Porto: Wait… is this Macao? 🇵🇹🤔

After waking up in Salamanca, I decided to take a scenic walk along the river toward the bus station. To be honest? Not much to see there! 🚶‍♂️💨

My bus (another ALSA ride) coming from Madrid picked me up at 12:30. We stopped at the Spain-Portugal border for a 20-minute break in Vilar Formoso. If you ever stop there, you can’t miss the “special” Portuguese souvenirs in the shops—let’s just say they have a very unique anatomical theme! 🍆🏺

The Border Crossing 🛂	Quirky Souvenirs 🎁

A Shifting Landscape 🚌🌳

Leaving Spain, the “vintage” dry scenery shifted into something resembling Southern France. But as we got closer to Porto, things took a familiar turn. The landscape started looking exactly like the countryside in Southern China. 🇨🇳

The “Bathroom Tile” Epiphany 🏠✨

Once I arrived in Porto, the city hit me with a massive wave of nostalgia. It looks so much like South China—specifically places like Swatow (Shantou) or Amoy (Xiamen). Then it clicked: Macao! 🇲🇴

Since Macao was a Portuguese colony, the style our generation often identifies as “ugly rural Chinese building style” (you know, the ones that look like giant bathrooms because of the exterior ceramic tiles) actually originated right here in the West! 🤯

Burgers & Blue Tiles 🍔⛪️

I stopped by the famous Imperial McDonald’s in central Porto. It’s easily one of the most “royal” fast-food spots in the world. Eating a burger under crystal chandeliers definitely makes the meal feel more elegant! 🍟👑

The Most Beautiful McDonald’s 🦅	Dining in Style ✨

Right in front of Porto University stands the Igreja do Carmo. This church features a massive exterior wall decorated with traditional blue-and-white azulejos (ceramic tiles)—and it’s actually stunning.

It turns out these tiles were originally a way to show off wealth and status, inspired by the sea routes Portugal opened to China centuries ago. It’s funny how a style meant to “show off” in the 1700s became an exotic architectural trend in China by the 90s. 🎨

Igreja do Carmo ⛪️	The Tile Detail 🖌️

I also spotted some cool modern interpretations of the tile tradition while wandering the streets. 🏙️

After wandering around, I ended my day back at the City Hall square. The city has such a unique vibe—halfway between old-world Europe and a nostalgic corner of Asia. 🇵🇹❤️