December had been an active month for us, wrapped up nicely this morning with our New Year’s plunge at a nippy Ericeira beach. There is nothing like being around young people to feel youthful. It was a festive morning filled with exuberance and toned bodies, mine excluded, of course. That’s when reality strikes with the realization that the Atlantic Ocean isn’t to be mistaken for Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth.
The water is cold here both in the summer and the winter. The difference is in the cool air and wind. After getting out of the cold water on New Year’s Day, everyone bundles up, back into their sweats, rather than lying around in the summer sand and sun in their bikinis. No matter what season, though, having lived in Miami, Hawaii, Guam, and now Ericeira, I love living by the beach.
December is the time of year when Cathy misses the kids and grandkids most, so we decided to keep busy this year. Granted, we were just in Portland visiting much of the family for Thanksgiving, but what can I say? Not much, apparently. So a travelin’ we will go!
Historic Monsanto
First stop, Monsanto, where parts of House of the Dragon were filmed. We met with our friends, Rob and Rita. December is not the best month to visit there. Most things are shut down and the first day was rainy and foggy. Rob was sick with a bad cold, so he didn’t venture out the first day.
I also stayed behind, while Cathy and Rita explored, because I didn’t feel like hiking in the nasty weather. So, the girlie girls explored while the manly men stayed back, keeping home and hearth safe and secure.
I was committed to exploring the castle the next morning, regardless of the weather. Fortunately, it was nicer, and Rob was feeling better, so the four of us hiked up the cobble-stoned hill to the castle, passing granite homes and otherworldly boulders along the way. I expected a dragon to come flying out from behind a wall of the 900-year-old castle at any moment. Luckily, we were followed all the way only by a very friendly neighborhood cat.
After we reached the castle, walking along precarious paths and narrow walls, I was wondering how many people have fallen to their deaths. I mean, it’s been 900 years. At least one a year? Rob had remarked that back in the US, not that there are castles this old, there would be legal signs everywhere, not to mention countless railings obstructing the magnificent views. I’m not even sure that people would be allowed in at all.
Anyway, about three minutes after he mentioned how it would have been different back in the States, Rita slipped and fell on a slick boulder in the trail. Not to her death, thank God! But hard enough where she broke her patella, which is the kneecap, I recently learned.
Rob, being the gentleman that he is, helped her all way back to the hotel, which is not an easy feat, even with her tiny framework. He didn’t just tell her to “walk it off” like some of you Neanderthals would have done. Of course, 900 years ago, lacking the surgical expertise available today, she might have been thrown off the wall to save her from her misery. It was a different era, and we shouldn’t judge.
As luck would have it, the medical system in Portugal is pretty darn good. She was in surgery the very same day and is currently on the mend!
Christmas Lights in Lisbon
After returning home for a day, we took off for Lisbon to spend a night with our friends, Sharie and David. We did a lot of walking, which is often the case with David and Sharie, who always seem to have boundless energy.
We checked out the elaborate Christmas lights and crowded Christmas markets. Parts of Lisbon had flooded the week before, due to the wettest December that anyone could remember, but everything was pretty much back to normal.
We also visited an incredible tile museum while in Lisbon. Portugal is famous for tiles, of course, and I have always loved tilework. Cathy and I have often talked about trying out our skill, or luck, at making mosaics.
Finally Made it to Spain
Our next December excursion was to Spain. This was our first time into Spain. Our friends, Bruce (formerly from Australia) and Claire (formerly from Great Britain) often travel with their dog, Amber. They found a dog-friendly hotel in Badajoz, Spain. It is only a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Ericeira.
We thought they were going to be there on the 23rd and 24th so we booked those dates. But there was a slight miscommunication. They were there for the 24th and 25th, so we didn’t get to spend as much time with them as we would have liked. Foxy and Amber got along very well.
On the second day we drove another 40 minutes to Merida, Spain. Merida was a lovely town. We marveled at the old Roman and Moorish influences as we walked along a canal. Foxy was thrilled to be off-leash, as she explored the riverbanks, and she was a happy dog. Then we got lunch at a little hole in the wall with generous, delicious wraps at super cheap prices.
I could see why so many people love Spain. The weather was sunny and the food, although many places were closed before Christmas, was good and inexpensive. Filling up the car in Spain used to be a lot cheaper than Portugal, but they have recently raised gas taxes in Spain, so prices are about the same.
We pay about the equivalent of $6.50 a gallon, which you get used to after a while. Fortunately, we get 40-miles-per-gallon, and we don’t typically drive a lot (except for this December!).
Expats often compare different countries when deciding where to live. Spain is a little more difficult to become a resident of than Portugal. And the Spaniards, generally speaking, aren’t as proficient as the Portuguese with English, and somewhat less tolerant toward English speakers. But Spain is a wonderful country, and we found the people to be quite friendly overall. We will definitely be exploring more of it in the future.
About languages, I still struggle greatly with the Portuguese language. I have a terrific teacher, who I visit on a weekly basis, but I have always been a lousy student. And my 71-year-old brain doesn’t make it any easier.
Some of you have asked me if you are still on the mailing list to receive my blogs. I haven’t been writing as often as before for a couple of reasons. One reason is, around the two-year mark you start to settle into your new country, and everything becomes more commonplace. The electricity went off while I was writing this blog and I had to reconstruct a lot of what I had written. Could that be a sign?
Secondly, since my artist friend, Gary, and his wife, Yesan, visited back in April, I have taken up painting. I truly love it and I hope I can get better at it than I have with my Portuguese.
Feliz Ano Novo!
I think New Year’s Day might be my favorite holiday. It doesn’t take much preparation and there are no obligations to go anywhere or do anything. Nothing is open. It is a just a guilt-free, relaxing day. Hopefully, the rest of January will be just as relaxing.
Happy New Year! Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2023! Except for you, Putin!
Enjoyed your blog and enjoyed our time in Monsanto.
Up until the end, it was great. I hope you are healing well!
Good to hear from you again, with the usual wit….
I’ll just cut and paste, it’s been that much of a lazy day: “I think New Year’s Day might be my favorite holiday. It doesn’t take much preparation and there are no obligations to go anywhere or do anything. Nothing is open. It is a just a guilt-free, relaxing day.” Spot on.
Bom Ano Novo!
Thank you, Bob! Now with all, or most, of the construction behind you, I hope you can thoroughly enjoy 2023 in your lovely home in Porto!
Wonderful photos and descriptions of your adventures this month. I think the photo of Cathy hugging the ceramic lady at the tile museum is the cutest picture ever of your cute wife! Take notes on all the places you visit in Spain because that is on our bucket list to visit, which of course would include a quick swing through beautiful Ericeira!! Happy New Year to both of you!!!
Happy New Year to you and Dave! We sure hope you come back here soon!
Great photos mu h appreciated! And David and I are thrilled as usual, to be a part of some of your adventures. Looking forward to what we will discover together in 2023. Adventures are awaiting us!
Adventures await!
We can’t wait to visit in May! We will be in Sintra the first week before heading south. Pretty close to you guys I guess. We currently live in Cuenca, Ecuador which we love. My mother’s family was from Madeira Island.
Love reading your posts but I know what you mean…..I wrote a blog for the first two years here. We are from the Pacific Northwest Olympic Peninsula.
Ya Putin! What he said!
Cuenca was on our short list until we decided on Portugal. We hope to visit Madeira this spring. I would love to check out your blog.
I would love for you to check out our blog but it was on a website that is no more! Would you settle for a visit instead?
Hmm.. that’s very tempting!
It’s nice that you have a friend for every town.
I recall that your previous blogs have mentioned some occurrences of injury …and it makes me wonder why we can’t have, at least as good of, a health system here as you do there.
Happy New Year!
America has a very good health care system, if you can afford it! Happy New Year to you and Shelley!
Nicely done, Bob!
Thanks, Larry. Glad you enjoyed it.
Is “thou shalt not covet thy friend’s life” one of those old commandments? What a great decision you made moving to Europe! Thanks for bringing out the green monster in me and inspiring some travels. All the best to you in 2023!
Well, I just hope that it inspires you and Larry to come visit us.
I’ve missed your blog posts and sharing your adventures. Your descriptions make me almost feel like I am along for the ride! So sorry about your friend getting injured, but happy that she is on the mend. Happy and Healthy New Year to you and Cathy and hoping you have many wonderful adventures in 2023!
Thank you, Shelley! We do have a couple of adventures planned for this year. I hope to keep you posted. 🙂
Bob…Happy New Year to you and Cathy, and happy travels in 2023!
Regarding learning languages, I don’t have the chip. I flunked French. Can’t read music, couldn’t do shorthand, took private Hebrew lessons with the Rabbi at 18, couldn’t do it.
Thank you, Ronda! Same to you!
I enjoyed your writing, as always. Your past blogs were certainly an influence on our moving to Portugal. I am with Karen, above, that the picture of Cathy in “the tile museum is the cutest picture ever”. Best New Year ever to you both.
Thanks, Mark. Yes, that is a cute picture of Cathy at the tile museum in Lisbon. That was nice having pizza and wine with you and Shelly at The Secret Oven the other night.
happy new year! keep the blogs coming!
Thanks, Lynda! Same to you!