Porto: Rain, Sardines, and Seriously Weird Vibes

okay, so i’m pretty sure i’m running on fumes and lukewarm espresso. i landed in porto yesterday, and honestly, it’s… a lot. the humidity is clinging to everything like a damp wool blanket - 86% feels-like, 19.35 temp, 18.38 min temp, 20.64 max, 1015 pressure, sea level 838. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. it’s like someone took a bunch of cobblestones, splashed them with grey paint, and then just… let it be.

I’m a touring session drummer, so my usual travel style is ‘grab a bag, find a stage,’ but porto’s got this… weight to it. it’s not bad, just… insistent. i’m staying in a tiny Airbnb near Ribeira - seriously, it’s basically a closet with a bed. but the location is killer. i can hear the river all night, which is kinda nice, even if it’s accompanied by a persistent drizzle.

Spent the morning wandering around, mostly just getting lost. stumbled upon this incredible little seafood place - ‘O Buraco’ - and devoured a mountain of grilled sardines. someone told me that they’re the best in the city, and honestly, they weren’t wrong. it was greasy, salty, and utterly perfect. i’m talking ‘i’d fight you for the last sardine’ levels of perfection.

Then i got talking to this old guy sitting outside a cafe - he was sketching in a notebook and muttering about the ‘soul of the city.’ he said something about porto being built on layers of history, and that you can feel it in the stones. i’m not usually one for philosophical ramblings, but he had this intense look in his eyes, you know?

Speaking of layers, the architecture is insane. it’s like a constant battle between Roman, Moorish, and Portuguese styles. seriously, you could spend a lifetime just looking at the buildings. I checked out the Livraria Lello - apparently, J.K. Rowling got inspiration for Hogwarts there. it was packed, obviously, but still pretty cool.

I overheard some drunk advice at a bar last night - a local warned me about the ‘fado houses’ in Vila Nova de Gaia. apparently, they’re beautiful, but also… intensely sad. like, you’re supposed to feel all the emotions. i’m not sure i’m ready for that level of emotional investment on a Tuesday night. I’m more of a ‘loud music and cheap beer’ kind of traveler, honestly.

Here’s a quick rundown of my essentials:

Drums: Obviously. A battered Roland TD-1DMK. It’s seen better days, but it still kicks ass.
*Camera: Sony Alpha 7 III. I’m obsessed with capturing the light.
*Notebook & Pen: For sketching out ideas and scribbling down random thoughts.
*Comfortable Boots: Seriously, you’ll be doing a lot of walking.
*Rain Jacket: It’s porto, duh.
*Portuguese Phrasebook: My Portuguese is… rudimentary, to say the least.
*Earplugs:* For the fado houses, maybe.

I’m planning on checking out the Serralves Museum tomorrow - apparently, it’s got a fantastic collection of contemporary art. And then maybe I’ll just wander around and get lost again. If you’re looking for a good place to grab a bite, I’d recommend checking out Yelp for some local spots.

If you get bored, Vila do Conde are just a short drive away. I heard that they have a really cool market there.

Seriously, porto is weird. It’s gritty, it’s beautiful, it’s melancholic, and it’s utterly captivating. It’s the kind of place that gets under your skin and stays with you.

Check out TripAdvisor for more Porto travel tips: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Tourism-g190968-Porto_Portugal-Vacations.html

And for a local's perspective, this Facebook group is pretty active: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PortoTravelTips/

Don't forget to check out the local food scene on Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/map/porto-portugal

Porto: Rain, Sardines, and Seriously Weird Vibes

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About the author: Nina Jacobs

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