Tag: expat life
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A Sunshine Break in Tavira, Algarve, Portugal
The Brits are onto a good thing when they flee British winters for the Algarve. Last year, during the day after day, week after week of nonstop rain, I made a promise to myself that I would ditch the umbrella and schedule a retreat to a sunny place in 2025. As luck would have it,…
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Discovering a Joyous Celebration of Everyday Porto
I’m well into my third year living in Porto (!) and there are still wonderful surprises to discover. One day I meandered onto a narrow, nondescript street that begins at the top of the hill near the old city wall. As I descended steep stairs, the sight of cheerfully painted walls on the old homes…
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Magical December Lights: Amsterdam, Paris, and Porto
Wishing you joy and peace. 9:15 AM December 25, 2024 It’s a bright, sunny day with a clear blue sky, at 15/59 degrees, forecast to reach 18/64. Christmas music sets a peaceful mood. The coffee is hot and strong, and a cinnamon roll awaits. In early December I traveled to Amsterdam and Pairs, returning home…
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Blink. Gone.
What Happened to Summer? Goodness. I blinked and it was gone. Now here I am in mid-fall, on a perfect sun-filled autumn day. It’s cool in the shade and warm in the sun. I’m sitting outdoors at the new Esquires in the Cedofeita neighborhood, enjoying my usual latte and croissant simples (simple croissant, nothing added).…
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70 Years. I Made It!
Proud to announce that I turned 70 years young on May 27. I’m amazed. It’s been quite a journey, and I’m grateful for most it. Especially, I’m grateful for my current good health. In my twenties I had a chronic illness that left me exhausted every minute of every day. The effort to do simple…
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Boas Festas!
Holiday Time in Porto The lights are on, the music is playing, and the stench aroma of bacalhau permeates every food store and flavors the streets. Compared to the US, Christmas is comfortably understated here. According to the Portugal News, the average spend for Christmas time last year was around €239 (about $263), and this…
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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…
Mamie Moves to Portugal 