Despite some worrying over waiting for my upcoming surgery to be scheduled (they are late!), we have been really enjoying ourselves and also taking advantage of our lighter schedules. In fact, my schedule has been pretty non-existent since about mid- July. I thought it would be nice to share our weekly highlights from 26th of July to the 1st of August.
WALKING, WALKING, WALKING!!!: It has quickly become a true family activity. We are all a few more kilos overweight than we should be. Actually, some of us (I won't mention names) are even more than a few kilos too many. Despite knowing that there is just more of us to love, we have become increasingly dedicated to making some changes. Now Evan is old enough to accompany us for an hour or even a ninety minute walk. Almost two weeks ago we tried out our new strategy. Fifteen active walks, hikes, or bike rides and she would receive the fluffy stuff animal that she wants. She has been collecting these funny stuff animals that have eyes like Puss In Boots, one of her favorite animated characters. The beginning of last week we were able to increase the duration of our walks up to an hour. Later in the week, an hour and a half. Most days last week we enjoyed a late afternoon or evening walk together. Also, Claudia and I went for a 90 minute walk most mornings together.
Walking with Evan has been great and the best thing is now she is used to it and expects it. More importantly, she has started to really enjoy them. Sometimes she puts on her MP3 and headphones and other times she talks with us. At the end of the week we are giving her the little prize for keeping fit. It actually has been over fifteen walks/hikes since she started but she hasn't been great about keeping count so we have decided that Friday would be good. After that, we increase the number of walks (etc) required to thirty before receiving the prize. And so it will continue.
Last Sunday we did another lovely hike up the huge hill at Santa Rita. We had a picnic dinner enjoying the view of the ocean and upcoming sunset. Coming down was quite an adventure though. As there are a few different paths you can take, we took one that ended with an extremely steep inclination to get to the bottom. Claudia felt confident in her abilities and kept encouraging us even to the point of downplaying how steep it really was. My anxiety level went into high gear for a while and, if I could have reached Cláudia, I don't know what would have happened! FYI...it can be very annoying when someone is encouraging you when you are feeling a lot of fear. I was fearful more for Evan than myself as I felt like I wouldn't be able to help her if she needed it. Evan did great though She was nervous (don't know where she got that from. OOPS!) but she was dedicated to the task at hand. In hindsight, I am glad Cláudia was 'exuberant' in her encouragement because Evan and I have lived to tell the tale! Evan slid down most of the way on her bottom and I looked like a huge, uncoordinated gorilla, stumbling down using both hands and feet. Believe it or not, I would do it again.
Walking with Evan has been great and the best thing is now she is used to it and expects it. More importantly, she has started to really enjoy them. Sometimes she puts on her MP3 and headphones and other times she talks with us. At the end of the week we are giving her the little prize for keeping fit. It actually has been over fifteen walks/hikes since she started but she hasn't been great about keeping count so we have decided that Friday would be good. After that, we increase the number of walks (etc) required to thirty before receiving the prize. And so it will continue.
Last Sunday we did another lovely hike up the huge hill at Santa Rita. We had a picnic dinner enjoying the view of the ocean and upcoming sunset. Coming down was quite an adventure though. As there are a few different paths you can take, we took one that ended with an extremely steep inclination to get to the bottom. Claudia felt confident in her abilities and kept encouraging us even to the point of downplaying how steep it really was. My anxiety level went into high gear for a while and, if I could have reached Cláudia, I don't know what would have happened! FYI...it can be very annoying when someone is encouraging you when you are feeling a lot of fear. I was fearful more for Evan than myself as I felt like I wouldn't be able to help her if she needed it. Evan did great though She was nervous (don't know where she got that from. OOPS!) but she was dedicated to the task at hand. In hindsight, I am glad Cláudia was 'exuberant' in her encouragement because Evan and I have lived to tell the tale! Evan slid down most of the way on her bottom and I looked like a huge, uncoordinated gorilla, stumbling down using both hands and feet. Believe it or not, I would do it again.
EVAN...AN INSPIRING ENTREPRENEUR:
Last weekend, Evan decided that she wanted to engage in some business activity. She had been talking about selling some books for a week or so before. Personally, I was happy to see such gumption from my amazing daughter. I told her why not sell her bracelets that she used to make with grandfather too. She has quite a surplus of them. Cláudia looked on at our plans with complete disinterest. However, to her defense, children selling things here in Portugal is not so common. I remember lemonade stands when I was young, sitting out in the hot sun, bored to death...just waiting for someone to buy a 25 cent cup of lemonade. I loved Evan's spirit so we tried. However, nobody seemed interested in even looking and Evan ended up very disappointed. We decided to spend the rest of the morning enjoying a green-flag swim day. Cláudia disinterest was probably more related to having the insight to know the cultural norms here in Portugal. Next Sunday we plan to go to the same place but they are having a fleamarket there that day. Us fleas should fit right in. Evan is looking forward to trying again. I just hope someone other than me buys something this time.
Last weekend, Evan decided that she wanted to engage in some business activity. She had been talking about selling some books for a week or so before. Personally, I was happy to see such gumption from my amazing daughter. I told her why not sell her bracelets that she used to make with grandfather too. She has quite a surplus of them. Cláudia looked on at our plans with complete disinterest. However, to her defense, children selling things here in Portugal is not so common. I remember lemonade stands when I was young, sitting out in the hot sun, bored to death...just waiting for someone to buy a 25 cent cup of lemonade. I loved Evan's spirit so we tried. However, nobody seemed interested in even looking and Evan ended up very disappointed. We decided to spend the rest of the morning enjoying a green-flag swim day. Cláudia disinterest was probably more related to having the insight to know the cultural norms here in Portugal. Next Sunday we plan to go to the same place but they are having a fleamarket there that day. Us fleas should fit right in. Evan is looking forward to trying again. I just hope someone other than me buys something this time.
BOAT RIDE: Whoohoo!! I had often wondered why nobody would take a little boat, canoe, or raft in the river between Porto Novo and Maceira. It is less than a five minute drive from the house. This year , we have seen one or two inflatable boats like the one we have. We know the river used to be really polluted but now it is much cleaner. I was thinking that people just get in the habit of not doing something even when things have changed for the better. After all, habits die hard. I asked my best man, Paulo, about it and he also thought that it was probably more cultural than anything else. Suffice to say, we decided to take the river on! Evan and I embarked on our first (though it won't be our last!) boat ride last Friday morning. It was fantastic. Fish were jumping and the cotton was high. Okay...there was no cotton, but the bamboo was high. And the fish and frogs were really jumping. In fact, so much so, that about five minutes after I told Evan that I thought it may be possible for a fish to jump into the boat, a fish jumped into the boat! Evan was relaxing with her hat over her eyes when the visitor called. The poor girl was scared initially and with good reason. The fish had really startled her with its flapping around. I told Evan immediately that it was just a fish but it took me a good fifteen seconds or so to catch it. Evan wanted us to keep it to show Cláudia who was walking along the path that runs along the river. After explaining that the fish would not last that long, I threw it overboard to return it back to its home.
We were out for about an hour but I would like to stay out longer next time. Other than the flying fish, it is very peaceful there and you would be hard-pressed to find a lovelier view.
We were out for about an hour but I would like to stay out longer next time. Other than the flying fish, it is very peaceful there and you would be hard-pressed to find a lovelier view.
THE MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL (ÓBIDOS, PORTUGAL):
Double whoohoo! I am not much of a festival-type of person because I don't like to be in crowds for too long. However, the Medieval Festival in Óbidos is fantastic. This year was our second year in a row that we attended. This year we arrived in costume a little after 6pm. We saw the procession, watched some medieval jousting games, ate a nice dinner, saw a beautiful dance show. We also saw a band that also played last year. Evan LOVES the drummer who played the dejembe drum. In fact, we picked Friday night because we knew they were playing. The band is actually great and medieval music in general is surprisingly good. Evan was dancing as the band was playing. Soooo cute!
They do such a good job with this festival. Of course, you couldn't ask for a better setting to have it in. Óbidos is a preserved medieval village that is surrounded by a fortress wall. You get a discount on the entry ticket if you go in costume but the reality is, it is simpy more fun to be in costume - with or without a discount. Evan was very excited to go and to sort out our costumes and all. Many people rent the costumes there but we are always trying to save money so we used what we had from our costume box at home. See the pictures above. I am the handsome one with the 'medieval' glasses.
Double whoohoo! I am not much of a festival-type of person because I don't like to be in crowds for too long. However, the Medieval Festival in Óbidos is fantastic. This year was our second year in a row that we attended. This year we arrived in costume a little after 6pm. We saw the procession, watched some medieval jousting games, ate a nice dinner, saw a beautiful dance show. We also saw a band that also played last year. Evan LOVES the drummer who played the dejembe drum. In fact, we picked Friday night because we knew they were playing. The band is actually great and medieval music in general is surprisingly good. Evan was dancing as the band was playing. Soooo cute!
They do such a good job with this festival. Of course, you couldn't ask for a better setting to have it in. Óbidos is a preserved medieval village that is surrounded by a fortress wall. You get a discount on the entry ticket if you go in costume but the reality is, it is simpy more fun to be in costume - with or without a discount. Evan was very excited to go and to sort out our costumes and all. Many people rent the costumes there but we are always trying to save money so we used what we had from our costume box at home. See the pictures above. I am the handsome one with the 'medieval' glasses.
CAMPING AT MONTE JUNTO:
Almost two years ago, I discovered Monte Junto for the first time. It is the closest mountain from our house. It takes about 35 minutes to get there. Cláudia, Evan and I went on an organized walk that ended with a lovely picnic and afternoon of activities. At the time, we discovered they have a campsite where you could camp for free. A little over a year ago, the three of us went camping overnight there. This last Saturday we went back for another overnight camping trip. This time we had to pay a very low fee to camp. Definitely reasonable. Also, this time we had company. Carlos, Clara, and Gica joined us. We barbecued Friday evening and ate well. We played badmitton and Evan made a mandala. On Saturday morning, we also enjoyed a short hike. We had hoped to go further but beyond the camp grounds, there is very limited shade and we got too hot. However, it is very refreshing at the campsite and the immediate surrounding area. It is full of shade. What I really like about it is that there are few campers. It is very peaceful there. Hiking is really great too, as long as you leave early enough or go late enough to avoid the summer heat. There is a lot of interesting vegetation as well. Of course, it is also wonderful to have this little piece of heaven so close to us.
- Courtney How
Almost two years ago, I discovered Monte Junto for the first time. It is the closest mountain from our house. It takes about 35 minutes to get there. Cláudia, Evan and I went on an organized walk that ended with a lovely picnic and afternoon of activities. At the time, we discovered they have a campsite where you could camp for free. A little over a year ago, the three of us went camping overnight there. This last Saturday we went back for another overnight camping trip. This time we had to pay a very low fee to camp. Definitely reasonable. Also, this time we had company. Carlos, Clara, and Gica joined us. We barbecued Friday evening and ate well. We played badmitton and Evan made a mandala. On Saturday morning, we also enjoyed a short hike. We had hoped to go further but beyond the camp grounds, there is very limited shade and we got too hot. However, it is very refreshing at the campsite and the immediate surrounding area. It is full of shade. What I really like about it is that there are few campers. It is very peaceful there. Hiking is really great too, as long as you leave early enough or go late enough to avoid the summer heat. There is a lot of interesting vegetation as well. Of course, it is also wonderful to have this little piece of heaven so close to us.
- Courtney How