Enjoyed reading. Not yet visited Porto but is, along with about only three or four cities, that I won't to visit. You write: "Here in the UK, there’s very little ‘wasted’ space, due to it being a geographically small country, which means that you don’t see much in the way of derelict buildings — if a building is no longer needed, it will usually be cleared away to make room for something else." Well, not people know this, but the BALTIC (the huge contemporary art space in Gateshead) – for many years a derelict flour mill — came about and into existence as a direct result of a trip to Porto (paid for by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation — Calouste Gulbenkian being a Portuguese and Anglophile philanthropist). The visitor, who I shall not name, then employed by Gateshead Council, was struck by how some of the old, and previously derelict, port warhouses had been converted for use as cultural and social spaces.
Looking forward to reading more Small Talk posts. All the best.
Loved reading this. My other half loved Porto but I’ve yet to go! I’ve heard such good things from him about it. I just got back from Iceland and have similar idea imps bouncing about my brain, from the mountains, to the glaciers to the volcanos and the towns and lava flows and moss. Travelling is awesome. Seeing the world from another perspective.
Simon, I also just got back from Porto! There’s a church we toured that was also a monastery for important leaders of the city somehow sometime but I don’t know why or when exactly, I had little kids so didn’t read all the descriptions, but there was both a hidden escape tunnel from their meeting hall AND a hidden bedroom in one of their bell towers… anyhow, very sci-fi rebel priest vibes
Nice diversion from your usual fiction and craft posts, and yet you managed to work in a sly tip on using travel/vacation spots as future writing inspiration!
I really enjoyed this, Simon, thank you. I couldn't agree more: travel is so inspiring for writers of speculative fiction. I wrote an entire trilogy of fantasy novels sparked by a journey into the Amazon rainforest! One of my favourite sci-fi authors, Jack Vance, was a merchant seamen before he began writing. He visited ports all over the world and I think you see echoes of that in the rich worlds he builds in his fiction. Thanks again, Simon - great stuff!
Thanks so much for this enticing introduction to Porto. It's on my schedule for next spring, but your travelog makes me want to move it forward. So many places to go, so little time! Why, I haven't even made it to Norfolk yet, if you can believe it. If only it weren't so far from Texas, where I live.
Enjoyed reading. Not yet visited Porto but is, along with about only three or four cities, that I won't to visit. You write: "Here in the UK, there’s very little ‘wasted’ space, due to it being a geographically small country, which means that you don’t see much in the way of derelict buildings — if a building is no longer needed, it will usually be cleared away to make room for something else." Well, not people know this, but the BALTIC (the huge contemporary art space in Gateshead) – for many years a derelict flour mill — came about and into existence as a direct result of a trip to Porto (paid for by the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation — Calouste Gulbenkian being a Portuguese and Anglophile philanthropist). The visitor, who I shall not name, then employed by Gateshead Council, was struck by how some of the old, and previously derelict, port warhouses had been converted for use as cultural and social spaces.
Looking forward to reading more Small Talk posts. All the best.
Loved reading this. My other half loved Porto but I’ve yet to go! I’ve heard such good things from him about it. I just got back from Iceland and have similar idea imps bouncing about my brain, from the mountains, to the glaciers to the volcanos and the towns and lava flows and moss. Travelling is awesome. Seeing the world from another perspective.
Great article. You must do more of these (when you have time!).
Touring the Douro is on my To Visit list, which you have just reignited. Thanks.
Simon, I also just got back from Porto! There’s a church we toured that was also a monastery for important leaders of the city somehow sometime but I don’t know why or when exactly, I had little kids so didn’t read all the descriptions, but there was both a hidden escape tunnel from their meeting hall AND a hidden bedroom in one of their bell towers… anyhow, very sci-fi rebel priest vibes
I live 30 km from porto 😉
Nice diversion from your usual fiction and craft posts, and yet you managed to work in a sly tip on using travel/vacation spots as future writing inspiration!
I really enjoyed this, Simon, thank you. I couldn't agree more: travel is so inspiring for writers of speculative fiction. I wrote an entire trilogy of fantasy novels sparked by a journey into the Amazon rainforest! One of my favourite sci-fi authors, Jack Vance, was a merchant seamen before he began writing. He visited ports all over the world and I think you see echoes of that in the rich worlds he builds in his fiction. Thanks again, Simon - great stuff!
Thanks so much for this enticing introduction to Porto. It's on my schedule for next spring, but your travelog makes me want to move it forward. So many places to go, so little time! Why, I haven't even made it to Norfolk yet, if you can believe it. If only it weren't so far from Texas, where I live.
The bookstore looks so amazing. Is it true you have to wait in line to get in?
ERR. "that I won't…" obviously a typo, should read "want to visit…"