You Say Batata
Posted inPortugal Culture

You Say Batata

That time when buying potatoes became a Portuguese verb pop quiz: batata cozer vs batata assar. Standing there, feeling like I’m being tested on two different subjects at once — vocabulary and cooking. Freezing momentarily, because this isn’t just labeling. This is a commitment.
Posted inPortugal Culture
Taking Turns
Posted inPortugal Daily Life

Taking Turns

This past week was all about turns: a turn on the trail, a turn around town, and then a turn in the weather — from a bike ride on recently dried paths to a community walk and, finally, a museum visit to escape the rain.
Posted inPortugal Daily Life
A Weekend Emerges
Posted inPortugal Daily Life

A Weekend Emerges

Being retired, every day is the weekend. With weekdays freely intermingling with the weekend days, a Bom Dia seems the most reliable greeting. Over time, though, something funny happens. The days begin to earn their own identities
Posted inPortugal Daily Life
Pencil Plans
Posted inPortugal Daily Life

Pencil Plans

Portugal in early January felt like a fading sign—still lit, still legible, but no longer calling for attention. We picked that in-between stretch of the calendar for a road trip, loosely sketched with four open days and two open minds.
Posted inPortugal Daily Life