SAME OL' SAME OL'

Not much has changed since I talked to you last -- part of the reason I go so long between posts. We're still staying hunkered down here at home, other than a couple of doctors appointments and a couple of trips to the garden center by Dear Hubby. He's very good about wearing his mask, however. The only problem now is that it's getting a whole lot harder to stay upbeat about doing all this, and not getting to spend real time with our kiddles, when the rest of the world seems to be running amok! But, all the more reason to do it.

I'm still sending pen pal cards to my little grandson.

And though I don't get many in return, I always get an immediate facetime call, with him jumping around and waving the card in the air, to tell me how excited he was to get it.

We're still doing puzzles too, and getting totally obsessed with them. Hard to believe, since we never did them at all prior to quarantine. This has been our favorite so far, since it brought back so many great memories.

Barcelona

This next one was pretty nostalgic as well, since my sister put herself through college working at Kip's Big Boy in Dallas, and we all spent a good bit of time there.

I'm still getting my monthly art lesson subscription from Lucy Brydon. This month we took all those tips we learned about glazing and layering leaves and put them to use making floral wreaths.

Loved this lesson. I am not good at particular and precise, and with these wreaths, it seems that the looser and messier you got, the better they turned out! Next up? Fun, funky little birdies.

The one thing I never tire of, however, while being stuck here at home, is the view from my windows.

Even when the little rascals sneak into my garden and nibble my plants!

#1 TOURIST ATTRACTION

Waiting In Line To Get In

Know what the #1 tourist attraction in Porto is? No, it's not any of the castles or cathedrals or monuments. It's the tiny little Lello Bookstore -- the most beautiful bookstore in the world.

Why does one wait in a long line and pay five euros each to get into a tiny little bookstore? Well, not for it's beauty, 'tho that is something to behold.

No, people flock here because a certain author of a certain children's book series used to hang out here, back when it was a nice, quiet little place in which to write, and that amazing staircase inspired her to create the moving staircase at a certain school for young wizards.

There's even a secret room in the basement!

Know what else inspired J.K. Rowling while she lived in Porto?

The black cloaks that all the high school kids wear during their version of "rush", when they are choosing, or being chosen by, a certain house at their school.

Although I loved getting to see this place, I couldn't help but feel sorry for all the local people who used to hang out here, back when it was still the nice quiet little place that J.K. Rowling loved, and they didn't charge you five euros to get in! On the other hand, at least they applied that entry fee to the purchase I made for little Goober Bear.
 

CASTLES IN THE AIR

On our last day in Lisbon, before moving on to Porto, we took a little side trip to the town of Sintra -- "a fairytale romantic city of castles, monuments, and palatial estates." Our first stop was the ruins of a mountaintop fortress built by the Moors in the 9th century.

The gardens were every bit as amazing as the ruins.

Mounds of Bleeding Heart

It was starting to rain by the time we got to this level, and the stone paths had become quite slippery, so I stopped and got a cup of hot tea instead of climbing to the tippy top. But not my crazy hubby! I think he regretted it later, but at least there were no injuries.

From there a bus took us to Pena Palace, a Romanticist summer retreat for the royal family, which King Ferdinand had built on the site of a monastery that was destroyed in the great earthquake. Well, the bus took us as close as it could get to the palace. Which wasn't actually all that close. Then there was quite a long hike, uphill all the way, in the pouring rain.

Although I was loathe to admit it at the time, it was probably worth having to spend the rest of the day in soggy clothes. Especially when we stumbled upon a delightful place near the train station, where we could have lunch before departing. Half of our group went into the more formal restaurant side, and the rest of us went next door to their wine bar.

All ended up pleased as punch with their choices!

THE COLORS AND PATTERNS OF PORTUGAL

One of the first things you are sure to notice upon your arrival in Portugal is the Calçada Portuguesa -- the black and white limestone mosaics covering the sidewalks and plazas. Each one unique, yet unifying.

Beautiful, but dangerous. For one thing, they can be very slippery when wet, and we had more than a few drizzly days. Also, there are so very many of these in Portugal that they just can't keep up with the repairs, and you are liable to twist an ankle stepping into a hole, if you don't pay attention. How women manage to traverse these in stilettos, I will never know.

Then there is all the beautiful tile work gracing many of their buildings, much of it dating back to the times when Portugal was occupied by the Moors.

Pieces Found For Sale At The Thieves Market

My very favorite colors and patterns, however, were found in the bits and pieces of Art Nouveau architecture that were sprinkled about.

All in all, a most beautiful country!

PLANES, TRAINS, BOATS AND TROLLEYS

There are so many ways to get around in Portugal, and we used them all! The first thing our tour guide did in both Lisbon and Porto was to hand us each a little 3-day card she had purchased for us, that not only allowed us access to all public transportation but also got us discounts or even free entry into many of the local museums and attractions.

We rode trolleys...

The Famous #28 Trolley in Lisbon

trains...

Train Station in Porto

took a river cruise down the Douro river...

and, of course, there was a marvelous underground metro system in both Lisbon and Porto which we utilized every day. Why-oh-why can't we have something like that in Texas? Just think of all the drunk-driving fatalities we could avoid if only we had decent public transportation!

Even their turquoise-topped-taxis were lovely.

Unfortunately, this guy below never came out to offer me a ride, no matter how long I lurked around his bike.

Note The Picnic Basket and Flower

Of course, our  favorite way to get around when we travel is by foot, because that is where all the very best discoveries are made -- like this fabulous tea shop we stumbled upon after we rode the trolley all the way to the end and decided to work our way back to our hotel on foot.

Alas, now we are back at home, where we must depend on our cars for absolutely everything!