Oranges are in season - price is low and taste is exquisite (almost as sensual and good as.....chocolate - seriously). Oranges are always good here but right now they are magnifique. 60 cents a kilo - that's 5 large oranges for one Euro!
Travelling Fool......December 8th - had a few days off over the weekend so decided to visit Madrid. I was incredibly impressed. If you've never been, it's well worth a visit. It really is a beautiful city
The buildings are superb, in fantastic condition and so clean and well-kept. Amazing....good Christmas atmosphere, super cheap flight from Porto and only about an hour's flying time.
It helped that the weather was fantastic for the whole weekend so everything looked wonderful.
Christmas? Wha dat?
In keeping with my 'foolproof Christmas tradition' over the past number of years, I made plans to escape the whole shebang. As far as I'm concerned Christmas is for kids, and old people who want to gather their families around them (who annoys the knickers off the who is anyone's guess) - I know, I know, I'm almost at that stage myself but for the moment - I'm off when I get the chance.
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| Alison and Vladus |
My friend Susan travelled from Ireland and we headed to the Spanish island of Mallorca for 10 days.We both had to travel via Barcelona so I decided to avail of one day there on my own before flying on to Palma.
Barcelona is a great city - and I decided that instead of doing the standard 'city bus tour' I'd do a guided cycle tour instead. The weather was perfect and there were only two of us - Vladus from Vilnius (Lithuania) and moi - and Alison from Austria as our guide.
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| 130 years labour of love completing Gaudi's Cathedral - cranes still mark the skyline |
It was terrific - 3 hours of careering around on pavements and cycle lanes and visiting far more places than we could have on foot.
Of course the Gaudi buildings were the main highlight but we covered lots of other ground, including the site of the first world fair, the Olympic park, the 'man-made' beach, numerous narrow cobblestone streets (definitely not accessible on bike in high season), etc. I I highly recommend it and will definitely do it again in any other city I visit.
Mallorca
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| Some of the typical stony terrain |
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| Outside the fabulous Es Petit Hotel in Valldemossa |
And then on to Mallorca - and what a pleasant surprise. I always had the perception that Mallorca was a bit tacky - full of tourists and totally commercialised.
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| Beautiful narrow street in Valdemossa |
We hiked most days - fairly easy walking in some beautiful scenery. Passed through some beautiful villages - very Spanish and authentic.
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| The 'running' of the sheep.....typical rural scene |
Actually got a swim in one day in one of the stunning coves we happened upon. The water was pretty cold but nothing I'm not used to.
The weather was great - sunshine every day bar one and temperatures of between 15 - 20 degrees. Christmas came and went without much palaver - the big day in Spain is January 6th. It was a great break and I felt brilliant upon returning to Espinho - ready for action with the 'monsters' in the school.
School
What a difference a term makes. Starting off this time was SOOOOOOOOOO much better, less stressful and definitely more organised. The students have their books, I have my books.....I'm prepared and at least to some degree know what I'm doing so the first couple of weeks have been relatively smooth going. We'll see how it progresses. I have a nice schedule and not too many hours - which is good because I spend a lot of time preparing and need all the other downtime for yoga, swimming, jogging, etc. Hey, I'm in wind-down mode. Please don't send me back to a regular 9-5 job in an office. I don't think I could hack it!
Jingle Bell Hash
Still hashing and haring - just to clear something up about this 'sport'. There are no REAL hares involved. The Hares are the two people who set the trail the day before the Hash.....then on the Sunday, the Hashers run like lunatics through streets, woods, parks, seafronts, etc., trying to find the pieces of white ribbon the Hares laid as clues. Phew, glad I cleared that one up before the animal rights activists got wind of it.
Our Christmas Jingle Bells Hash (fancy dress) was an excellent course set through the lanes and alleyways around Porto, but unfortunately it was a rotten day with persistent rain.
However, spirits were high and the highlight was a boat ride across the Douro river for our mid-Hash break, with champagne served on board. Afterwards we had a traditional Christmas dinner at the British Club ('Tally Ho everyone - 'anyone for mince pies'?). Don't even begin to critisise...I'm desperate for something to do on a Sunday! Fun, but some unwanted advances from an 'old gent'.....I'm running a mile.....what is he thinking??!!
The club is off to Santiago in Spain for the first weekend in February (the end of the line for the famous Camino de Santiago de Compestala). Not sure if I can make it - unless someone is heading up on Saturday afternoon I'll have to give it a miss as I have classes on Saturday morning - but I'll keep plugging away for a lift and hopefully will make it for half of the weekend.
It will be my fifth hash and there is a naming' ceremony after five hashes so watch this space to hear what name I've been given - cannot even begin to guess - some of the names are pretty awful so here's hoping it isn't something too disgusting!
Portuguese ColoniesJingle Bell Hash
Still hashing and haring - just to clear something up about this 'sport'. There are no REAL hares involved. The Hares are the two people who set the trail the day before the Hash.....then on the Sunday, the Hashers run like lunatics through streets, woods, parks, seafronts, etc., trying to find the pieces of white ribbon the Hares laid as clues. Phew, glad I cleared that one up before the animal rights activists got wind of it.
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| All dressed up and sopping wet....why is that 'old gent' holding himself that way??! |
Our Christmas Jingle Bells Hash (fancy dress) was an excellent course set through the lanes and alleyways around Porto, but unfortunately it was a rotten day with persistent rain.
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| Gingerbread Man and 'his' personal Baker! |
However, spirits were high and the highlight was a boat ride across the Douro river for our mid-Hash break, with champagne served on board. Afterwards we had a traditional Christmas dinner at the British Club ('Tally Ho everyone - 'anyone for mince pies'?). Don't even begin to critisise...I'm desperate for something to do on a Sunday! Fun, but some unwanted advances from an 'old gent'.....I'm running a mile.....what is he thinking??!!
The club is off to Santiago in Spain for the first weekend in February (the end of the line for the famous Camino de Santiago de Compestala). Not sure if I can make it - unless someone is heading up on Saturday afternoon I'll have to give it a miss as I have classes on Saturday morning - but I'll keep plugging away for a lift and hopefully will make it for half of the weekend.
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| Down/Downs after the Hash (means you've done or said something wrong/stupid......etc., down the beer! |
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| Widow Thandie looking perplexed |
It will be my fifth hash and there is a naming' ceremony after five hashes so watch this space to hear what name I've been given - cannot even begin to guess - some of the names are pretty awful so here's hoping it isn't something too disgusting!
I’m learning a lot from Carolina (my landlady) about Portuguese exploration (and exploitation). I’m sorry to admit that my knowledge of Portuguese colonization was non-existent before moving here. I was becoming somewhat puzzled by the different nationalities who have settled here. By the time I had met the fifth person from South Africa, I realised my history/geography needed some upgrading. I guess like all the former ‘empires’ Portugal's fall has been mighty. I definitely had no idea they colonized Macao, an island currently under Chinese rule and ownership. That would explain why the Chinese here are all able to speak Portuguese and easily set up businesses, although I don’t think not speaking the language would be a barrier to the Chinese anywhere.
Macao/South Africa (Angola/Mozambique/Bissau/)/Cape Verde/East Timor, etc. Brazil of course being the biggest country – 190+ million people in Brazil speak Portuguese. It’s what pushes Portuguese into the fifth most commonly spoken language in the world – that’s one for the table quiz!
Macao/South Africa (Angola/Mozambique/Bissau/)/Cape Verde/East Timor, etc. Brazil of course being the biggest country – 190+ million people in Brazil speak Portuguese. It’s what pushes Portuguese into the fifth most commonly spoken language in the world – that’s one for the table quiz!
Portuguese Economy
Three words - 'in the shits'. The poor Portuguese. As if they haven't enough to be miserable about - but they really are in trouble. Even in the four months I have been in Espinho it is noticeable, with many small businesses shutting down. In Lisbon there was a report on January 2nd which projected that 14 businesses a DAY would close there throughout 2013. I really cannot understand how some of the businesses in Espinho are a) still in business and b) don't go bananas and crazy with BOREDOM with a capital B with the lack of footfall in the shops. It's depressing and everyone is giving out about it - higher taxes, less public holidays - remind you of anywhere?! Public service workers were used to receiving 14 months salary a year (don't ask!) and are now suddenly down to the bare 12 months. When you're earning crappy wages, it definitely makes a difference.
Three words - 'in the shits'. The poor Portuguese. As if they haven't enough to be miserable about - but they really are in trouble. Even in the four months I have been in Espinho it is noticeable, with many small businesses shutting down. In Lisbon there was a report on January 2nd which projected that 14 businesses a DAY would close there throughout 2013. I really cannot understand how some of the businesses in Espinho are a) still in business and b) don't go bananas and crazy with BOREDOM with a capital B with the lack of footfall in the shops. It's depressing and everyone is giving out about it - higher taxes, less public holidays - remind you of anywhere?! Public service workers were used to receiving 14 months salary a year (don't ask!) and are now suddenly down to the bare 12 months. When you're earning crappy wages, it definitely makes a difference.
There were major demonstrations across Europe in December against the austerity measures being taken by various governments (in Lisbon also). I watched it on TV and didn't bat an eye when I saw people throwing bricks at riot police but was afterwards told by a number of people that they were shocked at the images, as that was the first time they had EVER seen any sort of weapon being thrown by demonstrators in Portugal - I suppose years of watching the news about Northern Ireland has numbed me slightly to that!
Foot Massage on the beach.....
No, I'm not in Thailand - still in Portugal. But it's one of the things I enjoy doing a couple of times a week.A walk on the beach in the coarse sand at the water's edge for a couple of kilometres. Great workout for the feet and stimulates all the nerve endings. Feet feel fantastic after it and best of all - it's free!
........coming next.....which direction workwise - stay here, go back to Ireland, stay on course, change, combine this with something else?? These and other questions must be answered!
Travel: We have some 'Carnival' time off (school mid-term break in other countries) in a couple of weeks so I'm off to visit my good friend Fio in Brussels.....being joined by another friend Louise from Wicklow...we're going to have fun with a capital F. After that - watch this space.......
HEL
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