There are many things I don't like in Porto.
Before I packed and left I thought this was some kind of micro-state-of-mind that you could only find it here.
That was the reason why tourists found it so exquisite and the ones not full-filled with it wanted to leave so badly.
Once I settled in other countries for a while, I realized those "things" don't start and end in Porto. Not even close! They are everywhere, they are human issues. And well, as soon as you realize it, as soon as you know you are basically fucked. Better you start fancying yourself, animals, nature... getting pleasure out of awkwardness... otherwise you don't have a get out "exit".
But if on one hand the major things are the same everywhere, on the other there is one that isn't. It's the one I like to refer as the I-don't-want-to-miss-a-thing syndrome. Yes, that is Porto in all it's splendor!
We don't have the power of choice, we just go and that's it. Porto, the city where every little event is a must go and every little place is the place you'd rather be. And this is when you find yourself among the same faces everyday and you feel trapped. We have, somehow, developed an ID complex in which if you are not there or you are missed, or you are missing, or ,at it's worst, you don't exist.
I believe a lot of people never felt in their skin the feeling of anonymity, the feeling of not belonging, the feeling of for a moment not having a background,
a past, a future... no expectations and none to be expected. At least they never felt it long enough. Long enough to enjoy it.
I actually believe that only once you've tried the "social identity emptiness" and the need to stand for yourself in an unknown environment, you are able to use the power of choice at it's best.
Maybe only then we don't flock like sheep to see Coldplay live, stop taking other's people misfortunes as personal and stop believing we love the same music since we were three. Well, at least for football we stand... follow that!
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