Who would have thought....

Forced slowdowns are sometimes unexpectedly good reminders of how travel and visiting another country can be enjoyed on many levels. It sounds like you have the ideal place to recover on your shady balcony and you’ve already met several super helpful people. Hope you’re both feeling better soon!

What a lovely positive attitude!

If you had food poisoning, you would be vomiting. A lot. It is probably just a virus. It happens. It doesn't matter if you use hand sanitizer, etc. as the air carries lots of these germs.

Hope you feel better soon. Enjoy watching Porto walk by.

Priscilla, I think you've eaten something that was not in perfect condition. Maybe eggs, maybe seafood? It's very common that foreign people coming to Portugal have those conditions you're having, just because they are not used to some spice, or ingredient, or eating so many things different from their original country. But two at the same time (you and your daughter), it's to much for a coincidence. Anyway, you are at the best street to see time going by! I didn't know you had a balcony! In my opinion, this might be the day to remember, all included!

Please don't go to the chocolate shop! Neither Amorinos! You have 3 very reliable restaurants near you, if you will feel better still today: Abadia, Palmeira and Escondidinho! They all have diet food.

Since you are at the balcony, try to see the (don't know the name in english so I'm writting in portuguese) "carrilhão" at galerias FNAC (at the corner of Santa Catarina with Passos Manuel streets). It comes out every 3 hours. I think next one will be at 6pm. Ask someone at the hotel, they probably know.

Hope you will feel better soon!

😱 I am so sorry. But agree with the other posters who have said probably something you ate. If so, that would be good as it should soon pass. Love your idea of making chicken soup but relaxing on your lovely balcony and watching the world go about it's business isn't a bad way to pass the time, either. Hope you both feel better soon!

Oh, so sorry you both experienced this! It’s a good reminder to the rest of us, though, that things happen - and a great reason to have lodging in a central, scenic location. Hope you both bounce back quickly!

Sorry you are unwell.
Nap. As my father loved to quote from the Bard 'sleep knits up the ravelled sleeve of care'. Now, that usually has to be followed up with an explanation of what the heck William was talking about, but think about it. Best laid plans of mice and men go awry when travelling. Jet lag, new food, new booze, new water, stress, not enough sleep etc. etc can cause an inbalance in the gut and hit you like it does now. Not a virus, typically a bacteria. Make lemonade - real lemonade - and then add a little salt to get your electrolytes back in balance. home made Gatorade is sugar and salt in water. Oh, and add some natural least processed the better type yogurt.
Do the laundry, order in from the restaurant across the street, people watch from the balcony, don pajamas and do nothing but watch something....Netflix binging is a common practice when I am sick.
You will be as right as rain soon.

So sorry to hear you’ been ill. One good thing about feeling sick, is how wonderful you feel when you’re better. Hope to rear of your trip is great.

By the way, Priscilla, here we use to say: if life gives you lemons, ask for tequilla and salt (no lemonade).

Oh no! Not fun to be sick on holiday, but just think about all the wonderful things you can see! Feel better - I look forward to your posts.

Thanks for all the get well wishes!

We’re feeling better and know we’ll be feeling better with each passing day.

We’ve been eating the BRAT diet and have stayed hydrated.

We had a nice restful day.
My daughter finished reading her book. I washed a few clothes and hung them out on our sunny balcony.

Helena, you’ve been so kind and helpful, thank you so very much!
We got some ”canja” (chicken soup) at Império and it’s very good.

BTW, we heard the “carrilhão" at galerias FNAC at noon today when we were walking to the market and then realized we were walking in the wrong direction!

Ha! We got some BRAT diet items at Continente Market. When we were getting some bread rolls, there was a man waiting for us, then he proceeded to buy all the rolls; he filled 2 bags full!

Thanks everyone!
Boa noite! 😴

priscilla, can you give me the cite to the place where you are staying in porto, thanks, nick barthel

Priscilla,

It's good to hear that your illness didn't last long and that you're recovering nicely. It's wonderful that Helena is able to help you out with good local information. Based on your experiences, perhaps I'll add electrolyte replacements to my travel kit. There are some good products out there that are easy to travel with, including tablets and mixes that won't cause problems with TSA - https://www.greenbelly.co/pages/electrolyte-replacements .

I wasn't aware of the carrilhão on my last trip to Portugal but will definitely be listening for that on my next one. That sounds wonderful.

Ken, besides hearing you should also see the "carrilhão". It's nice. The litlle door under the clock opens and the "puppies" came out.

Helena,

Thanks for the tip about the "carrilhão". I can't even imagine what that device looks like but I'll do some online research a bit later.

I was thinking about Portugal today as I received a brochure from the travel agent about Douro River cruises. Those look wonderful, albeit a bit on the expensive side.

Nicholas,

We’re staying at My Story Santa Catarina Apartments. Our “Family studio” faces Rua Santa Catarina.

The apartment is in a great location near the São Bento train station (we took a taxi upon arrival, €5), a multitude of shops, restaurants, pastry shops, a shopping mall with a market, the beautiful blue & white tile covered Capela dos Almas, the famous ‘Majestic Café’ with its never ending queue, and the temporary Mercado Bolhão.

Ken,
I’m fairly certain that most pharmacies stock electrolyte tablets, but it’s not a bad idea to pack your own.

I actually pack a mini pharmacy when I travel, but since I’d not had any GI infections in the past, I didn’t have what we needed.

Helena,
Yesterday I walked to the corner to witness the "carrilhão" at 15:00. I arrived 5 minutes before the hour and found a great spot where I could video the event.

After all the bells played their tune, I waited for the doors (under the clock) to open and... Nothing happened!
So I walked into the FNAC shop and asked what time this happens. The young man explained; “every 3 hours starting at 9:00” I said, it’s 15:00 now and nothing happened. His response; “technical difficulties...” shrugging his shoulders.

We finally got a gelato at Amorino’s last night! Yum!🍦

Priscilla, doesn't gelato makes everything feel better??? (Glad to hear you are both well!)

Hi Andi,

Gelato is always a good idea!

Oh no, Priscilla! I just checked RS forum to see how your trip is progressing. I was so sad to read that both you and your daughter got sick! I'm a big believer in taking probiotics...before, during and after my travels. Yet, I know that these things happen to people all the time no matter how many precautions are taken by the traveler.

Rest, sleep, relax and feel better soon!

Take care,
Christine

Priscilla,

The doctor at the travel medicine clinic usually gives me a prescription for Ciprofloxacin as well, which I believe is used for stomach ailments. After reading the potential side effects and interactions, I wasn't sure I'd want to use it. Accoding to Wikpedia.....

"The fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin, are associated with an increased risk of cardiac toxicity, including QT interval prolongation, torsades de pointes, ventricular arrhythmia, and sudden death."

However I usually pack it along "just in case".

Hi Christine,

We’ve been taking probiotics since we became ill.
We’re in Lisbon now for a few nights before flying home.
I’ll post about our trip later on.
Have a wonderful time on your trip!

Hi Ken,
I included Ciprofloxacin to my son’s mini pharmacy when he traveled to India, years ago, and then again when he visited Nicaragua. Most medications have side effects, as you well know, some worse than others.
Ciao!

Would you mind giving me the site or name of the place you're staying? My daughter, husband, and I are planning to be in Porto in the beginning of November and I'm still trying to figure out where we'll stay there. Your apartment sounds perfect!

Hi Margaret,

We stayed at My Story Apartments Santa Catarina in the “Family Studio Apartment with View” (#3B)
The apartment itself is within a building that was renovated. There’s an elevator, A/C, and a strong Wi-Fi signal.
The apartment is fairly small, with a kitchenette (2 burner convection cooktop, MW, & a small fridge)

As mentioned in my post, there was only one small pot and a frying pan plus some dishes and flatware.

There’s a queen size bed plus a sofa bed. My daughter (young adult) slept on the sofa bed.

We enjoyed having the small balcony where we ate most of our meals.

The apartment is in a great location and I’d definitely stay there again.

BTW, we just returned from our trip a couple of days ago. I posted some trip reports if you’re interested in reading them.

Happy planning!

Priscilla 😉

Thank you Priscilla!!