Greetings from Portugal

Yes, it is true, I am back in Portugal. Itºs been 3 months since I was here. I am in my hotel room with a balcony that overlooks Cesarºs hotel and behind that the beautiful Atlantic Ocean. As you can tell I am on a computer with a Portuguese keyboard so the apostrophe appears as the small circle that I can never find on the American keyboard when I want to use it for degrees of temps. Anyway, back to my reality, Portugal.

The trip here was exhausting, as always, although it does seem harder each time, but only until I see Cesar at the airport and then all is forgotten, except how worth it, it was to be back in beautiful Portugal with my friend!

The trip, while tiring, was quite nice! I used my air miles to purchase a first class ticket and the trip was luxurious to say the least! A seat that reclined totally and quite personal service. At 2AM, when all of my American friends were snug in their beds, I was gently awakened by a flight attendent telling me it was time for breakfast. We were just an hour out of Frankfurt and it was 10AM there. Then a 3 course breakfast was served. Something one could get quite used to, traveling first class! (not the getting up at 2am)

Arriving in Frankfurt was a bit exciting, I no longer panic at new experiences, well at least the safe ones. I knew I would find my way eventually to the next flight. Going through passport control was okay, I told the man it was my first time in Germany and he actually smiled at me. I had been told that my connection would be close to my arrival gate. That was a lie and when I stopped to ask directions I was told it was a very long walk, that was not a lie! Now that I am a more seasoned traveler, I spend more time observing than panicking. I saw two things at the airport that are unique to Germany, at least as far as my experience goes. In the bathroom, I found that the soap is released, not when you push down on the soap dispenser, but when you let go. Strange phenomenon to me. Yes, possibly I am easily intrigued. I pushed down and nothing came out so I pushed and pushed without totally releasing the handle, gave up, released it and all this soap came spewing out! Yes, easily intrigued! Just love those new experiences!! And then as I am strolling through the airport I notice someone go by on a bicycle! Yes a bicycle! The man appeared to be one of the maintenance men. A little later, a man in a suit went past me on a bicycle! Yes, apparently many of the airport workers have bikes! I passed a parking area for the bikes and they had little license plates on them too. very interesting concept, more places should do this for easy transportation inside the airport I think. No one seemed to mind and there wasnºt a problem for them to get around the people. Iºm interested to see if there are people on bikes in the Munich airport too. I purchased a couple of things on my walk through the airport and was amazed at how expensive it is! I did find a childrenºs book about a polar bear with polar bear finger puppet on it, in German!! What a wonderful addition to my polar bear collection that is! Who would have dreamed Iºd find anything polar bear in Germany!

The plane left on time and 3 hours later I was arriving at my old familiar hangout, the Lisbon airport! I waited a bit for Cesar and before I knew it we were off on our adventure. It was a quiet evening. we walked in the rain to an an Italian restaurant and then walked back to the hotel. I slept while he worked on his business and this morning we had breakfast at the hotel and then he walked across the street to work and I will take a nap after finishing this entry. Iºll shop this afternoon for souvenirs in the village of Cascais and then when he is off at 4 we head to the airport to fly to Munich, a fun 3 days ahead of us.

and so, ciao from Portugal! the bed is calling my name!