One full day lost to a massive power outage across Southern France, Spain and Portugal but we made up for it with an early start the next morning in Porto. First stop, the Chapel of Souls, its blue azulejos glowing in the morning light like something out of a storybook.

From there, we wandered into Mercado do Bolhão, revived with fresh bread and coffee, and picked up some olive oil and sardines to bring home. Amidst the vibrant produce and gourmet stalls, we found ourselves indulging in platter of fresh oysters and creamy sea urchin, paired with crisp Douro branco definitely one of our better decisions that day.

A slow stroll down Rua Santa Catarina led us past local shops and a cheerful weekday crowd before we arrived at the beautiful Church of Saint Ildefonso.

Then came the climb - Rua da Madeira’s steep, graffiti-covered steps down towards São Bento station. A gritty yet vibrant shortcut with a view of rooftops and towers that reminded us why Porto is best explored on foot. One uphill and downhill at a time.