Coimbra

Today we all met at our hotel lobby to transfer to Coimbra. We are walking to Sao Bento train station to take a short hop to Porto Campanha station. Some of the group take a taxi with the larger baggage. 

We are in 2nd class (I think I got myself a 1st class ticket up to Porto) and it's quite comfy if a little more crowded than 1st class. The ride is smooth and once we get to Coimbra station, there's a short walk to the hotel. The rooms are cramped and the bldg feels a little run down. After we have a chance to settle in, the group meets for a walk and lunch. First we stop at this amazing mural that tells the story of a knight battling a cobra. Snakes used to be worshipped in the old days before Christianity.

Gerardo takes us to a bacalhao restaurant for lunch where I have cod fritters and tomato rice, like one of my Lisbon meals. 

Our Coimbra walk takes us to the lively main plaza, past very old churches, thru stone walls and up a very steep staircase called Backbreak street.

Coimbra is home to one of the world's oldest universities and we pass students in their traditional uniform which includes capes. They give off a bit of Hogwarts air. The University bldgs were mainly built in the time of the dictator Salazar and have a Brutalist air about them. The main University plaza is barren of plants but has a nice view and we saw students gathering for something. 

After the tour we have some time before our fado show. There's a ginginha shop and ice cream so a few of us did a shot in a chocolate cup pre-show.

The fado show was fantastic, two guitarists (one Portuguese and one classic) and two separate singers. The older man was particularly good. They described different songs they were singing and have us some history along the way. After the show was a port tasting.

I got myself an ice cream after then Jyothi and I stopped at a place for a bite. I left earlier to go back to the hotel and showered then went to the roof terrace to view the sunset. 

Great little town that we only briefly touched on and could definitely see giving another day or so to fully explore.