Man, what a day! I swear, Barcelos is wild. I’m a radio operator, right? So, I’m used to chaos, but today? Pffft. Total madness.
Started off chill, just me and my coffee at the Praça da República. You know, the one with that big ol’ fountain? Yeah, that one. I was just sippin’, thinkin’ about life, when BOOM! A parade rolls through. Like, seriously? It’s a Tuesday! But hey, who doesn’t love a good parade?
So, I’m there, trying to catch the vibe. The streets are packed, people are dancing, and I’m like, “This is it! This is Barcelos!” But then, outta nowhere, this dude trips over his own feet. I mean, come on! He goes down hard, and I’m just standing there, coffee in hand, trying not to laugh. But I can’t help it! I’m cracking up.
Then, I get a call on the radio. “We need backup at Rua da Liberdade!” What? I’m like, “What’s happening now?” So, I rush over, dodging people and balloons. Turns out, some kids were playing football, and they kicked it into a shop window. Classic! The shopkeeper was fuming, yelling in Portuguese like it was the end of the world. I mean, it’s just a window, right?
But then, I see this old lady, right? She’s just standing there, shaking her head. I’m thinking, “Lady, you’ve seen worse!” But she looks at me and says, “In my day, we respected windows!” I couldn’t help but chuckle.
After that, I head down to the Mercado Municipal. Man, the smells! Fresh bread, cheese, and those roasted chestnuts. I’m drooling. I grab a bifana from one of the stalls. Best decision ever! But while I’m munching, I hear this commotion.
Some guy is arguing with a vendor about the price of olives. Like, dude, it’s olives! Chill! But he’s going off, waving his arms like he’s conducting an orchestra. I’m just standing there, thinking, “This is Barcelos, folks!”
Then, I get another call. “We need you at the bridge!” The bridge? The one over the Cavado River? I sprint over, heart racing. When I get there, I see a bunch of kids fishing. But they’re not fishing. They’re trying to catch a duck! A DUCK! I’m like, “What is happening today?”
So, I’m watching these kids, and one of them slips and falls into the river. I’m panicking, thinking, “Oh no, not today!” But he pops up, laughing, holding the duck like it’s a trophy. I can’t even.
Finally, I head back to the station, exhausted. I plop down in my chair, and my buddy João looks at me, grinning. “You look like you’ve been through a war!” I just shake my head. “Nah, man, just another day in Barcelos.”
But honestly, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. This city is alive! The streets, the people, the chaos. It’s a beautiful mess, and I love it. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!