The Fog is Clearing

The fog. That would be my brain fog. As I think I mentioned, the last month, really 2 months in Charlotte were just so hectic and so many decisions had to be made. Do you get tired of making decisions? That’s one of the parts of adulting I grow weary of. Since we arrived here, I just haven’t felt like doing much. Some of it I think has also been due to the weather. While it’s been nicer here than in Charlotte, it still IS winter. And then there is my on-going back pain. Grrrrrr.

This week I did more than I did in prior weeks, so, hopefully, I’m starting to recover. Monday I met my (new) friend Michele at the Mall (Algarve Forum). She needed some things for her new digs and I wanted to get a vacuum cleaner. I took pictures of vacuum cleaners and came back and did some research. I REALLY wanted to get an Oreck. I loved my Oreck in Charlotte. In Portugal people apparently prefer the canister-style vacuums or “stick” style. There are also the robotic ones. Scott and I went through 2 different Roombas in the past and weren’t totally satisfied. I ended up going back and getting a Hoover “stick” style. So far, I’m happy with it. Really happy with it. Unnaturally happy with it. It just made me so darned happy to buy it. Sheesh.

On Tuesday we went to the expat meet-up in Olhão again. It was also a “book and media exchange”. Our books and media aren’t here yet, but Scott had one book to take. I think he brought back one or two. He generally reads nonfiction and there was not much of that. We also met several couples who were doing “scouting trips” and had not yet moved here. BTW, Mark Dunning, this meet-up location is for YOU. 5-star hotel. https://www.realmarina.realhotelsgroup.com/

Wednesday night we had our first dinner guest. The wonderful person from Ecuador who organizes the meet-up here in Faro lives pretty close to us and came over for dinner. Her nickname is Joss. She brought dessert. I made vegetarian chili and we had a salad. She’s really lovely, young and fun. We had a really nice evening.

Last night, Thursday, we got together with some of the other people in Scott’s Portuguese class. There was a couple from New Hampshire. They haven’t decided where they want to move to yet. She has lived in Madrid before. Another couple lives here, but they are from the Netherlands. Their son is in college in Madrid, their daughter, I believe, is in college in Boston, MA and they live in a town a short way from Faro. And there was a woman from Austria. Their teacher had told them something about Portuguese sangria. So we ordered some. This is what the server brought out. Fun!! I’m pretty sure he said there was no added alcohol that it was all from the fermented fruit. It was VERY sweet, but highly drinkable (yikes!).

Today, Friday, Scott had the last Portuguese class for the 4 weeks he signed up for. Michele had asked me to meet her for lunch at this place. https://myomeu.eatbu.com/?lang=en

I was VERY excited to go there. Why? Because it’s not traditional Portuguese but IS pasta and pierogi! Yippee! I felt pretty confident that nothing I ordered would taste like fish. I was correct! Also, I decided to walk and not uber or try to figure out the bus. I left early and got there in plenty of time to

1.     Ensure they were actually open for lunch today

2.     Go to the ATM and get some cash because this place only takes cash

3.     See some other fun-looking places and snap the photos below for you guys

Scott also joined us. I had a big glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice followed by a nice Algarve-grown white wine and the HOMEMADE PISTACHIO AND PECORINO  ROMANO PESTO PASTA. However, I did forget to take pictures of any of that. I will be going back to this place. They had some desserts that looked REALLY good. Hope Young, we will likely go there when you come next month!

I’m hopeful that you will soon hear from Scott and learn what we are planning for our first adventure! In the meantime, come play Pickleball with us!