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Map of Douro - walking in blue, by train in red |
We started at Freixo de Espada a Cinta, a pretty town at the edge of the port wine demarcation area in the upper Duoro. Yet it does not appear in any tourist guide books. Our hotel was opposite the wine cooperative so naturally we had to have a bottle of the local white - 14.5% alcohol! Whew. Many windows and doorways are decorated with Manueline (late Gothic architecture, Portuguese variety) trimmings.
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Freixo de Espada a Cinta, Pelourinho |
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Freixo is proud of its Manueline (late Gothic architecture, Portuguese variety) decorated windows |
From Freixo we walked 25 k's to Barca d'Alva across the Duoro River near the Spanish border. A hot day. Barca d'Alva is the upper limit of navigable water on the Duoro and a cruise ship was in for the night, and no accommodation in the only place in town. So by taxi back to Freixo for a night then taxi to Barca d'Alva next morning.
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Patch work of greens - olives, almonds and grapes on the upper Douro River between Freixo and Barca de Alva |
From Barca d'Alva we completed one of the worlds great train journeys, on foot!
There is an abandoned rail line that runs 30 kilometres to the current end of the rail line at Pocinho. The line was opened in 1887 and the last train rain in 1988. Everything is still there, a little overgrown. There are 5 sturdy iron bridges. The bridges rest on hollow stone pillars, hollow in case they had to blow the bridges if the Spanish came. And 2 tunnels. WOW. The telegraph line is there and the piles of sleepers, rail lines and bolts ready for maintenance.
The stations look like the station master has gone for siesta and will be back soon. At Barca da Alva, there is the tank to recharge the steam engine water and the hand operated turntable to turn the engine around to go back.
It was totally fantastic and slightly eerie.
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Barca de Alva's abandoned railway station ... |
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... with its water tank to replenish the steam engines ... |
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... and the hand operated turntable to turn around the engines in front of the workshop ... |
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... and the cargo shed |
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If you are brave enough, continue across the old iron bridge |
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Don't look down! |
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The rail line hugs the Douro River |
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Where's the torch, Pam? |
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Almendra station looks like the Station Master just left for siesta |
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Almendra station |
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Hold on tight |
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Stop |
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Castelo Melhor station |
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Toot toot |
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Coa station has seen better days |
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This track is fine |
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End of the line at Pocinho |