Our first day of the river cruise was spent in port ... Porto. It is the second largest city in Portugal, and it is fascinating. We did a wonderful walking tour along the river, overlooking the medieval sections and seeing monuments and shopping areas.

Portual is known for it's ceramic tile, and one of the greatest examples is in the train station in Porto. The walls around the room tell the story of the city.
Likewise, buildings in the city have tile decoration on the exterior as well. This is because the buildings were made of granite which was grey and dingy, The tiles are less expensive and easier to clean.

The Se do Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady is the most important cathedral in this part of the country. It is one of the 3 churches that pilgrims need to visit. (along with Jerusalem and Santiago di Compestela.)

This evening on the ship we were entertained by students of the university. They are called The Hinoportuna Tuna Show ... the black capes they wear are part of their uniform. Interesting note: JK Rowling lived in Porto for 2 years, and got her inspiration for the Harry Potter "Hogwarts" capes from these students. She also used the staircase from the famous library as a model for the staircase in her books.