We are very lucky to live a block away from this beautiful little city park. There are several locally owned bakeries, coffee shops and a very busy gelato restaurant. There are also several restaurants that serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. Being the city center when the city hall is along with many other civic departments and having a lovely water element separating the buildings from the green space, create ample opportunities for festive events.
Shops and banks accompany the coffee shops, and the place is packed from early am til 1-2 am at night.
However our dog has found his tribe of maybe 7 others dog owners. We walk our fur babies each morning at 7:30 am before it gets too crazy so they can frolic around the ample grassy area rain or shine. Folks who are native Portuguese, some French, Ukrainian and Russian immigrants with us being the only Americans, but they all speak in inglês as that's the one language in common.
Everyone knows Koa our dog, the self appointed mayor, because although a bernadoodle, he looks like president obamas Portuguese water dog. Which of course in Portugal they are simply "cão de agua".
Whether chilling drinking a Pingo (expresso marked with milk foam) drinking an ice cold super Bach beer, having gelato, hanging with friends listening to live music, and or walking the mayor for his appointed rounds, we are fortunate to have this park, the heart beat of the city of Matosinhos so close by. read more