May 10: Presidential Train Tour

A memorable day before our walk begins. While campaigning for Hillary, Allen and I gained the friendship of an amazing Portuguese man, Goncalo Castel-Branco, who among his many talents is the Founder and Executive Curator of the Presidential Train tour.

Goncalo with his partner, Iris (picture above seated with Allen) send guests back in time aboard a train that emerges from retirement a limited number of days in spring and fall. The train was built in the early 1800s for Louis I (of Portugal) and continued through the funeral of Salazar.

The train pulled into the train station of St. Bento in Porto, built in the beginning of the 20th Century. Yes, the pictures below are from inside the train station.

We pulled out of the station at 11:30 am and followed the Rio Douro, returning back at the station at 9:30 pm.  We were treated to five courses with accompanying wines including white and red port wine all from the Vale do Douro, toured the Quinta do Vesuvio family vineyards that are only open to special guests, and entertained by music and conversation. 

First course: not for me! calamari and fish

The grapes are hand-picked, stamped by the pickers' feet --everything manually completed.

Huge Oak barrels for wine processing

Back on the train, enjoying the pianoist

Dessert! Scones, pumpkin preserves among other delights

Pianoist with another man playing the Portuguese guitar-like traditional cavaquinho