Lazy Day in Sunny Portugal

First the news: GREAT NEWS!!
While I was gone 2 people put offers on our house! Of the the two, one stood out as a more solid offer so we took it! The other guy asked if they could be a backup. Both were for our asking price, but the other guy wanted us to pay for more stuff. I signed some papers yesterday and we are now officially in escrow! This thing will close within 30 days, possibly sooner. Wow.
On a dimmer note...I did not win the SIA election. Just like before I ran a good race and almost won. I suppose the timing is still not right. God knows best. I'll keep trying.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program: Portugal!

Tuesday, October 23rd.
I woke up with my head still pounding. I wanted coffee. Luckily we were staying in a cottage villa (time share) so our "room" had a kitchen, living room, 2 bathrooms & 2 bedrooms. My dad had already fixed coffee and made his famous monster breakfast. Eggs, potatoes, linguisa, onions & toast. Throughout the meal he sharred with me their adventures of shopping at the local grocery store and his trouble with ordering a cup of coffee.
I later found out what he was talking about. Though I didn't really do any grocery shopping, trying to get a cup of coffe that I am familiar with was impossible. It simply didn't exist. If you say 'coffee' they will bring expresso with milk in it. Small cup. And charge you 3 euros! More of that later.
I ate, took a couple pills and went back to bed. My body ached to much to enjoy anything. Later, I woke up to the girls walking through the door with my dad. They had just spent the last few hours at the beach. By that time I had caught up on my sleep and my headache had subsided. It was around 4pm. We all decided to go back to the beach.

Before we left on the trip, I told the girls to pack their swimsuites. They thought I was crazy. Now they were happy I made the suggestion.
The beach was not a very far walk. Across the street and down another to a narrow dirt path. Warning!...stay out of the street! The cars drive fast and don't stop for you. Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way. My dad learned this real quick when he got his elbow whacked by a passing car's mirror.
Single file we stepped out of the tunnel-like enterence and saw the most beautiful sight; The atlantic ocean from another continent's point of view.
We headed back for the same area that the family had been to earlier to find the same bull fighting arenea sand castle that they had constructed.
The girls ran ahead and I took a picture of them. Walking together I said, "We made it Dad! We're finally here in Portugal!" Like a child he smiled and with a giggle in his voice he replied, "Yeah, I know!" Then a more serious expression washed across his face as he added, "Thank you".
With a free arm I wrapped it around his waist and rested my head on his shoulder. "I love you dad."
"I love you too babe."

We spread out two towels that my dad had purchased in Spain the week before and rested. It was almost evening and the wind was picking up. I didn't go in the water. This certainly isn't Hawaii, though not as cold as the beached in Northern Ca. Goose bumps started appearing on my arms so I put on Kaytee's sweatshirt and talked with my dad about relationships and other stuff. I've always been able to talk with him about anything. I thank God for that.
After a while we walked back and discussed where we would be having dinner. Our tummys had turned on the hunger indicator switch which in turn activated our sense of smell and locator beacon.
My dad made the choice and soon we were all dressed and back on the road walking to the restaurante. I look horrible in this picture because I had not bothered to do my hair or make up and still jet lagged from the journey.

The meal was great. Toni and I had the salmon, Megan had fish fingers & chips (fries) Kaytee had spare ribs.
I ordered water because they don't give you glasses of water for free. They bring you a water bottle. Small or large. The large is REALLY large and the small is very small. Nothing in between. I had the large and sharred it with everyone.
Our waitor spoke enough English to help us, though I gave him with the word "skin" to help him discribe the outer layer of a potatoe.
Just before we were served, the chef came out and started speaking Portuguese to us. He was surprised to learn that we didn't know much. Confused he said, "But you are Portuguese? I can see it in your faces." We explained. Yes, we are, but do not live here.
Later the chef came back and did a magic trick. Then he asked Kaytee to sing. When she wouldn't do it, Megan did! He told her she sings beautifully. Megan choose to sing the song "Umbrella". The crazy thing we noticed is that Portugal loved this song! It played on every station all the time. On the bus, in the taxi and even in the mall in Lisbon...you could hear "under my umbrella...ella ella, eh eh eh."

After dinner, something happened that I have not experienced in the states. Both the waitor and the chef stood at the exit (salida) to shake our hands and thank us for coming. Obregada! Boa Noite! Thank you and good night.