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An Extraordinary Weekend in Rome
Wow. Holy Cow. Wow. I think I repeated those words at least a hundred times over the weekend. Whether it was food, seaside views, or historic Roman landmarks, it was a captivating experience. But the best part was spending time with my extraordinary niece, Elaine, her equally extraordinary Scottish husband, James, and their white cat,…
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Yeah, Fall is Here
Wow! So much has happened since I came back from Madrid. Here’s a whirlwind recap. Early October was hot and dry. It felt more like August than October. Finally the rains came, and they have not stopped. Normally we get some nice sunny breaks in between the rain, but those have been scarce. When the…
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Madrid
A Marathon 24 Hours October 1, 2023 Handsome. Regal. Confident. My first impression of Madrid. Madrid is an easy 1-hour flight from Porto. Of the long list of places I’ve wanted to visit, there were two reasons Madrid was on the list. It’s the home of extraordinary art museums that house many of the works…
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It’s Coming
Sunday, September 17, 2023 About 8 days ago, the first leaves skittered down the street. You know that sound: it’s a playful, crackling sound with just a hint of menace. Last week the first perfectly gold leaves appeared on the sidewalk. Today is overcast, with off and on rain showers. The light breezes have escalated…
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Festival Sao Joao
The Saint and Sardine Mashup Also music, dancing, feasting, Super Bock, parades, more music, more Super Bock, more dancing, more music, more Super Bock, and fireworks. Festival Sao Joao is a week-long festival that originated as a pagan celebration in the 14th century. It was repurposed by the Catholic Church as a festival for St.…
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Questions You Have Asked, Part 2
Have you met people? Have you made some friends? It’s easy to meet fellow expats here. There are multiple Facebook groups sharing information, events, and experiences. I joined a group called International Womens Chat. We exchange information on WhatsApp (the must-have app in Europe, everyone uses it). This is an amazing group, hailing from many…
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Questions You Have Asked, Part 1
What do you do all day? I’m asked this question a lot, and I’m a little nonplussed as to how to answer. Did you ever have a busy day, but when someone asked what you did, you couldn’t really say? You just know you were busy. I could tell you about the hours spent going…
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Stop That Thief!
Porto is considering making it illegal to feed seagulls. They are noisy, messy, wily thieves. I was having lunch by the river in Ribeira when two gulls swooped in and stole cod pastries right off my plate, swift as a hawk on a dove, without so much as a “Pardon me, have you finished yet?”…
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Street Art and Color
Color Everywhere To all my readers, thanks for your encouragement and feedback! Some of you have mentioned that you are having trouble subscribing. If you add your email below, you should receive a confirmation email in your inbox. Check your spam/junk folder if you do not see it. It is not necessary to create a…
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Home
Friday, February 3, 2023 I’m working again from my “office” at Esquires. Finishing my second perfect latte and typing at jingly-jangly top speed. It was a smooth flight home two weeks ago, and I walked off the small jet from Amsterdam to feel a warm sun on my back. It’s good to be home to…
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Mamie Moves to Portugal 