Porto, the Douro River bathed in sunset light

#EuropeTravel

#Portugal
#Porto
#Dou River

The Douro River bathed in sunset light / Kim Doi

The afternoon in Porto slowly ripened. The warm light streaming in through the window of my room made me unpack for a moment and lie down to rest. The day of travel began again, quietly flowing by.

At 3 o'clock, I set out onto the street. The stone pavement of the old alley reflected the sunlight, and the breeze carried the scent of a café.

At the end of the street, I sat down at the Majestic Café. A café steeped in history for 100 years, a place where countless artists have passed through. In the mirror on the wall, I felt like I had become a part of them.

As a sip of coffee slid down my throat, the tones of an old piano permeated my mind.

With a sense of calm, I stepped out onto the street. The afternoon in Porto was golden, and the sunset slanted through the city's alleyways. My feet, tracing the light, slowly made their way toward the Douro River.

The sky I saw as I crossed the river was magnificent. Layers of blue and orange mingled, falling onto the water, and the river calmly embraced the colors. In that moment, the world seemed to stop.

I climbed to the observation deck of Jardim do Morro. Far across the river, light filtered through the rooftops of the buildings, and the Douro River embraced the fiery sky.

I picked up my camera, but before pressing the shutter, I gazed at it for a long time. My mind captured the scene before the photograph.

The sky gradually darkened, and the city lights came on one by one. Under the crimson sky, Porto. Dinner is complete.

Today's sunset was brief, but its afterglow lingered. I completed another journey in that light.

(2025.10.27)