Porto: Rain, Rum, and Seriously Weird Vibes

okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on caffeine and regret. i landed in porto yesterday, and honestly, it’s… a lot. the humidity is clinging to me like a damp towel, and it’s 18.4 degrees, feels like 18.15. pressure’s 1009, sea level 974 - don’t ask. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. i’m not gonna lie, i was expecting pastel yellows and quaint cafes, but porto is all brooding brick and echoing alleyways. it’s like a gothic novel written by a slightly hungover architect.

I’m staying in this tiny Airbnb near Ribeira - it smells faintly of old wine and something vaguely floral, which is… interesting. my neighbor, Mr. Silva, keeps practicing his accordion at 6 am. he’s a retired fisherman, i think, and he’s got this intense stare. if you get bored, Lisbon is just a short drive away.

Spent the afternoon wandering around the Livraria Lello, which is seriously breathtaking. it looks like something out of Harry Potter. I almost bought a dozen books, but my bank account is screaming. I heard that the queue is insane, so go early, like, before the pigeons wake up early. Seriously.

Then I stumbled upon this tiny bar, tucked away down a side street - Bar Sequor. The bartender, a guy named Ricardo, was pouring me a gin and tonic and rambling about the history of port wine. He said something about how the Douro Valley is basically the reason this city exists. He also told me someone told him that the best pastel de nata in the city are at Manteigaria - don’t miss those. I’m not saying he was entirely sober, but he seemed pretty passionate about pastries.

Here’s the gear list, because apparently, i need to document everything. It’s a disaster, honestly:

My battered camera (obviously)
A notebook full of scribbled nonsense
A half-empty bottle of hand sanitizer
A ridiculously oversized scarf (it’s always colder than you think)
My headphones (for drowning out Mr. Silva’s accordion)
A portable charger (because i always forget to charge things)
A crumpled map (i’m terrible with directions)
A packet of gummy bears (essential)

I also managed to snag a few shots - check out these pics:

I’m heading to the Serralves Museum tomorrow - apparently, it’s got some seriously cool contemporary art. And then, maybe, just maybe, i’ll find a decent espresso. This city is exhausting, but in a strangely compelling way. I’m thinking of checking out some local street art too - there’s a whole scene happening down in Vila Nova de Gaia. I heard that the best murals are near the riverfront.

Seriously, if you’re looking for something a little different, a little gritty, a little… porto, then come here. Just bring a raincoat and a strong stomach. And maybe earplugs.

Here’s a quick tip: Don’t trust everything you hear. Especially from drunk bartenders.

Check out TripAdvisor for Porto: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g190968-Porto_Portugal-Vacations.html

And for some local eats, Yelp is your friend: https://www.yelp.com/map/portugal/porto-restaurants

Finally, a local board with some hidden gems: https://www.visitporto.travel/en/

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