Man, what a day! Seriously, I can’t even. So, I wake up in Vila-Nova-da-Barquinha, 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 hit up the café on Rua da Liberdade. Best coffee ever! I order my usual, a galão, and the barista, Miguel, gives me this look like, “You again?” LOL. I mean, who doesn’t love caffeine? But then, I spill it all over my shirt. Classic me. I’m standing there, looking like a walking coffee stain. Great start, huh?
Then I head to the counseling center. It’s on Rua da Escola, right near the river. Beautiful spot, honestly. The Tagus River is just chillin’ there, and I’m like, “Why can’t I just float away?” But no, I gotta deal with people’s problems. Ugh.
My first client is this dude, João. He’s all stressed about work. I mean, who isn’t? But he starts crying. Like, full-on sobbing. I’m sitting there, trying to be all professional, but inside I’m like, “Dude, pull it together!” I mean, I get it, life’s tough, but come on!
After that, I step outside for some fresh air. I walk down to the Praça da República. It’s so pretty there, with all the trees and the fountain. I see this old lady feeding pigeons, and I’m like, “Aww, that’s cute.” But then, BAM! A pigeon poops right next to me. I’m dodging bird bombs like I’m in a war zone. Seriously, Vila-Nova-da-Barquinha, what’s with the pigeons?
Next, I have a session with a teenager, Sofia. She’s all about social media drama. I mean, I can’t even keep up with TikTok trends. She’s ranting about her friends, and I’m just nodding, trying to remember what “FOMO” means. I’m like, “Girl, just block them!” But she’s all, “No, that’s too harsh.” I’m thinking, “Welcome to 2023, where blocking is the new black.”
Then, I get a call from my buddy, Rui. He’s like, “Let’s hit the river later!” I’m like, “Sure, but I’m a mess.” He’s all, “Who cares? Let’s go!” So, I finish up my sessions and head to the riverbank. The sunset is insane! Like, orange and pink everywhere. I’m snapping pics like a tourist.
But then, outta nowhere, it starts to rain. I’m talking torrential downpour. I’m soaked in seconds. Vila-Nova-da-Barquinha, you’re killing me! Rui’s laughing his head off. I’m like, “This is NOT how I pictured my evening.”
We duck into a bar on Rua da Estação. It’s cozy, and the vibe is chill. I order a beer, and Rui gets some petiscos. We’re just laughing about the day. I tell him about the crying dude and the pigeon poop. He’s dying. I mean, who wouldn’t?
As the night goes on, I realize, despite the chaos, I love this place. Vila-Nova-da-Barquinha is quirky, just like me. The people, the streets, the river—it’s all part of the madness.
So, yeah, my day was a rollercoaster. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I mean, who needs a boring life, right? Bring on the coffee spills, the tears, and the pigeon poop. That’s what makes it real.