Today I explored more of the city around the university, beginning with the Misericordia Foundation, which for many years provided medical and social services to the people of Porto. As the foundation outgrew its humble beginnings an English architect was engaged to design Santo Antonio Hospital, which looks very much like a cousin to the British Museum in Russell Square — the building seems very out of place in Porto. Near Santo Antonio is an interesting pair of Carmelite churches, one attached to a monastery, the other to a convent. To avoid a common wall and keep nuns and monks apart a narrow house was built between the two churches.
Music is everywhere in the city — buskers are common. Today I came across a group of 15 college students singing Latin American music in the streets. At the Soares I met a group of much younger students, who were also more advanced musically. Their a capella singing in the courtyard filled the galleries.
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