Falling in Love with Porto in Photos

I didn’t expect to fall in love with Porto.

And, to be honest, my first impression of Porto was that the city was dark (no thanks to the dark clouds and cold weather), cold and grimy.

As we drove into Porto, we were tired and chilled to the bone, thanks to a wicked cold snap roaring through Europe. Our GPS lost reception through the thick clouds, and we drove around in circles as Cole helpfully piped up “Mom, I’m think I’m going to be sick!” from the back seat. Such is the glamorous life of family travel blogging.

We were primed for a bad first impression of the city.

And yet, three days later, I found myself utterly in love with the city, and sorry to leave.

Here’s the story of how I fell in love with gritty, beautiful Porto, told through the lenses of our point and shoot Canon camera and iPhone.

Bride on steps of Cathedral Se Porto Portugal black and white — Bride on steps of Cathedral Se

Medeval Pillory at Cathedral Se in Porto Portugal

Overlooking the Dom Luis Bridge and the Douro River, Porto, Portugal — Jordan and Daddy peeking out at the Douro River

Looking down from the hills above the Duoro Portugal — Looking down from the hills above the Duoro

Porto Portugal Door to Abandoned Building — Door to an abandoned building

Smiling on the Douro River Cruise Porto Portugal — Jordan’s loving our boat tour of the Douro River

Boats on the Douro River Porto Portugal — Boats on the Douro

Cobblestone streets near the port houses Porto Portugal — Cobblestone streets near the port houses

Tour Boat on the Douro

Crumbling ruins on the banks of the Douro River Porto Portugal — Crumbling ruins on the banks of the Douro

Mom carrying child through the Cobblestone Streets Porto Portugal — Micki carrying Jordan through the steep Cobblestone Streets

Weathered door in Central Porto Oporto Portugal — Weathered door in Central Porto

Porto's Ribeira district from the Dom Luis Bridge Portugal — Porto’s Ribeira district from the Dom Luis Bridge