Man, what a day! I’m an ichthyologist, right? So, I’m all about fish and rivers. But today? Today was a wild ride in Miranda-do-Douro. Like, seriously, I didn’t sign up for this level of chaos.
First off, I woke up late. Classic me. Alarm didn’t go off. I scrambled outta bed, threw on whatever I could find. I mean, who needs matching socks? Not me! I was supposed to meet some locals at the Praça do Comércio. They were gonna show me the best fishing spots. But nah, I’m late. Typical.
So, I’m rushing down Rua da Liberdade, dodging tourists and their selfie sticks. Like, chill, people! It’s just a river! Anyway, I finally get to the square, and guess what? No one’s there. Just my luck. I’m standing there, looking like a lost puppy, when this old guy comes up to me. He’s got this huge grin, missing a few teeth, and he says, “You look like you need a fish!” I’m like, “Dude, I’m an ichthyologist, not a fisherman!” But he just laughs and hands me a small trout. I mean, what am I supposed to do with that?
I finally find the locals at a café on Rua do Cais. They’re all sipping coffee and laughing. I’m like, “Hey, I’m here!” They just look at me and say, “We thought you got eaten by a fish!” I roll my eyes. So, we start chatting about the Douro River. It’s beautiful, right? The way it snakes through the valley, the cliffs, the vineyards. But then they start telling me about the pollution. Ugh, my heart sank. I mean, come on! We gotta do better for the fish!
Then, outta nowhere, this kid runs by, chasing a dog. The dog jumps into the river, and I’m like, “Oh no, not again!” I’ve seen too many dogs think they’re fish. The locals are cracking up, and I’m just standing there, half-laughing, half-worried. The kid jumps in after the dog. I’m like, “What is happening?!” But they both come out, soaked but fine. Phew!
After that, we head to the Miradouro do Penedo Durão. The view is insane! You can see the border with Spain. I mean, it’s like nature’s own postcard. I’m snapping pics like a tourist. But then, I trip over a rock. Classic! I fall, and my phone goes flying. It lands in a bush. I’m like, “Noooo!” But the locals just laugh. “You okay, fish man?” they tease. I’m fine, just my pride hurt.
Later, we decide to go fishing. I’m pumped! We grab some rods and head to the riverbank. The sun’s setting, and it’s gorgeous. But guess what? I can’t catch a single fish! I’m out here, the fish whisperer, and I’m failing. The locals are catching them left and right. I’m like, “What’s your secret?” They just wink and say, “You gotta talk to them.” Talk to fish? Really?
As the night rolls in, we sit around a fire, grilling the fish they caught. It’s delicious! I’m finally feeling good. We’re sharing stories, laughing, and I’m thinking, “This is what it’s all about.” But then, I remember the pollution thing. It’s a buzzkill. I start talking about conservation, and they’re all nodding. But I can see some of them are like, “Chill, man. We just wanna eat fish.”
By the end of the night, I’m exhausted but happy. I’ve made new friends, learned a ton, and even got a free trout. Not a bad day, right? But I’m still thinking about the river. It’s beautiful, but it needs help. I’m gonna do something about it. I have to.
So, I stumble back to my place on Rua da Estação, feeling all sorts of emotions. Tired, happy, a bit angry. But mostly, I’m just grateful. Miranda-do-Douro, you’ve got my heart. Just gotta keep those fish safe!