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???