Man, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I wake up in my little flat on Rua da Liberdade, 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 decide to hit up the local café, you know, the one on Avenida da República. Best coffee in town, no cap. I order my usual, a bica, and the barista, Maria, gives me that smile. You know the one? The “I’m about to spill your coffee” smile. And guess what? She spills it. All over my new kicks! Ugh! I’m like, “Really, Maria? My shoes didn’t sign up for this!” But she just laughs it off. I mean, I get it, accidents happen, but c’mon!
So, I’m fuming a bit, but I brush it off. I stroll down to the Douro River. The view is insane, man! The vineyards on the hills, the river sparkling like diamonds. I take a deep breath, trying to chill. But then, outta nowhere, I see this old dude trying to fish. He’s got this massive net, and I’m thinking, “What’s he trying to catch? A whale?” 😂
I walk over, and he’s like, “You want to help?” I’m like, “Dude, I’m not a fisherman.” But I help anyway. We end up chatting about the best spots in São João da Pesqueira. He tells me about this hidden vineyard on Rua do Cais. Apparently, they have the best vinho do Porto. I’m intrigued, but also, I’m like, “I can’t drink all day, I have a life!” But who am I kidding? I’m totally down for some wine later.
After that, I head to the market on Praça da República. It’s buzzing! Fresh fruits, veggies, and all the locals are there. I grab some chouriço because, duh, it’s a must. But then, I see this guy trying to haggle over a tomato. A TOMATO! Like, bro, it’s not that serious! I can’t help but laugh. The vendor’s just rolling his eyes. Classic São João da Pesqueira moment.
Then, I decide to take a walk up to the Igreja Matriz. The architecture is stunning, man! I’m snapping pics like a tourist. But then, I trip over a cobblestone. Like, who even designed these streets? I’m on the ground, and this group of kids starts laughing. I’m like, “Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, future comedians.” But honestly, I just laugh it off too. It’s all good.
As I’m leaving the church, I bump into my buddy, Tiago. He’s all hyped about this festival happening later. Apparently, they’re having live music and food stalls. I’m like, “Count me in!” I mean, who doesn’t love a good festa?
Fast forward to the evening, and I’m at the festival. The vibe is electric! People dancing, laughing, and the smell of grilled sardines fills the air. I grab a plate, and let me tell you, it’s heavenly. I’m stuffing my face, and Tiago’s trying to take a selfie. I’m like, “Dude, not while I’m eating!” But he snaps it anyway. Classic Tiago.
Then, outta nowhere, the band starts playing this upbeat tune. Everyone’s dancing, and I’m feeling it. I jump in, and for a moment, all my worries disappear. It’s just me, the music, and the people of São João da Pesqueira. I’m twirling around, and I swear, I feel like I’m in a movie.
But then, I see Maria from the café. She’s there, and I’m like, “Oh great, the coffee spill girl.” But she comes over, and we start chatting. Turns out, she’s super cool! We laugh about the coffee incident, and I’m like, “Maybe it was fate?”
The night ends with fireworks lighting up the sky. I’m standing there, feeling all the feels. It’s been a rollercoaster of a day, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything. São João da Pesqueira, you’ve got my heart.
So yeah, that was my day. Full of spills, laughs, and unexpected connections. Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!