Here we are in Porto.  First achievement: getting to Santarém railway station by taxi from Óbidos for the first time in 6 years without the driver getting lost!

Our hotel – the Teatro – is so named because it’s in Porto’s “West End” theatre district and the hotel is pretending to be a stage.  Do not enter the front door (see photo) wearing sunglasses.  We tripped over chairs and stumbled our way to the rooms which we finally found with the help of a torch.

Everyone has arrived, except for one who is still in Melbourne having just been released from hospital.  A few adventures for those who went elsewhere in Europe before flying to Porto.  Score to date:  2 lost credit cards; 1 lost (and refound) mobile phone; a delayed Rhine cruise due to a prior boat ramming the dyke and releasing a flood (captain allegedly having enjoyed too much wine); and one broken ankle (now in a €600 moon boot).

It all starts for real in the morning.

The Teatro Hotel (Porto) foyer is the pic above.  Don’t forget your seeing eye dog.