I was reading Tom Lake by the window and looked out as we approached the coast of Portugal. A blue I see in dreams and far far below, white capped waves. Our apartment for a week: cupboards and a wardrobe and some walls painted the Wedgewood blue we have in our house, window frames, doors, chairs to place under the pergola for summer dinners. And here? Walls: butter yellow. The door to our little balcony: nearer to tansy. Our family arrived 10 minutes after we did, bringing pastel de Nata tarts, joy. A long meal — Iberian pork with chestnuts,salt cod, sausage of black Iberian pork, calde Verde soup. And wine. Now they are gone to their own temporary home, grandsons wearing the Roman amulets I bought them at Verulamium. We will meet tomorrow for a boat ride on the Douro and more pastel de Nata tarts. And now? I will finish Tom Lake.
...Theresa Kishkan 
LOVE it!!! Seeing the world from above is the most joyous part of travel. I can’t get enough of it. Sooo glad you’re with the fam. As you probably know, I am holding down the fort for F&M. I have yet to step outside as i am so happily ensconsed in their cheery house. Reading. Maybe even writing. Isn’t it funny that you and I met online so many years ago and it has led to THIS???!! I am still amazed by happenstance. The happiest of times for all of you. xoxo A
Andrea, we are in our flat, the boys and I just swam (pool very cold but we lived it anyway), and we are watching 7 feral cats sleeping on the roof next door. Happenstance, serendipity, all of it! We send our love.
Oh, I would love to see those cats settled somewhere they feel safe! 🙂
[…] this is what flying to Portugal looks like […]