I arrived around 4PM from RyanAir and headed directy toward ESAD.

Took an airport map, headed for the Metro from the Aeroporto to Sra. Da Hora.

Lost before I could even cross the street, spoke to a couple pruning trees,

walked toward ESAD and found it, noticed it was closed but believed it had to be it.

Waited until it was 7PM, the time dinner was happening.

Decided to leave by 7:30PM.

(Wondered if this was the wrong place…)

The map showed El Corte Ingles had free wifi, my destination.

Slipped a note under the door of ESAD and headed toward the Estadio Do Mar platform.

(Estadio Do Mar — Transfer at Trinidade — toward Joao de Deus)

El Corte Ingles was closed, hugged the right side for free Wifi.

Emailed Andrew, checked Facebook, reviewed the course website for clues.

“4 stops toward the center of the city…” which I thought was Matosinhos because of ESAD.

Thought what if Andrew replied to my email while on the Metro back to Matosinhos,

Got off one stop later, and headed back immediately to El Corte Ingles again — no reply.

Back on the Metro to Matosinhos.

Figured it had to be either Parque Real or Camara Matosinhos, decided Parque Real since it fit the “…4 stops toward the center…” descriptor.

(Passed by the school, wondered if anyone got my note, what if the note would get Andrew in trouble… thought about maybe getting off to retrieve it — decided otherwise and stayed on course.)

At Parque Real, fountains looked like something on the website archives.

Really thought I was onto something until furthur survey of the area.

Couldn’t even begin to determine where the dorms could be… area didn’t look old, it was dark.

Saw the Porsche store and thought this couldn’t be it… (“That’s not an ‘old’ shop.”)

Followed the Metro line on foot until Camara Matosinhos and saw a Burger King.

Free Wifi! Ate first meal since arriving, went to restroom and changed socks.

(Pondered on whether to attempt showering with a sink — didn’t, carried on)

Sat back down for more clue searching on the site.

Andrew’s studio was under “Porto Design Summer School”

Thought how dumb I missed that, it had to be it for sure, and clues line up better.

Screenshotted Google Maps result, website pages and headed for Camara Matosinhos platform toward Trinidade (again).

(Wondered if the Metro pilots realized I’d ridden this too many times in a day)

On Trinidade platform, followed a group of foreigners assuming it may be fellow peers.

They go into a hotel, figure it can’t be them, moved on.

Ended up around the center of Porto.

Went up a street, asked an Indian guy running a sourvenir shop for directions.

Pointed me to Aliados metro as a landmark, headed there. Saw a prostiute, carried on.

Found Aliados, walked up what I thought was the correct street, asked multiple people for directions.

An old couple, pointed me up and recommended I mark numbers on the map as I go on.

They said other things but I can’t understand them and I was aware they knew I didn’t know.

Went up the road passed the ad of the giant woman’s face, saw a suspicious man in a black vest, white shirt, a cape or cloak with a tool bag beside him, holding pliers waiting outside a residence…

(I thought I’d die there, but asked anyway since it’d be the best way to go.)

Pointed me back down, back in the center, got lost looking for Aliados to reset myself.

Middle-aged woman notices how lost I am, asked if I speak Portugese, she offers to help.

We go around, she asked policemen, some night-watch secruity guard, a couple taxi drivers

using only what a screenshot of Google maps provided for Andrew’s Studio.

I realize ulterior motives when she asks for money.

I gave her 20 Euros ’cause I appreciated her help sincerely, carried on.

Kept searching to no avail, longer search meant more money, again 20 Euros, and another 20.

The missing street was under my nose amongst the many screenshots on the iPad.

Taxi driver told us the way, and she hinted for another “big tip.”

I begged that once we found it I would oblige.

We find his studio finally, I say I have no more money which I truly believed at the time. She gets hostile, starts threatening me, wanting to put her hand in my bag multiple times — I refuse. This goes on for what seems a while as we try the doorbell of the studio.

Eventually, I put on part crocodile-part manly tears to prove I really have no more money and I was willing to stay put, homeless, no matter what. She feels bad and mentions nearby hostels and even offers 20 Euros back… I was sure it was a trap for more Euros so I declined and stayed put. She pats me on the shoulder and walks away.

I change my sweater into the one with kittens and a teddy bear and ponder how to spend the hours outside the studio. A bar infront of me seems to be the only one open. A group of 3 young people approach me for some merriment, and we have a few laughs, then they carry on.

Revitalized I suddenly thought using some simple math, that I couldn’t have spent so much money. Checked my passport for some hidden bills to find I was in luck.

Waited til the coast was clear, suspected taxi drivers were that woman’s spies, headed down and up the street for a hostel. Afraid the sound of my luggage would alert her of my movements…

Found Grande Oceano — rang the bell, took down the wifi password and went up 3 flights of stairs with my luggage. Put everything down, showered, drank sink water. Emailed, checked Facebook, the website, set the alarm went to bed until the next morning.

(I wondered if that note was ever recovered)

Time to leave, headed for the Studio where I thought had to have been the venue for sure.

Was wrong when it was 9:30. “Oh no, not again…”

Went back to the hostel, asked lovely lady for her phone to call Andrew.

Spoke for the first time, marked Rua Miguel Bombarda, headed straight there.

Saw Andrew, quite tall, he pointed and I nodded, and we walked and talked as we headed onward.

We end up infront of the gallery, I am welcomed with an applause.