Ahhhh... Here we are in Portugal again. As I said, it's now 2 years and 8 months since we said goodbye to our season of life in Portugal and all I can say is that it feels really pleasant, familiar and comfortable to be here.
Look at that church in the photo above. It pushes out into the road that leads into the center of the village where we lived. So pretty! So totally unlike any of the beauty we enjoy in Africa. I feel fat and full of life to think that I have the privilege of experiencing such different worlds.
You know what I love about here? I love our friends. I looked around the room during the party on Friday night and thought, "Look at all these crazy people that I love." Drums, guitars, food, friends, noise, children, laughter, tears, prayers, ridiculousness. What a fine list of ingredients for a night.
A brief list of highly enjoyables:
Portuguese coffee
Portuguese bread and butter
Portuguese bread and butter with Portuguese cheese
Portuguese bread and butter with Portuguese cheese and wine
Portuguese barbequed chicken (with Portuguese bread and butter)
Walks on rocky Portuguese paths to rocky Portuguese beaches with Carey
FYI I declined the dip in the cold Atlantic with her. I used to always jump in with Carey but my African blood is a little thin right now.
Now, on the yet-to-be-enjoyed list there is really only one thing outstanding...
I need a morning pastelaria stop. This stop will have to be at some highly frequented very local pastry shop where I can order a warm pastel de nata and a piping hot meia de leite. Translation: I need a cream pastry (similar to a little custard thing) and Portuguese latte. Yes.
Byron thinks it's funny that my pleasures here seem to be all about food. Food AND friends, Byron. Food and friends... What could be better than that??
