[Travel] Porto

Meade's Ball said:

I had a linguistic mix up in Porto. I don't think I'll return there.
At the time I was trying to learn Spanish, and for some reason after reading obrigado as thank you in Portuguese I kept saying ALBONDIGAS. Of course, that means meatballs in Spanish, so, me saying it repeatedly in restaurants every time a waiter or waitress brought me water or wine or food must have had them think of me as Mr Meatballs or The Meatball Man. To the waiting staff of Porto I could only say meatballs. I remember loudly shouting it as we left one establishment.

I asked my girlfriend on the evening of day 2, as the truth of the embarrassment that enveloped or every move there came to, why she hadn't let on, and she said she didn't want me to feel bad. I presume she thought it would come to me quicker. But meatballs obviously can't meatball that meatbally. Meatballs.

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I've had very similar issues in my mid teens when learning Spanish and visiting with my grandpa (abuelo). The kids on the beach I played football with seemed surprised that I had come to Spain with my "albondigas" and my urgency to get back to the hotel in case those albondigas was wondering where I was.

Meade's Ball said:

I had a linguistic mix up in Porto. I don't think I'll return there.
At the time I was trying to learn Spanish, and for some reason after reading obrigado as thank you in Portuguese I kept saying ALBONDIGAS. Of course, that means meatballs in Spanish, so, me saying it repeatedly in restaurants every time a waiter or waitress brought me water or wine or food must have had them think of me as Mr Meatballs or The Meatball Man. To the waiting staff of Porto I could only say meatballs. I remember loudly shouting it as we left one establishment.

I asked my girlfriend on the evening of day 2, as the truth of the embarrassment that enveloped or every move there came to, why she hadn't let on, and she said she didn't want me to feel bad. I presume she thought it would come to me quicker. But meatballs obviously can't meatball that meatbally. Meatballs.

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Is this the story behind your username?

Ⓩ-Ⓐ-Ⓜ-Ⓞ-Ⓡ-Ⓐ said:

Is this the story behind your username?

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Sadly nay. As with many momentary things of the past you speedily create a name to make a wry comment with, looking to in a flash impress and disappear. And of course then doing neither, and wearing the moniker for half a life instead.

There are some nice seafood restaurants in Matosinhos.

I had a fish baked in salt there where they come and chip the salt off with a hammer and chisel at the table. It was brilliant. Can’t remember the name of the dish or the restaurant though. I appreciate that’s pretty useless information.

I was in Porto for 2 days in November. It’s really compact and some nice bars and restaurants.

The highlight for me was this seafood place I went to for lunch. Would highly recommend this.

It it’s Porutguese fine dining you’re after, the highlight for us last trip was a birthday dinner at the Yeatman (Irish-run hotel above the port lodges in Gaia, south of the Douro river)


Gastronomic menu north of €200 with wine pairing costing the same (but worth it)

Thought I'd give an update having returned from Porto last week.

All in all a really pleasant place for a city break experience, and our group had a good time.

Highlights re eating were ‘flame grill your own chorizos’, Francesinha and the obligatory Pastel de nata (custard tarts) - the walk around the Bolhao market had a lot of snackage variety too.

We did 3 booze tastings in 2 days: 2x Port wines (Quinta and Lado) and a beer tasting (Nortada) and the bars along the river were pretty decent.

Weather was predicted to rain on all 4 days, but we ended up only getting about 2 hours of a shower on day 2. Wasn’t over warm, but not too cold.

The river cruise was pleasant, and we also enjoyed the funicular railway and cable car.

My wife went into the Harry Potter inspired shop and we visited the other recommended attractions like the cathedral, railway station and commerce buildings which are all covered in tiles, such is the way over there.

As was previously mentioned the whole area is very very hilly and being someone who suffers from extreme problems with plantar fasciitis and tendonitis I was a bit worried but all told didn't cope too badly. Used Uber a couple of times and it was very cheap.

I would certainly go to Portugal again but I'm not sure there was a huge amount extra we could have done in Porto, so maybe Lisbon next.

On a funny note, I'm 49 years old and I've never taken an illegal drug in my life (no really) but within the space of two days I was offered three different types by randoms walking towards us in the street! First time I’ve been offered anything since Ibiza in the 90s!

Very wet morning in Porto, superb place