Last weekend, something a little out of the ordinary rolled into Ovar—a circus, but not your typical one. This was the “Circus of Horror,” a wild, theatrical mash-up of traditional circus elements with a dark, gory twist. It wasn’t something I had planned for, but on a quiet Friday evening, I saw posters going up in town and thought, why not?
Living in a small town like Ovar, you start to appreciate the little surprises. That’s one of the things I love most about my life here. There’s a kind of peaceful rhythm to the days—coffee at the usual café, work from my laptop, a bike ride to the beach—but then now and again, something unexpected comes along and shakes things up. The circus was exactly that kind of moment.
I went with a couple of people I’ve gotten to know here—another remote worker from Berlin and a Portuguese friend who grew up just outside of town. The tent was set up near the train station, and by the time we got there, a small crowd had already gathered. Kids were buzzing with excitement, and the air smelled like popcorn and sawdust. It felt nostalgic, in the best way.
The show itself? Let’s just say it was… unique. A mix of acrobatics, spooky theatrics, and a bit of dark comedy. Definitely not for little kids, despite some of them being in the audience. I won’t spoil the specifics, but if you’re curious, I filmed a short clip and uploaded it to YouTube—you can check it out here.
The performers were part of a small, traveling troupe—about ten people in total. You could tell they wore many hats: one moment hanging upside down from a rope, the next selling tickets or helping kids to their seats. It had that scrappy, all-hands-on-deck energy that only small teams can pull off. They did two shows here in Ovar, and the night I went, there were about 100 people in the audience. Tickets ranged from 15 to 30 euros, which probably doesn’t amount to a huge profit, especially in a town this size. I imagine they do better during high season, or when they stop in bigger cities or coastal spots during the summer months.
What stood out more than the performance, though, was the feeling. There I was, in this tiny Portuguese town I now call home, sitting in a circus tent with new friends, watching something utterly bizarre and thoroughly entertaining. A year ago, I never would’ve imagined myself here. Back in London, my weekends were packed with errands, meetups, obligations. Here, they feel open. There’s room for randomness, for saying yes to things like a horror-themed circus without a second thought.
That’s what this digital nomad life in Ovar has become for me—not just about remote work and better weather, but about space. Space to work, to rest, to explore. Space to stumble upon weird and wonderful moments like this one.
I know not everyone dreams of settling in a quiet town with pine forests and empty beaches, but for me, this mix of simplicity and surprise is exactly what I was looking for. Watching a show like Circus of Horror just reminded me how lucky I am to have landed somewhere that still finds ways to surprise me.
So, if you’re ever in Ovar and you see a circus tent going up, go check it out—you might end up with a story to tell too.