Man, what a day! I woke up in Coimbra, right? The sun was barely up, and I was already thinking about the river. The Mondego, you know? It’s like my second home. I grabbed my gear and headed out.
First stop, Rua Ferreira Borges. I needed some coffee. Like, serious fuel. I hit up this little café, the one with the blue tiles. You know the one? The barista was all smiles, but I was like, “C’mon, I need caffeine, not chit-chat!” I downed that espresso like it was water.
Then, boom! I’m walking down the street, and I see this old guy trying to sell fish. I mean, c’mon, dude, I’m the fisherman here! He’s got this huge cod, and I’m like, “Nice catch, but I’m not buying.” He just laughed. I guess he thought it was funny. I didn’t.
So, I head to the riverbank. The sun’s shining, and I’m feeling good. I cast my line, and I’m just chillin’. Then, outta nowhere, this kid runs by, kicks my tackle box! I’m like, “What the heck, man?” I almost lost it. I mean, my lures are precious!
But then, I caught this massive trout. I swear, it was the size of my arm! I was so pumped. I started yelling, “Look at this beauty!” People were staring. I felt like a king.
After that, I decided to stroll through the Jardim da Sereia. It’s so pretty there, right? The flowers, the fountain, everything. I sat on a bench, just soaking it all in. But then, I see this couple arguing. Like, full-on shouting. I couldn’t help but eavesdrop. They were fighting over who left the lights on. I mean, really?
Then, I thought about my own life. I’m just a fisherman, but I got dreams, you know? I wanna travel, see the world. But here I am, stuck in Coimbra, catching fish. Not that I don’t love it, but sometimes it feels... small.
Anyway, I decided to grab some lunch. I hit up a place on Rua da Sofia. They had the best bacalhau à brás. I mean, I could eat that every day! I sat outside, enjoying the sun, and then it hit me. I forgot my wallet! I was like, “No way!” But the waiter just laughed and said, “Don’t worry, mate. It’s on the house.” I was shocked!
After lunch, I wandered around the old town. The streets are so narrow, and the buildings are all ancient. I love that vibe. I passed by the University of Coimbra, and man, the history there is insane. I felt like I was walking through a time machine.
But then, I got lost. Like, seriously lost. I ended up on some random street, and I was like, “Where the heck am I?” I pulled out my phone, but of course, no signal. Typical!
Finally, I found my way back to the river. I was exhausted but happy. I sat down, watching the sunset over the Mondego. It was beautiful. I thought about the day, all the ups and downs.
Coimbra, man. It’s got its quirks, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I’m just a fisherman, but this city? It’s my heart.