Traveling without plans

This post comes to you from Dulles International Airport as I anxiously await my flight to my first European destination! We won a trip to Porto, Portugal from RF|Binder and the Wines of Vinho Verde. Yes, like those sweepstakes you get emails for all the time. Much skepticism has been involved in this process, but it does appear to be real. (If I don’t post on this blog for two weeks or so, you may want to alert Liam Neeson.) So, this will be quite an adventure. First time to Europe. First time on a trip I didn’t plan. I feel a wee bit apprehensive, but I’m choosing to look at it as the ultimate adventure.

We arrive tomorrow morning and leave Sunday morning, so the trip will be a whirlwind, but I am all kinds of excited. We have tentative plans to check out some Port wine cellars, tour the Douro Valley and River and visit the Lello Bookstore. But really, I don’t know how this is going to go. And that’s pretty cool.

It’s going to be a long day of travel, so we’re kicking back and starting it off right. Vino Volo has pretty much changed the pre-flight experience forever. Love this place.
Tom is already interfacing with his mom to express our sadness over having to leave this guy. He’s lucky to have his grandma nearby to watch him, but dammit why can’t dogs ride free on our laps like children? He’s very well behaved.
Any recommendations for things to do in Porto would be greatly appreciated, along with tips for a European virgin. I have a feeling I will stand out as a tourist from miles away…