The itinerary for our last day in Portugal was focused on rest and relaxation, but it turned out to be a full day of exciting activities. Christine took full advantage of the indoor lap pool at the Spa, while Katie and Nicola embarked on an early morning paddleboarding session on the serene waters of the Douro. We all gathered for a delicious breakfast at the upstairs restaurant before indulging in soothing spa massages. Meanwhile, Christine enjoyed a scenic hike along the river. All of this was planned before our 1 pm boat ride on the Douro, so it was time to start unwinding and enjoying ourselves.
From the comfort of my balcony, I had a perfect view of Katie and Nicola gracefully paddleboarding. The water was incredibly calm, resembling a sheet of glass, and they were the only ones out there, truly experiencing a moment of tranquility. Although I felt a touch of unease when they paddled out of sight, my worries quickly dissipated as they safely returned to shore. I managed to capture a delightful video of their return, preserving the memories of their adventure.
Since there were two massage therapists available at the Octant, Katie, Nicola, and I had to stagger our massage sessions. I got the first massage. After exploring the winding streets of Porto all day, my body was in desperate need of relaxation. The hotel's serene ambiance made it the perfect place to unwind. I was lucky enough to have a wonderful Portuguese masseuse who made me feel completely at ease. Nicola and Katie went after me and looked very relaxed. Christine enjoyed her hike and we were all ready for our boat tour of the Douro River.
The captain of our boat was Fernanda, a lovely Portuguese woman who spoke excellent English. It was just the four of us and the captain. She carried our picnic lunch on board where she already had a cooler of several cold beverages for us to drink. We left promptly at 1 pm for our 3-hour tour!
We made a delightful stop at a charming little island known as "Love Island." We climbed up a short path to a shady area that had picnic tables, and Fernanda set up a spot for us to enjoy our lunch. [She did ask a group of school kids to vacate the tables in the shade in order to accommodate us. I felt a little bad about that]. As we ate we were pretty amazed by the fact that we were on a small island in the middle of the Douro River. Our picnic feast consisted of a delectable variety, including mouthwatering salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, as well as succulent veal and cream cheese on an English muffin-like bread. Accompanying these delectable treats were crispy potato chips, refreshing skewers of pineapple and kiwi, juicy sliced tomatoes, and delectable pastries. To top it all off, we indulged in both vino verde and champagne, truly savoring every moment of our idyllic river getaway.
Following our delightful lunch, we continued our journey upriver, venturing into the narrower and shallower Paiva River. Fernanda led us to a secluded spot where we could take a refreshing swim. Although the water was a bit chilly at first, it was invigorating. As we immersed ourselves in the tranquil waters, we couldn't help but appreciate the serenity of this hidden gem. It was a perfect moment of bliss amidst our unforgettable river adventure.
Fernanda shared with us information about a bridge collapse that occurred 20 years ago. Tragically, a bus was on the bridge at the time, resulting in the loss of 59 lives. To honor the victims, a statue of an angel now stands as a poignant reminder of the tragedy. Only 11 bodies were recovered after the collapse. Fernanda explained that the bridge's collapse was attributed to the powerful currents caused by large boats, which eroded the sand at the riverbed, leading to its catastrophic failure.
We continued our journey up the Paiva River until we reached a point where the water level became too low for us to proceed any further. We turned around and made our way back. As we approached the spot where the Tamega River meets the Douro, our captain took us there for a closer look. It was a fascinating experience as we got to see the older dam in that area. After that, it was time to work our way back to Octant.
After our boat tour, some downtime was in order. We enjoyed a refreshing dip in the lower (first level) pool and then made our way to the rooftop to sit by the upper pool and enjoy the views.
This was our last evening together so we made a 7:30 pm reservation at the 2nd floor restaurant to have the gourmet meal. Below is what we had for dinner, a gourmet delight. [The name of each food is in the caption.]