Man, lemme tell ya about my day in Leca-do-Bailio. Wow, just wow. I woke up, right? Sun’s blazin’, birds chirpin’, and I’m like, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.
So, I’m headin’ down Rua da Alegria, thinkin’ I’m the king of the world. I got my tools, my apron, and a coffee that’s hotter than my last stove. I’m feelin’ good, ya know? But then, BAM! I trip over a cobblestone. Classic me. Almost spill my coffee. Almost.
I get to my workshop on Rua do Comércio, and it’s a mess. Like, a total disaster zone. I swear, it looked like a tornado hit a hardware store. I’m tryin’ to find my hammer, but all I see is chaos. I’m like, “Who’s the genius that left this here?” Spoiler: it was me.
Then, I get a call from a customer. This dude wants a custom stove. Not just any stove, but one that can cook a full bacalhau à Brás while also being a work of art. I’m like, “Bro, I’m a stove-maker, not a magician!” But I’m also thinkin’, “Cha-ching!” So, I say yes.
After that, I head to the market on Avenida da Liberdade. Man, the vibe there is electric. People everywhere, haggling, laughin’, livin’ life. I grab some fresh ingredients for my lunch. I’m eyein’ this amazing chouriço. It’s lookin’ at me like, “Take me home!” So, I do.
But then, outta nowhere, it starts rainin’. Like, torrential downpour. I’m sprintin’ back to my workshop, chouriço in hand, lookin’ like a drowned rat. I get soaked, but I’m laughin’ at myself. “Only in Leca-do-Bailio, right?”
Finally, I get back, and I’m ready to work. I fire up the forge, and it’s like magic. The flames dance, and I’m in my zone. I’m hammerin’ away, and it feels good. I’m thinkin’ about how Leca-do-Bailio has this vibe, ya know? The streets, the people, the food. It’s all part of me.
But then, my buddy Miguel drops by. He’s always got some wild story. Today, he tells me about this time he tried to cook on a stove I made. He burned his eyebrows off. I’m laughin’ so hard, I almost drop my hammer. “Dude, you gotta be smarter than the stove!”
As the day goes on, I’m feelin’ accomplished. I finish the custom stove, and it looks sick. I’m proud, man. I step outside to take a breather, and the sunset over the Douro River is insane. The colors are poppin’, and I’m just standin’ there, takin’ it all in.
But then, I hear this commotion. A bunch of kids are playin’ football in the street, and one of ‘em kicks the ball right at me. I dodge it like a pro, but then I trip again. Seriously, what’s with me today? I land right in a puddle. Now I’m soaked AND muddy.
I get up, laughin’ it off, and the kids are crackin’ up. I’m like, “You little rascals!” But deep down, I’m happy. This is Leca-do-Bailio. It’s messy, it’s chaotic, but it’s home.
As I head back inside, I think about how every day here is an adventure. I love it. I love the streets, the people, the food, and yeah, even the chaos. So, I grab my chouriço, fire up the stove, and whip up a late-night snack.
And that, my friends, was just another day in Leca-do-Bailio. Can’t wait for tomorrow!