Friday, May first- 10-15 mm rain. From Porto to Coimbra. We left the hotel around 9:30 this morning to head to the subway station. We got our tickets and boarded the metro for the train station. There, we bought tickets for Coimbra, about, about 1 hour away. We had to go first class, so 17 Euros each. It was nice and there was Wifi. We arrived to our final destination around 12:30. By the time we got someone to point us in the right direction ( having an address doesn't mean people know the names of streets. We even had a hard time finding the names for streets. We walk to our hotel in about l15 min. It's next door to the info center so we pop in to pick up a city map. This is the first time that we have to pay for one: 20 cents. We check in to what is an old hotel, not sure of the age. It's directly across the river, so nice view. We then take our umbrellas which we bought yesterday in anticipation of the rain, and head out for lunch and exploration. Rémi and I have salads and Ron has a typical Portuguese sandwich and fries. Ron also has a custard dessert. We swallow it all down with a beer. Then it's a climb, as always to the top of the city to visit the church and the older section of town. Today, the highlight is the university. It is one of the oldest in Europe. We pay to visit the library, the chapel, and the old prison. Not sure why that is there. We go into a lot of shops also, mostly to get out of the rain. We return to our hotel around 5:30. Ron is relaxing and Rémi and I are planning tomorrow. We will get our rental car and head to the Douro river valley. Should be nice. Not many pictures today because of the rain, but there are a few.

The streets are narrow here as well. Can't wait to see Ron manoeuvre these roads tomorrow. ( not really)

M

Inside the old town.

This is where the holly water is placed in the church.

The university square/chapel

Another university building.

Major statue in the university square.

After relaxing and making decisions for tomorrow we went out for supper around 7pm. But before heading out  we had difficulties locking our door. The owner came by and she couldn't lock it either. So after struggling for a while we asked about another room and that is what happened. 

We chose a little pizzeria for supper. They had much more than just pizzas and pasta, in fact none of us chose Italian food. Rémi and I had cod and Ron had pork tenderloin. We shared a jug sf Sangria as well. 

Sangria. Forgot to take the picture when the pitcher was full.

Cod with a few veggies. 

Ron's pork tenderloin and extras.

We are off to bed. Will leave around 8:45 to pick up the car and head out to the Douro valley.