So many buildings here are falling apart and falling down. Some seem to just be in bad shape, lots of others are obviously abandoned, roofless and filled with trash. And I'm not talking about way out away from the touristy parts - right near the river, the bridge, a million restaurants and postcard shops. I can't quite figure out the relationship here between the houses in amazing locations with gorgeous views, completely falling to shit, and the brand-new shiny mall up the street.
I took a million pictures today. Porto is very photogenic, I think, or else it's just that I always want to take pictures of things that are sort of dirty and messed-up in an attractive way, which this city is definitely full of. Every part of the older buildings is discolored, moldy or rusted or whitewashed and texture-y and, you know, full of "vintage charm" by which I mean holes.
I crossed the bridge and climbed a hill to this church area, which also had rows of ancient cannons and an army guy with a gun creepily patrolling. I didn't take a photo of him because I didn't want to get shot.
On this corner, in the grassy area on the left of the photo, I stepped onto an outdoor staircase and accidentally saw a woman crouched in the corner shooting up, who glared at me while her two little kids played nearby with pieces of trash and an abandoned oven.
New fact I learned last night: J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, actually lived in Porto for a few years before becoming the most succesful author of all time or whatever. It actually makes sense to me, I can feel the Harry Potterishness here...and those of you who know my love for the boy wizard know this is a compliment in my book
.And here's some more learning for you all! It turns out that Portoguese is in fact not weird Spanish but a whole different language which I totally can't understand! These are the only things I know how to say in Portoguese:
-sim, nao, por favor, obrigado (useful)
-cachaça (not useful in Portugal)
-o senhor beixozinhos-beixozinhos (not useful under any circumstances.)
Apparently I look like a local, too, because people keep talking to me at length in Portoguese long after my blank stare might have alerted them to my stupid-tourist status, and then say, "oh, I thought you were Portoguese" in perfect English. OK then!
Recent Comments