Beating the deluge.
Staying in a hostel right down by the river in Porto has its perks, but where you might save in money, you definitely pay for it in British Calories Sterling. To get anywhere worthwhile, your morning walk always starts with a brutal climb up a maze of winding staircases and steep stone alleyways just to reach the upper levels.
By the time I dragged myself up to the top that morning, the streets were mostly empty—except for a crowd of people waiting by the tracks for the light rail on the Luís I Bridge. The early light hitting the architecture was gorgeous.
I’m really glad I forced myself up early to explore that day, too. Just twenty-four hours later, the weather completely fell apart. Torrential rain swept through Porto in 2023, flooding parts of the city and turning streets into rivers. The subways all filled with water and the flowing water pushed cars down the hill. It’s wild how fast travel can change from a quiet sunrise to dodging a literal flood.