“Unrecognizable” means: Bad weather leaves outlet of Villa do Conde almost empty

ANDon a day of storm and appeals to the population not to leave home, one of the most competitive commercial surfaces of Grande Porto, in Vila do Conde, was, this afternoon, “unrecognizable of so empty” that it was.

“ It doesn't look like the usual outlet. Few people, parking with few cars, is good for those who have money and have no patience for queues and many people ", described to Lusa one of the consumers who, despite the appeals, left home and went shopping.

The warnings were rain, lots of rain, lots of wind, and calls for the population not to leave the house. Schools did not open, some supermarkets did not open, and services considered non-essential are operating ‘half-gas’.

The ‘outlet’ in Modivas, in the municipality of Vila do Conde, in the district of Porto, opened the doors “at the usual time”, but the customers “come to the drops” and “there are few”, Lusa said an employee of one of the clothing stores of space.

The parking lots, usually quite filled, even on a weekday, this afternoon were with many vacant spaces, especially the park where those who take the subway in that place usually park the car.

“Few people. We still thought it was gonna be one of those days with more people, since a lot of people didn't go to work, but no. Few people and those who come buy little ", said the same worker.

According to that employee, “there are fewer people today than normal”.

The same explained Arlindo Santos, retired, a regular at that mall: “I come here every day to have coffee, spend time and walk with the mistress [the woman]. This today is unrecognizable from so empty that it is ", pointed out.

“I don’t remember seeing it like this. He is right, girl ", agreed the 'patroa', Maria Cecilia.

The couple still thought about bringing their grandchildren, but the daughter wouldn't let them. “My daughter said that if you don’t have time to go to class, you’re not going anywhere either. She's the mother, isn't she? She is the boss and we came both ", explained Maria Cecilia.

In the food court, which at 2:30 p.m. still has a lot of movement, the scenario was no different from what was seen in the corridors: few people, many empty tables and some conversations.

“[The lunch] was weak. We usually serve a lot more. People did, and it looks like they didn't leave the house. For me, I had not come either, but my boss was not in this song ", lamented the employee of one of the restaurants represented on the site.

Ana and Paula, aged 22 and 26, decided to be ‘rebels’: “I shouldn’t say this, but I’m on telework due to bad weather. But, since I had nothing to do, I took advantage to come shopping with my sister ", confessed.

The sister also admitted that she should be working at home, but “between one phone call and another” manages to “break off the service”.

“I have no patience to stay home. They closed the office today, but I don't like it. When she asked me if she wanted to come here, she said yes”, she said.

Between laughter and some shame, they admitted they shouldn't have done it: “We should have, we know. But here [in Porto] is a normal autumn day”, they tried to justify.

Continental Portugal is now on alert until 11:59 p.m. due to the depression Charles, which caused about 200 occurrences of Madeira last night, mainly floods, falls from trees and collapses.

The government decided to close non-essential schools and public services in all districts, and more than three hundred flights were cancelled in Lisbon, Faro, Madeira and Porto.

According to the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA), which issued several red warnings due to rain and wind, depression changed its characteristics and on its way to the continent, this morning, there is a reduction in the intensity of wind and gusts. There's still a lot of rain ahead.

During the night the Greater Lisbon and the Setúbal Peninsula were the most affected areas, especially with floods, but the Faro district is the only one that keeps red warnings for both rain and wind.