Rest

November 29

Day 49

We were given the gift of a cold in Lisbon.  Luckily we were with Joe who gave us preventative medicines.  I had some packed as well, just in case.  My cold lasted a day, Tony's day is today. So it looks like we'll save touring till Thursday.

It's nice to catch up with home and emails and find lost things while hanging around the apartment and resting and sitting in the sun. 

My Mom used to send me to the sunshine when I had a cold.  Even in winter, she'd plop me in the reflection of sun off the snow to bake the cold out of me.

We are hoping it works here!

Tony's recovering, finishing a screenplay he will submit to an agent soon.

(Prayers and Good Wishes please!)

 I'm going to find the beach.

I had coffee with the flock this morning.  I hope you can see the seagulls lounging in the water.

I can't express how annoying it is that they can swim in the pools.

The dichotomy of these pools is killing me.  It's about 65° outside. The locals are wearing khakis and fleece.  I am wearing shorts and a T shirt and flip-flops. 

In the above photo I can't feel my feet.

This happened to me in the south of France once (again off season) where I actually got in the pool.  I couldn't swim fast enough to make my heart beat.

I guess when it's off season here.  It's completely off.

However, the beach paid off on spades!

I can't wait to go back tomorrow and see what the flock has left me!

Every moment is new.

Every moment contains joy, if we can just remember to pay attention to it.

That was my meditation message this morning.

Love ya, mean it!

Tavira

November 27

Day 47

After the surprise luxury of First Class Apartment 1A, we have moved.  However, I'd say this new place is definitely a Business Class 6A.

We have plenty of room.

Two balconies.

With a view.

The real tragedy of this magnificent pool is that it's 70° on our balcony, 65° outside, and the pool water is 60°.  The seagulls love it.

And these are our bed(s).

Hahahaha!

Tony may be sleeping on the couch even though he didn't do anything wrong this week...

We do have internet so we are hoping for a chat with these guys.

We really miss these guys.  

I fear we have become rather creepy in our admiration of other people's children.

Tony's writing today.  I'm drawing.  I'll let you know how it all turns out!

Last Lisbon

November 26

Day 46

Jaime's 30 Something Birthday!

After some really fun days in Lisbon with Joe, we have moved on to Tavira, Portugal.  It's way south and only about an hour from Joe.  We are hoping to see him again after he gets some homework done.

We toured a couple more places in Lisbon with Joe.

We visited the Pantheon.  It was part of the landscape from our fabulous Apartment 1A.  So we were curious about it.

It's a former cathedral where Lisbon pays homage to dead famous people.  They have sarcophagui, but sometimes the famous are buried elsewhere.

We couldn't quite figure out it's purpose, but it was pretty. 

I also found what the true symbol of Christianity should be.  Life. 

As opposed to suffering and death symbolized by the cross.

Just thought I'd share.

The Monastery of the Jerónimos in Lisbon is museum and cloister. It's huge and beautiful!

They had a few garage sale items.

We went to the Castilo de São Jorge again.  This time it was sunny!

There were musicians.

And a play.

And a herd of peacocks.

And the views.

We walked to many Miradores.

And down this hill. That last pic was from the top.

Then we found this cool building that someone traced on the ground with rocks. 

Shit is just wild sometimes.

Tony opened his wine bar.

I had coffee.

And Joe surveyed all the land he could see that was his.

It was a good day.

Happy Birthday, Jaime Far Away!

Happy Day After!

November 25

Day 45, I think.

Lisbon, Alfama area.

I always loved the day after Thanksgiving.  No one expected anything of me that day.

Enjoy.

Lisbon 2

November 23

Day 43 (I think)

Today we hung around Lisbon proper.

We are walking about 5 miles a day, so we are staying in some sort of shape!

The day started out with a banana plant so big it got tagged.

Then we got some love.

Then we started so see random bubbles.  It was a cloudy day, and there would be bubbles floating overhead.

Well, we had to solve that mystery.  We headed toward the Baixa district, 4 or 5 blocks away.

And we found the fantastic bubble man near the statue in the Praça do Comercio.

Kudos to Tony and his wind directional skills.

His Laurel wreaths are well deserved.

I may have mentioned the Unrestrained holiday cheer of The "Natal" (Christmas time) here.

These guys were making a private video that cheered everyone!

We found an ornament.

And a new friend.  He's famous, I think.

And a peacock.

And a starry street.

We stopped by the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos.

And the Torre de Belém.

It wasn't that big...

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

What are you thankful for?

We are thankful for our family we miss so often.  We are thankful we can travel.  And we are thankful we are healthy.

And we are thankful for you, Dear Reader.

Enjoy!

Lisbon

November 22 

I was going to try and combine two days of touring into one post. I am getting behind because of all the fun.

But I can't. 

Day 42

We took a tour to Sintra.  First stop, Palacios Nacional da Pena.

What a colorful place!

I like this freestyle use of color and tile.

Nice bed for a King.

Nice handrail.

The Party Room.  Tony was not surprised that they had 11 children.

The stonework was A Maze Za Zing.

And then there's this guy.  It was weird because he is next to the exit for the bathrooms. 😆 

 

Then we went to the creepiest place I have ever been. Really.  I think that is the absolute truth.

Quinta da Regaleira.

It's a really lovely garden, cool and green, with circular paths up and down.  Our tour guide left us there with this admonishment:

Left is Sinistre in Latin.  Only turn right in this place to get out.

K.

So the highlight of this park is something called The Initiation Well.  It was used to initiate those who wanted to be a member of the  Knights Templar.  I will not be one, sadly.

Tony might.

You walk to the bottom and out through a cave.  Regular people have lighting.  The Templar candidates were blindfolded.

I made it to the first step, then properly freaked out.

It would be the perfect place to hide a grail.

But the garden has other qualities.

Like a nice mosaic wall.

And a really gingerbread castle.

Uggh.  I never have to go there ever again.

Tony had a different experience, but he's not writing this blog.

Then we went to the edge of the world to wave at our continent, but it was too cloudy to see America. 😞 

We ended our day with a great meal and some local FADO.  (Music)

The host and waiter and one of the cooks entertained us, after all  orders were taken!

Tony is living it up.  Note the "AF" on the barrel next to his head.

Also these guys.  Our new best friends in the neighborhood of Alfama.