douro.

Today we took relaxing trip by train along the Douro valley to Tua, a tiny little hamlet about 100kms east of Porto. It was a lovely relaxing way to visit this area without having to worry about directions, narrow roads and other vehicles. The valley is lined with tiered port wineries clinging to the cliffs above the river and the train follows the river most of the way.

Boats are also a popular mode of transport along the river.

Tua is merely a train station, an hotel a restaurant and a few simple houses. 

Restaurante Calca Curta is a popular choice with the locals and also the only place in town to eat. I went armed with supplies expecting there would be nothing on the menu for a vegetarian, but no problems: salad, bread, olives and wine followed by the best pudding (Creme caramel) to date. Helen and Mike had the meal of the day, a rich and huge veal dish. The restaurant feeds round a hundred at a time and two sittings sittings over lunch of mainly local workers (from the nearby damn construction perhaps and Portugese day trippers. Thanks for the tip Anne B.

It was a blokey affair.

They get through a fair bit of vino.

Pinhao station, a popular tourist destination.