Porto, Boom & Lisboa

Porto was fantastic, highly recommended if you haven't been yet. Honestly, I've liked every place in Portugal I've been to. Every place Gi and I travelled to three years ago, and each place on this trip I've enjoyed. The crowds at some parts of Porto were intense, but Portugal is a popular destination, and it's the middle of summer, so it's to be expected. If it wasn't for the Boom festival, I'd visit earlier or later in the year, but it was manageable, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I stayed in a nice apartment in Porto that, unfortunately, was owned and/or run by a company that has over a hundred such places in and around Porto. I stayed with my buddies Cristian, Keith and his partner, Renée. I struck out on my own mostly but we would meet here there each day for a park hangout or drinks somewhere. I searched out some of the buildings that had the famous blue tiles (azulejos??), wandered the narrow, winding roads in the older part of town, walked along the pretty (but very busy) waterfront, caught an intimate live Fado show that also included videos mixed into the show explaining the history of the music and the guitars. We found a cool bar where you could smoke pot or hash at the back terrace. I struck up a conversation with a dude who was smoking, wondering if we could buy some. He didn't know but kindly offered us some of his and even gifted me a bit when he left... so nice!

I enjoyed the cool vibe at a park on the other side of the river where many locals and tourists go to wind down, have a drink or smoke, and enjoy one of the best sunset views in Porto.

After three fun days in Porto, it was time to head to the airport, not to fly back but to take the Boom bus to Boom. There are three locations you can catch the Boom bus from; Lisbon, Porto, and Madrid. While Lisbon is the most popular location, Porto is also pretty busy and it took three hours to finally get on a bus. But everyone was pretty chilled because of course, we're going to Boom! The bus ride, as you might imagine, was a fun and raucous affair. Made all the more so by my outgoing and super sociable companions, especially Cristian. It's nice sometimes to travel with people like that since at heart I'm a bit shy and introverted.

At Boom, we finally met up with our whole extended crew, many who were friends of my friends whom I had never met before. Let the fun begin!

Psytrance first and foremost was what we were there for, and man, did we dance our asses off! There are some shenanigans of course to go along with the dancing as it's an extremely progressive and permissive vibe that permeates the festival. It is, after all, psychedelic trance music with its roots in the psychedelic movement of Goa and farther back, 60's counterculture.

But we also went to many talks, chilled out at other stages that have world beat or chilled music. There's amazing art everywhere and a jaw dropping laser onto smoke/mist show that plays every night. I think I might still be there staring at it had I not been pulled away. 😆.

There's a lake, too, and while not the greatest beach, it's just amazing to have a lake and beach to chill out and cool off at.

Everybody you meet and interact with are so happy, so nice. Our crew were amazing - from friends I know like Beth, Rowen, Flora & Kevin, Cristian, Keith, Jules, Eric & Colleen and Dave, to the new friends, George & Tara (whom Gi and I shared a tipi tent with along with Cristian), Krista, Brett & Stephanie.

After Boom, Gi and I went to Lisbon to meet her parents and hang out for a few days. Unfortunately I was a bit sick and missed a couple of days of going out, but I did go to the beach with everyone, and a birthday dinner with Fado performance on the last night.

I miss everyone, but I'm not dwelling on it, I'm on the move again. Atlantic provinces on the motorcycle is next, is now!

Oh, and I'll post pics of Boom in the next post...

Hasta luego a todos!Read more