Tag: Portugal
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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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A Wet Spring
This blog was meant to be published a month ago, but, well, life and Morocco happened. A long, wet March had us all looking forward to sunnier days. Even the seagulls seemed to wish for a bit of shelter. April brought big improvements, but today on May 1st, an uncomfortable chill drifts in through the windows and…
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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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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…
Mamie Moves to Portugal 