westward ho!-ome...

creature comforts
Meanwhile, we are passing our last few days in style. We are staying at the beautiful guest house of a university in Porto. Here is the faculty club where we eat our delicious freshly-squeezed-orange-juice breakfast every morning, served by a gracious waitress. After a month in Russia, I have to remember not to say the Russian “spasebo” (or “placebo” as I bloopered once), but the Portuguese “obrigada” instead. Obliged. That is what I have been for nearly three months now. It’s different for Ron, who is making scientific contributions wherever we go, but as for myself, I look forward to the opportunity to say “you’re welcome” once in a while!




destination
The goal of my walk was the same as the goal of the river - to reach the sea. Beyond that, in the distance - home and belonging, just days away!




a sunny day
Ron had to work, but I took advantage of our second sunny day here in Portugal (sadly, we've only had two so far) to go for a walk along the Duoro River. That’s downtown Porto in the distance. Bring back a few memories, Caitlin?




To paraphrase C.S. Lewis...
Never winter, but already Christmas! Unlike Russia, Portugal is a Christmas-country, and well before the beginning of December, begins to light up its streets and its hearts. “Poor but happy,” is how one student described his sunny, smiling country to us. Here we see Mary and Joseph already on their way to Amarante, the small town we visited the day after our arrival in Porto.




for our little ones...
This is what it looks like up high above the clouds! I remember (many years ago) imagining how much fun it would be climb those soft, puffy hills and tumble down into those soft, puffy valleys! After spending a whole month underneath all those clouds, it sure was nice to soar above them, basking in the brilliant warmth as we flew three time zones closer to home! We are spending the final two weeks of our European adventure in Portugal, which shares Greenwich time with Kenilworth!