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DFW

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71. Porto is the one city there I actually DO know to some degree

Sat Nov 1, 2025, 08:57 AM

Nov 1

Last edited Sun Nov 2, 2025, 04:43 AM - Edit history (1)

I have been going to a meeting there for the last few years. Two guys from my Dutch office have been doing it for a while, and they recommended it to me. Even my wife has come a couple of times, and she NEVER comes with me on working trips except to NYC, where one of our daughters lives, and Berlin, where we met.

Porto is built at almost a 45° angle up the side of a steep mountain. I only recommend it if you are used to climbing steep hills on a daily basis. It's a very pretty town, but MAN is it exhausting to walk up and down there. If you're looking to lose some weight, spend three weeks in Porto and never take public transportation. That should get you into shape fast (only with permission from your cardiologist!). Last time, I didn't even see much of the town, as my Dutch guys booked late, and we had to stay out in Matosinhos, a suburb known for its fancy (and VERY good) restaurants. My plane was late this year, and my Dutch guys went out to eat before I got there. My hotel recommended a small place nearby, and so I set out to find it. The area was almost deserted, but I finally found it, little more than a hole in the wall. I hoped the menu would be at least in Spanish in addition to Portuguese. I breathed a sigh of relief when I walked in the door. From the owner's appearance, he was definitely not a native of Portugal, and his Spanish with a Venezuelan accent confirmed that I'd have no problem communicating at all! I can read a lot of Portuguese, but the pronunciation is nothing like Spanish, and I have trouble following the spoken language. I had an easier time following the Brazilians.

By the way, Porto is no sleepy unknown town nowadays. The airport has a couple of nonstops a week from and to Düsseldorf, and last spring, I saw it even now has daily nonstops to Boston!

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My aunt and I are taking a flight soon. [View all] MIButterfly Oct 30 OP

my sister in law has sworn off flying after a liftime... samnsara Oct 30 #1

Thanks, samnsara. MIButterfly Oct 30 #2

try to remember barbtries Oct 30 #33

She's super sensitive to it? Happy Hoosier Oct 30 #12

Same With Me. ColoringFool Oct 30 #22

If only we had Europe's rail network! Lonestarblue Oct 30 #3

I grew up in Detroit and I guess because cars were built there, they expected everyone to have a car MIButterfly Oct 30 #6

Back in the 1920's everyone wanted a car, but it was a luxury FakeNoose Oct 30 #17

I think Chicago has a great public transit system. MIButterfly Oct 30 #21

Keep in mind that Europe is a lot smaller than the U. S. PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 30 #8

Is China? barbtries Oct 30 #11

Did China start with overwhelming private car ownership? PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 30 #42

I think its China that has perfected the bullet train. peacebuzzard Oct 31 #53

Not really an excuse... Shipwack Oct 30 #20

Actually, it is the excuse. PoindexterOglethorpe Oct 30 #43

In land mass Europe is slightly larger than the US spooky3 Oct 30 #28

It WAS easier to build good train service. But they have let it go bad DFW Oct 31 #51

Abysmal. I didn't know the system was deteriorating. peacebuzzard Oct 31 #54

It has been going downhill here for a while. A self-perpetuating bureaucracy has no interest in efficiency. DFW Oct 31 #63

sounds like five star Germany has devolved to the norms of the rest of the world.... peacebuzzard Oct 31 #67

I've never been to the Azores and don't speak much Portuguese DFW Oct 31 #68

Its been many decades since I have been to the Azores peacebuzzard Nov 1 #70

Porto is the one city there I actually DO know to some degree DFW Nov 1 #71

I think that is one of my dream towns to visit. Maybe the only one. peacebuzzard Nov 1 #73

Sorry to hear this, and sorry for you. In the 90s train travel spooky3 Oct 31 #61

You got that right!! DFW Oct 31 #64

I have four air travel trips coming up from November 05 - January 24. I am NOT looking forward to it. Pacifist Patriot Oct 30 #4

I was having occasional dizziness and imbalance like you describe FakeNoose Oct 30 #18

It's why I use motion sickness patches. miyazaki Oct 30 #34

Hmmm.... I'll bring that up with my ENT. Pacifist Patriot Oct 31 #49

good advice. barbtries Oct 30 #35

Vertigo is awful! Pacifist Patriot Oct 31 #50

I have so many specialists my phone contacts skew to D for Doctor. Pacifist Patriot Oct 31 #48

I have no intention of flying for at least three more years. Unless it's a one-way ticket out of the country. Borogove Oct 30 #5

I agree. Then I thought about those "rendition" airplane rides. All expenses paid. erronis Oct 30 #7

that's not an option in my world. barbtries Oct 30 #10

When I told my son that TSA agents are not getting paid, barbtries Oct 30 #9

Don't know about you, but I'm happy even while loathing and despising tRump Bernardo de La Paz Oct 30 #14

thanks barbtries Oct 30 #16

Grief, despair, & sadness I share with you, at times, but they pass before long & I become optimistic again Bernardo de La Paz Oct 30 #19

I'm sorry you had to endure that. Hope22 Oct 30 #25

I know who my ex-DIL's mother is barbtries Oct 30 #32

We flew Tuesday, will again next week RainCaster Oct 30 #13

how was it at the airports? barbtries Oct 30 #36

Mostly empty RainCaster Oct 31 #66

my last trip was to LAX barbtries Oct 31 #69

We make $110,000. Fortunately, it is SS and defined 3Hotdogs Oct 30 #15

That $8300 a month! maunagirl Oct 31 #45

Take off income tax. 3Hotdogs Oct 31 #56

I Quit flying Topomi Oct 30 #23

Everyone quit flying then. All planes were empty of passengers. peacebuzzard Oct 31 #55

Have a wonderful(?) trip with her. Wonder Why Oct 30 #24

I hope to have a wonderful trip DESPITE her! MIButterfly Oct 30 #27

Air traffic controllers are paid pretty well, and they should be. Ocelot II Oct 30 #26

I flew home from Heathrow to RDU mnhtnbb Oct 30 #29

Thanks, mnhtnbb! MIButterfly Oct 30 #37

My daughter makes over double that Tree Lady Oct 30 #30

Exactly! MIButterfly Oct 30 #38

Feel same way unfortunately she has been with Tree Lady Oct 30 #40

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 31 #47

Flying ms.pamela Oct 30 #31

Exactly. People like my aunt have absolutely no idea MIButterfly Oct 30 #39

Your aunt is very naive. RVN VET71 Oct 30 #41

Not necessarily. maunagirl Oct 31 #46

try living in a compact car for a week... ret5hd Oct 31 #58

If someone makes $100K a year maunagirl Oct 31 #44

It is more nuanced than that. Pacifist Patriot Oct 31 #52

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 31 #60

welcome to DU, muanagirl peacebuzzard Oct 31 #57

i have high hopes for that one. ret5hd Oct 31 #59

She was close but a little low: EX500rider Oct 31 #62

As well they should! MIButterfly Oct 31 #65

yes they are. peacebuzzard Nov 1 #72