An Afternoon in the Baxia (or downtown, as we would say)

Today was a culture day and we went downtown to meet with a few people for lunch and say goodbye to a colleauge. We went to an Indian restaurant and then went looking for a straw hat for Don. Didn't find the hat but we had a good time looking.

I took a lot of pictures and Don would sit and wait for me sometimes when I would want to step into a store. We also saw some really interesting things as we walked around and even had to cross the street right in the middle of a political rally parade. The banner said "social service - yes; privatazation - no!" They had a car with a bullhorn leading the parade and they were leading the people in shouting slogans and such. People who wanted to cross the street would wait till there was a thin space in the crowd and cross over.

There was a guy playing the accordion who had a little dog holding a cup in it's mouth for donations.  Lots of beggars - one with a really nasty looking wound on his leg that we wondered later if it was just a really good makeup job. If he could get up and walk on it, it would have been a miracle and he can't stay there all day every day. It is sad but there are places that will help the beggars but from what we are told they don't go there because they can make such good money off the tourists.

We carried around leftovers from the restaurant that Don intended to eat later but with the heat we were in, I just wondered how it would hit his stomach later. That was one reason we didn't give it to the beggars.

Last September we were down in the Baxia with our Portuguese friends and it was strange to be there today, just the two of us, knowing our way around, being confident of getting what we wanted (even if we couldn't speak well), navigating back to the metro and knowing how to get home. I used only Portuguese to order when I found a really good lime ice cream on a stick that is like the orange dream cycle. It tasted so good on a hot day with your mouth all dry from the heat and the wind.

Today's Language Route

As part of our language/culture hours we have several "language routes" that we take. Stopping at some of the same places every few days, getting to know the shop owners and workers and practicing our language. Today's route took us to places where we didn't speak any English and understood almost all that was spoken back to us! We did stop in our neighborhood on the way home to our little mini-market where some of the girls speak English but know that we are practicing and let us use Portuguese but  will help us by way of English - explaining to us why something is said or not said a certain way and laughing with us over our (mostly Don's ; ) mistakes.

We walked down to a little cafe near our metro stop and ordered coffee, water, a scone, and a piece of cake and worked some in our grammar books. We rode the metro and didn't walk too far as it was such a very hot day but shopped for awhile in an air-conditioned store. It is 97 degrees right now with a very strong sun and most places, including our apartments, are not air conditioned. Oh, and typically the metro is a fairly cool place to be on a hot day, too.

Don and I split up as we were looking for different things and found workers to help us with what we were looking for. I was so happy to be able to ask for what I needed and not get a confused look and have to repeat what I said, but instead I got a direct answer that I understood! Granted it was not long sentences or big words but still a big encouragement. 

Just a few pictures from today and I forgot to take one of our mini-market. I'm going to get some pictures of our friends in there sometime.

Sunday Walk to Church

Today we walked to church, a small, neighborhood Portuguese language church. We are getting to know some of the people and every time we are there, try to speak a little more Portuguese with them. It was a nice morning and I took the camera along so that I could take pictures of the walk. This is also the way we walk every time we go to the metro. Hope you enjoy the views.

A Cafe Day

Some days are just perfect for eating at a cafe, outside, and the day we were visiting in Alcobça was one of them. Warm sun, gentle breeze, no bugs, and even a musician playing soothing music on a flute - over speakers no less, so the whole praça (square; plaza) could hear. The flute player is in the background of picture number 2. A nice surprise that day was finding out that the owners of the cafe were believers and went to a Baptist church.

More from Alcobaça

Romeo and Juliet... wait, I mean Pedro and Inez

Portugal has its own tragic love story. I don't have time to tell it here but you can look it up on the internet if you are so inclined. I'm just going to show some pictures from the monastery at Alcobaça where they have their tombs.