Portugal - Week 1 (ending August 12)

Hello everyone! I've had a few requests to reactivate my blog to share my latest adventure. I plan to post a weekly update for the next five weeks. I am also intending to dip back into time and provide more details of my time between leaving Ethiopia and leaving Toronto for Portugal. So here goes..

So, after a few weeks in Toronto, I now find myself in Portugal. Discovered while in Toronto I was feeling unsettled. For what I think is the first time in my life I was truly uncertain what I wanted to do next given the volunteer assignment was a bust. I had an underlying feeling that I wanted to somehow take advantage of the balance of the year that I was now not spending as a volunteer. The volunteer opportunity was my chance to launch David 4.0; the next phase in my life. To do something tangentially different from what I had done up to this point. Yeah, why take the road well traveled when you can veer off into the woods and struggle with everything. Welcome to David's world. I'm the guy who deliberately parks in different parts of a parking lot in an attempt to break up any fixed routine. Have to admit this parking obsession has caused me a little grief at times as I forget where I have parked my car. And that, my friends, is the point of breaking up patterns.

In looking at what to do in the balance of the year I wanted to consider a couple latent desires. You see I have harbored this wild idea for some time that I want to live on the beach in a place that is perpetually warm. I also have this unrealized desire to spend my time writing. I love to write and want to learn to write well. The writing desire has been provoked by a number of friends who have encouraged me to put my thoughts and stories onto 'paper' after helping them with various challenges in their lives. So I now think I am on a journey to find the place in the world where I want to write.

Why Portugal? Seemed like a good idea at the time as I decided a couple of days before I departed. It has beaches and I could get a direct flight from Toronto to Lisbon. My time in Portugal is another first from a trip organization perspective. Doing everything in the moment; by the seat of my pants. I usually have all the accommodation planned with a high level idea of what to do. I had one hotel booked for two days. Am doing the rest of the planning as I go along.

How did I pick the first hotel? Well, August is a busy time at the beach in Portugal. The hotel I picked happened to be at a good rate and by the beach. Good enough for me. Just had to arrange transportation and I'm on my way. Talk about operating outside my comfort zone. Putting into practice advice that I regularly share with others.

1st stop - Foz do Arelho
I landed in Lisbon mid-day on Monday, August 7. Arranged for a taxi to take me to the hotel to make my life simple after the 7 hour flight. Will be switching to use the local buses as much as I can to make life a little more interesting; when the choice makes sense.

Foz is a quaint little fishing village that is very laid back and compact. About 1300 people live here. One banking machine and a few hotels and hostels. Lots of places to eat at with a variety of menus. Food is amazing. Going to see how many different fish/seafood dishes I can have while I am on the coast.

The beach is wide and endless in Foz and is nestled in a very large bay. There is a constant wind that blows off the Atlantic that helps to moderate the heat. The wind intensifies with the increasing warmth throughout the day. Sunbathing requires setting up small windbreaks around where you lie to keep the wind at bay. Very busy beach. The water is somewhat cool; after all, it is the Atlantic Ocean.

Foz do Arhelo Beach

Beach huts for the day

Love the sound of the surf

Amazing surf from Atlantic - Surfing lessons available

Another day in paradise

Lone wind surfer

Dave starting to be grilled by the sun

Grilled shrimp

Grilled cod

Next Stop - Nazare

Found a hotel for the next two days in the resort city of Nazare; about 30 minutes up the road from Foz. Wow! Moved from sleepy village to a bustling city focused on the tourist trade. Talk about busy. Beaches were jam packed for most of the day. Lots to see and do. Unsure if this is my favorite sort of place to hang out. 

Had a chance to visit Fatima. First attempt with using the local bus. Sales agent was very helpful and had a great sense of humor. Thank goodness he spoke English. Since the early 20th century, Fatima has been associated with events in which three local children, Lucia dos Santos and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta Marto, saw visions of a woman know as Our Lady of Fatima, since believed to be the Virgin Mary. On May 13, 1917, while guarding their families' sheep in the Cova da Iria, the children first saw an apparition of a 'lady dressed in white' and shining with a bright light. The children saw the Marian apparition on six occasions. (Wikipedia)

The grounds of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima is like a miniature version of  St. Peter's Square in Rome. You can visit the official website if you'd like to learn more: http://www.fatima.pt/en

Yes, a very busy beach

Stunning sunsets both nights I was there

Beach in early morning

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Fatima

Painting in church
depicting the vision the
children had

New Age church from outside - Amazing building opposite of
Sanctuary

World's largest rosary - has to be!

Dave's grilling in the sun continues

Beach view - looking into Nazare

Another beautiful sunset!
Ho hum...

And the orgy of great fish continues - Sea bass this time

New Age church - Inside view

Next Stop - Sao Martinho do Porto

Arrived in town on Friday and will be here for the next six days. Took the local bus to get here; trying to increase the adventure quotient on my trip. Was easy peasy. 

Located almost directly in between Foz and Nazare is the town of Martinho. And, coincidentally, the town is larger than Foz and smaller than Martinho. Kind of just right - like the story of the three bears. Another magnificent beach that is very busy. Takes about 30 minutes to walk from end to end. Has the warmest water of all the three locations. My hotel is about a block away from the beach. More great food. Had grilled salmon the first night and paella last night. 

My hotel, Albergaria Sao Pedro, has had the best breakfast so far for what I like. Lots of different fresh fruit; amazing ham and the best bacon ever! A small selection of cakes for my sweet tooth. Espresso is wonderful!

Have started jogging in the morning for the last two mornings. Have to balance the good life with a little exercise. So far, I've been able to jog for about 40 - 45 minutes. Surprising myself! Last time I tried to jog, last fall, I lasted about 20 minutes and was sucking serious wind. Know that I'll need to pick up my pace as I settle into the jogging routine. Just want to be able to fit into my clothes. A little misleading when you are wearing swimming trunks in the day. 

Outlet to Atlantic 

Beach from the south of town

Closer view

Beach view from hotel terrace

Harbour view - early evening

Morning mist 

Morning mist - from hotel terrace

See you next Sunday. Will be moving back to Foz do Arelho on August 18th for another five days on the beach and writing. Think I'll be switch things up after that and do some hiking inland.