Preaching from Porto

Nobody told me Porto was all about climbing up and down hill. Nobody was obliged to anyway. And I didn’t really do my homework. You can just imagine my surprise when, upon emerging from the metro station nearest my hostel, I saw the altitude I was supposed to take just to get to my destination.

I spent three days in the Portuguese city of Porto, most of the time walking around town in the day. I got all emotional and sentimental on my way back to the hostel one rainy day.

What I am about to say may be clichés. Nothing new is to be expected, just a series of what you may have already came across one way or another. I am just reiterating the points based on my experience(s).

This trip may have summed up my stay abroad so far.

In life, we always have to start somewhere. Oftentimes, it’s from the bottom making our way up. To get to my hostel, I had to walk a series of roads that go up and down. You may have guessed where this thought came from.

On your way up, you may get tired. You may have to struggle because the climb is too steep. Worse, other circumstances that will test your faith may get in the way – like strong winds and rain. But you keep going anyway.

Roads may seem unfamiliar but there are times when you have to trust your instinct that you are going the right way. You keep going.

The easiest way may not be forward. You may have to look back to check, to look at things from another perspective. You may have to turn right or left. You may be mistaken but you will always, always find a way to get back on the right track.

When you look up to your destination, it may seem too far away, too far-fetched. You may want to stop for a while to get some rest and restore your energy. It may be for a few seconds, minutes, it may last hours. Take the time you need. It may be on a park bench, in a café, at a gelateria, or a restaurant. When you’re ready, continue.

Your strides do not have to be huge ones. If it’s more comfortable to make many small steps, then do it. It may take some time, but you will eventually get there.

It may be too frightening when you fixate yours eyes to the destination. You may want to look a little closer, down to your feet, up in the sky, on the sides to the stores and then back to the destination. Maybe you need to divert your attention once in a while.

And in no time, you realize, you’ve reached your goal. You find yourself there. It may have taken a while, you might have been hurt along the way. But you made it, congratulations.

Your goal may not be what you thought it would to be. It may disappoint or surpass your expectations – one way or another, it will surprise you.

I reached my hostel after 30 minutes of walking up and down, a few pauses here and there, getting wet from the rain or blown away (literally) by (very) strong winds. I could have taken the shorter and easier (taking the metro or bus) way but it would’ve cost me money so I chose the long but interesting way.

In the end, it was rewarding. To highlight that point, my hostel is found in the street called Rua de Alegria, Portuguese for happy (street).

Also, had I not done what I did, this blog post may not have been thought about!

To be completely honest, I am now suffering from different kinds of discomfort: from  lower back aches, bruises here and there, calluses, to stiff necks but it's okay. They may be what you can call battle scars. Every aching part tells a story and that's what makes it worth it!