Tag: Porto
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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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APPROVED
Just as I was publishing the December update earlier this week, an email from the Portuguese Consulate arrived: “We inform that your visa was approved and is now ready to be issued, you can send us your passport by mail so we can stamp the visa and mail it back to you as soon as…
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Bolhao Market
The famous Bolhão Market is an open-air market that covers an entire city block. It’s an easy 5-minute walk from my apartment. Over 100 years old, it just reopened in September after a complete renovation. More than 600,000 visitors strolled through in September alone. I go here several times a week for the outstanding fresh…
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Esquires Coffee, Porto
The Best Way to Begin Your Day in Porto The day is quickly approaching for my return to the US to complete my long-term visa application. In this blog, I’m bidding “See you when I return” to the team at Esquires Coffee. I was surprised to learn that it’s a franchise, because it doesn’t feel…
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Ribeira: On the Edge of the Douro
The image above is a view from Ribeira across the river to Vila Nova de Gaia, where the famous port wineries are located. Here’s another video attempt, from my walk down in the Ribeira district. Ribeira is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Happy Halloween
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Seeking the Palacio de Cristal
Mischief and Delusion Afoot The plan for my Sunday morning walk was to visit the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal, or Crystal Palace. The original crystal palace that was modeled after the Crystal Palace in London is long gone, but attractive gardens and views of the river remain. Having studied the location on my…
Mamie Moves to Portugal 