A busy two weeks

We moved out of the condo, into the Ritz!!! (there were so many NATO families moving into the area, they offered a great deal) for a couple of nights, and then into our house. We've upacked, arranged, rearranged, gone to Ikea, found the giant hardware store, and even entertained new friends. Pictures are being hung, and the kids love the pool - so glad we kept that promise.

At the Ritz - Penha Longa, with new SFN friends for dinner in the Presidential Suite.

The kids at their own table - those are actual, real smiles - the whole group

 of kids get along great and like each other!

The house - Casa das Meadows

My wagon peaking out from the bushes.

Room for the hoop, drying wetsuits, and Barney.

Celebrating summer Swedish-style.... crayfish, caviar, and aquavit.

On the 14th Zach and Lauren presented me with some wonderful gifts and an audience of many.

 

HOUSE PICS

Looking down the entryhall to the front door.

La cozhina.

Dining room, living room.  Lots of white.

And the best part of this whole experience so far!!!

Out on the town, Friday, August 17th (Happy Birthday MOM!) - with our SFN friends.

 Twenty-four of us went to dinner at this great Sicilian restaurant in Cascais, and then headed down to the waterfront for ice cream.  We had no idea that a huge summer festival was taking place, including a giant free concert - we had a blast.

The New Ride

We moved here with Rich's car, and knew that sooner than later, we'd have to get something for me to drive.  Since driving can be a contact sport in Portugal, Barney likes to go to the beach, and I was not too picky, we now own BlueShark - our 1998 Mercedes Diesel Station Wagon!

Zach is very happy that we have Portuguese plates "because they are longer" and I'm just happy to not get up at 6AM to drive Rich to work.

Living...

I saw this little "postcard" floating around and it really grabbed me.  Here we are living so close to beautiful beaches, castles, museums, in a new country with so much to see and explore.  And where do the kids want to spend this sunny Sunday?  At the pool in our little condo 'hood. 

We loaded up the car and headed down to Lisbon to watch a parade of Tallships heading down the Rio Tejo into the Atlantic, to continue their race up to Dublin.  Really cool I thought.  The only thing that was of real interest to L & Z was the possibility of cotton candy.  Of course I had my moment of maternal eye-rolling and I bit my tongue not to reply to their requests "No Way - we're going to that museum and it will be way more fun then eating cotton candy and churros on the boardwalk  ---don't you want to see some of the amazing historical....."   and bought the cotton candy.

They've just run home from the pool, happy and cooled off, so I'm contemplating what "living" really means - checking the boxes on my Grand Tour list of things to do, or letting Zach and Lauren take their time in this new life of ours.   Hmmm...

Bodyboarding at Guincho Beach

 

Today we headed over to our local surf beach and I brought the camera along.  We've being going all week, and the kids are really getting the hang of the waves.  We invested in wetsuits because, although the air temp is about 90F, the Atlantic is quite cold, and difficult to stay in longer for than 5-10 minutes.  Lauren and Zach are really into riding the waves, and can stay in for over an hour with the wetsuits.  Next week we start surfing lessons - it is one of my dreams to live this close to the beach and surf.  And now L & Z get to do it with me....yahoo!

Lauren says:  "It's awesome.  If you like surfing you would have the time of your life at Guincho.  We like Guincho 2 - the second beach.  What I like best about bodyboarding is the feel of the smooth and bumpy waves.  Sometimes the wind and the waves are like wow and you wipe out.  Today I wasn't holding the board right and the wave kind of ate me and I was upside down.  I popped my head up, and I didn't quit.  I went back and did it again."

Tuna in a jar....

Today I made a small, slightly odd culinary discovery which made me happy.  At the grocery store the other day I noticed that tuna is sold in jars, not cans.  So I bought a jar, wondering how good or gross it would be.  The tuna is in huge chunks floating in olive oil.  It is the best tuna I have ever had - dribbled with some balsamic vinegar, and YUM!   After some misses with food experimentation it was just what I needed to head back to the local markets and not just head to the local McDonald's.

Disclaimer #2

I'm still trying to figure out this blog program... and I can't find the EDIT button... so apologies for the mis-types/spelling errors, etc.  Boa Noite!

Disclaimer

I just want to let everyone know that this blog will not only post all the fun things that we get to do on our Ex-pat adventure.  I don't want anyone to think that it is all cotton candy and beaches.  I intend to share as much of the embarrasing and silly stuff that happens as possible - it wouldn't be the Meadow's blog if it didn't.

This past Monday, we had repairmen out to fix the refridgerator - the door won't stay closed and there is a constant stream of water running out onto the floor.  The guys came in, spoke in rapid-fire Portuguese, nodded at me, and then left.  We haven't seen them since.  Two days later, the cable guy came to install cable/phone/internet and when he wanted to leave to get some "supplies" Rich wouldn't let him take his tool box - security for his return.  Meanwhile, we have internet, but have to use packing tape to keep the 'fridge closed. 

Also, and I realize this is a 1st world problem only, BUT, it takes the washing machine 3 hours (I'm not exagerating, we've timed it) to wash a load of laundry.  I've also asked every person who speaks english, if that is the way it works, or if maybe, we are doing something wrong, but NO. No. NO. That is how the machines work.  And they have the capacity of about 5 items of clothing, or 3 towels.  We are going to have a serious talk with the multi-changers in the family (Rich and Laurne do you hear me???).

Later in the day....



A little snack before we head out on our walk.

The beach really sucks the energy out of a person, so we came home, had some down time, determined that we didn't want to go out for dinner, played some scrabble - my feeble attempt to keep all of our brains from turning to mush - and then headed out for the pre-dinner walk.  We are about 20 meters from a great walking/bike path along the coast - everyone likes it because there is so much to see (and smell in Barney's case). 

Rich and the kids head across the street to the cliffs to watch rock climbers, and I take Barney out for his daily exercise.  The Portuguese love big dogs, and Barney gets a lot of compliments (I think!) as we go along. 

This is a weird tree that grows along the coastal highway - sort of reminds me of a truffalo tree.

Rich and Zach found a little path next to the lighthouse that goes down to these amazing rock formations that are very popular with rock climbers.  Rich and Zach keep saying they're going to give it a try - over my dead body!

What's really amazing is that there are these steps carved into the side of the rock wall, and you can just do down!  There are scuba divers, old guys fishing, it's just another place to go on a Saturday - no big deal.  We think its amazing!

Saturday at Guincho Beach

Today we actually got up at a decent time, 8 AM, got our stuff together, headed over to Jumbo to pick up a few supplies, and then headed out to Guincho beach, which is about 4 miles North of where we live in Cascais.  Guincho is famous for its windsurfing and kitesurfing - it is the real-deal Atlantic Ocean and winds come straight off it to create some amazing surf conditions.  It also means that it keeps the beach cool and the water cold.  Perfect for a hot summer day.

Kitesurfers at Guincho

Zach loves playing Smashball

Yes, I am at the beach too!

We headed home from the beach around 3 - I would also like to mention that there is virutally no traffic to get here, it's easy to park, and the beaches are clean and the lifeguards are so helpful and friendly.  We are all wearing 50+ sunscreen, but I have a feeling everyone will be brown by the end of July - we love the beach!

Lauren and Zach's Top Eight List (so far)

Yummy bachalau (cod)... 3 stars

1. Jumbo - the big Walmart-like store, where Zach found Beyblades
2. the beaches
3. the neat rocks that stick out of the ocean
4. cheese "tosti's" - the quiejo flamengo (slices of cheese that blow American out of the water) 
5. the bread - can't stop eating the crusty rolls
6. the weather
7. Euros - we have coins floating all over
8. going to bed at 11/sleeping in

Backtracking a bit....

The past week has been busy here in the Costa do Sol of Portugal.  We are living in Cascais, just north of Lisbon, on west coast of Portugal.  We are in temporary housing, a cute yellow condo across the street from Casa da Guia and the ocean. 

After moving in last Saturday, we took Sunday off and went to Vila Franca da Xira, a hill town east of Lisbon, to watch the Portuguese bullfights (it was a cultural experience that none of us want to repeat). To quote Lauren, "don't go unless you want to be horrified and sad".  After about five minutes, Lauren started to cheering for the bull when it was his turn to go after the unarmed Forcados, whose job it is to grab the bull by the horns, pull his tail, and tire him out.

 

We did enjoy the villages culinary offerings - specifically the cotton candy and the nutella-filled churros.

On Monday, we had to get down to business.  That meant searching for a house to live in, figuring out how to shop in stores where nothing is in English and no one speaks it (we are working everyday on our Portuguese and it's coming along), going to visit Zach and Lauren's new school, IPS, which Zach says is "awesome", and getting a local cellphone. Oh, and learning now to drive here - my favorite challenge.  The roads are curvy and thin, and the cars go fast!


We haven't found a house yet - our realtor Manuela is great, and seems to understand what we are looking for.  It's the four of us that can't agree!  After a day of driving around like crazy people, we hit the beach in the late afteroon....and then rustle up dinner around 8:30.  We have had no problem adjusting to Portuguese rythym of life - late mornings, late dinners.  Not sure how Rich's work schedule will fit into the lifestyle???