“You can’t imagine what goes through me when I’m on my motorbike,” Vera tells me when we say goodbye. “It can’t be explained in words, only in music.” Her motorbike is now tied to a trailer behind the van of a friend.
She came from the Netherlands to Portugal on a motorbike
Not a small accomplishment, I’d say. “It has nothing to do with accomplishments,” she says, “it’s about swinging through the bends, dancing, floating … the ultimate feeling of freedom.” I’m not that brave, although I loved riding on the back of the motorbike with my first boyfriend. I thought it was incredibly cool and very special that motorcyclists greet each other.
That gives a special atmosphere to that motorbike thing.
Vera is now riding home on the bus because it’s winter. Not here yet, but the higher you go, the worse it gets. Getting soaked in the rain and freezing is nobody’s highest ideal, so her motorbike is going into the shed for a while.
That was different with our Neighbour Dentist! A real tough guy, apparently, because he always came to his practice on his motorbike. “A good suit is half the job” he always said, when we fainted with admiration when he calmly drove up between the raindrops on his battleship. (It was a big good expensive new motorbike, probably bought with many cavities …)
There were more people who came here on motorbikes. A Belgian volunteer, also with such a battleship, suit and all, who needed a breather from his marriage. But I only found out about that later, when after three weeks of fantastic work here, he suddenly disappeared one beautiful morning.
“I have to go home” he said briefly but kindly, “I really have to go home now. Au revoir.” He put on his helmet and elegantly tore around the bend. The next day a postcard arrived, saying: “I love you so much, please come home and see your wife.” He had felt that of course, but in the meantime he didn’t say a word about it to us! Oh, those men…
A few years ago we even had an unexpected guest on a Harley Davidson
Bert had taken a few months off, because he wanted to hold on to that ultimate feeling of freedom for as long as possible. And he also needed time to think about the recent events in his life. “Someone very close to me has cheated me badly,” he said, “and on a motorcycle you can clear your head. Or just let your thoughts go… how do you say that. What I like most is that when I think: “You know what? I’m going right here” then I just go right. Great, that feeling of freedom!”
I was allowed to have my picture taken on his Harley, cool.
There was even someone who thought it was mine, and that I was a motorcyclist too. But no, unfortunately, I don’t have a motor license.
It could be a good idea to get one, though, because those motorcyclist stories are very appealing!
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We moved here in 2000 from Rotterdam, Holland to the Termas-da-Azenha, Portugal.
A big step, especially with two small children.
We are busy to rebuild one of portugals cultural heirlooms: Termas-da-Azenha, an old spa which has been turned into several holiday houses, rooms and a campsite.
You’ll find mosaics and paintings everywhere.
Since 2018 we call ourselves the first B&B&B in the world – Bed & Breakfast & Bathrobes. You can buy a home-made unique bathrobe/housecoat with us.
Each week a little blog about what is happening around us. An easy read. A few minutes in another world. A little about what it going on in Portugal. If you plan your holiday to Portugal, it might be a nice preparation
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