the torre dos clérigos, a huge bell tower right beside the identically named baroque church, is one of the most characteristic symbols of porto; and it is the place, where we started our journey in portugal once again. we already knew this historic building and its exposed position above the city and the river douro, since we had been accomodated close by in the wonderful poets hostel during our first stay in portugal's second largest city yet.

what was new for us, on the other hand, was the ultra-modern mall diagonally opposite porto's landmark: things can't be so bad in porto/ugal, if a government is able to erect a plaza like that, not forgetting to mention the also completely renewed park surrounding the area. well, we liked it.