Man, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I woke up in Setúbal, right? The sun was shining, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I hit up the Mercado do Livramento. You know, that market with all the fish? Yeah, the one that smells like the ocean threw up. I’m not a huge seafood fan, but I had to grab some fresh sardines. I mean, come on, it’s Setúbal! The locals were all about their “sardinhas assadas.” I tried to blend in, but I probably looked like a lost tourist.
Then, I decided to stroll down Rua da Liberdade. It’s a nice street, full of shops and cafes. I thought, “Let’s grab a coffee.” So, I popped into this little café. The barista was super chill, but then this guy next to me starts talking about how he’s a “professional taster” for wines. Like, what? Is that a real job? I was half impressed, half jealous. I mean, I’d love to get paid to drink wine.
Anyway, I’m sipping my coffee, and suddenly, BOOM! A pigeon poops right next to me. I’m like, “Great, just what I needed.” I look up, and the pigeon’s just chilling there, like it owns the place. I swear, those birds in Setúbal have no shame.
After that, I decided to hit the beach. Praia da Figueirinha, to be exact. It’s beautiful, man. The water was crystal clear, and the sun was shining. I thought, “Finally, some peace.” But nope! There were kids everywhere, screaming and splashing. I mean, I love kids, but can they not? I just wanted to relax.
Then, I met this old dude named Joaquim. He was fishing and told me all about the best spots in the Arrábida Natural Park. He was super passionate, and I was like, “Dude, you should write a book!” He laughed and said, “Nah, I’ll just keep fishing.” Classic Joaquim.
But then, out of nowhere, this huge wave crashes and soaks me. I’m drenched! I’m standing there, dripping wet, and all I can do is laugh. Like, what else can you do? I mean, it’s Setúbal, right?
Later, I decided to check out the Castelo de São Filipe. The view from up there is insane! You can see the whole city and the river. I was feeling all philosophical, like, “Life is beautiful.” But then I tripped on a rock and almost fell. So much for my deep thoughts.
As the sun started to set, I walked down Avenida Luísa Todi. It’s this lively street with bars and restaurants. I thought, “Let’s grab some dinner.” I found this place that had the best “caldeirada.” It’s like a fish stew, and it was to die for! I was in heaven.
But then, my phone buzzed. It was my friend asking if I wanted to go out. I was like, “Dude, I just had the craziest day!” But of course, I said yes. We hit up this bar, and it was packed. Everyone was dancing, and I was just trying to keep up. I mean, I can’t dance to save my life.
At one point, I spilled my drink all over this poor girl. I was mortified! But she just laughed and said, “Welcome to Setúbal!” I guess that’s the vibe here.
By the end of the night, I was exhausted but happy. I mean, what a rollercoaster! Setúbal, you’ve got my heart. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.