Near Porto - Vila do Conde

One of the special things about this trip has been the opportunity to meet new people and reconnect with old friends. My cousin, who I have not seen in person for many years, is now living in Portugal and it was very special to spend a week with her and her awesome family. They live just north of Porto which made it an ideal base to do day trips to Porto balanced with chill days when the weather was a bit crazy. I spent one day just doing travel admin and reading with their dog which felt indulgent when I should be exploring every day but it was nice to have some relaxing days. Vila do Conde is a small town only about 40 minutes on the train from the centre of Porto and has a significant maritime history. It was really special to have the time with Kirsty and her family going on adventures, eating delicious home cooked meals and feeling very looked after by them all. I spent longer here than originally planned and it has been wonderful.