There has been a long interval between posts but I was determined to finish a book by Christmas, which I did. Then I took a few weeks off to celebrate its completion along with the holiday season. I am back now with more stories as I continue on my adventures. My next stop during my visit to the Algarve is Faro, a coastal town with … Continue reading Next Stop, Faro
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Portimao is along the southern coast of Portugal with a strip of beach along a background of beautiful cliffs. It’s a quiet town relative to Lisbon and Porto but becomes extremely busy in the summer as a tourist destination and a point from where you can explore the Algarve. For that reason there is a long strip of commercial enterprise above the beaches made up … Continue reading Portimao
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There are the wonderful buildings in Portugal that go back one, two or more centuries and there is the new which reflects on what has been built before, providing glimpses into the past but designed and built today with an eye towards the future. We will start with the past and the Casa da Alentejo. Originally built in the 1600’s, the Alverca Palace was the … Continue reading Architectural Design: The Old and the New
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The above was created by a street artist who comes from Ireland and has been living in Lisbon for 1 1/2 years. He painted “grato” which means “thankful” or “grateful” in Portuguese and has a similar meaning in old Irish. When I spoke to him about the word, we understood what it meant for both of us. Two weeks ago I enjoyed my first trip … Continue reading Spring in Lisbon: Grato
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Every person I speak to in Lisbon has a fascinating story to tell. There is also the history of Portugal and its reach across continents and the buildings here, they speak volumes, whispering secrets of their past. Lockdown is once again upon us but I am able to walk daily, exploring and discovering something fascinating and/or beautiful around every corner. Walking the streets, though, brings … Continue reading Lisbon: A city with many stories
The Move While living in Cascais, which is a beautiful town, I have been looking for my own place for the last two months. After considering all possible locations in Portugal, I decided I wanted to have easy access to Lisbon. I love the city and from Lisbon I am able to take a train or a short flight to anywhere in the EU and … Continue reading First I was lost in Lisbon, now I live there
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First, some good news about COVID in Portugal. As the graph indicates, due to the vigilance and care that has been taken by those in the government along with the people of Portugal who have followed the guidance and the rules at each stage, Portugal has seen a decline in cases of COVID. We have been warned, though, that Portugal will go into a State … Continue reading Adventures in the ER, hamburgers in Portugal and a shop of prints
On one end of a pedestrian walkway lined with shops and cafes is the Church of Santa Cruz. The other end of the walkway opens to a plaza and a beautiful view of the Mondego River. The plaza is filled with people at cafe tables complimented by a fountain and surrounded by wedding cake buildings. The first two kings of Portugal are buried in the … Continue reading Coimbra: The Town
The week before Christmas has been amazing for me. Seeing how people celebrate the holiday, the similarities and differences from the culture I was raised in, has been refreshing. 1. The Concerto de Natal I want to start with a concert I attended last night, the Concerto de Natal (Christmas Concert) held at Igreja Paroquial de Arcos, a Catholic church in Paco de Arcos which … Continue reading My Five Faves this week
Lost in Lisbon 