Day 7 - Friday, October 25, 2024 - Peso de Regua

 We both came down with colds and aren't feeling very energetic. Carmen stayed onboard this morning.

I went on the trip to Lamego to see the cathedral of Mary with nursing child. One thing very distinctive of the cathedral organs in Portugal and Spain is the use of horizontal pipes and was able to get a photo. Another interesting aspect of the churches and cathedrals that we've visited have LED votive "candles". Instead of putting in a coin and lighting a regular candle. one puts in a coin and some number of the LED "candles" light up for some period of time.

Then to Regua to the museum of the Duoro region. It was interesting to see old photos of wine boats going down the raging river - like going down the Colorado River. The wine casks were all marked with the owner so that they could be retrieved if the boat capsized in the rapids. With the creation of the dam and lock system, the transportation of wine by the traditional sailing boats ended. The dams have hydroelectric power plants which provide about 25% of the electricity in Portugal. Another 25% is from wind turbines. Only 6% from solar but it is growing.

After lunch we went through one of the 5 locks on the river. The lock we went through raises the ship up about 90'. When the ship gets to the top, the clearance to get under the bridge and other structures is so low that the captain lowers the pilot house and brings down the radar unit. The bridge is only about 4' above the deck so one really needs to crouch down. We also go to see inside the pilot house where the captain has numerous video screens and maneuvers the ship using a joy stick like a video game!

In the afternoon we went to an olive oil tasting at a vineyard. Many of the vineyards also have olive trees which serve multiple purposes. Diseases affect the olive trees before the grape vines and provide an early warning of potential problems. They mark the property boundary lines and help secure the ground near walls. And they produce olives for fresh consumption and olive oil. The vineyard we visited has 51 varieties of olive trees that are blended while most olive oils are produced from 2-3 varieties of trees.

Portuguese pipe organ with horizontal pipes


Carnen as ship left lock

Captain peering out of pilot house

Traditional wine boat


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