Tag: Porto
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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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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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Letting Go
The Things We Treasure Also Weigh Us Down. Why are humans so driven to collect stuff? A few animals, like ravens and magpies collect objects. Cats collect their favorite toys. Foxes like to steal shoes and cache them. But humans are in another league. Some of it makes our lives easier and civilized. Much of…
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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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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.…
Mamie Moves to Portugal 