Author: Susan

Windy Wednesday, January 22

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What a windy day – all sorts of things are blowing around. It is not pouring rain though, as it has been for two days straight.

Despite the rain, we drove to Lagos yesterday, about an hour from here. It’s a cool walled city and you have to park outside its walls. Luckily it wasn’t raining when we got there, so we could walk in to the fairy-tale-like place. We had lunch at a very old restaurant and it was interesting to see the artifacts and wall hangings displayed. After lunch we walked around and I went to Owl Story, an English language used book store that’s impressively stocked.

We drove back, still largely escaping the rain although overnight it started again and seems to be ready to begin anew today.

At least it isn’t snow.

Sunday, January 19

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We drove to Querenca yesterday expecting to go to their annual Sausage Festival. It’s a sweet and charming town in the mountains and the festival is a huge big deal for the town’s people and those of surrounding areas.

But it wasn’t Saturday, we learned we were away day early. We had lunch instead at a fabulous restaurant (there are only two of them in the town) where I had grilled octopus, my first of the trip.

We went back today and fortunately arrived early so we could park and we walked around before having the best grilled chorizo sausage on a roll ever. Hundreds of people were there and it was an awesome way to spend part of the day

Wednesday, January 15

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This week has been quiet and nice, with a morning trip to the pool, then a little work, a long walk, then enjoying some fish from the market cooked in the apartment.

It is perfect to just live life here in this beautiful environment in our tiny apartment on the beach.

Sunday, January 12

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We drove to the beautiful old fishing village of Ferragudo today, about an hour from where we are staying. On the second Sunday of the month they have a massive flea market along the river. Literally anything can be found there, from clothing to toasters, to ceramics. Handmade rugs, jewelry, and many one-of-a-kind items are sold there and it’s fun to walk along and see all the people and all the wares. I bought a nice leather purse and we got a few kitchen items for the apartment where we are staying.

We had lunch and drove back, having spent most of the morning and early afternoon there.

Friday, January 10

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We have a good routine here in Quarteira, with me able to swim every morning at the beautiful pool near our apartment. Yesterday we walked to a charming restaurant for lunch, through some interesting neighborhoods we wouldn’t have otherwise seen. Lunch was good and we were able to sit outside.

We will see what the weekend brings.

Wednesday, January 8

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We have had some nice sunny days although it is raining now. I walked to the Wednesday “gypsy” market this morning – a nice chilly and windy early jaunt. When I arrived, they were just setting up and seemed to be in no rush. I guess the crowds show up later in the morning and not at the 8am opening, as I did. I got some nice warm sweatpants for 5€.

I’ve been swimming every day which is wonderful. The facility is nice and the pool is top-notch. I feel lucky it’s so close to where we are staying.

I also feel lucky that this city is so walkable. I don’t count my steps, but they’re certainly over 10,000/day.

[view from my walk earlier]

[ Christmas village is packed away]

Monday, January 6

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This morning I checked out the municipal pool and it’s perfect so I got a membership and happily swam some laps. It’s a busy place with all sorts of classes going on seemingly all day, every day.

We walked for an hour, and the Alsace region is bustling for off-season. The weather is perfect, 68° and sunny after a rainy Sunday. Nice day for a bakery stop and a view of the sand alligator.

Back at It

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We arrived in Portugal yesterday, severely jet-lagged but otherwise fine. It took over an hour to get our car from EuroCar because our contract was not written correctly – frustrating but not a big deal.

We drove to Quarteira and found our apartment easily, but the parking space was a bit of a maze to figure out, especially on no sleep.

Sleep is caught up, and we are completely content. It’s 65 degrees outside – perfect for a walk on the beach.

Wednesday: Paris

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Today, our last day in Paris and the last day of our trip, we walked to Montmartre to see the Sacre Coeur church and to wander around the neighborhood. Then we walked around the city for hours, checking out the store windows, having lunch, and doing a little shopping.

We leave for home in the a.m. so it is over and out for my blog for a while.

Have a wonderful Christmas and a fabulous year ahead. I’ll be traveling in 2020 so I’ll check in from time to time.

Thank you for reading my blog.

photos: some of the freelance artists in the square in the Montmartre area of Paris today; a nativity scene protected from the elements; paart of the 300 stairs to get to the highest point in Paris

Tuesday: Paris

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Today we went to the Museum d’Orsay, the French museum with artwork from the 1840s to about 1914. It is housed in an old railway station and is huge. Because of the transportation strike here in Paris, the museum was free today. That meant that lines to get in were very long. It was worth the wait, of course.

After lunch we shopped at Galeries Lafayette, along with it seemed about half of Paris. We walked back to where we are staying, grateful for warm weather our last days here.

photos: from the rooftop at Galleries Lafayette; the huge tree at the store; a painting that is part of the Degas Opera series being shown at the Museum D’Orsay