Hello everyone and welcome to my blog :-)
After a long day at work, I went home, as usual, thinking about the many tasks I still had to do. The weather was grey, with a light rain that made the atmosphere a little melancholic. I decided to stop the car to answer some emails and, without much expectation, I stopped in the São Roque Park region, in Porto. The entrance to the park caught my attention immediately. It was a discreet invitation... Without thinking much, I decided to get out of the car, opened the umbrella and go see the space, without really knowing what to expect.
What I found was a real surprise. The rain persisted, but the park did not seem to be affected by it. The silence there was almost absolute. A rare, almost restorative silence that made me completely forget the hustle and bustle of the city and the daily tasks.
PT
Após um longo dia de trabalho, dirigi-me para casa, como de costume, a pensar nas várias tarefas que ainda tinha por fazer. O tempo estava cinzento, com uma chuva miúda que tornava o ambiente um pouco melancólico. Decidi parar o carro para responder a uns emails e, sem grande expectativa, parei na zona do Parque de São Roque, no Porto. A entrada do parque chamou-me a atenção de imediato. Era um convite discreto... Sem pensar muito, resolvi sair do carro, abri o guarda chuva e ir ver o lugar, sem saber muito bem o que esperar.
O que encontrei foi uma verdadeira surpresa. A chuva persistia, mas o parque,não parecia ser afetado por ela. O silêncio que ali se sentia era quase absoluto. Um silêncio raro, quase reparador, que me fez esquecer por completo o bulício da cidade e os afazeres do dia a dia.
The Quinta de São Roque Park, although located in one of the busiest neighborhoods in Porto, seemed like a haven of tranquility. The dense, well-kept vegetation provided a feeling of immersion in nature. The trees, most of them large, with thick trunks and intertwined roots, seemed to hold secrets. The aroma of the wet earth and the plants that live there was comforting, and you could feel the fresh touch of the rain on the leaves, as if the environment itself was breathing.
PT
O Parque da Quinta de São Roque, embora situado num dos bairros mais movimentados do Porto, parecia um refúgio de tranquilidade. A vegetação densa e bem cuidada proporcionava uma sensação de imersão na natureza. As árvores, em grande parte de grande porte, com troncos espessos e raízes entrelaçadas, pareciam guardar segredos. O aroma da terra molhada e das plantas que ali habitam era reconfortante, e sentia-se o toque fresco da chuva nas folhas, como se o próprio ambiente estivesse a respirar.
As I walked along, I noticed that the park had cobblestone paths that led through the vegetation, so I could explore it at my leisure. Each step seemed to take me to a new place, where the landscape changed a little, providing a feeling of constant discovery. The garden areas were impeccably maintained, with flowers that, even in winter, added a touch of color to the gray environment. There were also some small lakes, whose waters were calm.
Quinta de São Roque has a long history, starting in the 18th century, and is a place of great historical importance for the city of Porto, although I didn't know all the details as I walked around.
PT
À medida que avançava, notei que o parque tinha caminhos de calçada que passavam por entre a vegetação, para explorar sem pressa. Cada passo parecia levar-me a um novo lugar, onde a paisagem se transformava ligeiramente, proporcionando uma sensação de descoberta constante. As zonas de jardim estavam impecavelmente cuidadas, com flores que, mesmo no inverno, davam um toque de cor ao ambiente cinzento. Havia também alguns pequenos lagos, cujas águas estavam tranquilas.
A Quinta de São Roque tem uma longa história, começando no século XVIII, e é um local de grande importância histórica para a cidade do Porto, embora eu não soubesse todos os detalhes enquanto passeava.
Even on a rainy, gray day, the place seemed to have stopped in time, preserving a peace and serenity that is rare to find. Perhaps the rain was a contributing element to this. On a sunny day, the scene might have been even more beautiful, but even with the cloudy sky, the park retained a beauty that enchanted me. The contrast between the grey sky and the green vegetation, between the silence of the place and the rhythm of the city that seemed so distant, was fascinating.
Walking around there, I realized that, despite the rain, the park was a place visited by many people. Some runners walked in silence, others walked their dogs, and some, like me, just let themselves get lost in the calm of the space. There was no rush, there was no noise.
PT
Mesmo num dia chuvoso e cinzento, o local parecia estar parado no tempo, preservando uma paz e serenidade raras de encontrar. Talvez a chuva tenha sido um elemento que contribuiu para isso. Num dia de sol, talvez a cena fosse ainda mais bonito, mas mesmo com o céu nublado, o parque conservava uma beleza que me encantou. O contraste entre o céu cinzento e o verde da vegetação, entre o silêncio do lugar e o ritmo da cidade que parecia tão distante, era fascinante.
Ao caminhar por ali, apercebi-me de que, apesar da chuva, o parque era um local visitado por diversas pessoas. Alguns corredores passavam em silêncio, outros passeavam com os seus cães, e alguns, como eu, apenas se deixavam perder na calma do espaço. Não havia pressa, não havia barulho.
I allowed myself to disconnect from the outside world and relax for a few minutes. The maze was the last place we saw and it made me want to go back there with my little one to let her explore it like "Alice in Wonderland".
Quinta de São Roque, even on rainy days, is a hidden gem in the heart of Porto, and is certainly worth discovering.
PT
Permiti-me desconectar do mundo exterior e relaxar por alguns minutos. O labirinto foi o ultimo local visto e deixou-me com vontade de lá voltar com a mais pequena para a deixar explorar tal qual " Alice no País das Maravilhas".
A Quinta de São Roque, mesmo em dias de chuva, é uma joia escondida no coração do Porto, e certamente vale a pena ser descoberta.
I hope you enjoyed.
See you around.
Wishing you much peace and health
Those who pass by us do not go alone. They leave a bit of themselves, taking a piece of us."
Author: Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince.
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What an amazing place for a break and a little walk 😍 I love this kind of places, if I was in Porto I would probably go there for reading books and write :)
Thank you for showing us 😊
By the way, I wanted to tell you that I finally wrote my article about Lisbon, in case you are curious of seeing the point of view of an Italian 😂
Hi there @alecaltab! It really is a beautiful place to walk, read and write😊 I will check it out for sure 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
It's a pleasure, your posts are always lovely :)
I have been absent for a couple of weeks, I had some news in my life. I hope that you're doing well and wish you a good night :)
What a totally fantastic setting! The look of the area, the quiet surroundings, and the spectacular vistas are just simply breathtaking. It appears as though an excellent spot to unwind, take it slow, and appreciate the wonders of nature. I can only try to imagine how refreshing and calming it would be to be there.
Hello @almajoy18! It was amazing, thanks for stopping by😊
Ohhh.. What a beautiful and unexpected getaway! I believe that unplanned little moments can be turned into the most refreshing experiences. I can vividly visualize how peaceful the place is. The feeling of calm it offers as you walk into São Roque Park with a hint of drizzle adding to the peace. Sometimes, all we need is a quiet place. A place where we can unwind, refocus, and breathe all by ourselves from the chaos and noise of everyday life. This park sounds like it gave you just that. With your wonderful description of the towering trees, the scent of the wet earth, and the soothing silence, oh, it almost seems like nature was inviting you in. I think you had found a lovely, hidden gem! Thank you for taking me to this park through your writing. So lovely, as it served a gorgeous reminder that one of the best ways sometimes to recharge is simply to stop, breathe, and appreciate the world around us.
Hi there @sydmae. Thank you so much for your kind words. I'm so glad you were able to feel the same peace I experienced in that special place. Thank you for sharing your lovely thoughts! 😊
Thank you. I think I needed a walk when I read yours. Cheers to more peaceful moments ahead!
Travel Digest #2486.
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