The Train to Porto
The departure area of Lisbon airport has a subway link. A young woman helps us figure out the machine. €5 euros will get us to the Oriente station, which will take us to Porto. The ticket lady at the Oriente station wondered how old we were. She asked for an ID after we gave our ages. We didn’t know there were senior discounts. That’s why she asked. It got us 2nd class tickets for €35. We climbed with our luggage up the steps to the platform, too delighted for the savings to notice it was the wrong one only to be told by a helpful commuter that ours is three platforms down and across. A man offered to help Pat with her luggage. The people here are friendly. We found out when we got into the carriage that seats were assigned. It’s not the Metro. We have to move our luggage three carriages forward.

When we got to Porto, three hours later, we were already frazzled, first, by a delayed flight from Newark, then later, figuring out the Portuguese rail system. A local commuter told us that the services were not senior-friendly. At least, the taxi fare from the station to the hotel was cheap. A small amount of appreciation for a service goes a long way. Tipping is not common in Porto, but we gave our taxi driver a 4 euro tip, anyway. He waved me away from the trunk and told us he’ll get our suitcases in the hotel [Continued Being a tourist in Porto]