For the superstitious, signs can be like an arrow pointing north. For those dealing with the substantial, an event may be a coincidence. However, for teacher and philosopher Lúcia Galvão, signs are subtle forms of communication with life, while synchronicity is life screaming at you, saying, “Follow that path! ”. Whether one opts for scepticism or a connection with the invisible, there will always be signs on the road, and it is up to us to use them.

After seeing a poster about the Porto Biennial of Photography in the tube, I decided to give myself the chance to get to know regional artists. The exhibitions occur in various parts of the city and are developed as a community initiative to bring up discussions on sustainability, resistance, and transdisciplinary practices. I did not quite know what to expect, but my curiosity was greater, and I wanted to immerse myself in a new perspective.

While getting ready, I received a job offer notification and was surprised that I had no interest in leaving my job at that moment, but for some reason, the position perfectly suited my friend. I forwarded that to him in a blink, and he promptly replied: “I was just talking about you!”

It took half a dozen messages to irritate me. Andrew, as always, was revealing more than he should about my life, and I could only think that I would never meet his friends, as they knew everything about my privacy. To calm my irritation, my friend sent me an audio message saying there was nothing special about my story and that he couldn’t wait to introduce me to his friend, who came up in the message.

When the stranger gained a voice, a certain discomfort suddenly appeared. Unsure how to respond to that message, I kept staring at the screen until I realised I was running late. This way, I opted for a shallow answer and merely exchanged greetings.

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After exploring the city and works by various artists, I felt a stronger connection with Porto. Understanding

 that each place has its own identity and keeping the local culture alive is essential for a civilisation not to disappear. In a world where everything changes rapidly daily, resisting traditions through the visual arts, music, or even cuisine is essential to keep stories alive.

Down through the centre, I found motivation for vintage shopping and enjoying the sunset in Jardim do Morro. Even because the day was too beautiful to return home early. Having a viewpoint on the other side of the bridge is crucial once you are in Porto. For those visiting the city, it must be something to add to the attractions list. Located in Gaia, the experience of sitting at the highest point in the district to see the view that resembles a live painting is unforgettable. It is impossible to describe the beauty of watching the sun disappear into the infinity of the Ribeira River and seeing the lights illuminate, giving a new colour to the place.

The following day, I woke up late for class, which made me rethink why I had not returned home earlier. In a rush, I noticed Andrew had sent me some messages, but I had neither the time nor the patience. Since my next class was about Organizational Management, I honestly couldn’t understand how such a beautiful name could have such detestable content.

When I finally had time to read the messages, I noticed he had sent me some videos and photos from the previous day. I immediately called him. As always, he answered by saying he was busy, but when I asked who the person in the photo was, he stopped what he was doing and said he was going to smoke a cigarette.

Andrew was disappointed that I had never paid attention to his friend before, as he was now in a relationship. I explained to him that I knew the person existed, but I had never seen them or had any idea what they looked like. The disappointment was on my part for never having received a photo before.

The more I asked about the mysterious friend, the less Andrew held back information. It made me feel like a human resources recruiter receiving a candidate’s resume. He started by giving me details like age and nationality and told me about his friend’s aspirations and desires. As Andrew talked, he got excited, drawing comparisons between the potential recruit and me.

That whole conversation also excited me, while at the same time, I knew that reality was very different from what I desired. It also disappointed me that I couldn’t get closer to someone who seemingly could be a perfect match.

When we finally ended the call, I rushed to do a light stalk, but I immediately hit a wall when I realised the person was officially low profile. How could I judge their appearance from other angles, know if we shared the same tastes, or even do an astrological chart to ensure he doesn’t have Cancer rising and a Cancer moon placement?

With my phone in hand, I became completely obsessed, searching for clues or any sign proving Andrew’s words were true. I threw my phone on the sofa, giving up on playing FBI, and went to do the only thing that could bring me back to reality: eat a pastel de nata.

As I walked the streets, savouring the sweet, cinnamon-infused pastry, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the whole story. To distract myself, I entered a second-hand bookstore to search for an inexpensive title to read. As usual, I made my way to the art and photography section, and right next to the books, I stumbled upon a box on the floor, colliding with the shelf in front of me. Some books spilt onto the rack, and one fell to the ground. When I turned over the book, the title was:

“All Roads Lead to Rome“

I did not know if it was a sign or a problem with the organisation of literary genres, but I felt like life wanted to talk with me at that moment.

A.M.