Man, what a day! I swear, Castanheira-do-Ribatejo really knows how to throw a curveball. I woke up thinking it’d be just another boring day blasting away at some rusty old metal. But nah, the universe had other plans for me.
So, I roll outta bed, grab my coffee (strong, like my will to live), and head out. The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m like, “Today’s gonna be chill.” I hop on my bike, cruising down Rua da Liberdade, feeling like a king. But then, BAM! My tire goes flat. Seriously? Right in front of that bakery, Pastelaria Pão Quente. I could smell the fresh bread, and I’m stuck there like a fool.
I’m cursing under my breath, thinking about how I’m gonna be late. I finally manage to fix the tire, but I’m already sweating like a pig. I get to the job site, and it’s chaos. My boss, Carlos, is losing it. He’s pacing around like a caged lion. Apparently, the client wants the job done by noon. It’s 10 AM. We’ve got a mountain of work ahead.
I grab my gear, and we start blasting. The noise is insane. I’m in my zone, but then I notice this kid, maybe 10 years old, watching us from the street. He’s got this look on his face like he’s seen a ghost. I wave, and he just stares. I mean, c’mon, it’s just sandblasting, not rocket science!
Then, outta nowhere, this old lady from across the street, Dona Maria, starts yelling at us. “You’re ruining my flowers!” she screams. I’m like, “Lady, we’re not even near your garden!” But she’s relentless. I can’t help but laugh. I mean, who knew sandblasting could be so controversial?
After a while, we take a break. I’m chugging water, trying to cool down. That’s when I see my buddy, Miguel, rolling up on his scooter. He’s got this huge grin, and I’m thinking, “What’s he up to?” Turns out, he just won a local soccer match. He’s all hyped, and I’m like, “Dude, that’s awesome!” But then he starts bragging about how he scored the winning goal. I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, superstar.”
Back to work, and I’m blasting away, feeling the rhythm. But then, I accidentally hit a power line. Sparks fly, and I’m like, “Oh crap!” Everyone’s yelling, and I’m just standing there, frozen. But then, the power goes out in half the neighborhood. I’m thinking, “Great, now I’m a criminal.”
Finally, we wrap up the job, and I’m exhausted. I head to the local bar, O Pavilhão, to grab a drink. I need to unwind. I sit down, and the bartender, Ana, knows my order. “Super Bock, right?” she says with a smirk. I nod, grateful for the familiarity.
As I sip my beer, I can’t help but think about the day. It was wild, emotional, and a bit ridiculous. Castanheira-do-Ribatejo, with its narrow streets and quirky people, always keeps me on my toes. I love this place, even when it drives me nuts.
So, I raise my glass to the day. Here’s to flat tires, old ladies, and unexpected power outages. Cheers to Castanheira-do-Ribatejo! You never know what’s coming next.