A trip on Vouga's historic train

I confess I like trains, though I really do not care about the details as trainspoters do. I just enjoy the ride and I would like to share one of mine experiences with you.

For more information press HERE.

The train museum at Macinhata do Vouga - a must if you like trains 

The Vouga-Line (not to be confused with Volga, totally different rivers in many aspects) has a couple of tracks that serves the populations on the interior of Aveiro's district and connects them with one another and the coastal line. It was commissioned and built on the beginning if the 1900's and has had it's glorious days. Nowadays some kilometers of the old tracks are re-qualified as bike and tracking tracks through the breathtaking and bucolic landscape of the region.

Every Summer (since a couple of years back) the Portuguese train company organizes historical journeys on one of the old machines (don't ask me any technical details on that, ahahah) and the whole thing is lovely. The whole thing takes about five hours of train traveling, folk music played live at the train, guided tours, theatrical history telling at the train museum at Macinhata do Vouga, and so on. I have heard some local people complaining about the price of the tickets, but considering all that is included and the journey I found it quite cheap. In any other European country you would not be able to do such a complete trip under at least 100 to 150 €, while this journey costs 30 € for adults and 16,50 € per child. Really cheap!

The train was recovered tastefully and you can see the love and care on the details.

window detail 

luggage shelf detail 

door detail 

seat numbers as it was in the old days

The kids enjoyed the ride. We had several pauses and were not on the train for five hours. They really loved the train ride, the music act, especially my boy because he got to play with the family group that performed in the train. They also enjoyed being on the museum, even if the theatrical historical revival was not their favorite part (although I love it!) and the guided tour on Águeda. Actually they loved Águeda, the Agitagueda festival was on its peak and they loved all the umbrellas, ballons and graphic art all over town (by any means we must visit Águeda and the festival again!). 

By the way the train was packed! The nationalities our co-passengers were diverse and the guides explained all they could in English and sometimes in French too. Even the theatrical interpretation was explained in English and French, at least on the visit we attended. 

As I explained, the train rides the interior of the region, it does so with no rush, actually it is quite slow, so you get to see a lot. Many people living by the areas the train rides through waved at us with big smiles. I guess they too enjoy reviving the old train as it was on the old days, shining and clean from the graffitis the new train has endured. 

At Machinhata do Vouga they had a local product's little market and I bought a straw hatt and we ate local delicacies that were being cooked right there. 

Both me and the kids felt like the whole ambience was party like and we truly enjoyed the ride. We will probably do it again soon. 

So if you are in Portugal during Summer and want to see and do something different and experience a Saturday afternoon visiting the interior of Aveiro's region just let yourself ride the historical train and leave all the organizational questions to the professional guides and just enjoy. :-) 

See a bit more here: 

If you search on you-tube for "comboio historico vouga" or "vouga historical train" you will find many videos about this journey. 

have a good laugh at my expense

So let me introduce you to my friend, the car I have in Portugal, the Agila known as Alface.
I am the proud owner of this green wheels. Love to drive it slowly through Portugal having a good exercise every time I spin the steering wheel because the assisted steering motor is broken. Stil I sit on the drivers seat as a queen on her throne. And the kids love the car too.




Alface visits the mechanic more times than I wish I visited a spa per year...

Maybe I could visit the spa more often if I didn't had to send Alface to the mechanic that often. Stil, so far Alface only let me down once... Last year on my first vacation day I drove on a nail and got a flat tire. The images speak for themselves. You can have your laugh at my expense now... I am laughing now, almost a year later. I hope Alface won't let me down on our approaching encounters...

Lighthouse at Praia da Barra, Aveiro region

Lighthouse at Praia da Barra - Aveiro region, Portugal winter 2016

Let me share one of my hidden gems with you, a visit to the lighthouse at Praia da Barra in the Aveiro Region.

View from the lighthouse

         View from the lighthouse

The lighthouse is open to the public for three guided visits on Wednesdays starting 13:30, last visit starts at 16:00. I recommend it if you are somewhat fit, because it implies climbing the staircase of the 62 meter tower. So, all in all, more than a couple hundreds steps up... More information...

staircase at the lighthouse

I am afraid of heights and the visit was a challenge to me, but in spite of my fear of heights it was worth all the excitement and the stair climbing. The guide knew a lot about the light house and explained all the history and technicalities fluently in a couple of languages and kept the group's interest all the way.

(details from the lighthouse) 


Just make sure you are there early on high season because there is a limit to the number of visitors due to safety reasons. The views are gorgeous, and that was on a bad weather day. Besides you can take a gelatto on the ice cream cafe or shop on the cafes and shops on the "praça" (square) outside the lighthouse and the main street.

One of the shares surrounding the lighthouse

You can also surf on the beach to the left of the lighthouse or have a quiet sea bathing on the shelter beach (Praia da Meia Laranja) in front of the lighthouse, take a walk on the "paredão", fly a kite... Well, there are so many things you can do there. The only downside is the parking, but as it is manly bad on weekends on a Wednesday you should find a good parking place. By the way the gelatti on the ice cream cafe are delicious. ;-)