Let’s begin here, in Portugal, excluding the god awful twenty one hours airport to airport that is unfortunately necessary when we travel. Let’s just begin here. A couple of nights in Lisbon to shake off the jet lag. A beautiful and comfortable bus ride and here we are in Lagos; in the Algarve; in the beautiful sunshine; on the ocean; in the sunshine (whoops I already said that…..about the sunshine I mean. Sorry). We are settled in a very nice apartment just outside the walls of the old city which is also in the sunshine. Oops!

I would just like to take a minute, because this blog is on my author website, to mention once again how incredibly important travel is, for all of us of course, but especially for writers. We not only learn more about the world, cultures, history and people but more about ourselves as well. And if you don’t believe that is important to a writer…well…then you should definitely travel more.

When Donna and I walk along the walls of this ancient city we can feel the thousands of years pressed into its stone. When we share the food, struggle with the language and walk the ancient stones of one of the oldest cities in western civilization it is difficult not to feel how small and insignificant we truly are and how foolish it is to moan and groan about things that are less than a blink of the eye in the overall scheme of things. The cliffs of the Algarve are breathtaking, beautiful and awe inspiring. As we walk along them on our way to the light- house that sits at the furthest most southeastern point of Europe we can’t help but stand in wonder. Yet, even that pales as you look out across the sea at the horizon and feel the truth of both how very important we are and how very unimportant we are. Gazing at the horizon makes me think, if I sailed over to that horizon could I find another world a “new world” that would be better, nicer, more humane a world absent sociopathic leaders and such. Maybe somebody in the past had those thoughts too. I don’t know. Maybe.

Meanwhile we are busy spending what’s left of our retirement on cappuccinos at Black and White Cafe, London Tiger Cafe, Pao Doce Pasteleria, and many more followed by sticky rice with mango and coconut milk (If I should be offered a last meal before I die I would like it to end with sticky rice and fresh mango). We are walking the beaches and the cliffs and the cobblestone streets. And did I mention the sun is shining. Oh, I did?

We will catch you up on what a miserable time we are having next Friday. Until then….

Ta, ta for now,

Love Jack and Donna