Sofie and Connie headed off to Lisbon. I moved to a cheaper hotel close to the center of town. The sky is very dark gray, and everything looks kind of hazy. I have lunch, then spend a couple hours in an internet cafe - cheapest yet, only 100 Escudos an hour (less than US$.60).
The sun burned partially through, but everything is still hazy and soft. I was trying to figure out what the light reminded me of, but it wasn't until I went in to the cathedral that I figured it out - it's the same light. In a cathedral everything seems soft, sort of hazy, indistinct, peaceful. This afternoon, even with a blue sky, the world looks like it's inside a cathedral.
The afternoon was spent wandering around Old quarter, a maze of alleys walled with old tile-fronted buildings. Walked along the Duro river and crossed it on the Ponte Luiz I.. Had a glass of Port (of course) at a riverfront cafe in Vila Nove de Gaia, across the river from the old quarter.
Took an evening tour of the Sandeman Lodge (Port cellar). The tour was pretty good, although I'd imagine it would be pretty dull if one already knew anything about the making of Port or Sherry. The sampling was a bit disappointing, only two ports were offered, one white, and one tawny. Neither was particularly impressive, for the same money (500 Escudos, ~US$2.85) I think one could try two better ports at almost any cafe in town.
Caught the late showing of the movie Event Horizon. It was a horrible movie. Bad sci-fi horror that made reminded me of several things. I hate horror movies; I am completely alone here; Strange cities are very scary if you're in the wrong state of mind; and you can't always chose what state of mind you want to be in. And just as a bonus Cathedral light is almost exactly like gothic horror movie light, and Porto is a pretty gothic looking town. I managed to walk calmly back across town to my hotel, but I don't think my heart rate ever dropped below aerobic rates.
