Category: Porto
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Festival Sao Joao

The Saint and Sardine Mashup Also music, dancing, feasting, Super Bock, parades, more music, more Super Bock, more dancing, more music, more Super Bock, and fireworks. Festival Sao Joao is a week-long festival that originated as a pagan celebration in the 14th century. It was repurposed by the Catholic Church as a festival for St.…
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Questions You Have Asked, Part 2

Have you met people? Have you made some friends? It’s easy to meet fellow expats here. There are multiple Facebook groups sharing information, events, and experiences. I joined a group called International Womens Chat. We exchange information on WhatsApp (the must-have app in Europe, everyone uses it). This is an amazing group, hailing from many…
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Questions You Have Asked, Part 1

What do you do all day? I’m asked this question a lot, and I’m a little nonplussed as to how to answer. Did you ever have a busy day, but when someone asked what you did, you couldn’t really say? You just know you were busy. I could tell you about the hours spent going…
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Stop That Thief!

Porto is considering making it illegal to feed seagulls. They are noisy, messy, wily thieves. I was having lunch by the river in Ribeira when two gulls swooped in and stole cod pastries right off my plate, swift as a hawk on a dove, without so much as a “Pardon me, have you finished yet?”…
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Home

Friday, February 3, 2023 I’m working again from my “office” at Esquires. Finishing my second perfect latte and typing at jingly-jangly top speed. It was a smooth flight home two weeks ago, and I walked off the small jet from Amsterdam to feel a warm sun on my back. It’s good to be home to…
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Bolhao Market

The famous Bolhão Market is an open-air market that covers an entire city block. It’s an easy 5-minute walk from my apartment. Over 100 years old, it just reopened in September after a complete renovation. More than 600,000 visitors strolled through in September alone. I go here several times a week for the outstanding fresh…
