“I’m now at about three and a half thousand kilometers,” René says nonchalantly, and I almost fall backwards. That doesn’t seem to be a big deal for a passionate cyclist; last year it was six and a half thousand. René is the first guest via Friends on the Bike – dutch organization “Vrienden op de […]
Friends on bicycles Read More »
More and more foreigners in Portugal. We won’t ask whether these are the people who vote for political parties, which ironically want to keep foreigners out of their own country. According to neighbor Paddy, who apparently regularly encounters foreigners in the supermarket and then has politically tinged conversations with them, yes, that is so. In
Rent, buy or book? Read More »
Why is the buzzing of a fly so annoying, while that of a bee is not? The buzzing of bees sounds intensely satisfied, that’s why If you have ever stood with your head in a huge wisteria (like me), or near a “wall” of jasmine, then you understand. Imagine you’re a bee or a bumblebee,
I put the key in the lock and turn. Nothing happens. In my mind I was already inside, almost outside again; just grab my sunglasses, and go for a walk. The key refuses to work – or rather: the lock refuses to open I know the phenomenon. Fortunately, because otherwise you will first have to
“Girls!” I shout with my arms open, “That is a long time ago!” We hug each other warmly in the parking lot at the station where I pick them up. The last time they were there was 14 years ago, mother Astrid and her two daughters. As a single mother on holiday with your two
Single mother with two daughters on holiday Read More »
“What do you think? Is cronyism a stop on the way to corruption?” I ask that question to a few people I know well, because it has been a theme since our previous government was accused of corruption. Last Sunday were the Portuguese parliamentary elections The previous government fell because there were serious doubts about
The Portuguese elections Read More »
They always hear that I’m not really portuguese. My accent betrays me – apparently, but I don’t hear it myself. I can always tell about other foreigners from which country they originate, with the english being the easiest, followed closely by the germans. Language experts claim that portuguese is five times more difficult to learn
Portuguese language and pronunciation Read More »
All in the same line, going to the same city, seeing the same things, and then posting it all on Facebook or Insta. Lisbon is choking with tourists. You stumble upon them at the Torre de Belém, at the famous elevator to the upper town, at all the tiled churches, recommended fado evenings, hip restaurants,
All tourists are crazy (about authenticity) Read More »
Carnival and Valentine in one week. Even better: right after each other. If you went completely crazy during Carnival, you have to go romantic the next day – perhaps with a huge hangover. Oops. In Lazarim they celebrate a special kind of carnival In Lazarim – in the north between Vila Real and Viseu –
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You can sit and sputter in the car, especially these days, because then people just think that you are talking on the phone hands-free. “For goodness sake, just leave the potholes as they are, but make a “cycle path”.” I splutter happily to myself (because Mira has stopped listening for a long time). As if
Herds of brightly colored men cycling Read More »
