PORTO - Portugal - page 329

them navigate the rough, twisty course of the river (for more info, see here ) . The region's
famous port wine is produced about 60 miles up the river and aged in lodges here.
Fado —If you need to satisfy your fado fix, the Restaurante Mal Cozinhado —a couple
of blocks up from the Douro—is touristy with forgettable food, but a great place for a late
drink and live fado (open for dinner nightly at 20:30 except Sun; if not dining, there's a
€10 cover fee; music starts at 21:00 and ends at 1:00 in the morning; Rua do Outeirinho
11, tel. [phone]). The recommended Restaurante Guarany (in the city center) also of-
fers live fado, as does the House of Music (northwest of the center; see here ) .
Tramway Museum (Museu do Carro Eléctrico) —Porto is proud of its tram tradition
and is committed to bringing them back as an integral part of the public transit system. In
1872 (40 years after being invented in the US), the first trams in Iberia began operating in
Porto, pulled by horses and oxen. Dubbed americanos based on their origin, the tram net-
work was electrified in 1904. Essential for connecting suburbs with the city center, there
were more than 100 tram lines still in use by the 1970s. However, buses and cars—by-
products of modern prosperity—almost eliminated this important part of the city's herit-
age.
This clever museum-in-a-warehouse displays beautifully restored examples of trams
from different eras, including 1950s buses and a brand-new hydrogen-powered city bus.
You can climb aboard many for a fun, Rice-A-Roni-style experience...just ding the bell.
Cost and Hours: €4, Mon 14:00-18:00, Tue-Fri 10:00-19:00, Sat-Sun 14:00-19:00,
Alameda Basílio Teles 51, tel. [phone], www.museudocarroelectrico.pt .
Getting There: The most atmospheric way to arrive at the museum is via tram #1 or
#18. Sit on restored wicker seats and see a little of workaday Porto, plus some river views
from up above.
Foz —Foz do Douro (or simply “Foz”) is one of Porto's trendiest, greenest, wealthiest,
and most relaxing quarters, situated where the river meets the Atlantic. There's no real
destination in Foz; simply wander through the park (Jardim do Passeio Alegre, with mini-
ature golf, a fancy old WC pavilion, and a nondescript café), hike up to the lighthouse,
ponder the sea, watch fishermen mending their nets, and smell the seaweed. If you have
the time and good weather, take a boardwalk stroll to the beach, Praia dos Ingleses. It's a
relaxing break from the busy downtown area.