On a recent trip back to the USA, I spent some time with my nephew, Sean, in Colorado, who took me on an unforgettable hike that included some very anxious moments! After a few days of crappy weather, we finally got a break. We arrived at Reynolds Ranch County Park at 9 AM and were …
While I was in Nazaré for a week last month, I seen that several of my friends on our expat WhatsApp group chat were stating that they were going back to the US for their vaccinations. Knowing that I wasn’t going to be eligible for mine, here in Portugal, until July or August, I cut my …
Continue reading My vaccine: 35K miles and a mile high – Priceless!!!
Buskers are busking, while the sun shines down on the residents of Lisbon as they run errands, shop, walk their dogs, meet friends at Cafés, or whatever. After over 10 weeks of COVID lockdown, Lisbon is starting to show signs of life, again! A little bit of normalcy is definitely a welcome thing, and so good to …
(Video below) Portugal is magical! I have lived here now for exactly five months! We have been on lock down and shut down due to Covid, exactly half that time, 2 ½ months. I totally understood why and didn't mind doing my part to keep everyone in my newly adopted city, myself included, safe. My …
Continue reading PORTUGAL: Lisbon, Cabo da Roca, Cascais, Sintra, Nazaré
My Airbnb stay in Nazaré, Portugal (Video below!) The "Rose of the winds," or "Rosa dos Ventos," in Portuguese, is the geometric symbol on the face of a compass. It's also found on maps, nautical charts, marine equipment and even monuments. We've all seen it, but I think most land-lovers, myself included, probably don't even …
(Video after story) I know you're with me. Here, in Portugal, we had been on COVID lockdown for a total of 10 very long weeks. It wasn't much fun, but, it looks like it paid off. Now that our numbers have improved so much, (and in fact, we have the fewest cases in the EU), …
Continue reading Nazaré, Portugal!! You gotta see it to believe it!!
Olá amigos! Have I got a story for you! But, first, a little preface. Some of you may be familiar with my blog segment, “The Lisbon Files.” If you are not, it's a series of interviews I do with everyday people here on the streets of Lisbon. I ask questions about life in Portugal, the …
(Video at bottom) Every week, on my walks, I notice colorful, stunning works of art that show up on buildings seemingly around every corner. There's always something new, or one that I hadn't noticed before. They are incredible to see and literally turn the city into an open air museum of art! There are even …
Cascaispronounced - kĕsh' • kīsh It's true - I may be leaving. After living here in Lisbon for over four months, I have really come to love her and her beautiful parks, streets, timeless architecture and her people. But, something has changed, something has come between us. My mind is wandering back to the exotic beauty and …
Music is the universal language of mankind - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Another gorgeous Spring day found me strolling across the sun-soaked cobblestones of the Praça do Comércio, (Commerce Square). With COVID-19 measures easing up a bit last week, more and more people are slowly coming out of their cocoons of isolation to begin living life …
Johnny Portugal 