A sailor's legend

As in any old hotel, the walls of our grand dame have many stories and legends to tell. However, there is one in particular that has captured our imagination…

The short story Hotel Anaidaug (Guadiana, spelled backwards), written by the Portuguese historian Fernando Pessanha, can be seen as a metaphor for the rise and fall of this stunning building in the last decades, as well as a perfect description of the enveloping Portuguese saudade. The book depicts the story of a fisherman who, on a stormy night, arrives in the city. It’s late, dark and cold, and the lights lead him to the hotel, where he seeks shelter. At the bar, he flirts with an elegant lady, but ends up spending the night alone. The following morning, the plot thickens –  he wakes up to a deserted hotel with no guests, no staff, not a single person in sight. Has he lost his mind? Was it just a dream? Why has everybody disappeared without a trace? Only the hotel walls can tell you the answer…