Wednesday May 4 Cao River

Another busy day! The weather is spectacular all day; cloudless sky, 80 degrees by afternoon, little wind. 

Right after breakfast our coaches took us up to the Coa Valley Museum. Interesting story here. The Coa River drains into the Douro just above Pochino. Back in the 1970s the government began building a dam across the Coa, to provide electricity. In the process of their environmental impact studies, archaeologists discovered rock wall drawings, dating back 30,000 years! In short order, the project was stopped (you can see what was started) and by the end of the 70s it had been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to be protected forever. So much for the dam. We toured a remarkable museum, with very unusual architecture, on top of the hill with magnificent views of the Douro/Coa, explaining all the drawings that had been identified......four animals but no humans! The village here of Foz Coa looks delightful! 

Driving around the countryside is beautiful! Vineyards and olive trees everywhere, all in neat and tidy rows! 

We returned to the ship for a “bar-b-que” on the Sun Deck, with an  amazing assortment of salads and meat dishes, including chicken, chorizo, sardines and pork ribs. Our entire crew provided the entertainment with singing and dancing in the isles! 

After a couple of hours to relax on deck in the sunshine, we passed through two locks on our way back down river. We stopped across the river from Peso da Regua for the night. (This city has three amazing bridges crossing the river). After a cocktail-making class by the bartender, a short video about the river before the dams (amazing how they had to float wine barrels down the wild river) and our daily “Port Talk”, we boarded our coaches and drove a half hour up to the fabulous Pacheca Winery for dinner. We were greeted with a glass of white Port wine and viewed the vineyards in all directions. We were escorted into this huge old barn, where enormous casks of wine were stored, for a great meal of asparagus soup, roast beef, au gratin potatoes, string beans and endless wine! We also enjoyed music by a live violinist and piano player. (By the way, you can stay there in rooms made from wine barrels!) 

Nursing a bit of a sunburn, didn't hit the rack until nearly 11:30!!  More exploring on tap for tomorrow.

I think this one looks sinister! (AMA)

Coffee break

Souvenir olive oil

Lots of concrete in this museum!

Bar B Q on sun deck - our chef

City of Regue

Olive Oil Factory

Wall made from rocks  (Columnar basalt?)

Just pretty

Pacheca Winery

I entered this in ship photo contest - didn't win!

Pacheca Winery

Museum display of drawings