Porto

We registered for a Free Tour of Porto, which was attended by 10 of us - 4 from Australia, 2 from Canada, and 2 from Italy. The tour guide was a 27 year old Porto native, a bright young woman with a love of history. We were the only ones from the US. We got to see so many little corners of this funky and busy city. Porto has so many interesting looking buildings and lots of street art, along with a fair share of abandoned buildings. So many of Porto’s residents live in small and modest homes. They also love plants - many have small gardens growing in pots and planters right beside their front steps on narrow cobblestone streets.

Partway through the tour, the US political situation came up. What became very clear among everyone on the tour is that Trump is strongly disliked (one woman from Australia said she “hated his f**king guts), they each feel like the situation is having an impact on their country, and they are closely watching the unfolding US political situation.

As the discussion went on for a few minutes, I began to sense that, although we articulated our disgust with what is happening in our country and our efforts to resist, they did not really like us - because of what the US - thanks to Trump - is doing to the world, and the US is where we are from. The tour then continued, but I was happy when it finally ended and we could go on our way.

While we are enjoying our time here, I can’t deny that the political situation back home is never from from my mind. Learning that it is also very much on the minds of people from several other countries, and that they too are very worried, reminded me of just how far-reaching what is happening in the States is.Read more