Pieces of Peace

Landing on the other side of the river, we plopped down the bags we came with mixed with the items we accumulated over the past months. Let the construction of furnishings commence! The bed was built, the sofa came up in pieces, and lots of flat-pack furniture was assembled. The living space was arranged and rearranged and it’s debatable whether we found the ideal layout or fatigued in the process.

Chaos to Calm

At first it looked like an absolute mess but it was a momentary chaos. And apparently the tipped over patio table on the patio was by design.

The furnishing were assembled and arranged. The balcony made cat-friendly yet still my relaxation/yoga room became the cat room. Best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry – Robert Burns.

Neighborhood

One of the drawbacks of where we live is that there isn’t a snackbar or cafe on every corner. Yet only a week after arriving one popped up in our neighborhood.

Sunday Lunch

This past Sunday, we hosted our first Sunday lunch. After many lunches at our former landlord’s quinta, we were able to invite them to our place. They requested a traditional American meal, so we made apple pie, grilled tri-tip and pork ribs!

Concrete Curiosities

Walls are made of plaster and concrete, so even hanging artwork requires a proper tool. Our bedroom came with pre-wired for sconces but the spacing was for a 140cm bed and landed behind our headboard. We ended up hiring someone to move the electricity and it involved drilling, replastering and painting.

Obstacle Course

The pillars in the underground parking tell the story of the collective we becoming more skilled drivers. Tight margins, a 20-point turn, and lots of backing.

Trust Issues

I am sure we will come to understand what this box mounted in the kitchen means. So far, we are OK (I think). Other trust issues include Maisy discovering the built-in kitchen vacuum and Melody watching the washer (that plays a little happy tune after finishing).

Familiar Places

Our previous neighborhood is just a short bike ride away. Here we see the things that will probably always feel familiar like the bike rack outside the library or this ice cold Coke Zero served in this particular way at Flavour cafe.

And walking along the salt pans, hoping to see a flamboyance of flamingos. A ride along the salt pans with my friend Lucille: 💎highlight video.

Circuito das Igrejas

Tavira has a focus on staying active, so they host a series called Todos a caminhar which literally translates to “everyone walking”. Last night we joined a free 5K/7K Circuito das Igrejas walk starting in the Praça da República at 9pm. Wandering the cobblestone streets, we pass many churches, including one honoring Santo António.

Portugal Day

Dia de Portugal is celebrated annually on June 10th, the date of the death of poet Luis de Camões. He is known for Os Lusiadas, an epic poem of great literary significance in Portugal. Written in Homeric style, this 10 canto poem celebrates the story of the Portuguese explorer, Vasco da Gama and voyages of discovery in the 15th and 16th centuries.

What’s Next

We are already seeing the handmade paper decorations popping up in parts of Tavira. It is all part of celebrações da cidade e os Santos Populares, a month-long celebration of the city and the three most popular saints. We expect to see the streets lined in decorations, street parties, music, dancing, parades, and traditional food. In Tavira, the big celebration is on Dia de São João (June 24) and the party will include fireworks and go all night. But we will also see celebrations for Santo António (June 13) and São Pedro (June 29).