Tag: Porto

Travel

Bus to Madrid?

Posted on by insightndes

Above the bus station

The Portuguese railway had let me down. But google maps says there’s a route by bus. The bus station is a short walk from the train station but is an ugly concrete construction with the buses waiting in a concrete cave of doom. To further improve my mood I ate the worst ever pizza in an eating establishment above the cave.

The bus station cave

After asking where to wait several times and being reassured by bus number being shown, suddenly the number is replaced with a different service. Have I missed the bus? I chase around trying to find the bus getting no help whatsoever. Finally I stumble across the bus by chance. Another black mark against Portuguese public transport.

On our way

The bus driver is attentive and helpful, redeeming the service. And I am on my way. Change at Valladolid to get a late bus arriving at 0330 in Madrid. At least I will be back on track for tomorrow.

Arrived at Valladolid bus station just after nine.
0
Uncategorized

Porto

Posted on by insightndes

Hilly with beautiful buildings, cobbled streets and mad drivers. Mixed weather varying from very pleasant to hot. Shops open really late.

Coming off the underground tram.
Inside Bolsa Palace
The modern tram above ground .

A little wander on the bike.

There were loads of people sketching the buildings while sat on the steps.
The old tram
Lots of the buildings are tiled on the outside.
Looking towards Porto
The Alantic
0
Travel

Badajoz to Porto

Posted on by insightndes
Train at Badajoz

An issue straight away with the start of this journey, a delay of 30 minutes, first delay of the trip, The delay would make my connection very tight, particularly as I had to make a reservation at Entratron.

Not busy at the start of the journey,

The train is a single carriage diesel, a bit long in the tooth. Not fast and not modern, Operated by the Portuguese Railway service.

A man with a flag set us off.
Arrived in Portugal
Sheep
Torre Das Vargens

The line is single track with a steep climb after entering Portugal. Not fast, Then we are told we have to get off the train an wait for a bus. A train further down the line had broken down and blocked the track,

During a long wait for the bus we could watch the house martins.
Back on a train at Abrantes
Undoing the handbrake?
Entroncamento

Picked up a fast train at Entroncamento. I had no reservation for the train, No opportunity to get one with the previous chaos, I am not convinced it would have been possible even if everything had gone to plan. It is not possible to make reservations for Portugal in Spain or on the train to Entroncamento. But past caring by this stage,

Coming into Porto
Arrived in Porto two hours later than planned .
Cycling to the hotel

This was the first time that the journey encountered issues. Old rolling stock on single track line, Language was an issue resolved by fellow travellers being multi linguists. I had to move once on the final train due to the arrival with a traveller with a reservation. Arrived eventually. But list bike helmet in all the changes.

0