I didn’t think he was going to let me in. The customs agent at Dublin Airport. He asked how long I was staying, how much money did I have (i.e. can I support myself while I’m here), did I know anyone here, what jobs do they have, when was my departure date, why didn’t I have a ticket for my flight out and, since I … Continue reading Dublin & my Friends
I’d like to show you a random, crazy mix of pictures I’ve taken since I’ve been here in Portugal whilst I tell you a bit about my experience…. I should know better by now. I tell myself I do know better, but then find myself doing it again. That is, having expectations. Many, many years ago I saw a photo I can still see in … Continue reading Lisbon, Portugal – Part 2
National Geographic recently had a cover story about a man who surfed an 80 foot wave at Nazaré, Portugal, breaking the world’s record as largest wave ever to be surfed. From what I understand, this record has already been broken, but I still wanted to see the spot where it happened. And I did (maybe not as thoroughly as I would have had I discovered … Continue reading Nazaré & Skateistan
I’m so glad I went to Monserrate Palace today (and you’ll be happy to learn I wasn’t an idiot and took the bus!). The gardens surrounding the palace are lovely and peaceful. The history is long and convoluted and ownership of the property has changed numerous times over the centuries. Building of the current structure began around 1860. I’d like to simply share with you … Continue reading Monserrate
From Lisbon, I took a train to Sintra day before yesterday. This is the train station in Lisbon from which I departed. I remember thinking at the time, “Wow, I get to go through those doorways!” Beautiful. Here are a few first impressions of Sintra. Below is part of the ‘Historic Center’ of town which is very touristy (said the tourist). But, it’s still charming. … Continue reading Sintra, Portugal
Quoting from the Unesco World Heritage website: “The Águas Livres Aqueduct is a baroque architectural infrastructure….. built between 1731 and 1799. It is a hydraulic structure that stretches over 36 miles, built of cut stone quarried in the Lisbon area. It was the last great classical aqueduct to be built all over the world, constituting a system for the capture and transport of water which … Continue reading Águas Livres Aqueduct & Cascais
I titled this ‘Part 1’ because I’ll be leaving Lisbon in a few days, but then coming back for a few more. At that time, I’ll be staying at another hostel in another neighborhood so I’ll most likely have different things to share with you. I have so many pictures to show you in this post that I’ll just get right into it. I’ll be … Continue reading Lisbon, Portugal – Part 1
After a delayed flight from Boston due to the hurricane in the Atlantic, I arrived at Terceira, a small island in the Azores archipelago. It’s sort of in the middle of the Atlantic, but leaning to the east, off the coast of Morocco and Portugal. It ‘belongs to’ Portugal (a fact it would have behooved me to remember once I arrived in Portugal proper). It … Continue reading Terceira
After missing my bus (for which I’d previously purchased a ticket) in Saco, Maine due to the fact that there was no signage and no bus shelter (in the pouring rain) and no indication that I was supposed to wait out by the street instead of at the actual bus station (can you tell I’m irritated with Greyhound?), I called an Uber which took me … Continue reading Boston and the Cousins
Okay, catching you up…. After my months in California, I flew to Portland, Oregon to see my son Paul, his daughter, Dominique and to meet Paul’s girlfriend, Sam. It had been an insanely long time since I’d seen Paul and I could barely stop hugging him! Sam took this picture. I spent a couple weeks at his place in Vancouver, Washington, just over the river … Continue reading Pacific Northwest
