What do PARIS, NEW YORK and the city of PORTO have in common?

I’m pretty sure you won’t need more than the friendly attitude of local people or a glass of full-bodied red wine from the Douro valley to really feel like at home in Porto. But still, if you’re looking for a common element, something familiar, one that you can find in other parts of the world, then you may want to read this post through to the end.  Spoiler: it's not the croissants!

(photo source)

​IT's NOT THE PASTRY...!

French pastry techniques are sophisticated, visually appealing and therefore people try to replicate them in 'many corners of the globe'. But the croissants of Porto are just a different product: the French are puff pastry while the Portuguese are much closer to brioche.  Sweeter. Fluffier. And I even risk: better.

Because I am partial, don't take my word for it, take chef/TV-star Anthony Bourdain's: "Porto croissants are what Parisian croissants want to be when they grow up. " - Explore Parts Unknow - Porto - link

New York, as far as I know, doesn't even compete in this championship. So, that's not it.

​IT's ALSO NOT THE LATITUDE...!

One of the most interesting bike businesses in Porto, DouroBike shop, has a privileged location overlooking the Atlantic ocean in the Foz district of Porto. They've put up a sign above the front door which states: "the last bike shop before New York". And that's true!!

photo credits: Portoalities (blog)

​Still, while New York and Porto share around the same latitude - as illustrated below -  this is not the same case with Paris. So, that's not it either!

​SO... What is it, then ?

To solve the enigma, we need to go more than one century back in time, to the late 1800's: a French chemical (!) engineer and its company had become experts in building iron structures, they were skilled and quite competitive, price wise.  "The bridge over the Douro..."  -Maria Pia, not the double decked Luiz I bridge -  "...came about as the result of a competition held by the Royal Portuguese Railroad Company. The task was a demanding one: the river was fast-flowing, up to 20 m (66 ft) deep, and had a bed formed of a deep layer of gravel which made the construction of piers on the river bed impossible, and so the bridge had to have a central span of 160 m (520 ft). This was greater than the longest arch span which had been built at the time." source

The year was 1877 and the French Engineer's company name was Eiffel et Cie.  Gustave Eiffel who lived in Portugal from 1875 to 1877.

Eiffel's single deck iron train bridge over Douro river, Porto. And Boris enjoying a riverside section of his 10k custom running tour! 

Maria Pia bridge as seen from Porto. The bridge is currently out of commission.  Photo source: Porto Desaparecido 

Eiffel used this desk while working in Porto. It's on display in Palácio da Bolsa (Stock Exchange Palace) - Porto

​In the next years, Gustave Eiffel was involved in many other projects all over Europe, including the famous tower built for the 1889 world's fair in Paris, the Eiffel tower, and the supporting structure of the colossal Statue of Liberty in New York unveiled in 1886, "Liberty Enlightening the World"  

This old photo partially unveils the iron structure inside the statue of Liberty (source)

A poster of 1889 world's fair in Paris and an intermediate stage of construction of the tower (source)

Does size matter?

Now that we identified the common element, let's be honest: our Eiffel really is bigger than theirs. For the ones of you who are competitive or like comparisons, this one is for you:

Maria Pia bridge: 353meters long; Eiffel tower's height: 325 meters; Statue of Liberty's height: 90m

FOR THE EXPERIENCED RUNNERS:

​If you enjoy some off-the-beaten-path-city-running or if you want add some steep slopes to your training log, than you're invited to join a running tour where we explore both margins and some of the history of the two iron bridges over Douro river: the iron bridges tour. We will also talk a bit about Eiffel and other outstanding engineers (therefore, not about me) and their work in Porto.

LEARN MORE & BOOK

PS: Another common aspect of New York, Paris and Porto (and btw of over 150 other cities!) is that you can explore them while running with a local expert! 

Check out runningtours.net, you'll find the whole list  ;)