Welcome to Armchair Travels, an invitation to travel around the world through the reportage illustration of Studio 1482. We have gathered art from our travels to share with you in the hopes that, while you can’t get out and see these places (yet), our experiences may bring some happiness and light to your day. Please check back as we will be posting new adventures weekly. Enjoy Porto, Portugal. Margaret Hurst

A few years ago I traveled to Porto, a city in Portugal, located on the Rio Douro/Douro River, on the Iberian Peninsula next to Spain. I met up with some friends there. What a beautiful and relaxing city. Everyone was enjoying the river view.

Pigeons and people happily relaxing in the sunshine and dipping their feet in the river while looking across to the downtown Ribeira district of Porto, the beautiful hillside city. Everyone was sitting under their umbrellas at their tables drinking Porto wine, named after the city of Porto, hence the name.

On the Ribeira side there were musicians playing guitars and drumming while sitting under the ramp leading to the Luis I Bridge. Again, another lovely, calming experience.

I climbed up to the entrance of the bridge and saw this beautiful city landscape. The buildings and houses, the colors, the steps and the flora landscape were so beautiful and quaint. I couldn’t stop looking and enjoying the beauty of it all. I wanted to walk in front and around every building. So engaging!

So, yes, I would have sat at that moment and then walked around the charming city, but we decided to take a boat ride on the Douro River. We wanted to see what the view was from the boat ride and this is what we saw. Back to the left were some of the vineyards growing the grapes for the Porto wines to be created and later enjoyed. The vineyards were part of the rolling, sweeping energy of the hills, houses and bridges of the delightful landscape.

We returned to the Ribeira district of Porto and walked along the sidewalk and then sat for awhile at the tables under the lovely umbrellas.

Everyone was enjoying their glass of Port wine. And as uncomfortable as this gentleman looks, he was actually enjoying his glass of wine! I just couldn’t resist drawing that contorted face. It was too intriguing not to draw! And as you can see, the couple in back of him were very happily enjoying their Port wine. Life gives you engaging moments!

So I continued to drink my wine and draw. I looked up and saw these lovely houses and made my last drawing of the day.