Man, what a day! Seriously, I’m still reeling from it. So, I wake up in Marinhais, right? The sun’s shining, birds are chirping, and I’m like, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I’m the Cargo Transportation Manager, which sounds fancy, but really, it’s just me juggling trucks and drivers like a circus act. I grab my coffee from that little café on Rua da Liberdade. You know the one? The barista, Miguel, always gives me a hard time about my order. “Another double shot, João?” Yeah, Miguel, I need it to survive this madness!
So, I’m at the depot, and boom! My phone blows up. One of our trucks broke down on Avenida da República. Great. Just great. I hop in my car, and as I’m driving, I’m thinking, “Why does this always happen?” Like, can’t a guy catch a break?
I get to the truck, and it’s a mess. The driver, Carlos, is standing there looking like he’s seen a ghost. “The engine just died, man!” he says. I’m like, “Dude, did you feed it? Or just let it starve?” He rolls his eyes. Classic Carlos.
While we’re waiting for the tow truck, I notice this cute little bakery on the corner of Rua do Comércio. The smell of fresh pastéis de nata wafts over, and I’m like, “Forget the truck, I need sugar!” But no, duty calls. I can’t just abandon Carlos.
Finally, the tow truck arrives. Thank goodness! But then, surprise! The driver is my old buddy, Rui. We start cracking jokes, and for a second, I forget about the chaos. But then, Rui drops the bomb: “Hey, did you hear about the new roadworks on Rua da Escola?” Ugh, of course, I did. Just my luck.
So, we get the truck loaded up, and I’m thinking, “Okay, let’s get back to the depot.” But no, the universe has other plans. Traffic is a nightmare. I’m stuck behind some old lady driving 20 km/h. I’m losing it. “C’mon, lady! We’ve got places to be!”
After what feels like an eternity, I finally make it back. But wait, there’s more! My boss, Ana, is waiting for me. She’s got that look. You know the one. “João, we need to talk about the delivery to Santarém.” Oh great, just what I wanted to hear after a day like this.
I’m trying to explain the truck situation, but she’s not having it. “We can’t afford delays!” she says. I’m like, “Yeah, well, I can’t afford to lose my mind either!”
By the time I leave the office, it’s dark. I’m exhausted. But then, I remember that bakery. I swing by and grab a couple of pastéis. Best decision ever! I sit on a bench at Praça da República, munching away, and suddenly, life doesn’t seem so bad.
I look around at Marinhais. The lights are twinkling, and people are laughing. It’s a small town vibe, you know? I love it here, even with the craziness.
So yeah, that was my day. Full of ups and downs, but hey, that’s life, right? Just another day in Marinhais, where the trucks break down, but the pastries always save the day!