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While wondering the narrow, beautiful streets of old Porto, Portugal, I came across this hotel. This clean town is full of friendly, helpful people and European tourists.
Last night while having dinner on the sidewalk at the cafe below, a French couple sat down next to us and started asking what we had ordered.

They couldn’t speak English, nor could we speak French-actually Melinda tries a little-but it was the best part of the day. We talked, and we let them try our dishes so they’d know what to order. I should have taken French beginning in the seventh grade. The place is a little corner of sidewalk cafes, shops, and outdoor musicians that you thought could only exist in a movie.
The tapas included octopus and chorizo. We also ordered this local favorite that looked like a sandwich covered with runny cheese and then a can of Campbell’s Tomato soup poured over it. I decided to finish the octopus dish instead.
The local beer is light and tasty. I was surprised it wasn’t heavy like what I thought all European beers were like. The German tourists around us apparently liked it, too, because they were drinking it. We heard very little Portuguese music. The street vendors, cabs and cafes all played American music.