The Algarve, Porto and much more.
We went to the Algarve. The Algarve is most famous for its amazing beaches. The bodies of water are the Mediterranean sea and the Atlantic ocean. It is located in the South of Portugal.
We rented a small car and drove there. It took us 3 hours.
When we got there, we checked out the beach. It was really cool. There were big cliffs and nice cool water.Then, we got to the place we were staying in. It was nice, it had air conditioning, ( not like the place in Lisbon) and was near the pool and the beach. We had dinner and watched a little bit of a movie( terminator 2) and went to sleep.
The next day, we went to the beach. The water was cold at first but we got used to it.. We decided to rent chairs and umbrellas so we had some shade. Then we explored. We went into a small underwater cave, built sandcastles and chilled on the chairs.
Then, we went back home and checked out the historic centre. We got some gelato(ice cream) I watched a man play the Portuguese guitar. It was beautiful... same with the gelato that I was eating.:) Then, we went to sleep.
We left the next day it was a 2hrs and 30min drive. Nate and I tested our parents on the USA history and World War 2. I thought the Algarve was fun and I hoped that we we’ll go there again.
Here are some things we have done in Lisbon.
organ in the church
Statue on the riverfront
Tower of Bellem
Monestary
We went to Porto.
Porto is located in the north of Portugal. The place is famous for its port, which is a type of wine mixed with brandy.
We went there because it was my Dad’s birthday weekend!!
In the morning, my mom bought some amazing pastries and fruit for breakfast. It was good. Then, we left for Porto. It took 3 long hours. On the bright side the landscape was beautiful.
Foooooood Trucks!!!!
When we got there we explored and we found a park there was music and really good food trucks. We had lunch there I had a hot dog but it was a little different and had sauerkraut. It was sooooo good.
We went down to a river near our house and the park and there were tons and tons of port factories and restaurants. My dad tasted some port because it
was his birthday. We had dinner and my mom and dad tasted some more port.
We decided to go on a gondola ride. It was nice. After the ride, we went back to the park and watched the sunset. I had a nutella crepe. :) :). The sunset was beautiful. We walked back to our place and went to bed.
The next day, we went on a Volkswagen beetle city tour. Guess what? It was a convertible beetle from 1974. We went all around the city. There were lots of cool things to look at.
Like a church called Carmo and Carmelitas Churches. It was super cool because it had a house in between it. The first church was built in the 17th century for nuns and the second was built in the 18th century. The reason it has a house in the middle is there was an old rule that two churches couldn't share a wall so the archbishops built a small house in the middle and then made a churches right beside it.
Fun fact. The archbishops had secret meetings in the house because people thought it was a huge church and not a house. People lived in that house until the 1980s !!
Now for the best part of the whole tour. We went to the library that JK Rowling based the Harry Potter Hogwarts library off of!!!! JK Rowling used to be a teacher in Porto and was inspired by this awesome library.
It was made in the 17th century. It was soooo busy. Our awesome tour guide was able to get us passed the line, so we got in fast. It was amazing!! Inside there were bookshelves upon bookshelves and a big wooden staircase leading to the top floor.
At the top floor there was a glass case with the very first copies of every single Harry Potter book with JK Rowling's signature.There was even a Harry Potter room filled with lots and lots of Harry Potter books.
A huge thanks to one of my best friends, Charlotte, she told me about this library and we might not have found it without her.
The next day, we went back to Lisbon this time it was a 3hs and 30min drive the longest drive yet. When we got back to our place we did some school work and went to sleep.
Well that’s it for now. I will write soon! We are heading to Japan on Friday. Bye.
these are old boats that used to carry the port
Nate and some port.
We decided to go on a gondola ride. It was nice. After the ride, we went back to the park and watched the sunset. I had a nutella crepe. :) :). The sunset was beautiful. We walked back to our place and went to bed.
The next day, we went on a Volkswagen beetle city tour. Guess what? It was a convertible beetle from 1974. We went all around the city. There were lots of cool things to look at.
Like a church called Carmo and Carmelitas Churches. It was super cool because it had a house in between it. The first church was built in the 17th century for nuns and the second was built in the 18th century. The reason it has a house in the middle is there was an old rule that two churches couldn't share a wall so the archbishops built a small house in the middle and then made a churches right beside it.
Fun fact. The archbishops had secret meetings in the house because people thought it was a huge church and not a house. People lived in that house until the 1980s !!
Can you see the house in the middle?
Look at the gorgeous tile on the side
Now for the best part of the whole tour. We went to the library that JK Rowling based the Harry Potter Hogwarts library off of!!!! JK Rowling used to be a teacher in Porto and was inspired by this awesome library.
It was made in the 17th century. It was soooo busy. Our awesome tour guide was able to get us passed the line, so we got in fast. It was amazing!! Inside there were bookshelves upon bookshelves and a big wooden staircase leading to the top floor.
At the top floor there was a glass case with the very first copies of every single Harry Potter book with JK Rowling's signature.There was even a Harry Potter room filled with lots and lots of Harry Potter books.
A huge thanks to one of my best friends, Charlotte, she told me about this library and we might not have found it without her.
Bridge that was designed by the same guy who did the Eiffel tower
The next day, we went back to Lisbon this time it was a 3hs and 30min drive the longest drive yet. When we got back to our place we did some school work and went to sleep.
Well that’s it for now. I will write soon! We are heading to Japan on Friday. Bye.
