Porto Day 7

Although the USk Porto Symposium itself was over there were a lot of sketchers who stayed on in Porto. On Sunday morning Julie and I decided we wanted to sketch some of the narrow streets near R de Belmont and R de S Joao. We set ourselves up and let Sandrine from Paris know where we were. She was checking out of her hotel and leaving that afternoon, but she wanted to sketch with us one more time. Her chair was already packed so she stood and painted resting her materials on her luggage. As you can see there wasn't a lot of room to work and still let people pass by.

Here is the painting I did in that location.

And a closer view.

We went out for a relaxing lunch before Sandrine left for the airport. Hopefully we will see her next year at the Amsterdam Symposium.

Julie and I sketched again and heard from Marcy and Shawne. The plan was to meet them at the Monastery da Serra do Pilar which was on the other side of the Luis I bridge. I hadn't walked across the bridge yet so this was a treat...although it was a long walk and then the Monastery was up on a high hill. This was the view from the Monastery.

View of the upper level of the Luis I bridge from the Monastery da Serra do Pilar.

Imagine our surprise when Julie and I got to the top to find our NYC Urban Sketching friend, Mel up there sketching the view. He had the same idea as the rest of us to watch/sketch the sunset from up there.

Mel Barranco working on his sunset painting.

Julie Kessler sketching the view.

Shawne Cooper capturing the scene.

My sketch with the view.

Sunset over Porto.

My double page spread of the sunset over Porto.

By the time we walked down from the monastery we had no luck making dinner reservations on this side of the river, so we crossed back over the bridge and found Canfinho da Se' a wonderful restaurant near the bridge. We hung out there talking for a long time. We said goodbye to Mel who was heading to Madrid to visit his parents and celebrate his mom's birthday. Julie was leaving for NYC in the morning,  and Shawne & Marcy were heading to Lisbon the next day, so it was a night for goodbyes until we see each other in NY.

Porto Days 2 & 3

After a good night's sleep I was wide awake at 6:30 on Tuesday and starving. Unfortunately I hadn't shopped for food the day before and nothing was open yet. I did check the internet and the bakery by me opened at 7 so I headed there as soon as it opened. Porto and Portugal are known for their custard tarts called pasteis de nada...and they are delicious. The pastries aren't as sweet as we have at home, so that is my justification for being able to have them for breakfast. I picked up a coffee, a pasteis de nada and some kind of croissant that was also filled with custard and topped with powdered sugar. I just had to sketch it. It was hard to restrain myself. lol

I did some food shopping and then made plans to meet two of my friends at the Virtudes Park. I got directions from Googlemaps and headed off. Googlemaps gives you directions but you do not get an option for the least number of steep streets. lol It was an uphill climb until the last street. I picked a spot and sketched this scene from one of the terraced levels of the park. (Yes, that meant more climbing.)

The park was big and my friends couldn't find me. I thought I could find them easier so I had them describe their location. I found them and we all sketched a bit of this view.

For lunch we stopped at the Arvore Restaurante that had outdoor seating and a nice view that I was able to sketch. The food was good too.

I had enough time to go back to my apartment and relax a bit before a large group of us went out to dinner. I had my first Porto octopus! I was hooked!!

Wednesday morning we registered for the Porto Symposium.  We got in line and just kept meeting people that we knew from last year's symposium. It was fun to get together again. Once we registered we got to pick the demo we would be going to. I selected Ian Fennely from the UK. I liked his work and he was highly recommended by an internet friend.

Outside the Alfandega (which was an old customs house converted into a meeting venue) there were quirky little houses facing the river. Each one was different and fun to sketch. Every day there would be a line of sketchers facing that view and sketching.

Wednesday afternoon was the first sketchwalk of the symposium. All 800 of us headed toward the Luis I Bridge. There were sketchers sitting everywhere! Julie was sketching next to me.

Then I sketched some of the buildings across the Douro River.

That evening was the opening reception of the Symposium at the Alfandega hub. I was able to reconnect with friends and meet another friend who I had known just thought the internet probably for more than 15 years.

Lucy who had been part of our NYC Urban Sketchers until she moved back to France.

With my friend Tina Koyama from Seattle.

With my friend Kitty Van Den Heuvel from the Netherlands who I met in person for the first time at this symposium.