09/03/2026
This morning we said goodbye to Coimbra and began our journey north toward Porto, but the day unfolded in the most beautiful and unexpected ways.
Before leaving, we started the morning at church. One of the things we love most about traveling is attending services in other countries and meeting people who share our faith. Even when the language is different, the feeling is the same. And with translation tools on our phones now, you can follow along and appreciate it in a whole new way. It’s a reminder that connection reaches far beyond language.
On the way to Porto we made a stop in the seaside town of Costa Nova, instantly recognizable by its colorful striped houses lined up along the waterfront. The red, blue, and green stripes feel almost playful against the sky and sand, giving the whole town a cheerful coastal charm that feels uniquely Portuguese.
Not far away is Aveiro, often called the Venice of Portugal. Here we climbed aboard a moliceiro, the city’s version of a gondola. These beautifully painted boats once carried molico, a seaweed harvested from the lagoon and used as fertilizer for nearby farms. Today they glide through the canals carrying visitors instead, offering a peaceful way to see the city from the water while learning a little about the region’s history.
By the time we reached Porto, the timing could not have been more perfect, just before sunset, when the city begins to glow.
Our Airbnb sits right beside the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge, overlooking the rooftops and river that define this incredible city. We quickly dropped our bags and headed out, drawn by the sound of live music drifting through the evening air. The music echoed off the ancient stone walls as we climbed the stairs toward the bridge.
And then we stepped onto it.
The Dom Luís I Bridge feels alive beneath your feet, a gentle hum as trams pass and people wander across its steel arches. Standing there, looking out over the Douro River and the layered rooftops of Porto, it honestly feels like you’ve walked straight onto a movie set.
As the sun slowly disappeared, the entire city began to change. Golden light turned to deep amber, then to soft twilight blues. Every few steps we stopped again, taking another photo, because the light kept transforming the buildings, the river, the bridges, the entire mood of the city shifting minute by minute.
Some places are beautiful.
And then there are places like Porto, where the light, the music, the river, and the centuries-old streets all come together to create something that feels almost magical.
