The Venice of Portugal
12 June 2024 – Candás, Spain
We left Figueira da Foz and anchored in a lagoon near the town of Aveiro, also known as the Venice of Portugal. It was about a twenty minute dinghy ride away from where we anchored and when we arrived there, we realized that there is a lock separating the natural lagoons from the canals of the city. We briefly considered leaving the boat at a floating dock and visiting the city by foot instead but the idea of going up a lock in the dingy was too tempting so we waited until it was opened to let out a party boat then slipped inside. The lockmaster didn’t seem to find an issue with this so he closed the gate behind us and we waited in ominous silence while there was a series of booms and cars shot by on the bridge overhead (they hadn’t needed to raise it for such a puny boat). Eventually the water started to rise and in a few minutes the lock opened again at the level of the city. Jonas drove us through the canals, which was a great experience and probably the best way to experience the ‘Venice of Portugal’. There were many old fashioned canal boats taking tourists around but no other pleasure craft so we were stared at a lot, especially as Sirius was perched on the bow like a gloomy figurehead.
Taking the dinghy through the canals – Aveiro, Portugal
We left the dinghy at a floating dock a little way through the canals, then walked around on land a bit and went out for dinner.
Aveiro, Portugal
Porto was our last stop in Portugal and as we were only staying there for the night, it was necessary to get pastel de nata one last time. We anchored in the Douro River and walked along the boardwalk into the city. It was already evening by this time and the walk isn’t that short but luckily the pastel de nata place was still open when we got there.
Porto, Portugal
We upanchored (Emily, you will be pleased to hear that we didn’t get caught on any rebar), and then sailed to Baiona and then Camariñas in Spain. We had almost forgotten how intense the tides are here in the Bay of Biscay, coming from the Mediterranean which has barely any, and we had to remember to be aware of the current and the state of the tide when coming into port. We also had to adjust to the ‘northern climate’, which is still warm and beautiful just slightly chillier in the mornings. Sirius especially is finding this difficult.
Off the coast of Spain
On our journey through Spain in the fall, Redes was my absolute favourite place, so I was glad that we would be spending a few days there while waiting for the wind to cooperate. It didn’t disappoint; the town is small and right on the water, with brightly painted stone houses and a café spilling out onto the harbour launch ramp.
Redes, Spain
There are also many beautiful walks to be done there through forests and fields and along the coast. Everything is very green and covered in plants.
Redes, Spain
Redes, Spain
We left Redes and sailed all day to Cedeira, then did the same the next day to Ribadeo where we went out for churros. Today we are sailing to Candás.
