When was your very first visit to No. Portugal?

[Tom Archer]

The summer of 1980 (I think) with a couple of friends touring France, Spain & Portugal

We thought Spain was cheap, when compared with France, but Portugal - wow..! - we started dining at the most expensive restaurants we could find, and picking the best wines off the lists, and were still spending virtually nothing each night, despite getting seriously blotto..

[Roy Hersh]

I bet things looked very different back then. Did you get up to the Douro, Tom?

[Eric Menchen]

We thought Spain was cheap, when compared with France, but Portugal - wow..! - we started dining at the most expensive restaurants we could find, and picking the best wines off the lists, and were still spending virtually nothing each night, despite getting seriously blotto..

Reminds me of when I visited the Czech Republic in the early 1990s. Three days there cost about the same as one in Paris. I hear it is no longer the bargain it once was, but probably still cheaper than much of Europe.

[Tom Archer]

Did you get up to the Douro, Tom?

More down than up, as I recall - we headed into Portugal from the top - either Braganca or Chaves - I'm not sure now exactly - and then headed to Porto, before going south.

We were driving a white Mazda 626 which was absolutely caked in dust by the time we made it to Porto. I remember we found a small hotel on the outskirts of the city, and had to cross the road for breakfast. As we did so, we saw a guy watering some plants with a hosepipe, and pointed to our car, in the hope he might sluice some of the excess dust off for us.

When we emerged, after a leisurely repast, the car was gleaming in the sunshine, the guy busily at work with a leather..

- I recall we tipped him well..!

[Roy Hersh]

Thanks Tom.

I wish that others would insert their initial experiences here too, as I find reading this just fantastic.