Porto Startup Coffee

I’ve been looking for some fellow geeks in Porto and stumbled across an entrepreneur monthly meet. I’m no entrepreneur but they had a techy bent so I thought I’d go along.

I arrived early and got chatting to the guy running the thing. It’s a little difficult explaining what I’m doing here as I’m really just bumming around with a bit of work during the day.

After an introduction in Portuguese the host explained the meeting would be conducted in English for my benefit. Twenty-odd people put out a bit just because of me! Needless to say they all spoke English and spoke it well.

The guest speaker ran an illustration company but had fallen into infographcis and data visualisation. He seemed excited about interactive graphics as a means to explain and communicate. I kept wanting to ask if he had anyone numerate on his team but couldn’t think how to do it without it sounding insulting.

A bit of Q&A followed. Some startup conferences were discussed.

The floor was then open for anyone who wanted to pitch an idea to the audience. A chap stepped forward an explained his fledgling smart-phone reselling business. He’s been buying and selling smartphones as a hobby to make some pocket-money. According to him the process is a bit ropey with no real guarantee of what you’ll get. He plans to insert himself as a reputable middle-man so that buyers can be assured they get the product as described. Someone in the audience asked him to throw a number out there for how much he expects to make. “500,000€ in the first year”, was his casual response. The questioner was a little stunned. As was I! Good luck to the guy.

It was pointed out to me that I’m moving to Portugal at an odd time. Government ministers leaving by the day. People wanting to get out of the country. Someone did ask if they’d get a job in Scotland. Things must be desperate. Of course, I’m isolated from all that which is a little strange. It might even benefit me if apartments become that bit cheaper.

It was an interesting night albeit not quite the crowd I’m looking for. There is a Ruby group in Porto but nothing (I’ve found) for Python.

These guys need to save Portugal’s economy.

Guess who the baldie is.

It’s good to talk

It turns out my new French-speaking friend at the cafe is about to move out of a swanky apartment in a nice part of town. If that doesn’t work out he says he’ll ask around and see if anyone he knows is looking to let out theirs. Quite handy discovering he speaks French!

I’ve also been re-assured that it is ok for me to hang out there all day using their WiFi. It was nice to be able to ask a proper question in French rather than point and grunt at the table I’ve just left.

I guess learning Portuguese would be the thing to do.

Lazily hoping I  can rely on osmosis but I’m not sure that really works. Effort may be required!

 

16€ well spent

When I’m away places I like to try and buy things that are some combination of designed/made/sold only in that place.

In New York I got some awesome stuff from Brooklyn Industries.

Here, in Porto, I bought some pants the other day for 16€. Looked like there were two pairs in the box but, on opening, discovered only one!

However they are made in Portugal, I’ve not seen the brand elsewhere and I can confirm after today that they are very comfortable.

Porto seems to do a good line in boutique shops that aren’t full of the usual brands.

Just doing my bit to prop up the Portuguese economy.

Language mash-up

I’ve discovered my friend at the Capitolio speaks French. This is better than his English and my French is way better then my fledgling Portuguese.

“À boire?”, he enquired (it’s lunchtime).

“Seulement l’agua”, I replied (pointing at the bottle I’d bought earlier).

Now I can bother the poor man with all sorts of questions on flat-hunting!

Grey skies

What’s this?

A sky of grey blankets Porto! There is actually a slight chill in the wind.

I can’t really complain. It’s been azure blue sky and about 30° for the last two weeks. The weather chart shows normal service resumes tomorrow.

I saw this on the way to work this morning.

That’s proper hipster! Why am I still looking at bikes though? Some of you will know that I’ve finally admitted that I’m not that into cycling. I can still appreciate the beauty of the machine though. Even if I can’t be bothered pedalling it anywhere. Not sure Porto is the ideal city for a fixed gear bike. I’m reminded of all the Bath ‘hipsters’ pushing their single-speed/fixed gear bikes around as they were impossible to ride up any of Bath’s hills.

Apartment hunting

Every morning the friendly man at Bela Star asks if I wan’t to stay another night. ‘Sim’, I say. It’s too easy. Plus it’s only 10€ to get all my laundry done. Washed, dired, pressed, folded and put at the end of my bed in neat piles.

However, the idea was to get a nice apartment. So I sat down today and started to peruse imovirtual.com. I spent a good few hours looking through and bookmarking ads. It seems like a bit of a lottery though as I don’t really know that much of the area after a week. The girl in the coffee shop didn’t fit the friendly Portuguese stereotype but I decided to ask her about places to live anyway. Turns out she was friendly. We spent a good half hour at the counter going through adverts and discussing places to live. I was re-assured that I was looking in the right areas. In fact she excitedly clicked on one add that I had saved. “Ah but it’s mine” I jested. I had my killer line ready, “…but come over for dinner!”. Just as I was about to deliver it she delivered the B-bomb. Oh well.

I’ve narrowed down a few options and sent off a few emails about viewings. Hopefully I’ll get some replies in the next few days.

Of course the van plan still looms in the background. On my walk home from the beach yesterday I saw plenty of people sitting outside their campers. In this kind of weather one  really could live out of a van. It’s really only for sleeping in. The rest of the time you can be outside (assuming decent 3G reception or some WiFi). I do still like the idea of being truly mobile but my van googling hasn’t turned up much yet.

Bought a beach towel today!

It’s not far from Porto to some beaches. The 500 bus or number 1 tram takes you along to Foz where there are a number of them. Foz has been recommended as a place to stay so I thought I’d check it out.

I bought my towel opposite this beach and went down to check out the water.

Looks pretty nice eh? It was.  If only the Atlantic could be a little warmer! Someone once told me the sea temperature lags the air by about a month. Maybe it just hasn’t had time to warm up yet. At least when you get out you get dry and warm pretty quickly.

I wandered up the coast and noticed some guys jumping off a pier into the sea. I can’t resist jumping off high things into water but when I got there they’d gone. Peering over the side it looked deep enough. I wanted to see someone do it first though. I decided to give it a go on my way back if there were people around.

After some ice cream and wandering I ended up back at the spot. Here is the view back to the beach from the end.

Two little kids were standing peering over the side this time. I signed ‘jump’ and the younger one replied ‘fria’.

I was pretty sure it was deep enough. Thankfully another kid turned up with his mates, stripped to his boxers and jumped in. It was deep enough! I guess my age is showing because I pulled my groin a bit on impact!

I have to say I was a little worried about my stuff. Phone, wallet and laptop in my rucksack. But it was fine. These were good kids and they pointed out their Dad. I decided to trust them with my phone. Here I am.

It was higher than it looked!

On my way away I ended up striking up a conversation with their Dad. He was French so it was an actual conversation as opposed to the usual gesticulating and guessing what the Portuguese might be for a word. I was quite chuffed that I wasn’t totally rubbish at French. He suggested I get a Portuguese girl as a good way to get better at the language. He gestured at the expanse of beach behind and pointed out that there were lots there. Can’t argue with the man’s logic.

I walked back down the line of beaches finally stopping at a cool looking bar for a  coke and some pudding.

A sunset panaorma

 

If Carling did nightclubs…

They’d do Eskada!

From the outside you can’t tell what it is. I had to Google the name to find out it’s a club.

Eskada’s garden

 

You know those clubs you see in movies with lots of beautiful people? Well Eskada is that club. Apparently last night was a more casual, dress-down student night! I don’t want to offend any female readership I have but…WOW! That’s all.

I got chatting to a chap at the bar that turned out to be the manager. I got a couple of rounds of shots and a beer or two on the house. As the place was quiet  at this time I took the chance to ask him and his staff about finding a place to live in Porto. As usual everyone was very helpful. I’ve got a list of areas to check out and the name of a good estate agent. Apparently Foz is the place to be. A loft apartment next to the beach with a terrace and a pool…less than 800€ probably!

For the rest of the night I got the VIP treatment. Apparently Ronaldo’s sister was in our group. And the ex-wife of some famous footballer. The winner of Portugal’s Big Brother was there too. I got into the roped-off area behind the DJ’s box so I could look down on the plebeian masses on the dancefloor!

The manager, Nunu, said I should call him when I’m coming back and he’ll put me on the guest list. Speedier entry and half the price too.

To top it all off one of the DJ’s spun some pretty decent tunes.

I never thought I’d last more than an hour but I got to bed around 5am.

Living life outdoors

It’s almost eleven o’ clock and it’s still about 20°C. Lots of cafes, restaurants and bars have full seating areas outside. You get the impression that people could be there for a while.

I sat outside a bar for a few hours and decided to have a look at apartments. Looks like you can get a decent, furnished flat with a balcony in a central location for around 350€ a month. Amazing! Probably a bit of admin involved. Not sure if I can just rock up to an estate agent. Also not sure how long I’ll be here for. I guess just take a 6 month tenancy and worry about moving when it happens. Spend a bit more and I might just get that loft with a panoramic view over the Douro river. Treat myself!

I had three bottled beers while perusing flats. All served by a very enthusiastic and multi-lingual waiter. The bill for that? 3.30€. Nice.

As much as I’m curious I don’t think I’ll make it to Eskada tonight. I’m not on holiday after all. Got some serious coding to do tomorrow!

A few foaties

Some holiday photos. It seems the scatter gun approach doesn’t really work! One still needs an eye for a good photograph I think. Nonetheless here they are.