Weekly blog about holiday rentals and B&B Termas-da-Azenha, in an old spa resort in the Coimbra district. Only 12 km from the coast as the crow flies.
It all went a little differently than planned. You think you’ve worked it all out so nicely, the airline throws a spanner in the works. Last minute message: “Hello dear customer, we are going a day earlier, or a few days later. You may choose.” Oh, well, thank you very much. And then the car […]
Car rental companies can be a P in the A Read More »
I still pay for a lot of things with money Just like many people here. In Portugal, quite a lot is still paid with cash. I’m happy about that. And I get a little sad when I see people paying 3.95 in the supermarket with plastic. Why? Because I don’t think they realize that before
Fan of cash payments, as in: pay with money Read More »
Honestly – no idea. A lot of hassle with eggs, an Easter bunny, ditto branches, lots of chocolate, and for the faithful among us betrayal, crucifixion, sad mother Mary and more of that misery. Anyway: Happy Easter! But if you want to know what I really stand for, and what we stand for, click the
What’s happening with Easter? Read More »
I suddenly shoot up in my seat, but luckily I’m buckled up. A scream of horror runs through the plane, and I think in fiery capital letters, “I KNEW! I knew it! And yet just continue booking a plane ticket! You idiot!” You feel the plane going down in free fall. I brace myself for
Flying with Vueling – a special experience Read More »
Dear readers, I’m going to teach you a lesson about coffee this week. About the real coffee. Not the dutch version, not the english variety – which is probably lukewarm with a foam head on top – not the french soup bowls with colored water, not even over the well-known italian pep. Excuse me, but
A lesson about Portuguese coffee Read More »
Last week Friday, March 18, 2022 at 11:28, spring broke out here. A few days earlier than indicated on the calendar, because spring doesn’t care what we humans think – if spring thinks it should break out, then it breaks out. And with a spring break in Portugal, everything is going very fast! As a
Spring in Portugal, with mosaic and a good meal Read More »
After some texting back and forth, he figured it out: Harald is coming on Saturday. He found it difficult to commit because if you leave at random like he did, and you’ll see what happens, well … then … then you’ll see what happens. I had warned that it might be more convenient not to
Storms, monasteries, and all those things that bump in the night Read More »
“I don’t know if it will work, because they have only scheduled us here for one day,” says one of the three solar panel installers, “We are going to do our best.”“Maybe it’s because it’s going to rain tomorrow. At least that’s the prediction,” I answer, “but maybe I should call ahead and say that
Solar panels in the rain Read More »
I’ve had that experience, yes, that I painted myself in a corner. Once even literally, but in my defense, then I was very young, and there was no one around to warn me. You’ll figure it out, sure, but it takes some footprints on your with sweat and tears freshly applied new paint. (And I
Painted in a corner Read More »
“Okay, last check. Just open the tap completely, then I’ll close it in fifteen minutes” I say to Broes, “when that cloth stays dry, it’s done.” That tap has to be opened because the drain is leaking. Not a big deal, maybe a drop every five minutes, but enough to bother you. Prior to the
A flooding with odds and sods in the pipe Read More »
