There are no subways or school buses here, and a lot of the people are rather old. The day starts with traditions that would be familiar to you. Children are released in the mornings by their parents to make their way to school. Each kid is dressed in a black and white uniform complete with ties, thin clacking dress shoes, and a black or brown cloak. The shoes can be heard first, as a mob of students greet each other in the morning. The beginning of the year is a very important time and taken very seriously by students, as it is the responsibility of the upper-class students to engage the new under-class students. Between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. upper-class student guides can be seen roaming the city with their small army of underlings. This time of tours for the little ones is a whole city affair with a lot of ground to cover over a week or two. Students wearing the school coat-of-arms embroidered on their cloaks are everywhere in the early morning, rushing around like this. It’s a tradition that inspired elements of Harry Potter. This Capa e Batina ("cap and cassock") is awarded only after syllabus week, or Praxe; thereafter, students relax with their friends for the rest of the year, as you do. This is a very much appreciated aspect of the student experience that brings together the school and the surroundings. Everyone in Portuguese society recognizes the importance of this journey. After school at around 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., students, can be seen in the cafés enjoying a discounted late afternoon lunch while finishing their homework.
Outside of school or work, the day is spent in the city. Cafes are a major part of life herev in Porto, and they line the narrow streets and squares, even if only a few chairs.
