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Lagos

Behind a thick, wooden door on the fourth floor of a Portuguese condominium complex a small, wizened Portuguese woman stood on her tiptoes peering out of the eye hole on her door.

A man fiddled with the lock on her door, jamming his keys into the lock on her door. A woman stood next him holding a light to help him see better. The couple were conversing animatedly in English. Taking no chances, the woman ran and grabbed her broom and began slamming it into the door as she cursed and shouted.

Surprised, the couple ran up the stairs. 

Damn tourists. Thieves. Gangsters.

She stood ready to call the police if they returned. 

Meanwhile Nic and I doubled over laughing. Turns out Jackie and Vince live on the sixth floor, not the fourth. Poor little lady may never be the same. I have been directed to laugh until I cry on this trip. It hasn’t happened yet, but this was close.


Moving slowly this morning, Nic and I finally made it down to the shops in Legos. I had expected Portugal and Spain to be very similar. I have been surprised to find them quite different. Lagos has maintained a very local atmosphere despite the huge numbers of tourists. In Spain the tourist shops are filled with pottery, fans, leather purses and wallets, ham, and Flamenco costumes. Portugal is selling little fish and bird ceramics, lots and lots of beach gear, and Portuguese tiles. The mood here is very casual. The wind from the sea cools the town down overnight. It is a slice of paradise served on ice. Ice because it is so chill and relaxed.




We walked around pretending we were going to buy things and didn’t. Then we stopped for a Guinness to scratch Nic’s English beer itch. We had the most English tapas imaginable; mozzarella sticks, poppers, fish cakes, and hummus.



Here is Nic posing for his picture. He is being a smart ass in this picture. I guess he is getting tired of taking pictures. Tonight England is playing an important soccer game. Nic and Vince are planning to watch it on a quiet night in. I am quite happy for this slower pace. Tomorrow we will amble out to the beach to take a better look around, I hope to fulfill my hand-holding-on-the-beach fantasy that did not pan out in Asilah. Later in the week is promising rain and clouds, so tomorrow will need to be my big beach day. It is hard to believe we only have a week left before we head home. Things there are staying busy and are beginning to cry for my attention. 




The street art is great. I loved these little fishes. They remind me of Nic and I. Two little fishes in the great sea of life. So lucky we found each other. 




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