I would much rather explore Portugal than explore my own psyche. Approaching seventy this month, a startling number that just kinda snuck up on me, there are not many crevices in my mind that I have not explored. But this latest lockdown leaves me with few exploratory options. Knowing that Portugal previously had this virus seemingly under control makes this second lockdown harder than last year’s.
Portugal was doing better than most of Europe until people thought that the worst had passed. Then people started gathering in larger groups, wearing masks became hit or miss and borders reopened. Cathy and I, although being very cautious, also became a little more complacent. When Covid cases spiked last month, we became hermits once again and our hair returned to its unruly natural state.
I feel fortunate that we experienced so much of Portugal before Covid, and even during Covid when things opened up a bit. But as it turns out, things obviously opened up too much and too soon. It is disappointing being separated from friends and restricted from travel within Portugal. But it is necessary. Fortunately, with the new, strictly enforced restrictions, numbers have begun to improve again this month, so there is hope. Vaccinations have also begun in earnest and we are scheduled for a March jab.
Dog Days of Winter?
The dog days I am referring to here are not like those of summer with people fanning themselves to keep cool. This has been a rather chilly winter, actually. But during this lockdown, my wife has intensified her desire to adopt a dog and is actively searching. Apparently, my company is not filling that loneliness gap that the lockdown has created. We haven’t had a dog since our Golden Retriever, Lucy, died over twenty years ago.
Cathy will never mourn me as long and hard as she did Lucy, but I can understand that. Lucy was easier to train and her attention was 100% on Cathy all the time, being the besties that they were. Lucy even brought gifts of mangos and avocados stolen from other people’s yards when we lived in Hawaii. She would excitedly, but gently, bring them home with hardly a tooth mark.
Last week, we heard that our friends, Nita and Gary, lost their loving Golden Retriever, Gracie. We could immediately relate to their pain even though it has been twenty years since Lucy crossed the Rainbow Bridge. My granddaughter, Satya the dog whisperer, suggested to me that Cathy needs another dog. How could I refuse?
Perusing doggy Facebook groups and websites, Cathy discovered one site that lifted her spirits. She found someone whose grandmother was in the hospital and had puppies who needed to find a new home. These pups were a three and a half hour drive north of us and Cathy would have had us immediately jump in the car if we had been allowed to travel during the lockdown, which we weren’t. The granddaughter, accommodating soul that she was, was prepared to hire a service to deliver one of the adorable pups to us. All we had to do was pay a couple hundred euros for delivery and a few other miscellaneous fees.
As it turned out, it was too good to be true and just an internet scam. I borrowed Cathy’s phone to text the culprit, letting the scumbag know, for what it was worth, that they should be ashamed of themselves for scamming innocent people. The sociopath responded with a GIF of a woman is skintight leggings, her butt jiggling as she walked away. Apparently, it was intended to be a “Bye, Felicia” moment.
Not a bad GIF, all things considered, even though he exhibited no guilt or remorse (I am assuming this was a male mastermind). But he was not quite done yet. The next GIF, sent a few minutes later, was of someone throwing a snowball directly at us. Not as satisfying as his first insult. But then, sequels are rarely as good as the original.
An Entrepreneur’s Dilemma
Another potentially hazardous side effect to the lockdown is that I start to get dangerous ideas of how to fill my free time. Many people look forward to retirement as freedom from the drudgery of going to work at a job that kinda sucks. But as an entrepreneur, I never had a real job. While I don’t miss the stress of trying to solve cashflow problems or deal with the occasional unreasonable customer, I do miss the manic high of coming up with a better mousetrap and bringing it to market.
So, I have found myself researching creative outlets. I almost pulled the trigger on a 3d printer to create unique chess pieces or whatnot. But then I read about needing to control the humidity and the temperature and installing an air filtration system and realized that these were the kinds of steps that I left behind when I retired. The fire in the belly does not burn hot enough to overcome those kinds of obstacles. I would definitely encourage someone else to pursue the many new opportunities out there, though. I think that once the darkness of the pandemic passes, it will be a new dawn for entrepreneurs.
Some of my thoughts come while walking along the cobblestone “boardwalk” to find the perfect bench to sit on and contemplate the boundless possibilities while gazing at the equally boundless ocean. Unfortunately, those benches are roped off during the lockdown, as you can see from the yellow ribbons on these benches in the town square, so now when I go out to walk I need to keep walking. Sitting and thinking is one of my favorite activities, if you can call that an activity. Okay, not quite as active as hiking and biking.
Digital Nomad Village
This month, Europe’s first digital nomad village opens up in Ponta do Sol, a town on the island of Madeira, Portugal. Madeira sits somewhere between the coasts of the Portugal mainland and Morocco. If it hadn’t been for Covid, I am sure we would have visited it by now. I love island life, having lived on Kauai, Maui, Oahu, the Big Island and Guam. Although, I do like the conveniences of living somewhere that is connected by land to other points of interest (which we are still hoping to explore at some point).
I would encourage any young person to consider occupations that can be worked remotely. You will have freedom to move anywhere your heart desires. And even if your heart desires to stay put where you are, although you may not fall under the digital nomad category, at least you won’t spend hours out of your day, or years of your life, commuting to work. It takes a little more focus and determination to work on your own, but the pros outweigh the cons, in my opinion.
Anyway, the pilot project for Madeira’s Nomad Village will be limited to 100 digital nomads accepted by application. Probably not as difficult to be accepted as it is to get on Shark Tank, but the competition might be stiff. It sounds like a dream come true for 100 lucky winners, though!
Random Thoughts and Observations
Seeing as I can’t introduce you to new places during the lockdown, I will share some random sights and scenes from around Ericeira town. Ponte do Comando is a beautiful view spot, as you can see from the pictures, situated near the center of town. I don’t know the history behind it but there is a rusty old cannon sitting at the point, so it obviously had some military importance. Although, one cannon wasn’t going to offer much protection. Fortunately, others are scattered along the coast as you will see when you take that walk someday.
The picture of the shopping cart is not nearly as exciting as pictures of Madeira would be if we had been free to visit. However, being new to Portugal and noticing that I never saw abandoned carts here, I wondered if maybe the Portuguese were just overly obedient. But the trick is an ingenious system here where shopping carts require you to insert a 50 cent or a 1€ or 2€ coin to unlock it from the train of carts. When you return your cart, the coin pops out when you lock it back to the other carts. This little added incentive makes all the difference in the world. A simple solution.
Another Portuguese invention is the toll system on the highways. You get this little box that attaches to your windshield and it is scanned as you pass through the tollbooth. You get a printout emailed to you each month and the amount from the tolls is deducted from your bank account. Portugal isn’t the only country to use this but it is supposedly a Portuguese invention. I can’t state that for a fact, though.
Speaking of cars and Ericeira sightings, here are a few cool, decorated vehicles I’ve seen around the village.
The Misery Index
Before deciding on Portugal as our destination, I looked at a lot of charts and graphs put out by Forbes and International Living and other publications. They showed different categories for cost of living, healthcare, weather, food, wine and happiness (wine and happiness seem to go hand in hand but happiness is hard to quantify, in my opinion). Portugal seemed to always be near the top of these lists, though, which is why we decided to visit before we fell in love with it at first sight.
Recently, I came across a Misery Index, ranking countries by misery. It ordered countries from worst to first along the misery spectrum. Fortunately, Portugal was nowhere near the top. I think that honor was awarded to Venezuela. But I found the premise of the list to be a bit odd. Talk about a glass-half-empty outlook on life! All one had to do was flip the chart on its head and call it The Pleasure Index, which is what I would have chosen to do. I think Portugal would rank in the top ten of anyone’s pleasure list.
Our New Home Update
My next blog will be from our new apartment. I know that I said that last time, but I was wrong. I am not wrong this time because we are scheduled to move in later this month. They were putting the finishing touches on the stair steps and painting the interior yesterday, so I know that we are close. It will be two years next month since we first made a verbal commitment for this place that had not yet broken ground.
As tempting as it was to buy something already built and ready to move into, we didn’t see anything that appealed to us and the older construction leaves a lot to be desired in the way of insulation and heating. I don’t like being cold and although most things are cheaper here than in the US, energy is not one of those things. You could spend a lot of money heating your home if it isn’t equipped properly. The Portuguese people are from a sturdier stock, apparently.
Super Bowl Prediction – KC 34 TB 24
Tonight is the Super Bowl. Kickoff is at 11:30pm here in Portugal. I don’t even make it to midnight on New Year’s Eve but watching Mahomes and Brady is more exciting than watching a ball drop in Time Square, which nobody even tries to catch.
I am publishing this blog now so that you don’t think that I cheated when I hit the score smack on the head. Legal Disclaimer: I will not be personally responsible for any bets based on my prediction.
About the Painting Featured on top of this Blog
Maybe saving the best for last in this Lockdown Edition of Portugal Expat Life, is the feature painting used for this blog. It is from an 1888 engraving from an unknown artist. It was also used on a cover of Donovan’s 1971 album, Cosmic Wheels. My brother, Larry, laboriously and creatively painted the rendition I posted above as the feature image. It has been interpreted as one’s quest for knowledge of the universe. It can also be interpreted as searching one’s own mind, but maybe that’s just me.
Tchau, tchau, until next time.. from our new place, I promise!
Another great addition. Your blog is always read immediately, and this time it helped me with my SB bet.
You gave me a good stock tip, which I didn’t take, unfortunately. But one good turn deserves another!
Love this post Bob!
Your observations on this phase of the lockdown mirror my experience in Philly. I also HAD to get a cat, ergo, Miss Margot. She’s 9 yrs old and diabetic, lol.
Though I have and continue to find ways to enrich my cocoon, I keep a proverbial string to my post covid loves of my city life.
I do find, the smaller my physical world confines me, the wider my interests and pursuits have become. I consider myself part of the privileged.
Blessings,
Sally
Well, I hope that you and Miss Margot are becoming best buds. You have always had a wide range of interests, though!
Good to hear from you, as always.
Regarding the coins for supermarket carts, Aldi’s here does that.
Same with turnpike tolls…I have the box on my windshield.
Regarding the dog, My Bichon died this past Spring and I miss him terribly I tried for months to rescue and adopt, but found it frustrating. Now I’ve spoken to a breeder in N.H. Didn’t want to spend Breeder $$$s, but now I am reconsidering. Since my pup died, we have adopted two cats. A 7 month old and a nine year old. Ari is their complete caretaker, so they really aren’t ‘mine’. So, do I really want another dog, start walking that dog in whatever weather New England might be having. How much do I want that unquestionable loyalty and love? I’m really torn. So U commiserate with Cathy, totally.
Seventy! I could not say the word when that bday came around…really! If someone asked, I would answer, ” 7…0″! But, now at 75, who cares! Nobody is looking at us oldies here in the US. Portugal may have a different sensibility about senior citizens. I have ‘covid hair’, wear sweatpants a lot more than ever before, and rarely wear a bra. Nobody is looking at me the few times I’m out in public.
So enjoy that 70th bday…
Walking a dog in New England winter weather? Now, that is love!
Great read as always!
Can’t wait until Cathy picks out a pup.
We have an appointment to meet one this Tuesday in Óbidos. She is seven months old. Nika might have a new friend.
Thank you for the wonderful blog, and the waiting is beautiful! I hope Covid gets under control soon in Portugal (and everywhere), and you will be able to resume your explorations of Portugal. Looking forward to seeing your new place!
Thank you, Donna! I suppose patience is a virtue, right?
Hi Bob…I always enjoy reading your blogs, but especially this one…I can so relate to your feelings about the pandemic lockdown, introspection, and turning (oh geez) 70. I keep telling myself that it beats the alternative, so I’ll take it. We went through a similar experience about getting another dog, I yearned for one and Ricky was 100% against it. Our last one passed away on Valentine’s Day about 7 years ago and I didn’t think that I would ever want to put myself through that pain of loss again. But as time went on, I felt like I just did not want to live the rest of my life without that unconditional kind of love that a dog brings. I finally wore Ricky down and what did we do? We got not one, but two puppies! A brother and sister from a breeder in Indiana. (We tried to rescue a dog, but couldn’t find one that worked out.) We have had three Shih Tzus in our married life and Ricky has never been fond of any of them. It took awhile, but he now loves our Shih Tzus, although he is reluctant to admit it! We got them before the pandemic, but having them during this past year has been a blessing. They are so comforting to both of us and since we can’t hug our families or friends (except through my fleece-lined vinyl tablecloth) hugging them just feels so good. They surely do keep us busy! Walking them is great…(except sometimes the morning walks when we just don’t feel like getting up yet) and has provided us with a lot of socialization with our neighbors…we all wear masks outside and since we live in an active community there is always someone outside to interact with…at least 6 feet away of course! Lots of our neighbors have dogs as well, so even our dogs have friends. So my friend…get Cathy that dog she wants just as soon as the right one comes along…and you will be very happy that you did! I hope to read about your new fur-baby in your next blog. Stay safe and stay healthy!
Ricky’s negotiating skills are legendary! He is 100% against getting a dog so you end up with two! We are going to look at a dog on Tuesday to give it a test drive. If she doesn’t lunge for my testicles like my granddaughter’s dog has been known to do, then she’s a keeper!
I hope that this puppy works out for you guys…but if not, the right one will come along. Walk in backwards and you will be fine!
Enjoying your Portugal updates. Looking forward to photos of your new place, and word that the lockdown was lifted. Brother Larry does some very nice work. Stay safe.
Lots of pictures of our new place next month. I absolutely, positively guarantee it!
Wonderful reading from a fellow “Ericeirian” or Jargoz -perhaps wrong spelling but what the locals call themselves. Such wonderful pictures too of the town we love as much as you and delighted that your apartment is so nearly underway. We are on hold until the Sellers – my husband’s fellow countrymen!! – arrive…… Will they, won’t they but they will not get a Power of Attorney. Perhaps why we decided we wanted to be with the Portuguese! Enjoy the game tonight and really hope Pup comes home from Obidos on Tuesday. Our next move too.
Good luck on your new place, Helen! I know there is a lot of stress in moving and building and buying and all that stuff but it will be worth it in the end. So, a new dog on the horizon for you too?
Great post Bobby!
And I got a kick out of your comment on my negotiating skills.
And young Bar Oz painted a beautiful picture (if I understood that correctly).
Good luck with the dog and the move…looking forward to see pictures of both.
Stay well.
Yes, Larry painted it from the original black and white. We really want you and Shelley to visit but will Shelley be able to part with her two babies for that long?
Loved reading your blog aloud with David…itchy to visit Portugal…sometime, I’m sure.
I hope you and David can visit either this year or next.
Bob, did you ever visit Molokai when you were in Hawaii? Its still my favorite of the Hawaiian Islands. // Great post. Always a pleasure to read and see. Im glad the Portugal Covid flare-up is abating some. I had just about the Portugal surge a short time ago and wondered how you two were handling it. Many congrats on the new place. // Stay safe. I look forward to your next edition. // Best always, R
Unfortunately, I never made it to Molokai. But I hear it is beautiful. Hawaii is a magical place. Awfully expensive, though.
Why are you not posting pictures of your apartment as it is being built… or did I miss them?
PS. Happy Soon To Be Your Birthday!
Good idea, Anita! When I post pictures of our finished apartment next month I will also post a few showing the painstaking, brick by brick progress along the way. And thank you for the good wishes. No super-spreading 70th birthday bash this year. It will just have to wait for my 80th!
As always Bob, your blogs are a delightful piece of entertainment. What would have kept us entertained during this difficult time.? Thank goodness for your terrific sense of humor. So sorry about the puppy scam, that really is a hit below the belt. Karma will get them! Good luck with your move, hope it’s everything you dreamed of. And an early happy birthday for the big one,!,
I was thinking of you because I know that you babysit a lot of dogs. Damn, it is hard work! In March I will write more about our new home and new dog, Skywalker. On another subject, last month I added little random monsters that appear next to everyone’s names because I get tired of looking at blank profile pics. And just the other day I added a new feature that lets you receive an email when someone responds to your comment. Prior to that, there was no way to know if your comment was published without checking back. I haven’t tested it so I hope it works. I have to approve each comment because I get so much spam that if I didn’t do that, the comment section would be filled with kinky sex stuff, which I save for my other blog site. Nah, just kidding (or am I?).
70 … ? Yawn.
You’ll get over it. Now, when you find not much else to ponder upon, and no bench upon which to ponder, you can dwell on what to put off until tomorrow. So, until later this month relish the age you are, it’s a good number.
The sun is shining and today looks like an excellent pondering day.
Hi Bob.
I just stumbled upon your blog and have really enjoyed your writing. Thank you for combining some Portuguese history with your everyday life events (which sound great, by the way!!).
My husband and I are also on that list to explore Portugal and are waiting for borders to open. We’re Canadian but I also have German citizenship and will use that to apply for residency which should be a lot easier. I don’t think I read anywhere in your blog about changing your US driver’s license over. Was that a fairly easy process?
In the meantime, I will continue to experience Portugal through your blog and look forward to the day we’ll be able to have our own experiences there.
Karen
Hi Karen. Welcome to my blog! True, I don’t believe that I have talked about changing our driver’s licenses. It is not too complicated if you do it in a timely fashion. There used to be a six months’ window and now it is a year or maybe two. But if you don’t do it in the time allotted then you have to take the test in Portuguese. I can pretty much promise that you will not pass that. One thing you do need is your driving abstract from the US if you are converting from a US license. Hope you can make it here in the near future! Study the rules of the roundabouts in the meantime.
Thanks for that. I had heard of the driving abstracts and have looked into getting them here. Yes, those roundabouts are something else!! We have encountered them in many countries that we have travelled in. It seems a little easier when you use them on a regular basis. Then they are wonderful and you wonder why we don’t have more of them in North America instead of all those stupid traffic lights!!
Aloha Bob, yes Maui is getting more expensive as people are retiring from the mainland and buying up the North Shore. I’m managing living off the grid, growing my food, with sons who hunt and fish! Maybe you two will come visit me before I get to Portugal! BTW, I was marveling at your art choice since I had a poster of that on my hippie wall forever!! Sorry about your experience with that dog shyster…and best of luck with your dog quest. I love my big bear Aussie. He’s a farm dog, so he never comes in the house but every nite I’m out on my porch lying on him and telling him all my secrets. WE are all turning 70 in 2021! I never thought that would happen when I was watching Jimi Hendrix at Gulfstream! But being 21 years into 2000 is really blowing my mind! Here we are though…Blessed Birthday to you and me and the class of 1969!!! Aloha and a hui ho ho ho
Thank you, Laurie! Yes, the 3-day Miami Pop Festival of 1968 is etched in my mind forever. Well, maybe not etched, but it is floating around in there somewhere. Hendrix, Joplin, Three Dog Night, Blood Sweat & Tears, The Turtles and too many other greats to list or remember. Those were the best of times!
Hola Bob (y Laurie L.) Love the post & updates-
Brought back memories of that concert ’68 or whatever it was … S. Shneid & me ‘lost n found’ it those days on some ‘green-flats’ omg muy trippy that I can not put into speaking terms. But Lots O laughs … Entering my 5th year Xpat Mexico… Hoping travel opens wide soon. My plans have been put on ‘hold’ … But all considered, happy to be in Chelem / Progreso/ chuburna / Merida on the Yucatan TFN… S.E. Asia will have to wait. No entrada w/ USA passport ar this time. But wait for it. Best of luck in Da New Crib on Da coast — peace be our journey. Nos vemos pronto amigo —-
And you missed the SuperBowl outcome by many kilometres jajajaja 🙂
I was hoping nobody would notice.
Good one, Bob! Sorry about the dog scam – I truly hope that guy gets rabies from a vicious dog bite one day soon. I can hardly wait for you and Cathy to get the green light to move into your new house! Your next blog must show lots of photos of your new digs or your blog followers will revolt, ha ha! Also, I LOVE Larry’s painting! Take care!
We are scheduled to move all of our stuff in on March first! So we will be part of the stuff. The blog will follow shortly after that with pictures galore!
As always Bob, your writing amazes me. You are an incredibly creative guy in so many arenas. We are so excited to come and see you when all of this is over.
Thanks, Dave! We were so disappointed when you and Karen had to cancel last time but this time will be be even better!
That’s some adventure, Bob. Best wishes on your move. May you live there in eternal good health!! Thanks for the tour. The vehicles were great. The lockdown sounds like it really sucked. We got our vaccines. Gonna at least take a flight to Denver visit our son and 3 yr old grandaughter who we haven’t seen in a year. Happy Trails my friend!
Thank you, Marc! I am very happy for you to be able to finally see your son and granddaughter again. Have fun!
Hi Bob,
I’m set to move to Portugal in a few years after I retire. I’m considering Cascais, Setubal, Lagos, and Ericeira. I plan on being car-less, at least for a while. Is Ericeira doable without a car if one plans on using public transportation and walking to get to stores, medical appointments, etc.? Are there other coastal towns in the area you would recommend? Thank you!
Hi Donna. Stores are not a problem in Ericeira without a car. For medical appointments you would probably need to catch a bus. There is no train depot here but a very good bus system as long as you plan ahead. There are many coastal towns but the smaller they are, the more difficult language and transportation might be. I recommend a lot of research and an exploratory trip when the time is right.