Things I’m Going to miss in Portugal

As my 3 month Odyssey in Portugal has come to a close, and I’m sitting in the airport with my flight delayed, I can’t help but to reflect on all of the things I’m going to miss about this wonderful place. The cried the entire way in the taxi from my home the last 3 months to the airport. My poor taxi driver kept giving me nervous glances in the rear view mirror – poor guy.

My heart was breaking the whole way and I finally really got Fado music. I could have sang a sad soulful song of love lost and choices made that take you down an unexpected path and the inevitability that all good things must indeed come to an end. I can not express enough the gratitude and love I feel for my wonderful hostess, Louisa. An amazing woman of love and dedication to her family. They are very lucky to have her. I was lucky to have her for the time I was here. I will miss her alot. I want to thank Vasco, Louisa’s son, who could tell from the gazillion questions I had, that I was needy and came to pick me up at the airport when I got there. I want to thank the whole country and people of Portugal for your understanding and welcoming demeanor in making this trip a trip if a life time.

I can’t remember ever being so happy and stress free as I was, while I was in your wonderful, beautiful country.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””] I’m going to miss how I was always sporting a huge smile while I was here and although people on the street tend to not look at each other as they walk from place to place, I could not curb my enthusiasm for this place and my smile was contagious.[/perfectpullquote]

I will miss so many things about Portugal but here are a few things that immediately come to mind. I will miss the sounds of the seagulls and song birds when I open the window without screens (they don’t have bugs like the US does, they don’t need screens) to air out my room everyday.

I’m going to miss the smell of the ocean when the wind blew from the beautiful Teja River where it meets the Atlantic Ocean.

I’m going to miss the sounds of all the various church bells from all of the churches on Sunday mornings/afternoons.

I’m going to miss the beauty and history of the architecture here.

I’m going to miss walking to the market and the butchers and the fish store.

I’m going to miss the little park next to my house.

I’m going to miss Linda who gave me the sexiest hair ever.

I’m going to miss the wonderfully soulful and sad Fado music. And the soulful, funky music played when Fado is not being playing.

I’m going to miss saying Bon Dia to people on the street.

I going to miss how I was always sporting a huge smile while I was here and although people on the street tend to not look at each other as they walk from place to place, I could not curb my enthusiasm for this place and my smile was contagious.