As expected, the city is a mess again. Restrictions are being lifted, starting today, and everyone seems a bit too eager to take advantage of the newfound freedom.

Traffic is back. Heavy traffic, with the accompanying honk of the horn (we’re pros at that) and shouting back and forth to other drivers on the road.

Saw a few too many people ignoring red lights, a few more still unaware of crosswalks, and you can smell the gasoline in the air again.

People are having coffee, sitting outside, smoking in other people’s faces.

Oh, how I missed the usual life!

We went down to the river, there are people at Cais das Colunas again, the whole riverside has cars and buses and motorcycles, all moving a meter at a time. For the past months this area felt like heaven, you could hear the water splashing. Not anymore.

Shopkeepers are dusting off their wares, and an inordinate amount of postcards and fridge magnets can once again be seen out on the sidewalks. Yay.

Of course I might be alone in this, and I probably am, all things considered. Everyone seems to be having a great time, I am the one that’s already wishing the lockdown would go on for a little longer.

I LOVED walking with tinyMovieStar in a semi deserted city. Today it felt like we were in a huge city, not the cosy village of yesterday.

Note: I’m well aware the photos aren’t showing the mess. I’m not willing to let go that easily. It was harder to get the photos I wanted, but I’m going to keep trying.