We caught a 6:15 AM Vueling flight from Barcelona to Porto after a 4:00 AM wake-up call and a light snack packed to go. By the time we landed, the sun was just rising over the city, casting long shadows across the curved concrete overpasses outside the airport. We stepped into the cool morning light, where our coach waited beneath sweeping arches and sleepy silhouettes.
The first breath of Porto, still wrapped in shadow and promise.
Our Porto adventure kicked off with rumbling tummies and a warm welcome at Café Bom Gosto, where we got our first taste of pastel de nata—flaky, creamy, and just enough to tide us over until the promised pilgrimage to the legendary Pastéis de Belém later in the trip.
Fueled by breakfast, we set off for the Dom Luís I Bridge, ready to take in Porto from one of its most iconic viewpoints.
Dom Luis Bridge
Panoramic views of the Douro River and cityscape.
My Porto gallimaufry
Estação de São Bento (São Bento Railway Station)
Estação de São Bento is one of Porto’s most beautiful landmarks — a train station that feels more like an art gallery than a transit hub. Step inside and you’re greeted by over 20,000 azulejos (hand-painted ceramic tiles) depicting Portugal’s history — from royal battles to scenes of rural life. Designed by Jorge Colaço in the early 1900s, these blue-and-white murals took 11 years to complete.
The azulejos at São Bento are stunning. History told in blue and white, with so much detail you could stare for hours.
Rua das Flores
Largo de São Domingos
Lunch @ City Wok
A medley of flavors at City Wok—Asian, Mediterranean, and Argentine.
Next, our coach rolled across the lower deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge into Gaia for a boat cruise on the Douro.
Vila Nova de Gaia
The Douro cleaves Porto from Gaia, its waters glinting beneath six graceful bridges that span the divide. On one bank, Porto rises in a mosaic of tiled rooftops, bell towers, and lively quays; on the other, Gaia unfolds in hushed streets and storied wine lodges. Two cities, facing each other across the river—one vibrant, one serene.
The cities looked different from the water—rooftops stacked like postcards, bridges stretching overhead, and quiet corners we hadn’t seen on foot.
Gaia and Porto from the water.
Stepping out of the boat after the enchanting cruise, we stumbled upon a sardine shop that felt like walking onto a mini-carnival set on Broadway—bright, theatrical, and full of quirky surprises. But that experience deserves its own story, for another post.
O Mundo Fantástico da Sardinha Portuguesa
We made our way across the bridge again, this time on foot, toward Ribeira.
Porto's colorful Ribeira
The Dinner That Almost was.
That red building in the middle? Ode Porto Wine House.
After a scenic boat ride on the Douro, our group of 30 explored the Ribeira area—wandering its alleys, soaking in the river views, and chasing the golden light. We were meant to reconvene at Ode Porto Wine House—a charming spot tucked into Ribeira’s historic heart. It was supposed to be our dinner highlight. But when we arrived, the doors were firmly shut and locked, with no sign of welcome.
We waited. And waited.
It turned into quite a long, uncertain pause, with thirty of us clustered awkwardly on a slope, squeezed between Ribeira’s tightly packed buildings. There was barely room to stand, let alone regroup. We must have looked like a flash mob gone rogue—half hopeful, half hungry—until a local finally broke the silence:
“You are aware that you need a reservation to get in?”
Turns out, our tour manager had sent the booking request from Malaysia, but the restaurant never received it. Miscommunication, missed email—whatever the reason, we were stranded.
In Porto (and across Portugal and Spain), reservations aren’t just polite—they’re essential, especially for groups. Most restaurants won’t seat large parties without advance notice, and even splitting up doesn’t guarantee success. Many places operate on a reservation-only basis during peak hours.
We were hungry. We needed toilets. And we needed a plan.
That’s when Morocco Shisha Bar became our unexpected savior. No food, but drinks and restrooms—enough to regroup and salvage the evening. Quite an experience for us, as none of us had ever been to a shisha bar before—and it turned out to be a very cozy place. Eventually, we landed at McDonald’s. Not the dinner we imagined, but a story we’ll never forget.
I 🧡🧡🧡 Porto
There’s something soulful about Porto, but it’s along the Cais da Ribeira where the city truly sings. Music is never far — always a stone’s throw away. A busker strums his guitar from a shaded corner, a violinist plays by the promenade, his open case catching coins and smiles, and someone’s voice rises in a melodious serenade, basking in the golden light. Every now and then, you’ll even catch the faint strain of fado floating from a nearby bar — that unmistakable, yearning Portuguese soulfulness that wraps around you like a story sung in moonlight. It’s not just background noise — it’s the rhythm of the riverfront, the pulse of a city that wears its heart on its sleeve. I love how Porto invites you to pause, listen, and feel part of something timeless
We went up by funicular, winding through misty peaks that made the whole mountain feel completely ethereal.
The name Montserrat means “jagged mountain” in Catalan, referring to the mountain’s sharp, saw-like peaks. According to legend, angels descended from heaven with a golden saw to carve the mountain, creating a throne for the Virgin Mary.
But the legend of Montserrat goes beyond angels and saws. It centers on a miraculous discovery of the Virgin Mary statue in a cave, which led to the founding of the monastery and centuries of pilgrimage.
Here’s the fuller story:
The Miracle of the Black Madonna
• Around the 9th century, shepherds saw a bright light and heard heavenly music coming from a cave in the mountain.
• Inside, they discovered a statue of the Virgin Mary — later known as La Moreneta, the Black Madonna.
• When church officials tried to move the statue to Manresa, it became impossibly heavy, which was interpreted as a divine sign that she wanted to remain in Montserrat.
THE MONASTERY'S ORIGINS
• A chapel was built on the site of the discovery, eventually becoming the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey.
• Over time, Montserrat became a major pilgrimage site, especially for Catalans, and the Virgin of Montserrat was declared patroness of Catalonia alongside Saint George.
SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
• The legend blends nature, miracle, and devotion, making Montserrat both a sacred and symbolic place.
• Pilgrims visit not just for the Black Madonna, but also for the mountain’s spiritual energy and dramatic beauty.
This candle-lined walkway is part of the Camí de l’Ave Maria (Ave Maria Path), a devotional route at Montserrat that visitors follow after viewing the Black Madonna.This path is part of the pilgrimage experience, offering a quiet moment for reflection after seeing the statue
Each flame represents a prayer, hope, or remembrance.
Group photo
Our visit ended with a breathtaking cable car descent—gliding through a veil of fog and clouds past the cliffs for one last look at that mystical mountain.
From the quiet heights of Montserrat, we made our way back into the heart of Barcelona for a very different kind of awe — Gaudí’s Sagrada Família.
We arrived at Sagrada Família full of anticipation, but couldn’t get inside — our tour leader had tried to book tickets months in advance, with no luck. It was disappointing, especially after hearing so much about the interior. Still, standing beneath those spires was something in itself.
La Sagrada Família is a Roman Catholic basilica in Barcelona, designed by Antoni Gaudí, and has been under construction since 1882. It is one of Spain’s most iconic landmarks and a major draw for visitors from around the world.
FUN FACTS
Architectural Style
• The basilica blends Gothic Revival, Art Nouveau, and Modernisme Català.
• Gaudí transformed the original neo-Gothic design into his signature organic style, drawing inspiration from nature and geometry.
Construction Timeline
• Work began in 1882, and Gaudí took over in 1883, dedicating the last 15 years of his life entirely to the project.
• Construction continues today, with projected completion around 2034.
Towers & Symbolism
• The structure features 18 towers: 12 for the apostles, 4 for the evangelists, 1 for the Virgin Mary, and the central Jesus Christ tower, which in October 2025 became the tallest church in the world at 162.91 metres (534 ft).
• When fully completed, it is expected to reach approximately 172 metres.
UNESCO & Consecration
• Parts of the basilica are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• It was consecrated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2010, officially earning the status of a minor basilica.
Interior Experience
• The stained-glass windows fill the basilica with coloured light, creating a dynamic, almost magical atmosphere that changes throughout the day.
• A truly unforgettable experience for visitors.
Even from the outside, the Sagrada Família is incredible — every inch of the façade tells a story. You’ll see scenes from the Nativity carved like a giant stone storyboard, animals peeking out between the figures, vines and fruits symbolising nature, and little hidden details you only notice when you look closely. So many tiny things carved into every corner… you could stare at it for hours and still spot something new.
It’s wild to think that we stood before the Sagrada Família on 16 October 2025, unaware we had just witnessed a world wonder—only to discover, once we were back in Malaysia, that days later on 30 October it was declared the tallest church in the world. ¡Madre mía!
Park Güell was the next gem on our itinerary.
Park Güell felt like stepping into a candy land, where gingerbread houses wore mosaic frosting and El Drac, the iconic mosaic salamander, guarded the gates like an enchanted creature from a fairytale. The gatehouses looked straight out of Hansel and Gretel, with swirled rooftops and sugar-spun chimneys, while the serpentine bench curled like a ribbon of turrón, inviting us to sit and soak in the kaleidoscope of colors. Gaudí didn’t just build a park—he baked a dreamscape, glazed it with ceramic, and served it with panoramic views of Barcelona.
Park Güell was originally designed as a failed housing project, not a public park. Antoni Gaudí and his patron Eusebi Güell envisioned a modern residential estate with homes, a market, and communal spaces, far from the bustle of central Barcelona. Only two houses were ever built, and the idea never took off—yet what emerged instead became one of the city’s most beloved landmarks.
Love the intricacy of this serpentine bench—every curve and tile feels thoughtfully placed, like Gaudí was sketching with color.
I ducked into a twisting stone corridor at Park Güell, and for a moment, I forgot the city existed. Vaulted ceilings curled overhead, walls rough and alive, echoes chasing my footsteps. Sunlight leaked through cracks, casting weird, magical patterns. It felt like a secret cave Gaudí had carved just for wandering souls—part playground, part cathedral, all wonder.
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Fueled by breakfast, we set off for the Dom Luís I Bridge, ready to take in Porto from one of its most iconic viewpoints.
Estação de São Bento is one of Porto’s most beautiful landmarks — a train station that feels more like an art gallery than a transit hub. Step inside and you’re greeted by over 20,000 azulejos (hand-painted ceramic tiles) depicting Portugal’s history — from royal battles to scenes of rural life. Designed by Jorge Colaço in the early 1900s, these blue-and-white murals took 11 years to complete.
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