Portugal, a Love Affair

Erasmus with my best friend

Eventhough I was and still am currently an Erasmus student I do think that my experience in Portugal was the most interesting by far and complex, full of nice stories which forever I will remember.

It starts like this...

After coming home from my previous Erasmus in Greece for internship, I decided is time to take a break from all this traveling and for once stay at least one semenster in school and learn something. So I did that one semester I went to classes for master degree and I convince also my best friend Cristina so sign up, maybe who knows we will go together with another Erasmus.

Said and done, she sign in, join my master class for Business administration and after one semester my coordinator said to me I still have 6 months available for my studies if I want to go somewhere. Cristina of course she was a newbie with all this Erasmus things so she could have go both studies and internship. Peter was also on board with it so we decided to start searching places where they can accept us together.

I don't know about you guys but searching for an internship can be a pretty painfull and stressfull experience. I mean literally I spend 2 months sending emails all around Europe and more in trying to find someone accept us. I did get some answers but eighter couldn't take us all 3 or something was not right.

One time I remember I got an answear from India, from Delhi University and I was that excited, it's my dream to go to India so I taught I almost had it. What happend? Well after they send me an accept I reply by requesting the paperwork and guess what, they didn't reply anymore. Oh well such a bummer!

It was I think december already winter holiday was coming and we still didn't had a positive answer for sure. When school started after 3 weeks or so in January we were lost, no answears no idea if we will ever go, when suddenly I said to Criss you know what let's try in one place I know for sure they will take us. It was like my last option because I always said I wanna try different countries if I have opportunity.

So I was thinking about Turkey again, we had conections and good partnership the only thing was that Peter coudn't join us there because he had in that time 5 years interdiction. What happend? Well during his erasmus in Turkey before he didn't apply for a residence permit so when he exit Turkey considering he stayed more that 3 months, he got a interdiction.

It was a bit said to ditch this plan of all 3 of us going together but Peter was fine with it and we decided is better to go in Istanbul then stay home. So we prepared all the paperwork when all of a sudden in the last minute paperwork came to my university from Portugal a city called Barcelos. It was our invitation letters for all 3 of us. What a good luck imagine.

We were so happy that we canceled the Istanbul one and sign up for Portugal. We choose a date 1 february will fligh away to new adventure.

This was my first time going with my best friend in adventure together and i guess 3rd time with Peter. I was happy and felt so secure about everything.

1st of February came and off we were in the Transilvanya Airport in my hometown, we booked 2 different flights in order to get to Porto, Portugal. First flight was Târgu Mureș to Frankfurt-Hahn. Company Wizz Air I guess flight was around 50 euros with luggages included. And second flight from Frankfurt to Porto, Ryanair price I guess around 30 euros all.

I remember was a super snowy day for some days now, Cristina came and pick me up around 5 pm, we went to airport and we decided to wait for Peter and after we can check in together. Time was passing and nowhere Peter to be find, he was stuck in the taxi due to snowing. We checked in and told to operator he will come just his late.

Waited and waited when we also passed passport control so by now we were already concern of him not coming. Believe it he came after check in was closed but somehow they let him in.

It was extremely snowing and at 7 pm when our flight was suppose to fly they gave us 30 minutes delay in order to clear the snow. After this time another 1 hour, and then 1 more. We were fustrated and mad. After waiting I guess until 10 or something they cancel the flight. For us was so bad because we didn't had conection flight just 2 different flights so we couldn't refund or chance the second one.

And the next day they didn't had flights just after 5 days. So we return in 5 of February and Peter came in time and we took of to Germany first stop.

We waited there I guess around 10 hours and in the morning like 7 am we jump on the Porto flight. Finally 9 am we were there. The hosting university they send for us a taxi with free of charge to pick us up from airport. Distance between Porto and Barcelos around 60 km, so after 1 hour we will be in our apartment anxious to meet our roomates and check the sights.

3 friends, Peter, Criss in the middle and "moi" - first glimpse of Barcelos.

The apartment we arrived was actually a nice house with small garden and terrace. It was pretty nice looking but inside not so much luxury. I am not picky so was fine. Me and Cristina we choose a room to share and Peter chose another room alone so far. Inside the house there was a romanian guy there and an italian girl, aparently they were dating so they shared one room. Another guy was staying with us from Slovenia, Michal his name. They all seemed so cool. Of course I was not so pleased that we had to share one bathroom with 6 other people but is a new experience with I share with my best friend so that's all I cared about.

The owner was said to come later into fixing for us the internet and tell us about rent and all. With no internet available until later in the night we decided to take some rest and go explore the near sights to find some shops etc.

The night came and also the owner, Ernesto his name. We found out that he was also living in the same house just other annexed on the other side. So the house was pretty big, pool and all, but we were not allowed to cross our part or side. Fine with us we had plenty of space. Rent was cheap we payed 130 euros per month all included.

Around 10 pm, surprise! Another guy came in our house and apparently was coming to live with us, a turkish guy named Muhammet. And then they were 7. He shared room with Peter.

We did get closer to the turkish guy and the slovanian guy seemed so awkward. Anyways next day we went to university to check it and speak with our coordinator.

Us 3 and Muhammet the turkish guy.

The University

The university was like 30 seconds from our house. The Polytechnical Institute do Cavado and Ave, was the name a super small university, it was looking like a factory as I was like to joke about it. But the staff in erasmus office was super nice and we did found out we were 55 erasmus students total.

the University, the only building.

After paperwork and meeting our professors like always we didn't had to attend classed just make projects and that's it. Only was class was mandatory, the portugese class. I guess is nice idea providing portugese classed to erasmus students. Also in Turkey I got turkish classes.

Barcelos is a small city in the Braga District. It's passed by the Cavado river, and it has that medieval fleur to it. Lot of churches like always, catolic one of course. Population super small around 120. 000 people. I mean city was small but there was plenty of places to hang out and stores, sights, all.

There is one restaurant bar where all the erasmus guys were hanging out every night. So we went there to Bar do Xano in meeting everybody. The romanians we were the most of all, more than 12. The turkish they were around 8, greeks like 5, lithuanians, slovenians, italian, portugese and bulgaria, chezh and poland.

Bar do Xano, erasmus gang.

Of course we did get pretty close to the turkish guys, I don't know how but I guess because our history meets at one point so we always have a nice relation with them.

Around Barcelos there are some things to visit, like visit the square called Torre do Cimo da villa, with it's church. Near this square, Mercado Settimanale with a lot of bars, cafes to spend the time.

The square.

The square garden lookin like a small Versailles.

The Church in the square.

The archaeological museum which hosts old ruins of an old castle. The pottery museum which is made super modern and entertaining. Free entrees in both.

The Igreja Matriz da Paroquia de Santa Maria Maior another impresive church.

Less than one week we were so eager to go explore this amazing country but too much similar to Romania. We decided to go to Porto, was close to us and we could use a shopping spree.

Porto

To arrive in Porto from Barcelos you need to get the train, actually trains, 2 of them. One like 2 stations until the main station which has conection to Porto and Lisbon Trains. Ticket all together until Porto is 5 euros with student disscount. After one hour you are in Porto, now Porto has 2 big train stations, one which is closest one into the city called Sao Bento, is super nice decorated with painting on the wall. Definetely an attraction.

Sao Bento train station.

First stop next to the Sao Bento train station is the Clerigos Church with a huge tower where you can reach. Entree fee 3 euros. Impresive art collection inside this church.

Clerigos Tower Church.

Things to visit in Porto

The stadium of course for football lovers, The Fc Porto big stadium, they have 3 times per day special tours around 1 hour where you can see inside a museum dedicated to the team, plus tour on the actuall stadium and closets.

An amazing boat tour on the Douro river, where you can admire the famous bridge Dom Luis. If you go on top from Dom Luis Ponte or under with both for sure you will be amazed and surprised about the view of the Cais da Ribeira, the teleferics and all those restaurants across one side or another.

Boat tour.

Cais da Ribeira view from the D. Luis Pont.

Dom Luis Bridge.

The view of Porto and Duoro River or Rio Duro.

The view from San Francisco Church across the city of Porto.

Now about my favourite part about the Porto expericence, of course the shopping mall. The one I visited often and loved is the Catarina Shopping Mall in the center of Porto. They have a street full with stores one side and another, from luxury brands to local stores, all super nice and amazing.

Catarina Mall.

The mall is quite nice, they have I guess around 5 floors including restaurants floor as well as entertaining area. Shops like h&m my fave all to big supermarket and an american food store, which I taught was bomb, just american products inside all from food to sweats to many more.

Portugal is using euro money to prices can be up or lower depends of what you're interested about. I guess comparing with other countries in European Union the prices are not to big. And of course when I was in Porto it was full of disscounts in the mall so I bought a bunch of cothes and all with less money.

The eating area inside the mall.

There is another shopping mall near the stadium of Porto, which is bigger more luxury looking inside but shops just basic, no h&m or my fave.

Goodies from the American shop.

Braga and Bom Jesus do Monte

As I told before Barcelos is in the Braga District, which makes Braga a big city near Barcelos like 30 minutes of course with the train. I mean the fastest way to travel from city to city is trains. There is also like small buses but they do have their own time table.

Trains every hour or so you can find.

Braga as I've seen is so similar to my city Targu Mures, same style same flavour to it. Maybe that's why I didn't find it so impresive, but don't get me wrong is still a better city than Barcelos, you can find more places to see and things to do.

The city is surrounded by gardens and churches, but there is one amazing thing you must see once in Portugal. Bom Jesus do Monte is a cathedral situated on the top of the mountain, and on the top of a long hiking and hundreds of stairs to walk.

Bom Jesus.

Hiking until up to Bom Jesus.

Until up to the Cathedral there is like an amazing forest to walk on, with amazing green nature and lot of stairs.

The Theater in Braga.

The center of Braga with it's shops.

Among other things to visit in Braga is : Cathedral de Santa Maris de Braga, The garden of Santa Barbara and my favourite the Arch of the new Gate which is the entrance to city of Braga.

The Arch.

Atlantic Ocean

Portugal has an opening to the Atlantic Ocean, which I thought was dope considering I never had been to an ocean in my life. I was already bored from all the seas, so a trip to the ocean was better.

From Barcelos to Esposende you must pick up a bus, and I guess around 1h and you are in this city called Esposende. It's actually like a village but with a lot of hotels and restaurants. There is nothing to visit in this city appart from the ocean and chilling on the beach.

We went in like April so the ocean was still cold but we saw a lot of surfers in the water. Indeed there was huge waves. Along side the ocean shore there are nice places to hang out from cafes to restaurants with cool views.

Guys this experience for me was so much more than 6 months spend in Portugal, you know how I always speak about my boyfriend and how we love to travel here and there, and if you read so far my stories you know that after Portugal experience I moved to Turkey to be with him.

So yes me and Muhammet we met in Portugal, he was the turkish guy living with us. We conected in such a level that we decided to have future plans and I bet there are other Erasmus love stories around there. I heard stories people met in Erasmus and get married so you never know what future brings.

Few tips

• In Barcelos there is an annual festival which is huge, people they are coming from all over Europe to attend. It has that Coachella vibe and cool bands join every year. Entree fee was 10 euros last year based on your student card. It lasts around 4 or 5 days and is in the university campus.
• Portugese they don't speak english, so is hard to find a job if you are looking for it. But in some restaurants in Barcelos they may speak french.
• In Barcelos only fast food to find is Mc'Donalds unfortunately, and portugese food is not my fave let's say.
• The best beer in Portugal is Super Bock which is a local beer, and cheap also.
• In Barcelos they have also a festival for 1 week where food and entertainment is on display day and night.
• From Porto with Ryanair you can find extremely cheap tickets to all Europe, Paris, Rome, Madrid etc and I mean cheap like 15 euros one way. Everybody in my erasmus group went and visited other capitals.
• Weather is so hot during summer and also all year around, when we arrived in february there were 18 degrees plus, and in june more than 35 degrees.
• Best supermarkets from groceries in Barcelos are Pingo Doce and Continente. You can find everything you desire. Usually I did shopping for one week so I spend around 50 euros let's say. But is always better to share the groceries if you are also sharing the house.

Other things to visit in Portugal

Of course the capital Lisbon, which I didn't got a chance to visit, it was around 6h from me by fast train, but you know how is erasmus student life, sometimes from all this shopping you find yourself without money. Ticket by train is 50 euros round trip, and they have daily a fast train.

Madeira Island, is a island belonging to Portugal and they have flight operating daily with price sometimes 10 euros, so super cheap. Is the place where Cristiano Ronaldo was born so it's a plus. They have amazing tourism there, resorts and entertainment every corner. And it got that Hawaii feeling to it. Definitely a must in the summer.

Azores

It's small islands in the Atlantic Ocean with 9 volcanos. Inside you can find mineral waters and this arhipelago is famous most because of whales watching. The most famous island is Sao Miguel and in Pico island you can find the most highest mountain in Portugal

Overall my experience in Portugal was once for a lifetime, even though Cristina she left sooner, I guess she started to fill bored, after you visit a lot of things and when you don't have to much activity like going to school everyday you get monoton, bottom line is I gain so much from this and forever grateful that I found my boyfriend here. And thanks to him now I'm writting this post from Turkey a country where now I am resident and hopefully start a future soon.

Latisha

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