It’s “Hey Rene J” Today!

We did our little load of laundry Portuguese-style. The washing takes about three hours in the mini-tub, and the drying is ambient air temp. Oops. How to get it to dry overnight? Ah! Plug the portable heater in the bathroom and close the door. Voila!

While you may have been preparing or dining on turkey, we did laundry and left for dinner, where we enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal of a different kind. Grilled octopus, grilled cod, and kale soup.

Quite frankly, though the whole turkey/stuffing/yams/green bean casserole is not my favorite meal, I think I’ll stick with tradition next time and keep laundry out of the plans. Off we go to experience the wine region in this beautiful country.

The water is so beautiful in most places, and the Douro Riverfront is stunning in its old world charm. We played along the banks, touring a wine cave and studying the viticulture of port wine. It seemed an appropriate and fitting celebration of Thanksgiving.

We count our many blessings both of family and friends. We are equally grateful for the bus driver who let us do a second ride “for free,” because we stupidly got on for a twenty-foot ride. And, we shall toast to the 105-year old grandmother of our wine tour guide. She had a glass of port wine every morning, thus ensuring longevity.

Happy Thanksgiving from Porto.

First of all, the fact that my husband knew this was a street and not a sidewalk is rather impressive. Second, he chose our apartment overlooking the Douro River in Porto, and this alcove juts over the street we drove on! (Not visible in the photo.) We are having fun waving to people and being on display for all to see along this main thoroughfare of scenic beauty. I wonder if anyone is taking our photo?

Obviously, it’s cocktail hour here – 6 pm. Most restaurants don’t even open until 7 or later, so we are forced to make our own happy hour and hope to dine by nine p.m. Yes, it’s rough all around. That’s why those two little lights shine above my esposa’s head. He’s sprouting halos on this adventure!

“You’re doing fine,” were the words of comfort which I heard approximately fifty times yesterday. I think my husband said it to reassure himself.

We had switched drivers, with me taking over the manual shift on the highway, never having the chance to switch back on the busy Lisboa highway! Darting in and out, interpreting Portuguese, turning corners where the building edge WAS the corner, using the mirrors on the intersections to see oppositional traffic, my navigator kept the encouragement going. We arrived safely.

Our hotel sat on the cliffs of the Atlantic coast, literally. I didn’t even venture on the narrow path in front of the facade in the fear I might be blown off! It was a lot of danger for one day.

So today, we relaxed in Fatima with Our Lady’s grace. We needed a peaceful day.

Yesterday we toured the fortress and lighthouse on the most southwestern edge of Europe, as they say here, “the end of the world.” I have felt more desolate in other lands, but that’s probably what was thought in the early navigational world of exploration. Anyway, we drove up to the huge site (over 5,000 steps walking its perimeter) and parked right in front with about five other cars and four motorcycles. Then we saw the throngs of visitors walking up from the parking lots. We remained unmoved.

There was room to park – no signs saying we couldn’t? Additionally, we parked in the first “lighthouse” spot, and immediately in front of the steps leading into our hotel room. We also drove along the pier, bothered by none. These are all benefits of traveling in the off season, as well as being ignorant. They are also bold moves based on the first hotelier who told us, “just drive the wrong way on the one way and you’ll get that first spot on the end of the road. If the police stop you, speak English.”

We usually find out about ignorance four months later, when foreign governments send their tickets for traveling in improper zones, or parking where we shouldn’t. This is clearly the origination of the phrase, “Time will tell.”

Off we go to explore other new worlds and to see what time will tell!

Nights of sleep deprivation can assist you when traveling great distances! I am still able to maintain a fairly sleepless night, even in a foreign country, as well as need a nap in the middle of the day. Even the handsome seminarian giving his talk at the end of Mass in Portuguese couldn’t bring me to sleep. (And it was a rather lengthy chat, but hey, I knew right away what he was saying!) “Rambo” on the television didn’t do it either. I had never seen this incredible icon of filmmaking, so perhaps it was just too interesting to lull me into uninterrupted dreamland? Whatever the reason, I remain groggy, though sun-drenched this morning.

My other achievement is to drop my first article of clothing in the first hotel. I even hand-stitched the little tear I had near a seam pre-travel. However, I discovered a new opening in my trusty linen shirt, so it is now going to become a Portuguese cleaning cloth rather than an American dust rag.

As the sun shines brightly while you delve into REM mode, I vow to give the local cuisine a chance tomorrow. Like sleep patterns, my dining schedule needs some adjustment!

Wonder what Lisbon is like? Stay tuned.

Wednesdays are my “Full-Tilt-Grandma” days. Here is our loosely based day in brief:

1. Arrival and departure of the maternal parent
2. reacquaintance with the floor exercises
3. nap
4. “Tummy Time”
5. bottle
6. ”boingy” thing until boredom
7. piano lessons – as they occur in the same room with “boingy” thing (she is a prodigy, of course)
8. nap
9. ”Big Girl” – she sits in the pink chair and tries to eat the attached toys while Grandma cleans up the kitchen and folds laundry
10. bottle
11. weather permitting – stroll or shopping with Aunt “Pann” (never to early to learn to spot a bargain!)
12. begin again with any one of the previous activities until paternal or maternal influence arrives

Yes, she has me trained, and I love it.

Who has this kind of time? Maybe someone sitting on a long boring airplane trip? I’ll see what I can come up with!. Thanks for the inspiration, “Pabs!”

Yesterday, with the lovely 70 degree weather, I hung ten strands of Christmas lights, swept out the garage, chopped and pruned plants, and then stared at the mums. I was exhausted. I suddenly recalled my sister’s thoughtful meme, sent last week. I almost got the spray paint and went for it, but that would have required a trip to the basement. So, I just considered this option.

Passing along useful gardening tips as we saunter towards winter.