August 12, 2022

Above, image from Shop Portugal website.

Another long walk, and a stop for an espresso and a Pasteis de Nata. They are a perfect match. I meandered to the bookstore that I visited four years ago. It had a good vibe then, and its magnetic force pulled me back. This time I found some Portuguese history and poetry books that were translated into English. I found myself purchasing three volumes before I knew it.

“This is a dangerous store,” I said to the cashier. It raised a flash of puzzlement and concern from the cashier and proprietor next to her.

“I love books, so this a dangerous place to come.” Smiles all around.

“I’m glad you say that,” said the middle-aged proprietor. “This bookstore was a dangerous place the 1950’s and 60’s. Many books were banned. Banned books were smuggled in from Brazil, and the owner of this store had a special place downstairs where he hid them.”

“The time of Salazar?” I asked.

“Yes, many books were banned. The police would come and raid the store and remove any banned books. It was dangerous.

“But then they kept the books and even secretly got them signed by the authors whenever they would make an appearance.” He chuckled.

“Oh, you mean the police did not destroy them, they kept the books for themselves?”

“Yes, yes,” he laughed, “that is why I like it that you call this a dangerous store. It was opened in 1942, and it was dangerous.”

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