Guess where? The sign says it all. Welcome to the charming village of Pinhão on the banks of the Douro River where a few of our gang (Ben, Stephen, Larry and Robin) posed for the camera (well, the iPhone) after our coach journey from Porto this morning (Sunday, September 18).

This is what they were looking at:

The harvest may be over but the vineyards still look magnificent in the sunlight (got up to 31 deg here today). Our artists, joined by Ben, got to work straight away and why wouldn’t they?

Later in the afternoon, we enjoyed a two hour cruise along the Douro to admire the views before checking into Vintage House.

And then on to dinner under the stars before bedtime. A full day of painting (and perhaps a bit of wine tasting) tomorrow.

Another beautiful sunny day in the busy city of Porto. And a day spent painting by the Douro in Vila Nova de Gaia for some:

Tasting some port wine for others:

Taking a ferry across the river:

Or whisking up high on a cable car:

Or — sadly and frustratingly — cabbing it to the airport (twice) to retrieve suitcases that had not accompanied seven passengers between Lisbon and Porto. Two suitcases remain missing and TAP and Groundforce have not been helpful — the lost baggage guy doesn’t even know where Pinhão is (our next destination tomorrow)!

Meanwhile back at art central, Ev gave an afternoon demo and our talented troop produced some fantastic watercolour art of the old Rabelo-style boats on the Douro.

So it’s adeus to Porto and upriver to the vineyards tomorrow. Have to leave you with one final view of the city taken from a new tourist destination called WOW (World of Wine) in a magnificent complex in Vila Nova de Gaia.

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?

After 24 months, here we are in beautiful Porto for the start of the long-delayed Artists Tour of Portugal and Morocco.

How else to begin in Porto other than a tour of a port wine cave across the Douro River in Vila Nova de Gaia. Sixteen of us travelled in our trusty coach (a somewhat scary start when the driver stalled three times) to Taylor’s Wine Lodge for a history lesson on their 400 years of Douro wine making.

Followed by a tasting of a dry white port and an LVB on the terrace overlooking the Douro with stunning views across to the lights of Porto.

Then a wonderful dinner at Barão de Fladgate (with more wine and port) before the dodgy driver took us back to Infante de Sagres Hotel at 10.30 pm.

Tomorrow (Friday 16th) the serious stuff begins with painting around the Carmelitas Church, which Pam and Ev checked out this morning.

Boa noite. More tomorrow.

Just one week before the group of 18 assembles in Porto for the start of the twice-delayed Artists Tour in Portugal and Morocco. We kick off in the evening of Thursday, September 15. Watch out for daily (mostly) blogs on our tour.