I guess I do look like a Tourist with my camera, backpack and blonde hair.

As we continue to get to know Porto, our days typically lead us into adventures. A couple of afternoons have been spent in downtown Porto and the Ribeira (riverfront). Our language school just so happens to be in a convenient location to access these areas. So, we explore, we look like tourists, and we discover Portugal.

Camara Municipal i.e. City Hall

Avenida dos Aliados "Avenue of the Allies"
with Camara Municipal to our backs.
Otherwise known as... huge tourist area! Along
with the rest of downtown Porto.

The train station's walls are splashed with Portugal's history.

Standing in front of the train station,
the river on just the other side of those buildings.

A 17th century Monastery. It took
72 years to build due to a lack of
funds as well as Spanish invasion.

Only a small section of the Douro River
to the left of a pedestrian bridge...

...and to the right.

Porto Cathedral, one of the oldest
monuments in Porto.

 

The cathedral was built on a hill
that overlooked the land.
The Torre dos Clerigos can be seen in
the background as well as
from various points in the city.

A closer look at the Torre dos Clerigos (tower
of the clergy) and the church.

We found Costa Coffee! It's no
Starbucks, but it did me good :)

The Palacio da Bolsa (The palace of the purse).
Also known as the stock exchange.

Statue out front of the stock exchange
that commemorates Portuguese explorer
Prince Henry the Navigator.

Riverfront housing.

It's game day!

Igreja Evangelica Batista

Today, as fitting on Sundays, we went to church. The church we went to, a local baptist church, is one that we are partnering with to plant another church in the town we are living in. And boy, did they welcome us with open arms and kisses on the cheeks! One lady took me by the hand and walked me around introducing me to everyone she could find. A little girl came up to me after service and gave me a hug and tried to speak to me in English, so I tried to speak to her in Portuguese. She was our shadow for much of the afternoon after that :)

The street the church is on.

I tried to get a close-up after we left, but it is
the white building.

All in all, it was so great to finally meet the people we will be in fellowship with as well as working with over the next couple of years. During service, the pastor talked about the history of missions in Acts and then went on to talk about the beginning of the history of missions in Vila do Conde (at least, that is what I caught with the little portuguese I know!). He brought us up front along with his son and his son's wife and the other families living in Vila do Conde. It really was great to stand up there knowing exactly why we are here and standing beside people who want the same thing, of which with some of them we can't even communicate with. Pretty spectacular to be used by God in this way. Here's to a God and a gospel that transcends culture!

Potluck lunch! Mmm. We like this church already
:)

A closer look at lunch. On the left are two different types of
Feijoada: bean stew, usually with beef and pork.
It is a typical dish in both Portugal and Brazil.
And Michelle brought the American dish: a la macaroni.

As one lady told us, "Sweets are sweets
in every country." And right, she is!

Another typical in Portuguese cuisine... espresso!
Hodge likes to say, "It could run a car."

The beautiful potted flowers the ladies of the
church presented to us! Did I mention how
welcomed we felt?

Exploring Vila do Conde

Last night, Hodge and I came back to our apartment... still without heat or hot water or the ability to cook, but we needed some time to ourselves after a busy week (at least, I did). So, we slept in this morning and then explored our town a little (get ready for a lot of pictures). Wanting to cover more distance than on foot, we drove the company car which we share with some of our teammates. Of course, Hodge has already nicknamed it... The Biscuit.

We drove around our little city and up to the next city north of us, Povoa de Varzim, which is more of a resort town. We don't know much about Vila do Conde yet, but I did read that it was a ship-building center during Portugal's Age of Discovery, as well as a fishing port. It is located on the coast, at the mouth of the River Ave (ave meaning bird).

The River Ave with the old St. Clare Monastery in the background/

No, not the Matrix Church... the Matriz Church.
I am sure we will be posting plenty more
pictures of old catholic churches. They are
practically on every corner.

A statue in front of the church.

The Saturday Market.... just a ten minute walk from our house!

Futebol in the Park.

Most of the streets in our city are cobblestone.
Cute, but a little rough on The Biscuit.

Look at that stud driving a manual!

This one is just across the street from our apartment
It is an old fort that was built to protect
the port and the town's entrance from pirates! Arrg!

After exploring, we ate a very late lunch at a place just around the corner from our apartment. We have eaten there three times thus far. One of the guys who works there speaks a little English and is super friendly. It has been fun trying to communicate with him. 

Our apartment complex. The restaurant is on the bottom right corner.

A closer look.

Mine. Lasanha.

Hodge's. Francisnha, a very popular dish local to Porto.
 It has about four different meats in it with fries
and normally an egg on top. Can you guess why Hodge loves it?

The meia de leite in front (half coffee, half milk)
and the galao in the background (a quarter coffee,
3 quarters milk).

It is a little too strong for him.