“Finding a good bus driver can be as important as finding a good musician.” Reba McEntire

There was a song from long ago when I was a child that we sang on a rare trip on a school bus.  It began with something like “three cheers for the bus driver whose with us today.”  I believe the rest of the song got insulting but let me tell you god bless the bus drivers in Douro.   The roads are winding and steep and narrow beyond belief.  Guard rails often do not exist over the steep drops, but the scenery from these heights is incredible.  Simply breath taking.  Today ( technically yesterday) we took a bus ride to the Mateus Palace which was lovely but not nearly as lovely as the view from the bus window on the ride up and back to the ship.

Mateus Palace

Artwork from the Chapel

Tree from the garden

Arch

Mateus Wine Bottles

Dave and Thierry

Linda and Skip in the Mateus Garden

Vineyards

Duoro River

View of the Duoro River Valley

Later we walked into the small town of Pinhao, Portugal and had a glass of white port with tonic, lemon and mint which was quite refreshing.   We passed by an interesting use of an old wine barrel and returned to the ship for our final night in Portugal as we travel up the Duoro River to Spain.

“Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day.”

A. A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh