Just when you were beginning to think there might be something...? Here we are in Ireland. We hope you're still with us after all of this time ; )!
We had several really nice days in Portugal, but most of our trip there was spent trying to kill time, as we ended up with more than we had anticipated. In the end we were glad that we had an extended stay as we feel that we got a better idea of what Lisbon and the surrounding area had to offer, both the good and the bad.
We went on a day trip outside of the city to a charming little town called Sintra. I would liken it to Sedona, only a little smaller, but easily as picturesque and also brimming with local artisans. Oh, how we wished we had the space and or ability to get some things home! We visited many of the local sites, castles, and towers, in the older parts of the surrounding city. In the other pictures you see us in an old monastary in Lisbon and also at the nearby Torre de Belem. We did a lot of hanging out and relaxing, and finally, because my leg healed, a lot of walking. During our last couple of days in the city we took in a couple of American movies at El Corte Ingles; the only "department" store where you can fully remodel your home, do your new spring wardrobe shopping, and pick up you freshly waxed skis, all while enjoying free samples of fine Portuguese wine ; )! An additional pleasure was the weather. It was a little hot for two of the days that we were there, but overall we couldn't have asked for more perfect out-and-about weather (like 75-82 degrees with a light breeze and cloud cover rolling in and out).
We also encountered more drug dealers than we have anywhere else we have ever traveled, I think we were asked if we would like to buy some marajuana or hash like 58 times in the week we were in Lisbon. At least this took place in broad daylight, around police and everyone else, so that it was never a threatening experience. Also, now that you all know that we are safe and sound, we did decide to leave a line once because a vagrant forced his way to the front of it and was openly tapping his knife on the counter...even James' beloved McFlurry wasn't worth tolerating threatening behavior nor the possible, albiet only imagined, aftermath. Things could have been even worse in another incident, if it weren't for James' recently perfected vision (thank you laser eye surgery), when we came across a pistol wielding mad-man by the docks and immediately high-tailed it in the other direction (even bigger thank you doctors of Barnett, Delaney, & Perkins).
But, that was Portugal. We are now, as mentioned, in Ireland and everything is beautiful and safe, if a little gray and wet. Anyway, we rented a car and it's making me (James) wish that I had brought some Prozac. I am a nervous wreck after learning how to drive on the left in the middle of downtown Dublin and I don't recommend it to anyone. We drove down to Dun Laoghaire today, a port area to the south of the city that is near the university. There are small cobblestone streets and little shops that make for a very relaxing afternoon (we have parked the car).
Goodbye for now!
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