I know it says day 2, but really this was the first full day for our talented group of watercolour artists to get into action and the group of 10 spent several hours this morning and afternoon around Porto University producing some lovely work.

Little did we realise though that this is Orientation Week for the university students — first week back at college after the summer — so in the afternoon, our artists were competing for attention from hundreds of very happy (too much vinho, perhaps?) singing and carousing young black-robed future scientists (photographs strictly verboten).

Not that it stopped them from creating more masterpieces:

Meanwhile, the non-painting group explored Porto on a 5km stroll up and down tiny alley ways, dodging tourists (where have they all come from? — I’ve never seen Portugal so full!) and tuk-tuks to see some of the sights of this very pretty city.

The azulejos (blue and white painted tiles) are amazing; the photo immediately above is from the São Bento railway station.

Everyone was on their own for dinner tonight but unfortunately for 7 of our group, the time was spent trying to chase lost luggage. Emirates has not covered themselves in glory this trip — appalling customer “service”. The luggage apparently is now in Portugal but not yet reunited with its owners.

While I’m on a whinge, what is it with restaurants and their menus only available via a QR code? It rather destroys the ambience to have six people all staring at their mobile phones trying to decipher the unreadable menus! Covid is not an excuse!

Down by the riverside tomorrow (the Douro that is). Maybe a chance for the non-painters to do some more port wine tasting? Yes?