There is something curious about living in Porto. It may be the proportion of the place, the habit of seeing familiar faces and quickly grasping the rhythm of the city. When you move to a new location, there is a natural motivation to explore everything that surroundings you. You are more open to new propositions, to meeting new people and discovering new places. Due to the unknown, everything that is offered becomes exciting.

After a while, you get used to the places, establish your favourites, and fall into a routine. In a place with a slower pace and a small inclination towards significant changes, things easily turn into more of the same.

Like a breeze that brings an unexpected rain, a new person entered my life. Not as a lover, but as a friend. Accustomed to the same group of people, Felipe joined the circle and brought with him a new perspective on everything I had already experienced. With his extensive knowledge of music and passion for brutalist architecture, I could feel the freshness, a different vision, and an unusual way of thinking.

It did not take long for us to connect. He had an adoration for the city where I was born and knew many things that I was curious about. After a few weeks and shared drinks, I was invited to an unfamiliar place. Felipe invited me to Café au Lait, a nightclub located on Rua das Galerias, known for hosting more experimental and unconventional DJs. Without hesitation, I accepted.

Minutes before midnight, I met Felipe in Cordoaria Square to have a drink while we waited for the place to become busier. During our conversation, we exchanged our views on living in Europe and the overestimation of the idealized lifestyle. We were not sure if it was the country or the city, but we shared a similar opinion about the lack of significant stimulation and perhaps the relentless impulse to seek the new we had.

Upon arriving at Café au Lait, we were pleased to discover there was no entrance fee, and for being immediately taken by the intimate and well-decorated ambience. That night, the DJs played a mix of Psychedelic Trance and Brazilian Funk. It caught my attention, as I was unfamiliar with this Porto scene.

While dancing to the fast and electrifying beat, I noticed a couple entirely out of sync in a corner of the club near the cigarette machine. The lack of harmony was not between them but with the place. The woman, about 5.4 ft tall, and the man, with big, dark eyebrows, were enjoying their beers and dancing altogether out of rhythm with the music. They did not seem to care. Both were connected to themselves, united by the discomfort of it being one of their first encounters.

Without wanting to appear like a psychopath but genuinely interested in how their situation would unfold, I borrowed Felipe’s sunglasses and quietly observed them from behind the dark lenses.

The two seemed embarrassed by their lack of intimacy but willing to break down the barriers that separated them. She danced silly movements while he laughed and approached her with gentle touches. He spoke softly, encouraging her to come closer. She did not care about the place; he was already ultimately into her.

Two drinks and a trip to the bar led to a kiss. Satisfied with my spy operation, I returned the glasses to their owner and let them live what they had already begun. I danced until Felipe asked me to accompany him for a smoke. After two cigarettes and sharing opinions about the place, we decided to go home. I walked back, which helped me with moments of reflection.

What I had witnessed that night struck me differently. It wasn’t the couple itself that intrigued me, but rather the ability to connect with someone. The voices in my head deduced that, based on their apparent age, this was not a new experience for them. They had probably been on other dates and met other people. This detail was what compelled me to believe that love does not extinguish.

Just like people, cities have different rhythms. Some are faster, others slower. However, there is always something new to experience. Even what was once lived can become vibrant again as long as you invite someone new to accompany you.

A.M.