Chapter 9: Six times an influencer “read” my Portuguese lifestyle based on my zodiac
Ever wonder what Portuguese supermarket or Lisbon neighbourhood you are based on your zodiac? An influencer has the answer…and it’s pretty spot on.
Tomorrow marks the end of my astrological birth sign Pisces. If you’re not into astrology, let me give you a Coles Notes summary. Pisces is a water sign like Cancer and Scorpio. We’re emotional, in-tune with our feelings and those of others, creative, imaginative, dreamers and more. In terms of jobs and hobbies, you’ll likely see us thrive in creative fields. However, we can be needy, in search of constant reassurance, intense, anxious and sometimes those dreams can lead to escapism which makes us disconnect from reality. Looking at my life through a zodiac lens, I see those qualities daily.
Recently, Instagram has been feeding me content by @kukureko or AstroKatya, a creator living in Lisbon who talks about astrology. This creator has an ongoing segment comparing zodiac signs to all things Portuguese from cities to alcohol brands to neighbourhoods and more. As someone who lived in Portugal for a year, I was curious to see if the comparisons to my zodiac sign would “read” me (a RuPaul Drag’s Race reference for those who don’t know) or if they were wrong.
Let’s just say it was pretty spot on.
Lisbon Neighbourhoods and Zodiac Signs
Marvila | Accuracy: 5/5
Description: “A maze of abandoned warehouses just like their thoughts. You love indie coffee shops and your biggest dream is to fall in love with someone at a random art event.”
My POV: Whenever a friend visited or a Grindr tourist asked for recommendations, I suggested two things. Dinner at Lisboa Tu e Eu, a restaurant that tells a decades old love story through food, and Marvila, an up and coming neighbourhood filled with shops, galleries, cafes and restaurants in abandoned warehouses. For the record both recommendations have come with high-praise.
To describe Marvila, it is best that I quote my Thrillist Guide to Lisbon:
“Neglected for years, Marvila has seen its former industrial warehouses turned into cultural hotspots. At the José Domingos Barreiro Factory (now MAD) meet and chat with artists who create across five floors of studio space. Across the street in Abel Pereira da Fonseca’s former wine cathedral (now 8Marvila), people browse shops, galleries, markets and eat at restaurants.”
Marvila is one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Lisbon. Jenn and I had brunch at The Marvila Bakehouse and made friends with the restaurant dog. I met the talented artist Luísa Pereira da Fonseca at her studio in 8 Marvila, an old abandoned wine factory once owned by her great-great-grandfather Abel Pereira da Fonseca - his name is still on the building’s entrance.
I also did fall in love at numerous art events like the description prophesied. I wooed an American as we played Drag Bingo on the MUSA rooftop. I met a handsome tattooed, nose-pierced Brazilian poet at cultural centre Fábrica de Braço de Prata. I took a handsome Flemish man to a wine event at 8 Marvila, where we strolled through art galleries, bumping into each other before kissing at his hostel after. Yes, I fell in love at Marilva too many times.
The description of the abandoned warehouses being like a maze is what makes the place unique. It has holes in its concrete walls leading to vast open spaces with vaulted ceilings and its random doors that look forbidden to go through, have hidden artistic treasures behind them. Maybe I connected with Marvila because the maze was like my mind. Always trying to find a way to the main thought or solution, but choosing the wrong path and stumbling on a secret and distracting surprise.
Portuguese Cities as Zodiac Signs
Sintra | Accuracy: 4/5
Description: “Your head is permanently in the clouds, and your mood changes just like the weather. You’re into foggy castle vibes, fairy aesthetics and poetic suffering. If you’re not eating a queijada, you’re probably in the woods doing rituals”
My POV: Sintra was the city I visited most. It hosted fun cultural events and I loved its dreamy castles. I get why it was the summer vacation getaway for royals.
This description is almost spot on. Palácio de Pena and Castelo dos Mouros are two monuments high in the hills and depending on the day you’re hiking up and the cloud deck levels, you could literally have your head in the clouds. As a Pisces, I’m a dreamer and sometimes our heads need to poke through the clouds in order to get to those blue sky ideas.
Sintra’s weather is also interesting and no trip would be complete without me packing a backpack that had clothing, accessories and tools for every possible meteorological scenario. My mood can be described as unpredictable like the weather. I remember when Lindsay and I visited the city the weather went from sunny and hot to foggy, rainy and cold in a flash. Lindsay and I parted ways in Sintra City Centre, so during the sunny portion I took the Sintra Historic Tram to Praia das Maçãs where I journaled about the amazing memories I made - joyful, happy.
Arriving back in Sintra City Centre, the rain and fog created this thin veil across the hilly landscape that was both surreal and stunning. At that moment my mood changed. I waited for Lindsay on the steps of Palácio Nacional de Sintra, leaning against a column, while listening to my Heartbreak Hotel playlist. I remember having Behind These Hazel Eyes by Kelly Clarkson on repeat for whatever reason.
Portuguese Snacks as Zodiac Signs
Ovos Moles | Accuracy: 3/5
Description: “A dream in dessert form. Sweet airy and a little bit out there, just like the Pisces. Comes in different fantasy shapes, just like Pisces delusional thinking.”
My POV: Ovos Moles (Soft Eggs in English), is “a wafer confection filled with sweet, vibrant yolk,” that is famously from Aveiro, which is about an hour from Porto. Its creation has roots in religion as nuns would use egg whites to iron their habits, but would be left with excess egg yolks. Not wanting to waste the yolks, they created recipes with them, one which was Ovos Moles
I don’t know how to explain the taste. The concept sounds gross, but after one bite you’ll experience this sweet and creamy sensation with a crunchy element thanks to the outer layer. I guess in a way it is a dream in dessert form. Though, if you said I could only eat one Portuguese snack for the rest of my life and it was between Ovos Moles and Pastel de Nata, the latter wins.
Lisbon Apartment Hunting as Zodiac Signs
Accuracy: 5/5
Description: “Have seen their perfect apartment in a dream, went to that street, found the apartment, but are now too emotional to leave their friend’s couch.”
My POV: Even before arriving in Lisbon, I dreamed of my apartment there. An old blue Azuljes tiled building in a historic neighbourhood with no elevator that had an adorable small balcony where I could enjoy coffee and hang my garments on a clothesline so that they could dance in the wind. The vibe of the apartment complex would be like Melrose Place, minus the murder, where neighbours would be friends with each other. So when LS said the room in his flat would be available, I jumped on the opportunity as it checked off four boxes - tiles, historic neighbourhood, no elevator and Melrose Place vibes.
My time there was limited and as I explored Lisbon, I started dreaming of my next apartment. I looked for all the same qualities, but this time I wanted a view of a historic monument, a coffee shop either below or next door and an avó who loved sweeping the front entrance and would say “Bom Dia” to me. I found that place close by, just down from Jardim da Cerca da Graça, but like this influencer predicted, I started to become too emotional. The thought of not rooming with LS, leaving the Melrose Place community, saying goodbye to the cockroach that watched me shower and the old woman across the street who fed pigeons from her window made me sad. So I sat on that red love seat of ours and missed my opportunity.
Portuguese Brands as Zodiac Signs
Renova | Rating: 2/5
Description: “Because life can just be too much sometimes.”
My POV: Renova is “The Sexiest Paper on Earth,” and when I say paper I mean tissues, toilet paper, paper towels etc. I won’t lie. That first month was an adjustment and tears were shed. However, I would use Fluffs as my tissue of choice, but now I wonder if using the sexiest paper on earth would have boosted my confidence much quicker. So while I agree with the product being a form of tissue, I disagree with the brand.
Portuguese Supermarkets as Zodiac Signs
Local corner store | Accuracy: 0/5
Description: “Exists in another dimension. It’s always open, but we’re never sure how. Buys some incense and has a deep conversation with the owner about destiny, but will pay tomorrow.”
My POV: This is where I deviate with my sign. To be honest, I really resonated with Mini Preço - that chaos of “are the shelves empty because they’re closing?” was both exciting and frustrating to me. I only visited my local corner store a handful of times to either buy alcohol after all the grocery stores were closed or was in desperate need of toilet paper. I do agree that they do exist in another dimension, but none of the people running those stores in my neighbourhood wanted to have a deep conversation. It’s not because my Portuguese was awful, it’s because they were usually too busy watching a football match on their phone.
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