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Lagos


June 27

On my run today I decided to mix it up with an octopus. He is waving to you. Who knows what tomorrow will bring?

Recently Nic informed me he is ‘a beach person.’ This was a bit of a surprise to me as most of our relationship has been spent in mountains. While I think the beach is cool, I am not really a beach person. Most of my life has been spent in the mountains, and I worried that Nic deciding he was a beach person would be a problem for us. 

Turns out Nic was wrong. If this vacation proves anything, it proves that Nic loves mountains. Every time on this trip that we have been on the beach, near the beach I have heard the following:
  1. I do not like the sun.
  2. I do not like to be hot.
  3. I wish there were more shade.
  4. There is sand everywhere. 
  5. Sand is dirty. 
  6. You are going to get sand in the car. 
  7. There is sand in your hair.
  8. The wind off the ocean is cold. 
  9. Salt water wrecks my skin.
  10. The water is too cold.
  11. The salt water makes me feel dirty.
I could probably think of more, but you get the idea. Usually after one day near sand, after we have thoroughly checked out the boats, we need to go to the mountains. That is why today we opened the map, looked at it, and headed up.


And a little Elie Wiesel street art along our path today.


Old telephone booths being used as libraries!! I love it.


This is a statue memorializing the olive presses which used to make olive oil.


After a bit of coffee, we really got going.







And then all was right in the world. There were mountains, peaks, cold wind, and a winding road upwards.


And lest you think Portugal is all about the beach, there are gorgeous hills, and almost mountains here. There are also lots of little shrines to Mary. Catholics really love Portugal. There are lots of statues, crosses, shrines and little mosaics along every path.





Pre-me, Nic loved to cycle. He has a soft spot in his heart at all times for his cycling brothers and sisters. He is positive this is an incredible race/ride, which explains the statue. 


Apparently Verizon dumped all of its international customers today, so while we were navigating back to our home base, my internet dropped off. Fortunately Nic is good with direction and managed to get us back to Lagos in time for our dinner reservation with Vince. We had yet another version of Sangria. 



Afterward we wandered about town to see the street art and historic buildings. 




This building was home to one of the first markets where enslaved folks were sold. It was poignant to stand here and see the space. I am glad it still stands. I wish it were better memorialized. 


Here are some of the views of Lagos at sunset.








The sun set over Lagos tonight, leaving us one more day in Portugal. It is hard to believe this trip is almost over. 

Today as Nic sped through the weaving mountain roads I took an accounting of all of things we have lost so far on this trip.
  1. My knitting bag, yarn, needles and pattern - somewhere between Morocco and Cadiz.
  2. My white button down shirt - in the hotel in Fes. I had been sleeping with it over my face because there was a weird mildew smell.
  3. My sunglasses - Torino
  4. My glasses - technically I stepped on them yesterday.
  5. Nic’s phone at least three times. (He has FINALLY consented to allowing me to ‘stalk’ in on Find My IPhone).
I think that’s it for now. I will keep you updated. I am also making a list of all of the mistakes we have made too, just so you don’t make them. Stay tuned. For now I am turning over to my book, hoping Verizon sorts themselves out while I sleep, and turning toward tomorrow.



 

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