Hey, everyone! I’m back!
I took a little break from social media at the start of the year, as I always do. January is my time to reset, realign my goals, and set my intentions for the year ahead. And one of my biggest goals for this blog in 2025 is to share more of my travel stories—the wild, unexpected, and unforgettable moments that make every trip an adventure.
So, let’s kick things off with one of the craziest experiences I’ve ever had while traveling. This is the story of how my best friend and I accidentally ended up in an underground fighting ring in Portugal. And before you ask—no, I don’t recommend trying this at home (or abroad, for that matter).
A Day in Porto
It was our last day in Portugal, and we had planned a simple, relaxing itinerary: take a ferry from Lisbon to Porto, visit the Cristo Rei statue, and enjoy some wine at a nearby restaurant.
Porto was stunning, with its colorful buildings stacked along the hills and the Douro River winding through the city. We took a short five-minute ferry ride across the water and found ourselves on the other side of the bridge, walking a narrow riverside path with a fragile guardrails. But hey, we were in Portugal! That was all that mattered.
We hiked up to see the towering Cristo Rei statue, soaked in the breathtaking views, and then made our way back down, ready to unwind with a glass of wine. That’s when we encountered a group of men speaking a language we didn’t recognize.
At first, we ignored them—classic tourist safety instincts. But then one of them asked, “Parlez-vous français?” (Do you speak French?) Again, we brushed it off. I know a little French, but not enough to get into a conversation.
Then he tried again: “Do you speak English?”
My best friend and I exchanged looks. This time, we answered: “Yes, we do.”
I won’t lie—my first instinct was to be on guard. Why were they so eager to talk to us? Were they trying to get our numbers? But as we kept talking, I realized there was something fascinating about them.
They were from Cape Verde, a small island nation off the coast of West Africa with a rich history and diverse culture. In Cape Verde, students are required to learn multiple languages—Portuguese, French, English, Spanish, and even German. These four men spoke all five fluently, switching between them effortlessly.
That blew my mind. In the U.S., we barely push for bilingual education, let alone fluency in five languages. It made me wonder: Why don’t we do more to encourage multilingual learning? But that’s a conversation for another day.
As we talked, one of the men mentioned that they had a nearby warehouse they’d love to show us.
Immediately, we said, “No.”
We have seen this movie before. Two American girls lured into a warehouse by strangers? Absolutely not.
He laughed, seemingly understanding our hesitation. “I promise, it’s safe,” he reassured us. “We have a thrift shop in one warehouse, and we throw parties in the other.”
We kept chatting, and slowly, our initial wariness turned into curiosity. Against all logic, we decided to check it out. (But trust me—we said a long prayer first.)
The Warehouse Tour
The first warehouse turned out to be a thrift store, packed with furniture, books, and unique souvenirs. It was lively, full of people, and honestly, pretty cool. His friends welcomed us warmly, and for the first time since this conversation started, we felt at ease.
Then came the next question: “Y’all ready to see the other warehouse?”
Again, against our better judgment, we agreed.
We stepped inside, and the door closed behind us.
Pitch black.
My stomach dropped. Yep, this was a bad idea.
I instinctively grabbed my phone and started recording—because if anything happened, at least there’d be evidence.
They led us upstairs to a large open space with a clear view of the floor below. A single spotlight illuminated the center of the room, and as my eyes adjusted, I realized what I was looking at.
A fighting ring.
Underground fighting. . . Like with real people
They casually explained that this was where they held fights—actual fights, complete with betting. The space was set up for an event later that night, but unfortunately (or fortunately), we had a flight to catch.
As we made our way out, one of the men thanked us.
“I respect that you were cautious,” he said. “I hear about all the horrible things that happen to women in America. You had every right to be skeptical.”
That stuck with me. We often assume the worst when traveling—sometimes for good reason. But this moment reminded me that while caution is necessary, there are still places in the world where kindness exists, where strangers are just genuinely welcoming.
Would I recommend blindly following people to underground warehouses in foreign countries? Absolutely not.
But do I regret it?
Not for a second.
Safe Travels!
