tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75187441190224878442024-03-05T00:38:35.620-08:00Along The Gringo TrailFrom Panama to Portugal, Our Lives Around the WorldClyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.comBlogger594125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-46652835794224883352020-09-20T09:56:00.001-07:002020-09-20T09:56:13.459-07:00Life In Portugal....At A Snails Pace....<p>Yesterday was just another day in Portugal when my dear husband Clyde said he was going to run to the pharmacy for a few things. Time passed by and eventually he returned empty handed, looking frazzled and a bit angry. He said he couldn't get out of the gate to our complex because it wouldn't open. Perhaps the key fob was not working? Quickly he found a battery and replaced it, even though he had just replaced it recently. Off he went down the 30 stairs to the underground garage to try again. But still the gate would not open. Next he called our landlady who owns the condo we are renting, but she didn't answer her phone. As the minutes passed he was getting more and more frustrated. Back up the stairs he came to tell me that we would not be going out for the day as we were stuck inside the complex.</p><p>But then he decided to go down again since surely there must be a solution, a hidden key or some way out? This time he noticed a Portuguese man in the garage who was having the same problem. The man was renting a condo for vacation and he called the owner of that condo who also didn't answer the phone. They went outside to look at the gate when Clyde noticed a phone number on a sign that featured the name of the management company for the complex. Since the man spoke Portuguese he called and someone did answer. The person on the other end of the phone suggested looking at the sensors closely to see if there was a snail hiding in one. A snail? Yes a snail. Portugal has these tiny snails everywhere and yesterday one just happened to be napping in one of the sensors. Apparently it has happened before! Our landlady called back in the meantime and said that yes, it does happen occasionally. A strange but true story of our life in Portugal.....along the gringo trail.</p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVV5BmLhroN6VYMRSRqtF7DHoVjh_6TsPfVbiGO0hOM5WQUjFtnNdcBVGw8MeD0lKJ-ubwZhLYzcBSSR-xar9hGMSmcXjWvout1HGNfi9evZOOTg4wf8pkNQHnrUlLGq2URJtT-C-BIX0/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="219" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVV5BmLhroN6VYMRSRqtF7DHoVjh_6TsPfVbiGO0hOM5WQUjFtnNdcBVGw8MeD0lKJ-ubwZhLYzcBSSR-xar9hGMSmcXjWvout1HGNfi9evZOOTg4wf8pkNQHnrUlLGq2URJtT-C-BIX0/" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm146Zw_wplxXVzJ2mkZ_rJtRilgbEO5TkHv0IPpaLu-Mr0xn2r1HLc8JmzenK6dM7rC49Ckhr5Tw_fV5Xn1LXqaqpiaaIYK-ngAlU8dcAGZOtYcJeT-RlZ-qcwhcVULYvV5gekHKZqAo/s1080/pic+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm146Zw_wplxXVzJ2mkZ_rJtRilgbEO5TkHv0IPpaLu-Mr0xn2r1HLc8JmzenK6dM7rC49Ckhr5Tw_fV5Xn1LXqaqpiaaIYK-ngAlU8dcAGZOtYcJeT-RlZ-qcwhcVULYvV5gekHKZqAo/s320/pic+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wt3WH10SXm6_cYWR0IeIhtwJ_Fa4cf50IAKXuH8ZPOol9w-hvymNHOQtiBLY4pyYBR2CMNGZL4MLwUQWnSxVNHAl1SogtwbZaeVrGvGaIBqHNzfRJZ0LTAsONQ6gactXp-YRaohjmWE/s1080/pic+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6wt3WH10SXm6_cYWR0IeIhtwJ_Fa4cf50IAKXuH8ZPOol9w-hvymNHOQtiBLY4pyYBR2CMNGZL4MLwUQWnSxVNHAl1SogtwbZaeVrGvGaIBqHNzfRJZ0LTAsONQ6gactXp-YRaohjmWE/s320/pic+2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmK_MCtP7XgE3z6eSdBWHbraO6nuL6VuzWmDxvV54zMX0d7rdctumy_Z0P5gVbLwDq4qCIfANdQNkr6v1YYTdT_msxhmZPzBg4lEw-XOXrzWWuH24FlM9MofFCQVuWtn9ZI1oz83mr52I/s1080/pic+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmK_MCtP7XgE3z6eSdBWHbraO6nuL6VuzWmDxvV54zMX0d7rdctumy_Z0P5gVbLwDq4qCIfANdQNkr6v1YYTdT_msxhmZPzBg4lEw-XOXrzWWuH24FlM9MofFCQVuWtn9ZI1oz83mr52I/s320/pic+3.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJRZm5z5qetdNPIQdti6pe1WhRZkbi4QFEjetcqqsRthqPmAm7kQmt-KiaL-slE8XZSf0yKT_0jjvt-fLdiZRRV9_tkrVGJ-Zhyj-JDPeXcl5ujfIFWu3Os77XSPW41Rbf8iGwosUMI0/s1080/pic+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggJRZm5z5qetdNPIQdti6pe1WhRZkbi4QFEjetcqqsRthqPmAm7kQmt-KiaL-slE8XZSf0yKT_0jjvt-fLdiZRRV9_tkrVGJ-Zhyj-JDPeXcl5ujfIFWu3Os77XSPW41Rbf8iGwosUMI0/s320/pic+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9840YmzQRoJVqummTEYr_Wftx2zhoceMT5DQlte50hn58ikotD6ge7iBH5MUC7Yg2Hw1OqlZo2T9qhi00ELoHwfS1Qa91W2kviR5eRQyNF7ANM9Xtd5JjGz6P-cpbHH-J6wIBt9vmI4/s1080/pic+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="525" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9840YmzQRoJVqummTEYr_Wftx2zhoceMT5DQlte50hn58ikotD6ge7iBH5MUC7Yg2Hw1OqlZo2T9qhi00ELoHwfS1Qa91W2kviR5eRQyNF7ANM9Xtd5JjGz6P-cpbHH-J6wIBt9vmI4/s320/pic+5.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p>Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-4982161597652863342020-08-17T10:25:00.004-07:002020-08-17T10:28:11.536-07:00Are We Still In Portugal? Our Lives In The Algarve....<p> We packed up our belongings and drove 3 hours south to the Algarve region of Portugal. Many people say, including us in the past, that the Algarve is NOT real Portugal. Instead this area has been called, "little Britain," for the large number of people from the United Kingdom that call it home. Many of the Portuguese in this region speak English, at least those that work in the tourist industry. But unlike the Silver Coast area, in the Central Region of the country, where we lived for the past two years, here we are <b>warm! </b>Strangely enough, the expats that we have met so far here speak American or Canadian English without a British accent. There are also people from other European countries that speak English as a second language. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi-11eT5ZRl-pfLVyowJTOKS9OmhfM3cNPEGeRKkDr8wmcDO3qFXRLp6W1uhmAJUWAcyfPD6c3HFaLpU07pR9e3ru5Br4vF7QlXoxlDMyYxpWwmoA1BSOF8hlYv77efDBWDhiUyJF_CI/s1420/20200812_154717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1298" data-original-width="1420" height="374" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRi-11eT5ZRl-pfLVyowJTOKS9OmhfM3cNPEGeRKkDr8wmcDO3qFXRLp6W1uhmAJUWAcyfPD6c3HFaLpU07pR9e3ru5Br4vF7QlXoxlDMyYxpWwmoA1BSOF8hlYv77efDBWDhiUyJF_CI/w410-h374/20200812_154717.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Entry Sign</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFPd0aP0MxKMkCzOq3i-xgoYOxlP3v5Jhm3maLPTZPj1-4RA09YtHMcg16SSqkd6Cg8dXh3Ud47-p_hgMTRpewIvxDrcJEuqouw0cvz6Qkx76UR6J9CqfLtnCT87G4brwgTqgcgKym1o/s2543/20200812_104414.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFPd0aP0MxKMkCzOq3i-xgoYOxlP3v5Jhm3maLPTZPj1-4RA09YtHMcg16SSqkd6Cg8dXh3Ud47-p_hgMTRpewIvxDrcJEuqouw0cvz6Qkx76UR6J9CqfLtnCT87G4brwgTqgcgKym1o/w410-h199/20200812_104414.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;">Entry into our subdivision</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2qhhXs-iGShcTdlFmeZnlnC21bC26viD4KlHQwtYLG2t1w7i7PECR4vkQnXB3neeakC4EqG4EGIcT7fPs3BDIlVamCnStTPUGFqN6SYNuCh9BMyjNV4wCfyUTKLFPK3nZnhhFc1JhRE/s2543/20200809_101739.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn2qhhXs-iGShcTdlFmeZnlnC21bC26viD4KlHQwtYLG2t1w7i7PECR4vkQnXB3neeakC4EqG4EGIcT7fPs3BDIlVamCnStTPUGFqN6SYNuCh9BMyjNV4wCfyUTKLFPK3nZnhhFc1JhRE/w410-h199/20200809_101739.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Praia Falesia, just a few kilometers from our home.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauI6UqZf64z5dkNbU3RJMvzI1vhZIQ8RkhuNIkSj40GlcFXptChiyDxozOOgx9q4oJP5AZujtFLQJf937LrJn3xQ39dXeauzP4kgcETgsXGO3eTRddCcZ-nZwIyeqG3jZhujim9Sm9_s/s2543/20200809_101948.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiauI6UqZf64z5dkNbU3RJMvzI1vhZIQ8RkhuNIkSj40GlcFXptChiyDxozOOgx9q4oJP5AZujtFLQJf937LrJn3xQ39dXeauzP4kgcETgsXGO3eTRddCcZ-nZwIyeqG3jZhujim9Sm9_s/w410-h199/20200809_101948.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>The Algarve is to Portugal as Florida is to the rest of the US. If this is <b>not real </b>Portugal then Florida is not real America. Because of the hot summers and miles of white, sandy beaches, the Algarve is packed with tourists most summers. Of course this summer is the exception due to Covid 19. There are still tourists here but all that we have encountered are Portuguese from up north. Some have holiday homes here while others are just renting a place for a family vacation. And since we live in the upscale community of Vilamoura, the tourists here are young families with children, some with grandparents in tow. None have been the noisy or rowdy party type, just people enjoying some family time, fun in the sun and relaxation. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KQhFRVe8Et8ha5AtZDtxrkbOedVK4Cg68DoCgywMiD1RBGfk8RqIq6ylturUxrWS5ce2UG0sTnHHCAunc-tcVmxGo4gAgNNWGkuYcc2pZzCzwjhyphenhyphencEqIVWbCvgDqMzel6KDF1RZZyd0/s2543/20200809_101954.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1KQhFRVe8Et8ha5AtZDtxrkbOedVK4Cg68DoCgywMiD1RBGfk8RqIq6ylturUxrWS5ce2UG0sTnHHCAunc-tcVmxGo4gAgNNWGkuYcc2pZzCzwjhyphenhyphencEqIVWbCvgDqMzel6KDF1RZZyd0/w512-h249/20200809_101954.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphtepnT0fterEHPutRptKaXAZV2mWqu8xg8_BUrqD6zTlM-W7sTZ6-iUgXTB8vfTd1IPczouTeCvymstzcU9I9pNRJyXg-DI41PH3H3wN-CCk4PgAQiisPh1wRJ7cDLEsHtZiOyEplGM/s2543/20200809_102038.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphtepnT0fterEHPutRptKaXAZV2mWqu8xg8_BUrqD6zTlM-W7sTZ6-iUgXTB8vfTd1IPczouTeCvymstzcU9I9pNRJyXg-DI41PH3H3wN-CCk4PgAQiisPh1wRJ7cDLEsHtZiOyEplGM/w512-h249/20200809_102038.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Praia Falesia is known for it's stunning cliffs, which is what Falesia means in Portuguese</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryjJnXdeUcwTA39A9ImRwSJPdGP7nM0bp6BmF9HmFI03nP_2p13SfuC4kUS5qWZtza4tCjHJDACXtR1Q3kH5zzt-faWapQ26Ms3xjvgkcG2ADWXAevcCjdKfgVsE9Ars_Z6y6icjEgN8/s2048/20200809_102912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryjJnXdeUcwTA39A9ImRwSJPdGP7nM0bp6BmF9HmFI03nP_2p13SfuC4kUS5qWZtza4tCjHJDACXtR1Q3kH5zzt-faWapQ26Ms3xjvgkcG2ADWXAevcCjdKfgVsE9Ars_Z6y6icjEgN8/w512-h384/20200809_102912.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Checking out the beach!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzNXoB-C95L837RNFM9bHx3Q9QwWVBZpjnmJS_9Mbmd7CPaTNh5zILqyMXl44MiUykEVWsKYbrUmU1OJjioP4X71IaJo8IG2bQN64s3NDWZiXGqgJDpH56oJWiV0Clae2zeTcLyxevl0/s2543/20200809_103329.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzNXoB-C95L837RNFM9bHx3Q9QwWVBZpjnmJS_9Mbmd7CPaTNh5zILqyMXl44MiUykEVWsKYbrUmU1OJjioP4X71IaJo8IG2bQN64s3NDWZiXGqgJDpH56oJWiV0Clae2zeTcLyxevl0/w249-h512/20200809_103329.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWGHphNyLWuVsCrd3eqEULU_GQUu673ksMnj_SM4_xr-D1eRq3CrrOig-hSRarYAc50YbPw4klWjdWhkNoT1ktnaF-AGGvSSAD0g9YpTsqXAGF4d1oWs1t8ALvQsITwefIZX0Mk9qPhM/s2543/20200809_105043.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAWGHphNyLWuVsCrd3eqEULU_GQUu673ksMnj_SM4_xr-D1eRq3CrrOig-hSRarYAc50YbPw4klWjdWhkNoT1ktnaF-AGGvSSAD0g9YpTsqXAGF4d1oWs1t8ALvQsITwefIZX0Mk9qPhM/w249-h512/20200809_105043.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>The Algarve is <b>unbelievably a totally different world</b> from the rest of Portugal. Lined with palm trees, people dressed in shorts, summer dresses and swim suits galore, we are experiencing full on summertime. I had NOT wore any of my summer clothes since we moved here two years ago. Back in our old neighbourhood near Caldas da Rainha, we rarely took off our sweatshirts. In fact the house we rented there was so cold that we were still using heat and running our pellet burner into July until the day we moved. Cool, cloudy days were the norm with temperatures barely hitting 70 on a good day. Humidity was high which made it feel even cooler. Night time temperatures dropped into the 60's and we would snuggle under a quilt every night in bed. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCJ9-a7878aUy9WtaGdfnavBqL6t1JjA2RP4WgXdyCCaAHJOjQXvBmxH_mwEfah9C-0o_dHcKrwJiwy1FRxiRcfq4ldBbiG8mkzgw-k9ATb-RkrVd0zMA5BDDZjIxLN8bqMyW2PNFQ-Y/s1024/77289420.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1024" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCJ9-a7878aUy9WtaGdfnavBqL6t1JjA2RP4WgXdyCCaAHJOjQXvBmxH_mwEfah9C-0o_dHcKrwJiwy1FRxiRcfq4ldBbiG8mkzgw-k9ATb-RkrVd0zMA5BDDZjIxLN8bqMyW2PNFQ-Y/w512-h287/77289420.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our Complex. Our condo is on the left, upper level which here in the First Floor. The Pyramid is a skylight to the underground garage. The condo has 5 terraces,</div><p><br /></p><p>Here we leave the sliding glass doors open most of the time to enjoy the sea breezes cooling off the condo. The air is much drier here so even though temperatures plummet into the 60's overnight, we are still warm and comfortable. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8VmHHTsEwPoI3-YRBJw1dHMGtF2CFHzMz0yE9cuXI9ImK6IN-EJ9kQiFFo1kinNQ4VYJqUe4TtgwtNztCqFnkjkd-whgyt0qhcNHuX0rCPePgpzvECcW6FN5fXHFDTx_KqW6Enwd0WM/s2543/20200815_135340.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_8VmHHTsEwPoI3-YRBJw1dHMGtF2CFHzMz0yE9cuXI9ImK6IN-EJ9kQiFFo1kinNQ4VYJqUe4TtgwtNztCqFnkjkd-whgyt0qhcNHuX0rCPePgpzvECcW6FN5fXHFDTx_KqW6Enwd0WM/w512-h249/20200815_135340.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>When we decided to make this move we had no idea where in the Algarve we wanted to live. But after visiting with friends in Albufeira we decided we wanted to find a place somewhere in the central Algarve. Being central would allow us to easily access the best of both worlds on either side of the region. An International Airport in Faro is a mere 20-minute drive from our home, for the day when we can travel once again. The border into Spain is just an hour or two drive from here with the beautiful city of Seville just a few hours away.</p><p>Just like our first rental house on the Silver Coast that seemed to find us, this condo also did the same. Since Clyde and I both used to be morbidly obese, lost a great deal of weight and have made daily exercise and a healthy diet part of our lives, we could not have stumbled upon a better location to call home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dypF2_t7VsqCtcmlpOKRKn3gP-F59HlYtUzJaTCc39dq_cjC-0s2BbLe4GhloYAoGqnAbQl1mIepQAr7JPQymGal00HLGpd6-veNoU4XnW49mpLUl9XvXDe-6h42rLpvLWQOuD9BR-M/s2543/20200812_104847.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dypF2_t7VsqCtcmlpOKRKn3gP-F59HlYtUzJaTCc39dq_cjC-0s2BbLe4GhloYAoGqnAbQl1mIepQAr7JPQymGal00HLGpd6-veNoU4XnW49mpLUl9XvXDe-6h42rLpvLWQOuD9BR-M/w512-h249/20200812_104847.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Our view upon entry to Vila Bairos.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwfpRPEdXz4ees9JMdtIrHnk5hdPgE1V11ZrdNbfblVQQBEo6vJOp3Aseolsy3usa-Up6OKg8StdrqgpJrq8JIZWAL5R31WBnSP3oxVNWVDzSfKLvxERCMZULv-UW4WH8EX_84b2paUM/s640/casa-da-encosta-01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwfpRPEdXz4ees9JMdtIrHnk5hdPgE1V11ZrdNbfblVQQBEo6vJOp3Aseolsy3usa-Up6OKg8StdrqgpJrq8JIZWAL5R31WBnSP3oxVNWVDzSfKLvxERCMZULv-UW4WH8EX_84b2paUM/w512-h384/casa-da-encosta-01.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">These photos are from the advert before we moved in. The ashtray is long gone since we don't smoke. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpC1nMtMsK4T_FE2bcX6n7ZoCsUNV3DORnHnPFqlB0JdbBJjcca_idb6CrI1jYFQfa7zaiV10g8B5SBW2Ryg6aIZLWSFptYZ7yn7pCWjhUnfC-I6_RN063Iyd6beBxP6IVzY9mZ_pH00I/s640/casa-da-encosta-05.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpC1nMtMsK4T_FE2bcX6n7ZoCsUNV3DORnHnPFqlB0JdbBJjcca_idb6CrI1jYFQfa7zaiV10g8B5SBW2Ryg6aIZLWSFptYZ7yn7pCWjhUnfC-I6_RN063Iyd6beBxP6IVzY9mZ_pH00I/w512-h384/casa-da-encosta-05.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Nicely staged.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySfR3tsLdxgzvjRSw16Dpy6HSAY1fXERMAa5jypPY2nDymC284kqyKduhTb5BOBc3HhUmlQCAVZ2G-VEGVgJdSIslYg9nwpZi9qlIeNrV1MFj4nY7lCb7Hn6Wcr_fBihrMDFzFP2qlOU/s640/casa-da-encosta-13.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySfR3tsLdxgzvjRSw16Dpy6HSAY1fXERMAa5jypPY2nDymC284kqyKduhTb5BOBc3HhUmlQCAVZ2G-VEGVgJdSIslYg9nwpZi9qlIeNrV1MFj4nY7lCb7Hn6Wcr_fBihrMDFzFP2qlOU/w512-h384/casa-da-encosta-13.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupbh0X6wdkalMV8yt9fnIDelZWh9M9MbuuUG2Co6KYF-evahKU2FAU4MBG9-lr-SDbae7j93i_-ag2mNVsET_-ZehK3wH_wqbfF_MVb6Di-IkHFoQoo-Y9RpGFVCVxThQawV9UPSLodA/s640/casa-da-encosta-19.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgupbh0X6wdkalMV8yt9fnIDelZWh9M9MbuuUG2Co6KYF-evahKU2FAU4MBG9-lr-SDbae7j93i_-ag2mNVsET_-ZehK3wH_wqbfF_MVb6Di-IkHFoQoo-Y9RpGFVCVxThQawV9UPSLodA/w512-h384/casa-da-encosta-19.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIcbQakTLA5pKhyphenhyphen-RKYbUwRcWrS7f8tWVxyC4__m1GOv4s2nDyfJek4OLxBPj9jpd4n7NK5chOuzPT0mfQZBi17rFkN17KCG04JQ71y0MOPIWVEpaFVJxOy2OQE7B8bx6dtnjAcmby98/s640/casa-da-encosta-22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIcbQakTLA5pKhyphenhyphen-RKYbUwRcWrS7f8tWVxyC4__m1GOv4s2nDyfJek4OLxBPj9jpd4n7NK5chOuzPT0mfQZBi17rFkN17KCG04JQ71y0MOPIWVEpaFVJxOy2OQE7B8bx6dtnjAcmby98/w512-h384/casa-da-encosta-22.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>The area of Vilamoura sits within the community of Quarteria on Portugal's southern coast. It makes up one of the largest single tourist complexes in Europe, covering nearly 5,000 acres of land. The resort was built around a small harbour in between sandy beaches, and close to the Roman ruins of Serro de Vila. In Roman times the area was important because it produced a fish paste called, "garum." Back in the day the fisherman would bathe in the Roman baths nearby. The resort was founded by Portuguese banker Cupertino de Miranda in 1966. The Vilamoura marina is the largest in Portugal with enough berths to hold 1000 vessels. The resort has two beaches, five golf courses, lawn bowling, a sports complex, shooting club, tennis club, riding school, and casino with glamorous nightly shows.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWTV-XAqqQt6TM1ZOEPKIWABvbNe4ZIViciYyTfebAPxe792KbIRWJgazX-hivjbXHCRO_4wYcIxFTIJbEBx_Z504HNzfO7Qb5Sc8Lcx9gdahgY7u90HHB_5IqY4fTelnKVKScE0Pgio/s660/217dee526a.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="660" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDWTV-XAqqQt6TM1ZOEPKIWABvbNe4ZIViciYyTfebAPxe792KbIRWJgazX-hivjbXHCRO_4wYcIxFTIJbEBx_Z504HNzfO7Qb5Sc8Lcx9gdahgY7u90HHB_5IqY4fTelnKVKScE0Pgio/w512-h340/217dee526a.png" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Have not been there yet.</div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>Besides all of that Vilamoura has miles of perfectly manicured paths for walking, running or cycling and all are<b> right on our doorstep. </b>When quarantine began back in March we did walk near our home on the Silver Coast for an hour or more each day. Walks there were hilly and often out in the road, but did offer us some spectacular scenery. Here we are much safer on specially designed walkways, lined with flowers and shrubs, complete with drinking fountains and exercise stations along the way. Here our scenery is hard-bodied, tan, muscled men jogging by or scantily clad females. Yes, it's a tough price to pay but makes our walks a bit more enjoyable. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MKPDPQ8075hyphenhyphensNS3bwpJO_RbydkA80jQrj4zL2tpK72GN9pd4HRu3h0NOzAp0n0RWdNr_6Xoi78WGwx1wSlLeTYcIAgKrFAGgJ9oG7ryRaj_MldJegXA6BS18em18gR8uV07LHpfCQU/s2543/20200814_094053.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MKPDPQ8075hyphenhyphensNS3bwpJO_RbydkA80jQrj4zL2tpK72GN9pd4HRu3h0NOzAp0n0RWdNr_6Xoi78WGwx1wSlLeTYcIAgKrFAGgJ9oG7ryRaj_MldJegXA6BS18em18gR8uV07LHpfCQU/w249-h512/20200814_094053.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A few of the many paths to walk on.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPC0wwRc8W6vpCzE50CVk8XkMDBQjlqBIbS20Bk0vRHWrvOa5GMAMl1OHgdYzoSepm8csTcoQ-EXPNs5YuesfBpC9OPOt2pE6QWUNBhSGK7yGAeFnwkVxriSABmXESjvPjXsirkCPgIVg/s2543/20200814_094138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2543" data-original-width="1236" height="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPC0wwRc8W6vpCzE50CVk8XkMDBQjlqBIbS20Bk0vRHWrvOa5GMAMl1OHgdYzoSepm8csTcoQ-EXPNs5YuesfBpC9OPOt2pE6QWUNBhSGK7yGAeFnwkVxriSABmXESjvPjXsirkCPgIVg/w249-h512/20200814_094138.jpg" width="249" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>And the best part is that we have been warm since we arrived here two weeks ago! From what we have been told next month life will return to normal here as the tourists leave and all will become quiet. Our small condo complex has 14 units and only four are occupied full time. There is a small Spar grocery store just a five minute walk from our condo along with a handful of restaurants and a bakery too. Nearby is a large array of shopping including mega-malls, grocery stores, clinics, hospitals and gyms. Thus far we have been lifting weights and exercising at home, but will eventually join a gym when we feel safe again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB25aNMSYapWKgYODlL5uZ_iuSmfd9v1aBNHZHIQybIwAJrfaeqidzMhBHXKezevi_dGTVKmKoYi-MV111z_sRbdmXqDhwXU1DtmEW0Aj_tDthCnrG-21WUxr5IYyJqfFjqlt3Eheppec/s2543/20200806_111656%255B1%255D.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="2543" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB25aNMSYapWKgYODlL5uZ_iuSmfd9v1aBNHZHIQybIwAJrfaeqidzMhBHXKezevi_dGTVKmKoYi-MV111z_sRbdmXqDhwXU1DtmEW0Aj_tDthCnrG-21WUxr5IYyJqfFjqlt3Eheppec/w512-h249/20200806_111656%255B1%255D.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Vilamoura Marina</div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>We have attended a few small, expat mixers in Albufeira. They are held outside with social distancing in place, so we do feel safe there. Portugal has handled the virus well and people seem to observe the mandatory use of masks and hand sanitizer everywhere we go. The country has been shut off to tourists from most countries and those that are allowed must show a negative Covid test upon arrival. Special surgical masks are required when entering clinics and medical offices to ensure safety of everyone there. Before leaving the Silver Coast I saw my allergy doctor one last time. She wore a special mask with visor and when she came over to examine me she covered her entire body with a plastic gown and gloves that went up the length of each arm. </p><p>So life is good in our new home and new area of Portugal. We look forward to getting out to explore more once the tourists are gone and we can discover some treasures of this region.....along the gringo trail. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-48129729063301621992020-07-26T07:23:00.000-07:002020-07-26T07:23:12.283-07:00Portugal, The Next Chapter.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After a long hiatus I decided to do a blog earlier this month about our first two years living in Portugal. But soon we will be moving onto the next chapter of our lives here, a move that takes us further south to Portugal's Algarve region.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZXj7JBEkNOe4pBafn5b1aO77wvg__022o46xb6Jpjq5C6ETlrvakqYzFZAa9LdgcjZV9gxf9gDqQEElov9oe8b6joX1sF2iG-gcfaSE5b0CHU_O6KVlmh6JaMNzu9qqALSSJfHSNxv0/s1600/Our+Condo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="1024" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJZXj7JBEkNOe4pBafn5b1aO77wvg__022o46xb6Jpjq5C6ETlrvakqYzFZAa9LdgcjZV9gxf9gDqQEElov9oe8b6joX1sF2iG-gcfaSE5b0CHU_O6KVlmh6JaMNzu9qqALSSJfHSNxv0/s400/Our+Condo.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of our new Home<br />Vila Bairos<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Months of quarantine kept Clyde and I hanging out inside our rental house much of the time. Because we are both always cold we were looking forward to the hot days of summer. July came but still it was cold here on the Silver Coast. With temperatures in the low 60's at night and barely reaching mid 70's on a good day we were still chilly. Despite others posting photos of themselves being in swimming pools and on the beaches, we still kept heating the house with our pellet burner. Instead of dressing in shorts and flip flops we still wore long pants, long sleeves shirts and furry, winter slippers.<br />
<br />
This is our second summer in Portugal and just like last year, this one seemed to offer us little to no hot weather. I began to keep an eye on the weather only to discover that everyone else in the country seemed to be enjoying the warm, lazy, hazy days of summer except for this area. Even way up north temperatures were warmer than here.<br />
<br />
I badly needed and longed for some time in the sun. How I love to lay outside and feel my body bake under the warm, mid-day sun. Yes, I do realize that it's not healthy and am aware of the skin cancer risks, but a little Vitamin D is good for us and so I choose to indulge. Due to Covid we had not been traveling or going anywhere due to fear. Eventually I convinced Clyde to take a vacation to the Algarve region. I found a hotel online that boasted of the "clean and safe" seal. It meant they had been inspected and would adhere to special guidelines for sanitation. The list was posted on their website and I was so impressed, we decided it would be safe enough to venture out. And with tourism way down hotels all seemed to offer great deals to encourage people to visit.<br />
<br />
We arrived to a nearly empty hotel where all staff wore masks, hand sanitizer was everywhere. Our ocean view room overlooked the expansive pool areas where we saw just one couple enjoying the sunshine.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdfpiXCIt7CSlkeaVX0OUHqVCXOqLAjChouGBNH4rJv0pPNzZadmq_7BXN1sRjmuOyg_Hkuae1LkVkT45AH8uRSRF6G5rLXDMw839QSSTm6sYdtOqaUd1TzGTypGtIcjgnsEbHos-qW4/s1600/thumbnail+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdfpiXCIt7CSlkeaVX0OUHqVCXOqLAjChouGBNH4rJv0pPNzZadmq_7BXN1sRjmuOyg_Hkuae1LkVkT45AH8uRSRF6G5rLXDMw839QSSTm6sYdtOqaUd1TzGTypGtIcjgnsEbHos-qW4/s400/thumbnail+%25283%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Pool, Notice it is empty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Over the next five days we drove around to explore the Algarve for a few hours every morning, then wasted away the afternoon hours poolside. The area offers a different kind of beauty than the central part of Portugal where we currently live. Here we enjoy vistas of green, lush rolling hills, farmland full of bountiful crops and charming stone buildings topped with orange tiled roofs. The Algarve features modern buildings, high rise housing complexes along the beaches, palm trees, water parks and typically would be filled with tourists in the summer. Temperatures are on the average 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than where we are living now in the Silver Coast.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ndIA3ftLdxT1HxhMslY2rXcGx0hxgKTmuuzaqQelJ0tUHz-TJ93C-hVjsiB9LNaPYkHZIPdoUWnJF8qCHY4G1wWdxjHiaau_lvZy6rogQDh5PB1UNmI88_-6Y-jw-HK6qfEi5drFC_E/s1600/thumbnail+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ndIA3ftLdxT1HxhMslY2rXcGx0hxgKTmuuzaqQelJ0tUHz-TJ93C-hVjsiB9LNaPYkHZIPdoUWnJF8qCHY4G1wWdxjHiaau_lvZy6rogQDh5PB1UNmI88_-6Y-jw-HK6qfEi5drFC_E/s400/thumbnail+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Neat little area where there<br />were benches in the water<br />A "Swim up BarP"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We basked in the warm, dry weather and for the first time in two years, we were both warm. Clyde wore open toed shoes and shorts for the first time in years. I enjoyed putting on a summer dress and flip flops. The typical runny nose and post nasal drip from my allergies was gone and breathing for me was so much easier. Clyde seems to think because he has a very low blood pressure that his body cannot get warm. Perhaps it's because he has a pacemaker which keeps his heart at a steady beat of 60 beats per minute, his average blood pressure is 99/65/ Before his pacemaker, his normal heart was 40 beats per minute! He got the pacemaker when we showed up at the hospital with a pulse of 15 in Spain. We did not even keep the air conditioner on inside of our hotel room because we enjoyed the feeling of heat so much. Instead we kept the sliding glass doors open and allowed the warm, sea breezes to blow inside.<br />
<br />
Although we LOVE the area we currently live in, LOVE our rent house, LOVE our Portuguese landlady and LOVE the friends and activities we have come to enjoy here in Caldas da Rainha, we knew in order to be warm and happy, we would have to move south. Yes, it would cost more to live there, but what is the price of happiness?<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8FsL6RYkGlyVFWMKCZ5XaDwhlN0qB1v5QWDnBB6SLFGOQceCf5LP0VoWE6a2H21yq0WzlBJ7mFUend3sni4Wc7kl-zOYNl8etgDSRnV_R57m3nebuHUPHERYKjRLiCvIdl82zRKZv-o/s1600/Portugal+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY8FsL6RYkGlyVFWMKCZ5XaDwhlN0qB1v5QWDnBB6SLFGOQceCf5LP0VoWE6a2H21yq0WzlBJ7mFUend3sni4Wc7kl-zOYNl8etgDSRnV_R57m3nebuHUPHERYKjRLiCvIdl82zRKZv-o/s400/Portugal+House.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Present Home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We decided to drive around to explore possible areas that we might want to live in, sometime in the future. Online we even viewed realtor websites to see just how expensive apartments would be down there to have an idea of prices. There was one apartment that popped up and seemed to speak to both of us. Although we were not ready to pick up and move anytime soon, we decided to make an appointment to see the apartment. While it looked perfect online the first thing we noticed upon arrival was that it offered absolutely NO heat or air conditioner. The property manager said she had another and we went to see that one too. Neither had what we wanted but later in the week a third one had everything on our list.<br />
<br />
Buildings in Portugal are not insulated, windows are typically single panes of glass that offer no protection from heat and cold, and many offer no central heat. We knew in order to keep warm we needed to have a place with central heat, a newer, modern build with double glazed windows, and something much smaller that would be easy to heat and cool. If we had to live in an apartment complex we hoped for a small, quiet one and I was hoping for a pool. We needed two bedrooms, two bathrooms, parking and all of the modern conveniences. The Central Algarve appealed to us since it was close to an international airport, featured good hospitals and medical facilities, and we already had several friends that lived there.<br />
<br />
Even though we were not really ready to make the move yet, when the right apartment found us we knew it was time to go.<br />
<br />
But now came the hard part, the saying good bye to a house, area and people that we have come to know and love. First we would have to tell our landlady who we came to know and love, almost like family.<br />
<br />
She has been absolutely wonderful to us from the first day she met us with double cheeked kisses. The challenge has been that she speaks no English, just Portuguese and French and upon arrival we spoke very little Portuguese. As our language skills improved we grew to know her a bit more, especially Clyde who challenged himself to chat with her in Portuguese. She lives and works in Lisbon and comes to stay at her house next door to ours for the occasional holiday. Often she would offer us tons of fruits and vegetables from her garden which we were encouraged to help ourselves to also. When we complained of the coldness in the house she offered to install a pellet stove, and Clyde offered to share the expense. The house is 40 years old and she also treated us to a brand new oven, stove and dishwasher during our time here. Through the years we have met her son and daughter, making her feel even more like a member of our family. We are so grateful for all that she has done for us and will truly miss her and this old house.<br />
<br />
Before settling down in Portugal, those that follow this blog know that we were living as nomads for two full years. We left our home in Panama with two, carry-on sized suitcases each and traveled the world full time doing house and pet sitting. It was an easy transition to arrive here and put away the few things that we owned. But sadly, we went crazy once we settled in and began buying stuff. This week we purged, sold and gave away tons of stuff but still we had to hire a man with a van to help us move.<br />
<br />
The sadness we both feel about leaving behind the house, friends and all that is familiar will soon be replaced by the excitement of beginning a new chapter in our lives. A new home, new friends to make and plenty of new areas to explore.<br />
<br />
Our new home in the Central Algarve region is in Vilamoura, near the larger area of Quarteira. The nearby cities of Albufeira and Faro will provide us with plenty of shopping, medical facilities, an airport and more.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixD9CLljg90iWud_td0U2GjqQmJiRsIR_2V-d3TXWfBvPS20Bwt2ah9QIgPfvDDCkbuOtCqa9kC6YEU4FaggafysVBv_ccQ-43ZQpW2YiW2S7ROa36VAMPva-9VrCbcq6Ulp8wj3D7TNk/s1600/GettyImages-656159262-59b56a7103f402001078d227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixD9CLljg90iWud_td0U2GjqQmJiRsIR_2V-d3TXWfBvPS20Bwt2ah9QIgPfvDDCkbuOtCqa9kC6YEU4FaggafysVBv_ccQ-43ZQpW2YiW2S7ROa36VAMPva-9VrCbcq6Ulp8wj3D7TNk/s400/GettyImages-656159262-59b56a7103f402001078d227.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of the Vilamoura Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Vilamoura, considered to be the largest resort complex in all of Europe, boasts of beautiful, golden sandy beaches, world class golf courses, and one of the largest and prettiest marinas in the world. It was designed as an exclusive area that offers the best of everything for the rich and famous.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpo-t9Ajn7NqBdPRlRgZiFvERss4X-bmlx9L7K2T6VNipWluDyYbleDuWJO2a_AzLRzMtuHWVf-wqgv6FAKms4bqOyQI-c0HIZ_8g2iS_BWFA43Mn9b9fRDT4VfS4A44U3MVb10s7EQ-I/s1600/bd02a10cb7a0b681696521d44b2654cd_NqKYUyu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpo-t9Ajn7NqBdPRlRgZiFvERss4X-bmlx9L7K2T6VNipWluDyYbleDuWJO2a_AzLRzMtuHWVf-wqgv6FAKms4bqOyQI-c0HIZ_8g2iS_BWFA43Mn9b9fRDT4VfS4A44U3MVb10s7EQ-I/s400/bd02a10cb7a0b681696521d44b2654cd_NqKYUyu.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Vilamoura Marina<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Now where do we fit into to all of this? Since we are neither rich or famous? We just found an apartment that we liked and it just happened to be in Vilamoura. And the price was in line with others we'd seen elsewhere in towns that offered far less.<br />
<br />
Nearby our apartment are manicured walking trails that go on forever, plenty of green spaces for relaxing, not to mention some of the most gorgeous beaches in the entire world. The Algarve has milder winters then the rest of Portugal, well over 300 days a year of sunshine, and some of the finest weather in all of Europe.<br />
<br />
Our monthly rent will go from 350 euros per month to 850, but we will not be heating the place year round, so we will save money on pellets. We have been using three bags of pellets per day at a cost of 4 euros per bag. That's a total of 336 euros per month on average added to our rent now during the cold of the winter.. And although we are not using the stove all day in the summer, we still use it on occasion.<br />
<br />
So as we bid farewell to the Silver Coast area of Portugal we look forward to our new life in the Algarve. Stay tuned for photos as we explore the new world of southern Portugal......along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-43026057629359955822020-07-12T07:39:00.001-07:002020-07-12T07:48:07.549-07:00Our Lives in Portugal.....The Past Two Years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's positively perplexing how we managed to complete TWO years already of living in Portugal. Time sure does evolve when enjoying life as Europeans in yet another adopted country of our choice.<br />
<br />
Over the past two years we have learned lots, traveled a bit, made friends and struggled with yet another new language. As we settled into life here things that were new became old and I stopped blogging because I had nothing exciting to post. Our nomadic life of travel and adventure became a routine life of going to the gym, meeting with friends occasionally, a night of bowling and Portuguese lessons.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBZFfZd7WZiLiRUADMmxc-gi8RHVxQWXqjfi0QSE40GBIALC21On9pbf-p8O-LR3n-TlYNKrrEd8gSrPI1hRFDxwpvFPvG1KyN9Y8I5CKOa0tSrGsbNSH4Fj0iybas7uZavdz30hz4nU/s1600/Portugal+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSBZFfZd7WZiLiRUADMmxc-gi8RHVxQWXqjfi0QSE40GBIALC21On9pbf-p8O-LR3n-TlYNKrrEd8gSrPI1hRFDxwpvFPvG1KyN9Y8I5CKOa0tSrGsbNSH4Fj0iybas7uZavdz30hz4nU/s400/Portugal+House.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
But due to blogs like this and travel or niche publications singing the praises of Portugal, people began to swarm here in droves. Perhaps that's exactly why I stopped blogging, because Portugal was receiving far too much publicity already. With somewhere around 500,000 foreigners already living here, from what I believe I read, do we really need any more? Ok I am not trying to be cynical here just giving my opinion, and using my poetic license so to speak.<br />
<br />
It's exhausting to read the many expat boards on social media where thousands are dreaming of and longing for a new life, in the promised land. Almost as if the entire country of Portugal has this heavenly beacon of light radiating from it. A light so seemingly powerful with a seductive lure that pulls people into it's open arms.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheybnggSybcDpQVThzLdixpgBSg1eYAGH5i5zhFW_X7KCkj5RqpzDLvE6RRrgAIkUUhcLqk7pBCPdc3lObXYbReqhsi9UNeZkKpTyQ-iHjofBdH18EIJ-dwK3g2rXIEQCrNgU0qlPUDHg/s1600/th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheybnggSybcDpQVThzLdixpgBSg1eYAGH5i5zhFW_X7KCkj5RqpzDLvE6RRrgAIkUUhcLqk7pBCPdc3lObXYbReqhsi9UNeZkKpTyQ-iHjofBdH18EIJ-dwK3g2rXIEQCrNgU0qlPUDHg/s1600/th.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The unknowing dreamers insist on houses with central heat, clothes dryers, window screens, no humidity or mould and refrigerators large enough to hide a body inside. They long to move here to utilize the public healthcare system which they think is free, but it's not.<br />
<br />
For those who cannot live without the comforts of home, please do us all a favour and just stay where you are. I hear many complaints about peanut butter, an American staple that seems by many to be overpriced here. Surely that's because Nutella is far more popular with Europeans than peanut butter, but it is available here and always in our cabinet.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8NWXq6zGlLRhoQyE2LMvcfdjsgRji5bNj7TItzvbp3fqNZHMiz0FkxPASEVf8b-D7C5znNRwWcb3GzAXLPG5rJYwVjZYFvWh2zbzXPeRt8YeuZQaDzx4dnqj8zCz18T6pRQULcSIFD8/s1600/nutella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1290" data-original-width="991" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8NWXq6zGlLRhoQyE2LMvcfdjsgRji5bNj7TItzvbp3fqNZHMiz0FkxPASEVf8b-D7C5znNRwWcb3GzAXLPG5rJYwVjZYFvWh2zbzXPeRt8YeuZQaDzx4dnqj8zCz18T6pRQULcSIFD8/s320/nutella.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Portugal is a beautiful country, with warm, wonderful people, many of who speak English, but certainly not all. They are willing to help foreigners, generous to offer vegetables and fruit from their gardens and always offer a friendly greeting. And while we have come to love it here it does have its share of quirks.<br />
<br />
Houses here are typically NOT insulated and feel colder on the inside than out. Central heat is NOT the norm but instead the Portuguese tend to heat just the room they are using at the time. And when that fails they put on a sweatshirt or wrap themselves in a blanket. Window screens or "fly screens" as the British call them are also not common. Anyone who has travelled through Europe knows all too well how Europeans love to stand at the window with shutters wide open and watch life going by. Some are chatting with passer-by's or just being nosy. So what about bugs? Are there any here and do they come inside? Of course, but that's life in Europe. Screens are available and can be purchased here, just not the norm. Clyde bought screen kits and made some for our rent house that came out great. But then we discovered that summers on the Silver Coast are chilly to us, so we rarely even open the windows. For example, here we are in mid July and the high of the day here is just 77F/or 25 C. And inside the house is the same temperature.<br />
<br />
We blame our coldness on places that we lived in the past. Clyde and I met in Corpus Christi, Texas which is in the south and has temperatures comparable to that of Florida. Hot summers and winters so mild that we only had to wear a light jacket on occasion. I actually looked forward to a few cold weeks when I could put on a sweater or jacket to go to work. And then there was our move to Panama in 2011. In order to enjoy life in Panama one needs to get used to hot, humid, rainy year round temperatures. We could always spot the people that lived with the a/c on in their homes. They would be dripping in sweat whenever we saw them while others like us, were comfortable. Much of life in Panama happens outside, or in open air businesses. So if one does not get used to the heat and humidity, then they suffer much of the time.<br />
<br />
And the same can be said about living anyplace new, either adapt or leave. Speaking of mold which I mentioned above, Clyde just walked by with a bucket and rag. He is in the process of removing mould from the doors, an ongoing project and one of those quirks of life here. Even with two, large dehumidifiers, mould is part of life here. Mould was common in Panama too so it's not something new to us.<br />
<br />
Over the past two years we explored much of the country, from one end to the other. We started to travel once again and picked up a few wonderful house and pet sits. In November we mingled with the French in the beautiful countryside as we walked two little dogs. The charming, cobblestoned village of Pepieux sat in the midst of vineyards and wine caves. The cool autumn air was thick with the aroma of wine and we could almost drink it in for a buzz. The nearby villages offered us many day trips from the house, including the medieval city of Carcassonne complete with fortresses and castles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SJZkR1nCSm-MPHkdbsLmEJHviviWPxKHlK9gHIlgX2TdePF2tYqolP985eNacydGeSUac6LHTytRWrs0FjPvEZeWTpwdWwLKqC3atYo5r20UnHTIdhwLrrQmzsLAqOZ2wDjAD8LPioY/s1600/20191107_092236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SJZkR1nCSm-MPHkdbsLmEJHviviWPxKHlK9gHIlgX2TdePF2tYqolP985eNacydGeSUac6LHTytRWrs0FjPvEZeWTpwdWwLKqC3atYo5r20UnHTIdhwLrrQmzsLAqOZ2wDjAD8LPioY/s400/20191107_092236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We rang in the New Year just outside of Geneva, Switzerland in the town of Divonne les Bains, France. Our huge temporary home was built in the early 1900's yet offered all the modern conveniences that we would need. From the large living room windows we could see the snow-capped peaks of the Swiss Alps. On the other side were the Jura Mountains on the French side. With just one resident dog to care for our days were free to explore the area with the permission of the homeowners. From Alpine villages blanketed in snow to Christmas markets, lakeside towns and more we visited as much of France and Switzerland as time would allow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9w9f2HtlNB2TjcCUa_gqJCuYekczYBJ0If3OZ_0AOQ0PC8q4YtxJIbZKyyKEe9k1KajGzIKuVH_bwn5S-4rQnZXd0WURUeUu3u5hwvrn3nAX2FUWJnF6wjWtYjG_AU28lbTnPJEadA0/s1600/20191222_140440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9w9f2HtlNB2TjcCUa_gqJCuYekczYBJ0If3OZ_0AOQ0PC8q4YtxJIbZKyyKEe9k1KajGzIKuVH_bwn5S-4rQnZXd0WURUeUu3u5hwvrn3nAX2FUWJnF6wjWtYjG_AU28lbTnPJEadA0/s400/20191222_140440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
But since Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries in the world, we found it necessary to pack lunches everyday to take with us. For example, the average price of the "meal of the day" for lunch ran between 20-25 euros per person. Compare that to Portugal where we can eat lunch out for just 4 to 8 euros each, depending on where we are.<br />
<br />
Then in March we took a short flight to Valencia, Spain for yet another sit. Famous for it's annual Fallas Festival, we had been to Valencia a few years back and made friends with the homeowners', as we had friends in common. Last March she posted photos of the statues that are built and displayed for fallas, but eventually burned in the end. I commented on her pictures and said, 'we'd love to see that sometime. Maybe next year you can go away and we can come watch your dogs?' They agreed and a house sit was created.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7egsdKWVn0095jQfDMAfcIDpKpwIAaon_RmFropFsyiOnKWueQYlvwQywBhVAgNgOlWfCC90g65L2QixKr_r2DF87ojm0R1MwrN_NzGgwbbn071PWQAYNU7h4izkaUIXgB93j6z6XEeM/s1600/20200312_164931%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7egsdKWVn0095jQfDMAfcIDpKpwIAaon_RmFropFsyiOnKWueQYlvwQywBhVAgNgOlWfCC90g65L2QixKr_r2DF87ojm0R1MwrN_NzGgwbbn071PWQAYNU7h4izkaUIXgB93j6z6XEeM/s400/20200312_164931%25280%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
But then the pandemic happened and our trip was cut short since their trip was cut short. We quickly made our way home and stayed put for months, not knowing how this would all play out. Portugal was proactive in closing down everything in early to mid March. Fortunately, they had the benefit of seeing the pandemic coming this way since it had already effected Italy and Spain by that time. More testing was done here and medication was also used proactively which ended up with many being cured and less deaths than elsewhere.<br />
<br />
Portugal does have a national healthcare system which offers low cost care to its citizens and residents like us living here. One requirement of our resident visa is that we must carry private health insurance, but also can use the public system if we choose to. Costs for insurance vary greatly by the age of the person, pre-existing conditions along with the level of coverage desired. Since Clyde has a pacemaker several insurance companies here would either not cover him or exclude any treatment to his heart. Eventually he did find one company that would write us a policy. He choose a high end plan with no deductible that covers us at 90% in network and 80% out. When we see an in network doctor we just pay the 10% but if they are out of network we must pay the full amount, and then wait for reimbursement. Full amount to see a doctor here can cost anywhere from around 60 euros to maybe 120 euros depending on the specialty. Our cost for this insurance coverage is 250 euros per month for both of us, but is paid for the full year ahead of time. When Clyde retired 9 years ago in Texas his insurance would have cost $1400 per month for the two of us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBRlDumMnLxNowiK8iztp8lyYSH3mLQOdBXPGMSWFIfIi2Lg2skyqOehCcDQ6yUpGysdP0QrOTi72eGfldRofgZFyMDKG6M8pasaFxh37dG3kyu9cPdnyH9aFrJkQe9uWTXu_EuYBWnc/s1600/r960-f35c537c1fea359b96ac7d7f490f1122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="960" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBRlDumMnLxNowiK8iztp8lyYSH3mLQOdBXPGMSWFIfIi2Lg2skyqOehCcDQ6yUpGysdP0QrOTi72eGfldRofgZFyMDKG6M8pasaFxh37dG3kyu9cPdnyH9aFrJkQe9uWTXu_EuYBWnc/s400/r960-f35c537c1fea359b96ac7d7f490f1122.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
While neither of us has needed to be hospitalized here we have visited doctors and been to the emergency room. Clyde had become light headed and dizzy one time and we thought it had something to do with his heart, since those are the symptoms he had prior to getting the pacemaker. We went to the ER at the local public hospital where he was seen quickly for a cost of just 18 euros. Since they found no issue with his heart we stopped by the office of his cardiologist to see him also. With no appointment he still managed to be seen after just a one hour wait. It turns out the feeling was due to a drop in blood pressure from a new medication he was taking for his prostate.<br />
<br />
Last summer while doing an outside boot camp near the beach I fell and hurt my left elbow. We went to a local private hospital to have it checked out. Immediately I was seen by an English speaking doctor, x-rays were taken and he said it seemed to be broken. But since it was Sunday they had no orthopedic doctor there and I would need to go to the public hospital to see one. The cost at the private hospital was around 75 euros. Off we went to the public hospital where I waited for about an hour to be seen. More x-rays were taken and the doctor called me in. He said that my elbow was broken but since it was just a small fracture I would not need a cast, just a sling for a few weeks. Total cost there was just 18 euros.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaD3thaMS1FBNkutVsbNi6qdVSqbCnoqUcc88cNE5GBz3pGHQ5i383JA1SZGGdZWFtho9qFiRM-ksh5Zquyuw-SqEOjjgf-kxoOgEQum2Wm_xJdWCGgCZOKlsB911AkrwM5KXClpWxdU/s1600/detectada-legionella-no-hospital-de-caldas-da-rainha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="750" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnaD3thaMS1FBNkutVsbNi6qdVSqbCnoqUcc88cNE5GBz3pGHQ5i383JA1SZGGdZWFtho9qFiRM-ksh5Zquyuw-SqEOjjgf-kxoOgEQum2Wm_xJdWCGgCZOKlsB911AkrwM5KXClpWxdU/s400/detectada-legionella-no-hospital-de-caldas-da-rainha.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
As Americans whose healthcare system is outrageously overpriced, we all long for and think we want a public healthcare system. Let me tell you what we have seen and heard of the public healthcare system here in Portugal. Clinics are crowded and doctors are not assigned to even the Portuguese, never mind the foreigners. If we want to we can go to a public clinic here and sit and wait to see a doctor, along with the many other people. Public hospitals are overcrowded and we have seen patients lying on beds lined up in the hallways near the emergency room when we had been there. A mix of all sexes and ages were in these beds, some with iv poles attached to them. Patient charts hung off the end of the bed and some people had a bottle of water propped up nearby. There are no family members allowed into this area to wait with the patients, due to overcrowded conditions. Perhaps they are waiting to be moved to a room, or to be seen by a doctor? Several friends have told us of their experience on one of these beds. One had a broken ankle and was held overnight until she could be seen by a doctor in the morning. Another had broken ribs and also had to wait to be seen before being sent home. As you can imagine, just like people in any hospital around the world, these are sick people. Some are in pain and moaning or yelling out. Others are sick to their stomachs and vomiting while others are just trying to get some needed rest.<br />
<br />
We have been told that some public hospitals here are better than others but even so, we will choose to go private when needed. But in the event of an emergency we have been told that we would be taken to the local public hospital until we can be moved elsewhere. Scary to say the least and something we hope to never find out about first hand.<br />
<br />
Hospital rooms here in the public system are not typically private but instead a ward with many beds. A few months back we visited a friend in a public hospital to find him in a room with five other patients. He told us back in England this is typical and wards are even larger there. This is done in order to need less staff to care for the patients. So what did we see in that hospital? It appeared clean and tidy to us, just like most other hospitals we had seen. Hand sanitizer was on the walls in the hallway. Each patient had a chair next to his bed for visitors along with a small cabinet to put their stuff in. There were curtains around each bed but all were open when we were there. Unlike most hospitals the room was warm and even I was comfortable in the middle of winter. Our friend felt that the care was good and would have not been any better in the UK. He paid nothing at all for three weeks in the hospital.<br />
<br />
Since March we have been staying home much of the time, only leaving to buy groceries or the occasional meal in the local shopping mall food court. Last November we decided to change to a whole foods, plant based diet which makes eating out a challenge. Most people who have met us know that we both used to be fat and lost massive amounts of weight. It was sixteen years ago that I said good bye to the fat girl on an operating table in Texas as I went in for gastric bypass surgery. I lost a total of 150 pounds (68 kg or 10 stone) and have kept it off ever since. Clyde underwent gastric band surgery, lost 100 pounds (45 kg or 7 stone) and has also kept it off.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsDcmzEsZnZ43Le0It-_cJJTbFrH73tmbnKtWlJQ0xUDqDipbPQl23kVW0W3-_g6Szpd3VY5ASs8_XRVg2noTLUpa2hm-rph2SkEyy_u4HJ3zKbADBEARLu7uCUUmDtby_talWBaAD48/s1600/83045983_10215918703985496_2684769685769027584_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYsDcmzEsZnZ43Le0It-_cJJTbFrH73tmbnKtWlJQ0xUDqDipbPQl23kVW0W3-_g6Szpd3VY5ASs8_XRVg2noTLUpa2hm-rph2SkEyy_u4HJ3zKbADBEARLu7uCUUmDtby_talWBaAD48/s400/83045983_10215918703985496_2684769685769027584_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Since our surgeries we have eaten healthy much of the time. We rarely ate red meat, and lived mostly on chicken and fish along with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Clyde began researching foods for brain health and foods to help us live longer. As we age we all want to live as long and as healthy as possible and going vegan seemed like the answer. We are not trying to convert anyone but feel that it was the right choice for us. Since that time we both feel great and are enjoying a variety of delicious foods too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydValKnfYDpRgiInKqw4qP5V0iJQgO4FTwgCfqB6Rw70c5S6idbga-0s8Vj877yyBQ4b5kdhFVoXou848jy4eDleMExsF82dmn0VGLAkMbB2EZICtYzjEJ7dcgBGfnYseLYJzJ7fyn9E/s1600/20200214_145935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjydValKnfYDpRgiInKqw4qP5V0iJQgO4FTwgCfqB6Rw70c5S6idbga-0s8Vj877yyBQ4b5kdhFVoXou848jy4eDleMExsF82dmn0VGLAkMbB2EZICtYzjEJ7dcgBGfnYseLYJzJ7fyn9E/s640/20200214_145935.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
So there you have it, a brief rundown of what we have been doing for the past year or so just living our lives in Portugal.....along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-63374494612220016892019-09-17T06:49:00.000-07:002019-09-17T06:49:28.803-07:00A Somber Day.....In Auschwitz, Poland.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">From the moment we left our hotel for our trip to Auschwitz the mood was being set for this life changing experience. Clyde and I were the last two to be picked up. We entered an over-stuffed van that was full of tourists like ourselves. Inside the long van was dark with barely enough light to make our way down the narrow aisle. It was SO dark that we could not even see IF there were any empty seats left. Clyde made his way to the rear and asked those nearby if there were any seats?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We were left with no choice but to sit in the very rear of the van, next to an oversized couple from the US. Tighter than airplane seats, there was literally no room for our legs or other stuff. But we made the best of things, since there was no other choice. Then we found out from our guide that it would take about 90 minutes before we reached Auschwitz, the first concentration camp that we would visit.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Fortunately our seat mates were visiting Poland from New Jersey, a place that I know all too well having grown up there. The conversation made the sardine like conditions of the van bareable and before we knew it, we had arrived.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The gray sky, damp drizzle and cool breeze added to the bleak atmosphere of this place. The ground was wet with puddles from last nights' rain and the terrain was uneven and muddy, as we followed closely behind our guide. Rows of people marched in unison behind their leaders and I could only imagine that this was how it looked as a full working concentration camp back in 1940. But today they were just tourists, trying to understand why and how such a horrible thing could have ever happened, yet it did.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">As we entered through the gates that promised, "Arbeit Macht Frei," which translates to, "work sets you free," reality set in. I was walking through the gates where 1.6 million people were put to death, just because Adolph Hitler said so.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhJHpeh4dSmE7PY5TBruXWFuVms90eqH2L562I6pmR_FU5Jz2TB8R2g21yOBkaotJphFhA5LzXEa3oD9yBeniMnBVMT6rZXj1_bRZpxltY5DStqbeDCXxee63FVpkq9Fj8bboxSA5iMQ/s1600/20190917_082647.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhJHpeh4dSmE7PY5TBruXWFuVms90eqH2L562I6pmR_FU5Jz2TB8R2g21yOBkaotJphFhA5LzXEa3oD9yBeniMnBVMT6rZXj1_bRZpxltY5DStqbeDCXxee63FVpkq9Fj8bboxSA5iMQ/s400/20190917_082647.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">According to our guide, NO one, ever, was rewarded in this horrible place for hard work. That was just a ploy to make people believe this was someplace good. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our guide told us that 90% of those that died were Polish, just because Hitler had NO use for them. "Poles were considered to be as insignificant as insects. Totally unnecessary, and easy enough to kill." This comment hit me hard because I am Polish and it was hard to swallow that an entire race needed to be exterminated, according to one man.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHNgA5QQXFckr2YagPP64KeUs02GgAdC0dJwZw01u6YsOl9YM_ZyggrZuiqQjmkQ9I8JE5gdQoUE1J2iDYJMzPo-qiVjcp5FGmA8SaZZ7__sQoSysRJ28CGoGbjePqOShBTL0dX6BCv0/s1600/20190917_083445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQHNgA5QQXFckr2YagPP64KeUs02GgAdC0dJwZw01u6YsOl9YM_ZyggrZuiqQjmkQ9I8JE5gdQoUE1J2iDYJMzPo-qiVjcp5FGmA8SaZZ7__sQoSysRJ28CGoGbjePqOShBTL0dX6BCv0/s400/20190917_083445.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Yet people were taken from their homes, moved into ghetto's, then onto cattle trains. Over 100 people were stuffed into cattle wagons with standing room only, no food, water or toilets. The trains travelled for days or weeks to their final destination at one of these death camps. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjMmH4cQDLt_cKF_zv7Fvm7ehDQwSZHrPLtRNI1N6taM0XxFiptAUQxKjgmuCmlvd2UFjbJaVIIRAKIgLc-P06YqOyveYYI7PgaJFzJEmRqQHYuOdxAfV3p_XPnHOlEvygtGEieU7n7s/s1600/20190917_102717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbjMmH4cQDLt_cKF_zv7Fvm7ehDQwSZHrPLtRNI1N6taM0XxFiptAUQxKjgmuCmlvd2UFjbJaVIIRAKIgLc-P06YqOyveYYI7PgaJFzJEmRqQHYuOdxAfV3p_XPnHOlEvygtGEieU7n7s/s400/20190917_102717.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Children were useless and killed immediately and woman were not far behind. Once off the train, prisoners were told to strip out of their clothes and walk naked to the showers. All of their worldy possessions that they brought with them were taken and they were given one prison outfit to wear. Men and women were separated, hair was cut or shaved and used for other reasons. </span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo3kC-V3l0KpWQckQPYmFaae3fu4A01NRirM60i2uZdTtSJHYlPNsyrbg-mtNaT7BxQBFv3dMYWtrjMhigsCyTSvUw4dQKTEVUuWds87tgRLMyJU0ZCffg0vxps63hhWHiG19gZTkcjE/s1600/20190917_084843.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQo3kC-V3l0KpWQckQPYmFaae3fu4A01NRirM60i2uZdTtSJHYlPNsyrbg-mtNaT7BxQBFv3dMYWtrjMhigsCyTSvUw4dQKTEVUuWds87tgRLMyJU0ZCffg0vxps63hhWHiG19gZTkcjE/s400/20190917_084843.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">As one women left the train she was told to leave her child right there on the dirt, and she refused. She was killed immediately along with her child for all to see. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Although there are thousands of tourists every day that tour Auschwitz the guides keep the lines moving and the spirit somber. With the help of audio guides we could hear our guide talk yet he did not have to yell. There was not a smile in the place, just serious, sad faces of disbelief and not a word was uttered other than from the tour guides.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I wonderered IF or WHY we really needed to visit this place but am so thankful that we did. We learned so much, not just today but over the last few weeks on our Poland adventure. "Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it." Perhaps I am here today because my ancestors escaped from Poland many years ago? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We are never too old to learn, explore and have more adventures as we travel......along the gringo trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">BELOW ARE THE REST OF THE PICTURES</span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUfAbMiuUd0aw28RHGDVy1kjoWmtPB861HaSW3TmJiO8ZfqMQ2Yc1wpIcz0f6AlQQEIebfkxH27Xl5yYJCjTf2TPK6bgygYtwW972jdZOyBiBYw6GmrFUJjgCFnw3-me0XqcdfWBEFIc/s1600/20190917_082739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUUfAbMiuUd0aw28RHGDVy1kjoWmtPB861HaSW3TmJiO8ZfqMQ2Yc1wpIcz0f6AlQQEIebfkxH27Xl5yYJCjTf2TPK6bgygYtwW972jdZOyBiBYw6GmrFUJjgCFnw3-me0XqcdfWBEFIc/s400/20190917_082739.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkNwy3w5ducSFSzjla93MEWgQtJIiFG7PMYWk5bNpPgQyFCKShKvqovm069AF94HI1ZPVsAtWOYeUP1lfKLVmMfeOWIW2VL_sLvra5HEn2Y7V4B_f-M0jzNSrD8rVztuJxtEj6jklJ3Y/s1600/20190917_082827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkNwy3w5ducSFSzjla93MEWgQtJIiFG7PMYWk5bNpPgQyFCKShKvqovm069AF94HI1ZPVsAtWOYeUP1lfKLVmMfeOWIW2VL_sLvra5HEn2Y7V4B_f-M0jzNSrD8rVztuJxtEj6jklJ3Y/s400/20190917_082827.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_bglpsasGJP6Kj4CIvOoOggBKw1CYV3yVzM2i5_vKknjLLbLSnCtB0Vx1D9RZ41mbqtArM4seOft99qkuxw96MnRMXDP8iY6A8q_AlqLViIwYzoq6B3GKWJBgsLOFSAXyrrY1z0IiaI/s1600/20190917_083605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs_bglpsasGJP6Kj4CIvOoOggBKw1CYV3yVzM2i5_vKknjLLbLSnCtB0Vx1D9RZ41mbqtArM4seOft99qkuxw96MnRMXDP8iY6A8q_AlqLViIwYzoq6B3GKWJBgsLOFSAXyrrY1z0IiaI/s400/20190917_083605.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CbGrxZ6SpzNrKP0R2PoEdvRHJbYsd6fIagd1RwVpxgC2sITk9RbaldZkYSpbYj6ktO6_pw-HPrTZGT1c4YoGmkwum_saaeaiBsECHHEEblwVDttTmEofKVofHQJL0P4efLIA4q69Jj8/s1600/20190917_084122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CbGrxZ6SpzNrKP0R2PoEdvRHJbYsd6fIagd1RwVpxgC2sITk9RbaldZkYSpbYj6ktO6_pw-HPrTZGT1c4YoGmkwum_saaeaiBsECHHEEblwVDttTmEofKVofHQJL0P4efLIA4q69Jj8/s400/20190917_084122.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2MZlS2So2RWwuYT7Pk5HDmBfzgG9HHlfvzJGOZk2ci_boylDqhkNmj2cBH6-p2aqvX0vNO-CZATETwCgsHyc-_zDm0cmR-ST1wbqZRv5QYkdi-WFQyh6bctLcnE3kIhXMoeaEReWF5g/s1600/20190917_084958.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2MZlS2So2RWwuYT7Pk5HDmBfzgG9HHlfvzJGOZk2ci_boylDqhkNmj2cBH6-p2aqvX0vNO-CZATETwCgsHyc-_zDm0cmR-ST1wbqZRv5QYkdi-WFQyh6bctLcnE3kIhXMoeaEReWF5g/s400/20190917_084958.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our Guide</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIksPOusAF5HTQEAw7RltcY-3jZdHG0DwOuwCvvF8EaF7IimGHUNOXzIU7b1r-OLwfCmxmOlWnq-RDagJ2f5LqHVFy5oDaYLbvWHUCME0pTzuBqPO_zj5d8vgS1ZVjoMYu__n4EQReijA/s1600/20190917_090158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIksPOusAF5HTQEAw7RltcY-3jZdHG0DwOuwCvvF8EaF7IimGHUNOXzIU7b1r-OLwfCmxmOlWnq-RDagJ2f5LqHVFy5oDaYLbvWHUCME0pTzuBqPO_zj5d8vgS1ZVjoMYu__n4EQReijA/s400/20190917_090158.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCthC9crf0M-Yw1OdRDHbRrP69JfPelXJ_M_YU2MnLL9ZuMy0XJw_1nuONzxElQ_Cp3P1CY5JIcvotTSVh718Lwe8rjkJSBo4bleKjBt9xMrGeF0Rko_yw3irGzjM852En4VjeFCP9UPY/s1600/20190917_090530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCthC9crf0M-Yw1OdRDHbRrP69JfPelXJ_M_YU2MnLL9ZuMy0XJw_1nuONzxElQ_Cp3P1CY5JIcvotTSVh718Lwe8rjkJSBo4bleKjBt9xMrGeF0Rko_yw3irGzjM852En4VjeFCP9UPY/s400/20190917_090530.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbx69owQ1ZRA_EQi05r0GsytBxMh9f-5Lcj1BiALRSHhu6l5IXBrcGdmgEVTcEo1mMixzd_0fnsSkOp2bmsNr00Xw_td3O76bIgbz49y7dJWTH9aheUELk826Ni7q7f9zuVdrpSzNW-VY/s1600/20190917_090629.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbx69owQ1ZRA_EQi05r0GsytBxMh9f-5Lcj1BiALRSHhu6l5IXBrcGdmgEVTcEo1mMixzd_0fnsSkOp2bmsNr00Xw_td3O76bIgbz49y7dJWTH9aheUELk826Ni7q7f9zuVdrpSzNW-VY/s400/20190917_090629.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5w6Z6WP8eUlMmQjTDDxkqq8Tc22M-Yb2W4bNy4pRnlzKnhqqsgE6YsXls4jry4DeK6dEz32shmZfU3L5ik_5KEB2cIb06G_imiSZr6HfJPgIKcPmrbiPSDhPRXBRdzPBXtdPcUpnya8/s1600/20190917_090820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5w6Z6WP8eUlMmQjTDDxkqq8Tc22M-Yb2W4bNy4pRnlzKnhqqsgE6YsXls4jry4DeK6dEz32shmZfU3L5ik_5KEB2cIb06G_imiSZr6HfJPgIKcPmrbiPSDhPRXBRdzPBXtdPcUpnya8/s400/20190917_090820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_aqYYwjNAHt1bAlKHs-La_NP7paGezcVSSfY26Qb4quZyaB4rljFftSIpzGo4iyfxE2n89lH0sLNmQJugH47pbRWTUoraQ9DFwlZ_oKloMhGZNPZIvRh_H6aBgLbHXe_Mfi5QbF51Xg/s1600/20190917_090835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_aqYYwjNAHt1bAlKHs-La_NP7paGezcVSSfY26Qb4quZyaB4rljFftSIpzGo4iyfxE2n89lH0sLNmQJugH47pbRWTUoraQ9DFwlZ_oKloMhGZNPZIvRh_H6aBgLbHXe_Mfi5QbF51Xg/s400/20190917_090835.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABmf8f1rQ5UuERkfiPf6MV0vNbvGPBczJSTN013QrJO18WMERipjlR_LqFLTW_ewsZ2WhIw6gyGpkNe4ZONOMoYRo4uFXFP1cFHT7Fd_eqdFnZte46KLvzBMz27LAc0Kdtce1AOqeQyQ/s1600/20190917_090930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABmf8f1rQ5UuERkfiPf6MV0vNbvGPBczJSTN013QrJO18WMERipjlR_LqFLTW_ewsZ2WhIw6gyGpkNe4ZONOMoYRo4uFXFP1cFHT7Fd_eqdFnZte46KLvzBMz27LAc0Kdtce1AOqeQyQ/s400/20190917_090930.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo0jz0lq-nyT7odZIceraR4ZwoW4Y7WUEdvelW_FfEyybEWNM6D9yF0jVofHOPT0-ZZaPGa_gNPBAomizoeohX-IHmDgPYKnwZ-D6kImOk9afgXcrM5qyAfVHd8fgEPsTnxfemKeXdqA/s1600/20190917_091006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwo0jz0lq-nyT7odZIceraR4ZwoW4Y7WUEdvelW_FfEyybEWNM6D9yF0jVofHOPT0-ZZaPGa_gNPBAomizoeohX-IHmDgPYKnwZ-D6kImOk9afgXcrM5qyAfVHd8fgEPsTnxfemKeXdqA/s400/20190917_091006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx696mSnBjQQTvm8-aJRnudVlPt22DrqrFYARmn4gfpDGct78__qCAIuvPBmmEzlKpW59tbdes0c5Sw-Yu9J89xwnB3FCG45tIx7QcXUKylqZQmB8vufnlvSGSff2dAcGj_bA4h_Zt9E/s1600/20190917_091036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx696mSnBjQQTvm8-aJRnudVlPt22DrqrFYARmn4gfpDGct78__qCAIuvPBmmEzlKpW59tbdes0c5Sw-Yu9J89xwnB3FCG45tIx7QcXUKylqZQmB8vufnlvSGSff2dAcGj_bA4h_Zt9E/s400/20190917_091036.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhF-TuUojINXE_P9Hc3xFHP6TYRMWtd7Jd0AzjSKo5HW_UhkZbx_W_GUMwBlwdMWkhAqR91kYTqCwMlGs8t2tJfwqRow0qXe6PcAttRUEf_s6E5_DbqKFf4kPI23tLwilDmeeHRUl4kY/s1600/20190917_091219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAhF-TuUojINXE_P9Hc3xFHP6TYRMWtd7Jd0AzjSKo5HW_UhkZbx_W_GUMwBlwdMWkhAqR91kYTqCwMlGs8t2tJfwqRow0qXe6PcAttRUEf_s6E5_DbqKFf4kPI23tLwilDmeeHRUl4kY/s400/20190917_091219.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpFZkHTobNjx0YyrtCWuIXAdrZAsmcEbv1U94SaDusp5_NjdxwvHkd0ZL2x1xZ5TujTQbSdsqLnCcbbu5_EPZP1K_WayNx-Xi4Ku_tMgADZNRVc3r5CaUQJ-0IlpI8pkxfGt64W3r32s/s1600/20190917_091228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvpFZkHTobNjx0YyrtCWuIXAdrZAsmcEbv1U94SaDusp5_NjdxwvHkd0ZL2x1xZ5TujTQbSdsqLnCcbbu5_EPZP1K_WayNx-Xi4Ku_tMgADZNRVc3r5CaUQJ-0IlpI8pkxfGt64W3r32s/s400/20190917_091228.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6mQSNJ4D9OmoDGvYKwiwIiJ5I-CCrPDGKwXkhBHB01UxF3NIDmzqLYVMVgse-wm1y4hJU3DCKqFbW9TejHBlU7ySBCSPXME7V2ndK4GVHs2Ll3OG1AygEe-9ECnqeKjngp8Q_tiaS2M/s1600/20190917_091233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6mQSNJ4D9OmoDGvYKwiwIiJ5I-CCrPDGKwXkhBHB01UxF3NIDmzqLYVMVgse-wm1y4hJU3DCKqFbW9TejHBlU7ySBCSPXME7V2ndK4GVHs2Ll3OG1AygEe-9ECnqeKjngp8Q_tiaS2M/s400/20190917_091233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4SCI8HBBJ7gRRzGugYp5rYLOyeQhQcbcZjzoc-zFSF3Xdob8jipe1HDFpUmBUuZayrLLHFkOdcT3vVpR2fI1eRr_Ba5ejP-CbuTwhT8VAwP6RomtOtEvleJK2_sDGtuW5BfdQ6DTbTY/s1600/20190917_091720.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4SCI8HBBJ7gRRzGugYp5rYLOyeQhQcbcZjzoc-zFSF3Xdob8jipe1HDFpUmBUuZayrLLHFkOdcT3vVpR2fI1eRr_Ba5ejP-CbuTwhT8VAwP6RomtOtEvleJK2_sDGtuW5BfdQ6DTbTY/s400/20190917_091720.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Heads Were Shaved With Razors To Cause More Pain and Humiliation</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOwmvAP7e36oDqXnzQx2pDRvCXancAV8Yf64AMebyrc70h0g9POnlTnvheJ9Ju_3xxIbI_eagjPHNuFnNW6jTVQhRKuf6_OonUQ6oGN2yl957Z0eOMqd9ZjEhu_QkWK0WZPwYWeulpkA/s1600/20190917_091835.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOwmvAP7e36oDqXnzQx2pDRvCXancAV8Yf64AMebyrc70h0g9POnlTnvheJ9Ju_3xxIbI_eagjPHNuFnNW6jTVQhRKuf6_OonUQ6oGN2yl957Z0eOMqd9ZjEhu_QkWK0WZPwYWeulpkA/s400/20190917_091835.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Prisoners Were Given A Number That Was Tattooed On</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
They No Longer Had Names</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-F2Sui_SD0HUDpVISLQICvfMLAQbIyhQqNxymVcs1O-ot-BGjMpH43Gojc-nGvVI2kEKhfd_2qA4poJ0fAT7SR1SY6hwyLTmUeklkM2xhY53OTPsnIpcQkLZ3Y-SOnRvE86uGNwKzszw/s1600/20190917_091901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-F2Sui_SD0HUDpVISLQICvfMLAQbIyhQqNxymVcs1O-ot-BGjMpH43Gojc-nGvVI2kEKhfd_2qA4poJ0fAT7SR1SY6hwyLTmUeklkM2xhY53OTPsnIpcQkLZ3Y-SOnRvE86uGNwKzszw/s400/20190917_091901.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRckXq-SO-LKu-VJkj1JkqPJDIbGFQcZFyS0S-9IIclwIKIKkALPvLtBz2c2d_VDttgCZSKOLe0swr7MJ7Puz5ksbmszCS0rGoDXvIMDfNe2otkVQd3UIGyBAUe4Z6Rl9piYa5R5uznhk/s1600/20190917_092150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRckXq-SO-LKu-VJkj1JkqPJDIbGFQcZFyS0S-9IIclwIKIKkALPvLtBz2c2d_VDttgCZSKOLe0swr7MJ7Puz5ksbmszCS0rGoDXvIMDfNe2otkVQd3UIGyBAUe4Z6Rl9piYa5R5uznhk/s400/20190917_092150.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI2_YM4-AJICv1KFOo7jIZy2rJxSs-mnT1qkHHfuusbgQiDt_WHcikCYfbgP-wZUbxV0bsX63Xu9twieScS_jnX7Yk-EVp3y-hqaN4q1fpzIdlije3Nhc6lVuDsYKg67zAS214atTfc0/s1600/20190917_092154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSI2_YM4-AJICv1KFOo7jIZy2rJxSs-mnT1qkHHfuusbgQiDt_WHcikCYfbgP-wZUbxV0bsX63Xu9twieScS_jnX7Yk-EVp3y-hqaN4q1fpzIdlije3Nhc6lVuDsYKg67zAS214atTfc0/s400/20190917_092154.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloBqVIdUEKuwgwyofq63hwkYGhsFf9whRsdcsCT56hR2h6HD1YXCZzu6A7_9z4AGJj8SVsS-cftH3Iy69CBm-ycM0jyBj4K3wGaWDCz51eKP9LjnHTGC8Zkpq-Rw5U_g7Mrpjvk8XHAo/s1600/20190917_092207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloBqVIdUEKuwgwyofq63hwkYGhsFf9whRsdcsCT56hR2h6HD1YXCZzu6A7_9z4AGJj8SVsS-cftH3Iy69CBm-ycM0jyBj4K3wGaWDCz51eKP9LjnHTGC8Zkpq-Rw5U_g7Mrpjvk8XHAo/s400/20190917_092207.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u0fSsVdzFZN3aGQxdyTOYJmonUk5Fgnp06r1PzlP0788VZUIxCAh8aT2vfaQ1iS6GqZBqdfFHjVMLcKpelYKaiNI55uq96yVLZGJsLOu4gcjCrPjJDl4ujhpGTJG1aDVuFeFt3htR0M/s1600/20190917_092718.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2u0fSsVdzFZN3aGQxdyTOYJmonUk5Fgnp06r1PzlP0788VZUIxCAh8aT2vfaQ1iS6GqZBqdfFHjVMLcKpelYKaiNI55uq96yVLZGJsLOu4gcjCrPjJDl4ujhpGTJG1aDVuFeFt3htR0M/s400/20190917_092718.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkJNgK4Bymu6596B1erDJg-v0_BxFu_d-QZSy_6209m2tDWwdkohB5iHWMHjgEPe2W5NoAl6qB5P6ZB_qe51wRlDj1aNZznRuFV4aiMnp7YU262XtyIxMMdyRd2VbSaFVvFX1ZZNQZV8/s1600/20190917_093017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDkJNgK4Bymu6596B1erDJg-v0_BxFu_d-QZSy_6209m2tDWwdkohB5iHWMHjgEPe2W5NoAl6qB5P6ZB_qe51wRlDj1aNZznRuFV4aiMnp7YU262XtyIxMMdyRd2VbSaFVvFX1ZZNQZV8/s400/20190917_093017.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItAKo8BMGiMFrfm0xjUsOR8m8zYJm167WblZJ9IBhOFhDFwwJXkcZWt_eL35wocz84mjffqAP4vSXvS2Ep-8Dw9sbzSyJiQEAOyvNAK_2lLeke5oXRK2WECIGykBcFtbOEJ7fJ1UDoPg/s1600/20190917_093820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgItAKo8BMGiMFrfm0xjUsOR8m8zYJm167WblZJ9IBhOFhDFwwJXkcZWt_eL35wocz84mjffqAP4vSXvS2Ep-8Dw9sbzSyJiQEAOyvNAK_2lLeke5oXRK2WECIGykBcFtbOEJ7fJ1UDoPg/s400/20190917_093820.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BficxhOP9bE42CO0tbf6eP2R_2in4DwvbDL6uNCfCwtJCfdzhe9HpOuxHomqjpf5HQrpqcdzCyJ3S4s46p46ViQJz0Tlzfil8O5RgM8SmQXaWZyi9tbT4v9Cgl8I2RSUhi9OrjSurkI/s1600/20190917_093839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3BficxhOP9bE42CO0tbf6eP2R_2in4DwvbDL6uNCfCwtJCfdzhe9HpOuxHomqjpf5HQrpqcdzCyJ3S4s46p46ViQJz0Tlzfil8O5RgM8SmQXaWZyi9tbT4v9Cgl8I2RSUhi9OrjSurkI/s400/20190917_093839.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MEWiLO7_1cWupgkZzvV1ErnZbf5M3f_i8P5z2jJOX33vFlfFmD0TbfEtO-ZjWyjCm_r8K6F7SaM8ucnwUp_Np1kjTO7BxT_3HdI8cMZszHOx7ie5TpFL0RY5eN5yFdwaVYxMOobXmPU/s1600/20190917_094421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MEWiLO7_1cWupgkZzvV1ErnZbf5M3f_i8P5z2jJOX33vFlfFmD0TbfEtO-ZjWyjCm_r8K6F7SaM8ucnwUp_Np1kjTO7BxT_3HdI8cMZszHOx7ie5TpFL0RY5eN5yFdwaVYxMOobXmPU/s400/20190917_094421.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc5hn2S7Q2y7unDX7PHsPXzo-05Hq-sNuMD4KIT2UP2hjDvgt2Jdk7jisFOP5KxzqsQokjB4dv2Xz8EOi7hozigVLpAyEdxCVFBfgdPZUxzLT_PWK3Zx1qAv_-Gxw25mudbws2sUINWU/s1600/20190917_094654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc5hn2S7Q2y7unDX7PHsPXzo-05Hq-sNuMD4KIT2UP2hjDvgt2Jdk7jisFOP5KxzqsQokjB4dv2Xz8EOi7hozigVLpAyEdxCVFBfgdPZUxzLT_PWK3Zx1qAv_-Gxw25mudbws2sUINWU/s400/20190917_094654.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUQT-wVgowwDcZ53FdeTU4HEuEkCRLZjtUD47TuedzJ3bc3JYSV6AE8vAr8lOVbGyaSGXJzPT6NhCr6yUIl1US2bqW-mu88vF1ItINF_VNwo_SlF_1rW4Dp0Um3WI4wKzw_cYVzstZQM/s1600/20190917_094902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUQT-wVgowwDcZ53FdeTU4HEuEkCRLZjtUD47TuedzJ3bc3JYSV6AE8vAr8lOVbGyaSGXJzPT6NhCr6yUIl1US2bqW-mu88vF1ItINF_VNwo_SlF_1rW4Dp0Um3WI4wKzw_cYVzstZQM/s400/20190917_094902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGiUYudiFRzrh0Zv-Fbo8wi9jy3gN7glTb5A_TUGdO70NKtT_2NX4UGFfqvmGr8FMx0HFCcH8XtMBdfNVV11ozQgfi6BhBiGE8quDs-F_28kO0YEAKC4b3A3LlJtAbue4gjEh0ibfvBM/s1600/20190917_094912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsGiUYudiFRzrh0Zv-Fbo8wi9jy3gN7glTb5A_TUGdO70NKtT_2NX4UGFfqvmGr8FMx0HFCcH8XtMBdfNVV11ozQgfi6BhBiGE8quDs-F_28kO0YEAKC4b3A3LlJtAbue4gjEh0ibfvBM/s400/20190917_094912.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJtMiLVadAWSQDpFfvSjd_gLnEzl-Xm8yNrhF48FzprD4fM6ZXySn-Tr6fCfE1CVsTApEEw9YLjyU1j_0hjVAXuN8czJnEq3QdQ8EaB3vsZrz0k9zRrpT0t9lQeOsO74qXnDBsnT4fnQ/s1600/20190917_094918.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJtMiLVadAWSQDpFfvSjd_gLnEzl-Xm8yNrhF48FzprD4fM6ZXySn-Tr6fCfE1CVsTApEEw9YLjyU1j_0hjVAXuN8czJnEq3QdQ8EaB3vsZrz0k9zRrpT0t9lQeOsO74qXnDBsnT4fnQ/s400/20190917_094918.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtX3M1d3VHKyR6NfP_cT6I4ls20JaNE3Pz1loYFegCNwKcSN5xfZMUFE6TjPBCDQ_ppB1NFSh4f3j-nD8Q0LJeDsNkODfIIU1alt_dl0KhNegNgORYKBiAt7A7TQGp7HWNNxQsMmxbL4/s1600/20190917_094954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtX3M1d3VHKyR6NfP_cT6I4ls20JaNE3Pz1loYFegCNwKcSN5xfZMUFE6TjPBCDQ_ppB1NFSh4f3j-nD8Q0LJeDsNkODfIIU1alt_dl0KhNegNgORYKBiAt7A7TQGp7HWNNxQsMmxbL4/s400/20190917_094954.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QxvDjL6RWQrkNxNBV14EN-WTEwawPMbAYWmHFy2v8lmW8B4q3ncnNLoGfX5CwnkXdsR1wby8ockzuDkeMxopVTMEBgivcys2slcMRtHzGB59rl8bX4Y32qQ2YSMHzy0UvFAwAlwzs3Y/s1600/20190917_095014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1QxvDjL6RWQrkNxNBV14EN-WTEwawPMbAYWmHFy2v8lmW8B4q3ncnNLoGfX5CwnkXdsR1wby8ockzuDkeMxopVTMEBgivcys2slcMRtHzGB59rl8bX4Y32qQ2YSMHzy0UvFAwAlwzs3Y/s400/20190917_095014.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb9kjdUcKI7ebAfNRYfcwcNyLCqLmvA-d12_8gal4yxiN3icfWSHZ0KyMDXP7nB0dNGTTte1b2-oMs_VMqOqOXPG2EfKBd0513D5EvIRznoQnXFspow4cAmc75HLFbmJTwoPdYawjkuU/s1600/20190917_095116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlb9kjdUcKI7ebAfNRYfcwcNyLCqLmvA-d12_8gal4yxiN3icfWSHZ0KyMDXP7nB0dNGTTte1b2-oMs_VMqOqOXPG2EfKBd0513D5EvIRznoQnXFspow4cAmc75HLFbmJTwoPdYawjkuU/s400/20190917_095116.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmgikNGk1SMqoOeqm2BSxoLu4GaeUPVb8zNZ2NwAUJL2pEGjQxVPjyMK6rdtTPGicE3MK2dU-eIhTneAEttonu77ZiZmEEnJOkIXJeI-QwVxa5CciC15YTXfOv3gwXUkwMjf818ffL8Q/s1600/20190917_095134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHmgikNGk1SMqoOeqm2BSxoLu4GaeUPVb8zNZ2NwAUJL2pEGjQxVPjyMK6rdtTPGicE3MK2dU-eIhTneAEttonu77ZiZmEEnJOkIXJeI-QwVxa5CciC15YTXfOv3gwXUkwMjf818ffL8Q/s400/20190917_095134.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Small Tunnels For Air Raid Protection For Guards Only</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp8T8yU6hWHYiJiYibePfAiaPvuFYHTmmtwaC3P1GRy60vvItulj8QHHA5j5N-9lUgeO3Tr9LczwIhfU7-Otz67qGF7LSUoU0jZ9170BFg3ONRy7vVZxry220TL5-BCXhyphenhyphen32tR4mQ9G0/s1600/20190917_101949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYp8T8yU6hWHYiJiYibePfAiaPvuFYHTmmtwaC3P1GRy60vvItulj8QHHA5j5N-9lUgeO3Tr9LczwIhfU7-Otz67qGF7LSUoU0jZ9170BFg3ONRy7vVZxry220TL5-BCXhyphenhyphen32tR4mQ9G0/s400/20190917_101949.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHl9tb14GxNzJ9ihgPv8HlKsJrGL3ihRgd0fI7r7C1d5GbuTcfO6SwXqfD_f67LES1EjEqM5twLLZHYfk75H8yQUFsQCyFgbEPSrJlaHfJyrRiMHc91r3hH37qQjrVrkIHnHtilOOE9PQ/s1600/20190917_102102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHl9tb14GxNzJ9ihgPv8HlKsJrGL3ihRgd0fI7r7C1d5GbuTcfO6SwXqfD_f67LES1EjEqM5twLLZHYfk75H8yQUFsQCyFgbEPSrJlaHfJyrRiMHc91r3hH37qQjrVrkIHnHtilOOE9PQ/s400/20190917_102102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMffTw4K_tqA3PpihqdouE-VKZPkH0XqgyT2o-ePZSVrtCyVLBQ8lWi0v7RBHFxUYkbOaQn5PiQ8pfwfOvNlOsvMEvu5ojBnfWN7HjckHmFubduyW9Phwyw1Syu6ejvluyfaV56fo_XjQ/s1600/20190917_102244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMffTw4K_tqA3PpihqdouE-VKZPkH0XqgyT2o-ePZSVrtCyVLBQ8lWi0v7RBHFxUYkbOaQn5PiQ8pfwfOvNlOsvMEvu5ojBnfWN7HjckHmFubduyW9Phwyw1Syu6ejvluyfaV56fo_XjQ/s400/20190917_102244.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeDRueSobto_hJZiPrJ0FPqolCVUfnHRX50J5FBD3a048ChydyuwMOw-VfR0UY_tbwuwQZTfiWKo5dG_1EenRDYSP35SqMd8gLyVghGhmHrzvThI5YxWyXPiZXCyLkEa2SS8WtYDzVnA/s1600/20190917_102505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMeDRueSobto_hJZiPrJ0FPqolCVUfnHRX50J5FBD3a048ChydyuwMOw-VfR0UY_tbwuwQZTfiWKo5dG_1EenRDYSP35SqMd8gLyVghGhmHrzvThI5YxWyXPiZXCyLkEa2SS8WtYDzVnA/s400/20190917_102505.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ52iy3X5RvT0zUndrfnkfpgU1G_VSKEDsoQUEiaDc-Uxon2kTKwdEC05p2eNoUZZLR3RfcBaSZRSpnnc5JFOElTkkuWj9UsOyYYRtmO_cZrL-lpJmL0g9nCMNdiOultakC-AwRcv3MA/s1600/20190917_103947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdZ52iy3X5RvT0zUndrfnkfpgU1G_VSKEDsoQUEiaDc-Uxon2kTKwdEC05p2eNoUZZLR3RfcBaSZRSpnnc5JFOElTkkuWj9UsOyYYRtmO_cZrL-lpJmL0g9nCMNdiOultakC-AwRcv3MA/s400/20190917_103947.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0keOePJ8eea6y1NjcrJZ8WDqNdCbbgq2kKCgyIT2fPEXDFqFjseP5mGQ5Il131DDTPTpAAGxAsuJNBugepzk49bYBowTtoORU-lK9MoI_fn4XRRYdGSJ30C1hDhmPDHj5FzF1qQ3YPAI/s1600/20190917_103955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0keOePJ8eea6y1NjcrJZ8WDqNdCbbgq2kKCgyIT2fPEXDFqFjseP5mGQ5Il131DDTPTpAAGxAsuJNBugepzk49bYBowTtoORU-lK9MoI_fn4XRRYdGSJ30C1hDhmPDHj5FzF1qQ3YPAI/s400/20190917_103955.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Temporary Barracks to Await Death</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Chimneys Were Added As Propaganda To Make It Seem Like Prisoners Were Cared For</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ8UBvo2sXrDpOINiutfBg8nZ5k58HCGUHsefYUD4h7n1mw37CvEV-n2CQu4TO2M_ywbsQUsiuiOwH7ud7Ho008YRxtsTfoXED0CoZSa-7On5M2DvNx9QHEns41fCRBlh82LCVhJxN9Q/s1600/20190917_104106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ8UBvo2sXrDpOINiutfBg8nZ5k58HCGUHsefYUD4h7n1mw37CvEV-n2CQu4TO2M_ywbsQUsiuiOwH7ud7Ho008YRxtsTfoXED0CoZSa-7On5M2DvNx9QHEns41fCRBlh82LCVhJxN9Q/s400/20190917_104106.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVUkc0kIS068DKt21uuIW2bNBF3c-9EPw5eS5fK4LBbN3Q1MU06T71qNEf4ssGsu4Ehx1vZiu5wQCE0pN_Ot3lck09JyC_Ap3HCIkB2lNhIbZLePRj9mopqQ9zUm_5sWNX0nMhSEYZag/s1600/20190917_104530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJVUkc0kIS068DKt21uuIW2bNBF3c-9EPw5eS5fK4LBbN3Q1MU06T71qNEf4ssGsu4Ehx1vZiu5wQCE0pN_Ot3lck09JyC_Ap3HCIkB2lNhIbZLePRj9mopqQ9zUm_5sWNX0nMhSEYZag/s400/20190917_104530.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9mQtm4TAmLW4noYS61bSfmv_e_rRtHMj0jLZs0xg4v-kxX7ZQRcCN6MOj0slM7pdUFmBqITeUxFqFP-pwEQQqo6oeRGrbbLlrlUgXjE7wOnU7_f2Fyx_453Sec18SsqvOVtWH_xY2XI/s1600/20190917_104605.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW9mQtm4TAmLW4noYS61bSfmv_e_rRtHMj0jLZs0xg4v-kxX7ZQRcCN6MOj0slM7pdUFmBqITeUxFqFP-pwEQQqo6oeRGrbbLlrlUgXjE7wOnU7_f2Fyx_453Sec18SsqvOVtWH_xY2XI/s400/20190917_104605.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LL6MWr4AeFMvaXXK3R7mtCowSPzTLeRD3X9aCUXvDfMeQJ7ZDazcTyLo9gMfv-2OVrrP1z-6v0mdfEt3BbXL0LnTccBy69Suv1wm8Kqg05CJiTDsL1ARgyZ4SutS15Gabo6dsIJ78I4/s1600/20190917_104633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9LL6MWr4AeFMvaXXK3R7mtCowSPzTLeRD3X9aCUXvDfMeQJ7ZDazcTyLo9gMfv-2OVrrP1z-6v0mdfEt3BbXL0LnTccBy69Suv1wm8Kqg05CJiTDsL1ARgyZ4SutS15Gabo6dsIJ78I4/s400/20190917_104633.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jQXuIoOUwBl-0HFivpxAYcCUXZRIGD-daAubkVmN9k4eExj8pXxF9KGsmFbCW48wLLuSdkEIrcSdudTrVuz0K_J4Qsr5G-aN4F3QFA6iVCNeb_isHKDl_MTJyfFaGVSOIG1crQTgGHU/s1600/20190917_105357.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7jQXuIoOUwBl-0HFivpxAYcCUXZRIGD-daAubkVmN9k4eExj8pXxF9KGsmFbCW48wLLuSdkEIrcSdudTrVuz0K_J4Qsr5G-aN4F3QFA6iVCNeb_isHKDl_MTJyfFaGVSOIG1crQTgGHU/s400/20190917_105357.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh5_0IN-q5Xab67ckel10fGjZR4K7SjBMDTx8u0sC5CSObORB0y1M4-07ZpqWXk4T7UV7KSewBo0FyOPKqvtLVszLrn4bRd-NaiATrAB_CQQImzc5QsxDWV51HF8cvY-j1Lud49yU9-k/s1600/20190917_105817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnh5_0IN-q5Xab67ckel10fGjZR4K7SjBMDTx8u0sC5CSObORB0y1M4-07ZpqWXk4T7UV7KSewBo0FyOPKqvtLVszLrn4bRd-NaiATrAB_CQQImzc5QsxDWV51HF8cvY-j1Lud49yU9-k/s400/20190917_105817.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPv-oDFhm4xZQ-NXCZo9UK84uk-L3JkEvP-H21QhCEw84VCOXOCH9OKSfExSesC1Pq8Owe06UE9D2xDd8ZOfwhHnpc5y5BeH5i5GN6O3Ec19ejuQa1RKEuN7uQbzFIAkSC02hO-edWew/s1600/20190917_110155.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPv-oDFhm4xZQ-NXCZo9UK84uk-L3JkEvP-H21QhCEw84VCOXOCH9OKSfExSesC1Pq8Owe06UE9D2xDd8ZOfwhHnpc5y5BeH5i5GN6O3Ec19ejuQa1RKEuN7uQbzFIAkSC02hO-edWew/s400/20190917_110155.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCm6hxMeIGPd_zNHFNqVPrLJwbu0IqvbuUQHo3_wdmSJ-Y4ZAjSz7dBP3r9Z9e6FGu401g_JEiLyRN-TcrIro4a8BEWKo4lT8EzlDkavS-qW_jsKbFd5kR9526DACGh2xRP_099FoyCA/s1600/20190917_110205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTCm6hxMeIGPd_zNHFNqVPrLJwbu0IqvbuUQHo3_wdmSJ-Y4ZAjSz7dBP3r9Z9e6FGu401g_JEiLyRN-TcrIro4a8BEWKo4lT8EzlDkavS-qW_jsKbFd5kR9526DACGh2xRP_099FoyCA/s400/20190917_110205.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ten Women Per Each Layer Of Bed</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A Total Of 30 People</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhE69QNdIxCksVhRQoKTdj3glB-JoYexqPow6ozhclqwWQzJ63v30wCuw6IGeANPlSuYxYQskAm9pndhtujbadgPNbxs-IdJnUe7JtuxAVcS7m3CL0ZwEu_gH0EwUKcU1EewY1hqZjQU/s1600/20190917_110221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRhE69QNdIxCksVhRQoKTdj3glB-JoYexqPow6ozhclqwWQzJ63v30wCuw6IGeANPlSuYxYQskAm9pndhtujbadgPNbxs-IdJnUe7JtuxAVcS7m3CL0ZwEu_gH0EwUKcU1EewY1hqZjQU/s400/20190917_110221.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z_S-y1xboIA_z-We2Te5VPKTmtpmkPkyHrQOFsWUlBb9XOfjip8SNXSca7Rd-zcRDRRXo0jAaWNvZGgp1U9v0AqLKmKmHl4RVy5MJpMXkvhHj_9EX6PItphaZwutFtRjXsj29Tm_d08/s1600/20190917_110239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Z_S-y1xboIA_z-We2Te5VPKTmtpmkPkyHrQOFsWUlBb9XOfjip8SNXSca7Rd-zcRDRRXo0jAaWNvZGgp1U9v0AqLKmKmHl4RVy5MJpMXkvhHj_9EX6PItphaZwutFtRjXsj29Tm_d08/s400/20190917_110239.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ndsiETfgVsO7HijZBkw6EW_qxYAbQQc6fX2RzEX6Dx661L0fjXGEvxIOEBv1XqcPg2TdeoeJvE_4u3R6RIKQoi7Q6ZEz7DGKQ9ObdiMYGZ0BxJWjx0B9S0hoslY6oUuwzS15aK0_pq0/s1600/20190917_110243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ndsiETfgVsO7HijZBkw6EW_qxYAbQQc6fX2RzEX6Dx661L0fjXGEvxIOEBv1XqcPg2TdeoeJvE_4u3R6RIKQoi7Q6ZEz7DGKQ9ObdiMYGZ0BxJWjx0B9S0hoslY6oUuwzS15aK0_pq0/s400/20190917_110243.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6kBth9YzFdOq9hHILJFsmxyaZOcJGfBcyZAtszfyde8Mn0XmcGAxi6r4kHjDP9rmM3lqO0NwnAMuySRBHYmMAh2YWOkZiKc9_U_caF6GPMKWoaHqRMGS-Hlubwwc27Aaq3dTTuMJcV0/s1600/20190917_110327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV6kBth9YzFdOq9hHILJFsmxyaZOcJGfBcyZAtszfyde8Mn0XmcGAxi6r4kHjDP9rmM3lqO0NwnAMuySRBHYmMAh2YWOkZiKc9_U_caF6GPMKWoaHqRMGS-Hlubwwc27Aaq3dTTuMJcV0/s400/20190917_110327.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHLDsAm6haFMRbvfmUIZ63ZHYg6_-8QsQ6looc3Emh_T-owZlxKLN3yeAdqdDgIVvpLUbzuovVJ8NUxZOYYlfflxK1M-lcE5p5baTSCrSMf8-VJTbdTeM0Akeq8gCtpLQ6oHJYPkVIMo/s1600/20190917_110346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHLDsAm6haFMRbvfmUIZ63ZHYg6_-8QsQ6looc3Emh_T-owZlxKLN3yeAdqdDgIVvpLUbzuovVJ8NUxZOYYlfflxK1M-lcE5p5baTSCrSMf8-VJTbdTeM0Akeq8gCtpLQ6oHJYPkVIMo/s400/20190917_110346.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsVleCKqFmXldS-H6p5XTXy_scnP9BWmXAhqn7VKUQdGdsXz7QHiIS1t_TCOulMwe2v-iOLozCd8YhG_4eghqGBbsmrD8tsvjyuu7gka0NpuyOCtT98KXe_S8ihWJaLKGc2RAQLcGruI/s1600/20190917_110413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCsVleCKqFmXldS-H6p5XTXy_scnP9BWmXAhqn7VKUQdGdsXz7QHiIS1t_TCOulMwe2v-iOLozCd8YhG_4eghqGBbsmrD8tsvjyuu7gka0NpuyOCtT98KXe_S8ihWJaLKGc2RAQLcGruI/s400/20190917_110413.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRF1z4K1UBmR_ZYVW9DQg2osG6VKO0QHSFo7-Ic95rugjCCICDyHHIQ-A6wpY2T7qhUmrm1HAcC8Sxo3LkyUMdItbNQmdeMk-VR9tgH7P325BR8gl2-tbU6T9GTDKuHhJBdWFxr1_to4/s1600/20190917_111730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRRF1z4K1UBmR_ZYVW9DQg2osG6VKO0QHSFo7-Ic95rugjCCICDyHHIQ-A6wpY2T7qhUmrm1HAcC8Sxo3LkyUMdItbNQmdeMk-VR9tgH7P325BR8gl2-tbU6T9GTDKuHhJBdWFxr1_to4/s400/20190917_111730.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGiO2N_6pBlDmWF5OpjyAcnpzk1cVr_xE7xsA90-is56G_YsQnTLkKWf0RkV3F3KXFeM0hsSTVmrgXjg9U-aIwJkvXj47eW-vMdsB20muoaNZHMUdthz2y1oDwSnHp0O74fNas831LhM/s1600/20190917_111745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGiO2N_6pBlDmWF5OpjyAcnpzk1cVr_xE7xsA90-is56G_YsQnTLkKWf0RkV3F3KXFeM0hsSTVmrgXjg9U-aIwJkvXj47eW-vMdsB20muoaNZHMUdthz2y1oDwSnHp0O74fNas831LhM/s400/20190917_111745.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
</span></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-52447274378028637062019-09-12T11:19:00.000-07:002019-09-12T11:19:31.303-07:00Dzien Dobry from Poland.......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-size: large;">Dzein dobry, (jane dob ray) or good morning from Poland. Today we are in the beautiful city of Poznan in western Poland. While I expected this to be a tiny place, Poznan is actually the 5th largest city in the country with a population of around 600,000. Known for its universities and colorful Old Town, there is also another hidden secret about this place. Poznan is famous for its croissants and even has a museum here dedicated to these sweet delights. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMymRtR-tJzE13FgE_N3HLXEkTXxHSo6CfORV670xVkS1wK-6dberabs_6evetH06pCFHbehFqiVRqyab6FNnRGmNM0xStSA3NZRe2KAORhvyLHrdqh3BaJkv1qt5YeDx3LPHNYOLvio/s1600/20190911_120222.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMymRtR-tJzE13FgE_N3HLXEkTXxHSo6CfORV670xVkS1wK-6dberabs_6evetH06pCFHbehFqiVRqyab6FNnRGmNM0xStSA3NZRe2KAORhvyLHrdqh3BaJkv1qt5YeDx3LPHNYOLvio/s400/20190911_120222.jpg" width="193" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqyx4xU4a3kuFjpAZhwqfFcbwnppCjs8u0ZEvh8REh2JattGDFeyPWidb6Pudr_Qy986svoWxsZKiAbMiw4jL9YGHhb_nkQrDNZ8rnBf72mVg5CGBd0WIxF77rY-qp8yoJ6PxU-9mAp8/s1600/20190911_120739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqyx4xU4a3kuFjpAZhwqfFcbwnppCjs8u0ZEvh8REh2JattGDFeyPWidb6Pudr_Qy986svoWxsZKiAbMiw4jL9YGHhb_nkQrDNZ8rnBf72mVg5CGBd0WIxF77rY-qp8yoJ6PxU-9mAp8/s400/20190911_120739.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0A9JZIfHgEBgctfgAYUDjGUgeRAcKwZGEJn69gvDhEqlTQy_PSwUXONCd9NW8__WQFyXB526Jx5LZIRY4XoxaOqcLgWHNFMccVGoXsCJ8XtUu5NDlIY1RWJG0bOX0ML8efe3Yj5QboE/s1600/20190911_135211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0A9JZIfHgEBgctfgAYUDjGUgeRAcKwZGEJn69gvDhEqlTQy_PSwUXONCd9NW8__WQFyXB526Jx5LZIRY4XoxaOqcLgWHNFMccVGoXsCJ8XtUu5NDlIY1RWJG0bOX0ML8efe3Yj5QboE/s400/20190911_135211.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETFWzQ8rgU6HK0N0CE09xmVGvuEUARA1CFjCH3ioMMfJw5R4EJJSMmfQi68CMyFx5EUnKNzPzpi023N5Xgl4rwIxDzUuELuyaAIi-lqV5flKvKm9jJ1Zb8H4qE6KCOfk8kJaoUS1HoZo/s1600/20190911_143137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETFWzQ8rgU6HK0N0CE09xmVGvuEUARA1CFjCH3ioMMfJw5R4EJJSMmfQi68CMyFx5EUnKNzPzpi023N5Xgl4rwIxDzUuELuyaAIi-lqV5flKvKm9jJ1Zb8H4qE6KCOfk8kJaoUS1HoZo/s400/20190911_143137.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNSsU2bFSsA44ON_Eaju1rMXwIctF9lPJ9smTqqA9WkO0aRALTdG4znHCItJF-7KWb9j7QZXE5DQCmJTu3K9Qgk_Ui4IF52o6Cj08v4mBW-k-FTe_2LbtvyH0k2f169FB-OYKV_D7_qo/s1600/20190911_144710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdNSsU2bFSsA44ON_Eaju1rMXwIctF9lPJ9smTqqA9WkO0aRALTdG4znHCItJF-7KWb9j7QZXE5DQCmJTu3K9Qgk_Ui4IF52o6Cj08v4mBW-k-FTe_2LbtvyH0k2f169FB-OYKV_D7_qo/s400/20190911_144710.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMl5JfUZqUROLsR4UG6rK6LeT6_pbytr53M3LaWQYef3CTcY9fuIDtNmtGl4SQZTVwn7Ex9yDO0fSwLjcbHizl6-Eb1SH2FrHRAMRdOPUmRmUr4kXwwyuM3MiT57YDNjHq7rTQPmmdJ0/s1600/20190911_153352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMl5JfUZqUROLsR4UG6rK6LeT6_pbytr53M3LaWQYef3CTcY9fuIDtNmtGl4SQZTVwn7Ex9yDO0fSwLjcbHizl6-Eb1SH2FrHRAMRdOPUmRmUr4kXwwyuM3MiT57YDNjHq7rTQPmmdJ0/s400/20190911_153352.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9Aw72Xo8R5o_rTb20KntKLq-tdkRCVM5HBqVbm3V3REQubTGVQOHBYbURX3Q9qgWyyIs8HHrnM_p-vK22c7VdkHj-xTPthnlg1fK4BlhyphenhyphengkPB_koaMX87XpKF-h_edG5mZdFALhPTsA/s1600/20190911_144611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9Aw72Xo8R5o_rTb20KntKLq-tdkRCVM5HBqVbm3V3REQubTGVQOHBYbURX3Q9qgWyyIs8HHrnM_p-vK22c7VdkHj-xTPthnlg1fK4BlhyphenhyphengkPB_koaMX87XpKF-h_edG5mZdFALhPTsA/s400/20190911_144611.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But unlike its French counterpart, the St. Martin's croissants are folded 81 times. Between each layer the baker spreads a mixture of white poppy seeds, nuts, raisins, almonds, sugar and butter. Then each one is glazed and sprinkled with more sugar and nuts and MUST weigh between 150 and 250 grams (5 and a half to 8 and a half ounces, for our US friends). These suckers are huge and heavy. There is a local museum which is more like a show where participants are allowed to sling some dough of their own as they learn about the history of these famous sweets. Unfortunately for us, we ventured out too late in the day yesterday only to discover that we had missed the English speaking presentation.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVD_rUrUmjP19JJxGm2Gpj2sIJeLKjsguOyecaTuGYc2N1sDYghzC1kHTL6wMPGDJt0DljDZavP_K6GnMxxWyOJz8ahoSVoBM5RDdmNSxYxYzwWh8eKPt6qY2VPgwOBSukWFiPERg0wZs/s1600/20190911_181059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVD_rUrUmjP19JJxGm2Gpj2sIJeLKjsguOyecaTuGYc2N1sDYghzC1kHTL6wMPGDJt0DljDZavP_K6GnMxxWyOJz8ahoSVoBM5RDdmNSxYxYzwWh8eKPt6qY2VPgwOBSukWFiPERg0wZs/s400/20190911_181059.jpg" width="193" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">According to the legend, one local baker was so inspired by a sermon he heard at St. Martin's church in the late 19th century, he took to heart the priest's message of feeding the poor by creating this special croissant. Since he had recently seen a horse lose it's shoe he had the idea to craft these pastries in the shape of horse shoes which he then gave out to those in need. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbTH0RgOQp6DJe85tjiN_vxeNeu2PXiB6TGOI8rE7xm7fjgsLs_rFG5p2ZNi234tWSuEDL0ZdQ0WzHV-HI010oXnAOgQINI7tQx78r05OVOB4yuLNUyvQg0wjI6td-dsw1A08p3IhfNY/s1600/20190911_181106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfbTH0RgOQp6DJe85tjiN_vxeNeu2PXiB6TGOI8rE7xm7fjgsLs_rFG5p2ZNi234tWSuEDL0ZdQ0WzHV-HI010oXnAOgQINI7tQx78r05OVOB4yuLNUyvQg0wjI6td-dsw1A08p3IhfNY/s400/20190911_181106.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">These croissants are actually protected by European law and any baker who wishes to make these for distribution must apply for a license every year. Each Pierkarnia or bakery must display a sign bearing a photo of the croissant letting patrons know that they have permission to bake and sell these guarded desserts. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E943_345e615EQ_9saJPn1YWtg0NDznBXDMceA5hPjNeN8cGZbByyvasc-jGnQ0iapEf-xpSnrKbwaVKxqN6GrMKN6fGZYHdyNGrjOFkEDjW3yC4gEc38kyG4Zm6-ztWdQTdo5-ztj0/s1600/20190911_181202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0E943_345e615EQ_9saJPn1YWtg0NDznBXDMceA5hPjNeN8cGZbByyvasc-jGnQ0iapEf-xpSnrKbwaVKxqN6GrMKN6fGZYHdyNGrjOFkEDjW3yC4gEc38kyG4Zm6-ztWdQTdo5-ztj0/s400/20190911_181202.jpg" width="193" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We did search bakeries yesterday afternoon until we found one that had Rogale Marcinskie, also known as St. Martin's croissants. While we both DO love sweet treats neither of us found these to be what we thought. Perhaps had we gone out earlier in the day and tried them while they were still warm the outcome would have been different? Or perhaps as Americans we are so used to desserts being overly sweet that these paled in comparison? Either way it's actually a good thing that we did not fall in love with these croissants since we don't need more food in our lives.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">But speaking of food, I did grow rather attached to Torun, the last town we visited with it's history of Pierniki or gingerbread. What could have been more pleasant than having a gingerbread factory directly next to our hotel? Everyday felt like Christmas! With each passing breeze my nostrils would inhale the sweet aroma of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and other delectable scents. Add to that the fact that our cheap $45 a night hotel featured a jar of cookies on the front desk for guests to enjoy. We could not pass by without grabbing a few before climbing up 60 steep, winding stairs to our room on the top floor. Yes, this is Europe where elevators are not common as buildings are old. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Although Clyde did enjoy eating the gingerbread cookies it seemed like it was me that was having this love affair with these adorable treats. We did embark on a tour of the pierniki museum, or so it was called, which was simply an explanation and demonstration of how the cookies were made. Our tour included a master baker along with a kitchen witch who took us back in time to medieval days in the kitchen. First the entire group was forced to take an oath that we would not reveal the secret, age old recipe to anyone.....ever! The witch let us know that IF we ever revealed the secret we would develop a mole on our tongues which would prevent us from talking ever again.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MlP73Bm73WG2tSsYNFCDo6OorFM14mcqKhGgC1ATtK8y8XMIV0u6vrACtNJDglUcicgAZl_aMsSzx6QVR4UvTFSy5znVkvR4EddGNKdZgte2K1rGnxyIRB-DGXiWwWhry7bbbIdE0wA/s1600/69722771_10214850002828635_1192416460492767232_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="960" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MlP73Bm73WG2tSsYNFCDo6OorFM14mcqKhGgC1ATtK8y8XMIV0u6vrACtNJDglUcicgAZl_aMsSzx6QVR4UvTFSy5znVkvR4EddGNKdZgte2K1rGnxyIRB-DGXiWwWhry7bbbIdE0wA/s400/69722771_10214850002828635_1192416460492767232_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhsYKrqwAdERBLocJcx2l7up3A2qo7C5334oqKI0o7hAkX25uQIx26NWS3Ogh2jbhJejxdVuqFZx8Na2dwjE5XNvZtm9CqX0g3NktCQeJzxDPHMZO9VToPxnH12V06SqpvXPr03lYZD8/s1600/70310435_10214850003228645_5798294742538125312_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhsYKrqwAdERBLocJcx2l7up3A2qo7C5334oqKI0o7hAkX25uQIx26NWS3Ogh2jbhJejxdVuqFZx8Na2dwjE5XNvZtm9CqX0g3NktCQeJzxDPHMZO9VToPxnH12V06SqpvXPr03lYZD8/s400/70310435_10214850003228645_5798294742538125312_n.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRl9hXpoaoaOydHuKyYunYQpUdMd7hz9a9TrC0SpaCmJwnDZGdM7TSMxgHtlEq7QXUxvcgfSGDZZ2O9rFwpbXaKXNttjaOXGIDhvy0X7hu6Et-WPq1mQ6HLTwhUsPyHMpY6yX1zgWMe4/s1600/69692529_10214850007068741_4209227916136939520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRl9hXpoaoaOydHuKyYunYQpUdMd7hz9a9TrC0SpaCmJwnDZGdM7TSMxgHtlEq7QXUxvcgfSGDZZ2O9rFwpbXaKXNttjaOXGIDhvy0X7hu6Et-WPq1mQ6HLTwhUsPyHMpY6yX1zgWMe4/s400/69692529_10214850007068741_4209227916136939520_n.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvflgHZ-YX5qWw8mr4YOxvV49j_DYQJ1fpkWNUdp-kYlf7it_5XFzVFV1t8O1tUMrkvzwh82nzyTzP3_plE-IBIAZArFxt_xF9TLRTiw6nRm4_u0nnJoSuUjAV400J_ww-sUE3Vn4DoI/s1600/69766600_10214850005948713_4325446905078218752_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifvflgHZ-YX5qWw8mr4YOxvV49j_DYQJ1fpkWNUdp-kYlf7it_5XFzVFV1t8O1tUMrkvzwh82nzyTzP3_plE-IBIAZArFxt_xF9TLRTiw6nRm4_u0nnJoSuUjAV400J_ww-sUE3Vn4DoI/s400/69766600_10214850005948713_4325446905078218752_n.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The factory experience was interactive and we were each given dough, a rolling pin and wooden molds to make our own cookie as a keepsake. Since I have always enjoyed baking I was surprised to discover that the most important ingredient in gingerbread is, pepper. It is pepper that gives it the spicy taste that give our tongue a bit of a nip when we eat the whole bag of cookies.....uh not that I have done such a thing, but I have heard this can happen. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sPtW2_Tpkt3EvuDWCOXIxwnkU1HfJPQVeOGk11jKJRRgHVq0Le5dZUYAGbN5I1asz17URvUW2Og2So7bOEoZqQOfJ6Y8k7Ag-W5gjCFeQxgTZnoZ29Q2ZVTtxnz-Zb3GYKOLb51gA5g/s1600/IMG_7524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1sPtW2_Tpkt3EvuDWCOXIxwnkU1HfJPQVeOGk11jKJRRgHVq0Le5dZUYAGbN5I1asz17URvUW2Og2So7bOEoZqQOfJ6Y8k7Ag-W5gjCFeQxgTZnoZ29Q2ZVTtxnz-Zb3GYKOLb51gA5g/s400/IMG_7524.JPG" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ0HN6uGolUhvSPwRiGm3V1q27ux7kGTB_LPEie04f1Zk39tXJHy5BML3mzLuXv0uXCfnK265EzV4wCKfS6F4dkwLvwmmCxIJA4I_QCbT4i6cbWh__Tdw1miBxq-LdSiWP92LcZMn6zM/s1600/IMG_7525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZ0HN6uGolUhvSPwRiGm3V1q27ux7kGTB_LPEie04f1Zk39tXJHy5BML3mzLuXv0uXCfnK265EzV4wCKfS6F4dkwLvwmmCxIJA4I_QCbT4i6cbWh__Tdw1miBxq-LdSiWP92LcZMn6zM/s400/IMG_7525.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1MVpup4UNREdi02F5pQVGnC3qrLevFncnkjhMYEQKD-DuVpvgUpNS3Qu6QAZXWoZWzZ1XWwXdaucVd5nQkqoD0oFtNG1Ge_-GNrRlQ-N8pSdMAxdYyX3Av7e2KOTWuP8irasF4gyel0/s1600/IMG_7526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe1MVpup4UNREdi02F5pQVGnC3qrLevFncnkjhMYEQKD-DuVpvgUpNS3Qu6QAZXWoZWzZ1XWwXdaucVd5nQkqoD0oFtNG1Ge_-GNrRlQ-N8pSdMAxdYyX3Av7e2KOTWuP8irasF4gyel0/s400/IMG_7526.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9idhvuZjw_7VdpDssb7d638aADx9JOaLteWh7fS6CbCCtKWffOo161gthM2SyMEzhU6mHXzamMtMD6xvm_aYbGcssbpPeUTeZeV797IMNwcGv6YTVjezooo1kNBGP0zzqk-9KpwQja0/s1600/69920740_10214850008108767_4795267545022070784_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb9idhvuZjw_7VdpDssb7d638aADx9JOaLteWh7fS6CbCCtKWffOo161gthM2SyMEzhU6mHXzamMtMD6xvm_aYbGcssbpPeUTeZeV797IMNwcGv6YTVjezooo1kNBGP0zzqk-9KpwQja0/s400/69920740_10214850008108767_4795267545022070784_n.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpuLHnvaL7MM_PbclaWpp2sN9NYrylMSI0eWw4-PBB55RED5_du7VV9Gft5YtCyKIZ6_dqgsXpZ-zQXB3cEEaBqpTvJRtoTusgCNvS7RuZdyAVO5ipExcJ2banKMRmgahdXQ5XyPs-dM/s1600/69966453_10214850007508752_7403720665578078208_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="960" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVpuLHnvaL7MM_PbclaWpp2sN9NYrylMSI0eWw4-PBB55RED5_du7VV9Gft5YtCyKIZ6_dqgsXpZ-zQXB3cEEaBqpTvJRtoTusgCNvS7RuZdyAVO5ipExcJ2banKMRmgahdXQ5XyPs-dM/s400/69966453_10214850007508752_7403720665578078208_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Also interesting is that the dough needs to mature for at least 3 months before rolling out and baking. Since we didn't have that long to wait we were given dough made by someone else for our cookie experiment. In the end our cookies looked good but lacked much taste. In medieval times sugar was not invented yet so they only had honey to use. And baking powder was not available yet either so our cookies were hard and tasteless. But the experience was so much fun and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting Torun, Poland. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShknKgK3nL9UBkB_od9omrjO8uKWi9vhAE4q8rWuqCk6fIxfm29gBMBPOsI21eFdL9gTlW-zbon1jZNhdLIdJ9TEFfW_oOhHhf2tk7wEhHMOuaGfqnrgSlmKwmdFoJMOLlCeocsNUddM/s1600/70121614_10214850010668831_8146344111901769728_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="960" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhShknKgK3nL9UBkB_od9omrjO8uKWi9vhAE4q8rWuqCk6fIxfm29gBMBPOsI21eFdL9gTlW-zbon1jZNhdLIdJ9TEFfW_oOhHhf2tk7wEhHMOuaGfqnrgSlmKwmdFoJMOLlCeocsNUddM/s400/70121614_10214850010668831_8146344111901769728_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32sWM6OZ6lItkyOj5gG1uk3pdWN39JzbHyAA1h3cMEp8W94v-ISWUFug_qbqDXW6G-THbqook-LPpV9hBOvWq5HEvLH7O19hWBlj9oojIX2mvQMgXyzYWd3cTio8emC5rZvx0YvQWCcg/s1600/70624862_10214850011388849_643957481915023360_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="960" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi32sWM6OZ6lItkyOj5gG1uk3pdWN39JzbHyAA1h3cMEp8W94v-ISWUFug_qbqDXW6G-THbqook-LPpV9hBOvWq5HEvLH7O19hWBlj9oojIX2mvQMgXyzYWd3cTio8emC5rZvx0YvQWCcg/s400/70624862_10214850011388849_643957481915023360_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdaBpxYG8Ls4JHzysmvOFIJ1uRYKiwQZVQCpA2DZjx1ENWPyXdcj1MJYj9ot5UcUJG7kklO_uB1gWOP1tiUSsV3ZmPIIq5AnL1wYW8HsLPPUyKeBZtHq3iJVqFHItBrf2a0OnFvz5me0/s1600/70650015_10214850008748783_2009677431874519040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="960" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdaBpxYG8Ls4JHzysmvOFIJ1uRYKiwQZVQCpA2DZjx1ENWPyXdcj1MJYj9ot5UcUJG7kklO_uB1gWOP1tiUSsV3ZmPIIq5AnL1wYW8HsLPPUyKeBZtHq3iJVqFHItBrf2a0OnFvz5me0/s400/70650015_10214850008748783_2009677431874519040_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Typically when we travel we rent a car to get us around. This time Clyde wanted to try the trains which had really added to our whole adventure here in Poland. We are visiting seven different cities, which means six different train trips. Some trains have been sleek and modern in design and we were even served free drinks. Other trains were old and our wagon was entered through a glass hallway. Each wagon would hold 8 people, 4 on each side facing each other. Luggage was placed either under the seats or on the overhead shelves. Trains here do feature bathroom facilities which have been spacious and clean, so overall our train experience has been good.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fUykI9rBq2E1RASaw_8AwkTZnJPbM0WW6XlCVQaZwELIzl5XbKTDBF4JTlui0D9RHp3mBycv52MkDCMQJ-Po5nH9_8On5AqLovlU6Aauo0TnmB3RawLmUlRkju6XleTsWWBvmhaS7ZE/s1600/train+ticket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1080" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fUykI9rBq2E1RASaw_8AwkTZnJPbM0WW6XlCVQaZwELIzl5XbKTDBF4JTlui0D9RHp3mBycv52MkDCMQJ-Po5nH9_8On5AqLovlU6Aauo0TnmB3RawLmUlRkju6XleTsWWBvmhaS7ZE/s400/train+ticket.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The train station in Gdansk lacked proper signs indicating the schedules and even the Poles we talked to were confused. Lines at the ticket counters were so long, sometimes with one agent and 20 or more people standing in line. By the time Clyde managed to buy our tickets the train was long gone and he had to get back in line and start again. Just part of the overall experience and adventure!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblZ1iQLDyAxHw9C7ydKVgGWC_QI9yN5y8n10CUwqmhLzWlS6KLF2AD9a7SzaEutwHOBeZdZJZk2AbqCbbgJRUAI_MsvOz9PeAuiQzwB7afnalt3DN2NDBTADboiZrCjUGLWtuuAGAW0Q/s1600/terry+train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhblZ1iQLDyAxHw9C7ydKVgGWC_QI9yN5y8n10CUwqmhLzWlS6KLF2AD9a7SzaEutwHOBeZdZJZk2AbqCbbgJRUAI_MsvOz9PeAuiQzwB7afnalt3DN2NDBTADboiZrCjUGLWtuuAGAW0Q/s400/terry+train.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGVBxhHetod8WXWiCV9zoh2Hckrq6QPmIrQukzuGuIrEQKeO2-YZmCVNdyS6qM_KhaR8m6uj0IsuQdraOBn9B3W5uBynDqJr1JhGAm7KNTn8bs4f6VrB-rz5Eq0YILbUv8ua-GuyL804/s1600/train.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGVBxhHetod8WXWiCV9zoh2Hckrq6QPmIrQukzuGuIrEQKeO2-YZmCVNdyS6qM_KhaR8m6uj0IsuQdraOBn9B3W5uBynDqJr1JhGAm7KNTn8bs4f6VrB-rz5Eq0YILbUv8ua-GuyL804/s400/train.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Today we have a twenty minute walk to the train station here in Poznan. Our next stop is Wroclaw, about a 3 hour train ride from here. Stay tuned for more adventures in Poland.....along the gringo trail.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-31413789599014116192019-09-06T10:10:00.003-07:002019-09-06T10:10:53.886-07:00Thoughts of Poland.....Our First Days....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
As we were planning our trip to Poland we were met with some strange responses from people. "You're going where?" "It's not safe there you know." "Wasn't the whole city of Warsaw demolished and flattened? Why would you go there?" "And you will spend over two weeks touring Poland?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-LmGTK4gOI-WlPnQRIluWqErlUkz-hjP59lm-jGvApsqpNc8c58OkfjTg0oxjP_Uq48AWrcZHr8W3wejFch7qEImk9qgfUzmrmr2qycnjzIAFxBNwofyC6vDbx-jlX-2SkNXXB23wlE/s1600/IMG_7240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-LmGTK4gOI-WlPnQRIluWqErlUkz-hjP59lm-jGvApsqpNc8c58OkfjTg0oxjP_Uq48AWrcZHr8W3wejFch7qEImk9qgfUzmrmr2qycnjzIAFxBNwofyC6vDbx-jlX-2SkNXXB23wlE/s400/IMG_7240.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anywhere there are tourists with money, there can be safety issues and we do take precautions. We are both wearing money belts underneath our clothes. Inside these pouches buried beneath our clothes we have our passports, credit cards, cash and other important documents.....just in case. Should anyone reach into our pockets we simply get a free feel up and they leave with nothing. Even in the crowded city of Warsaw we felt perfectly safe at all times. Of course we are NOT late night people and since it gets dark here around 7:30, we are inside well before that time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In case you are wondering about eating dinner out, the Poles tend to have their biggest meal between the hours of 1 and 4pm and only eat a snack at night. During our first evening in Warsaw we made our way into a local restaurant around 6pm and were informed by the waiter that they would be closing in thirty minutes. He happily made us traditional pierogis which we enjoyed and were out of his way before closing time. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEoL380g2bfFy4ld2n9PsSoca4QUBKBordcjL64NjdDFb-VXIbfW3sBHuoyqpUWF87LepOw5IJVKoLdKjhwBHpP_IEoMm_FcE3tDF9eG6GWAZoRfpThHHsT0GdAkLsXmxPSB31CVBwGE/s1600/IMG_7177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEoL380g2bfFy4ld2n9PsSoca4QUBKBordcjL64NjdDFb-VXIbfW3sBHuoyqpUWF87LepOw5IJVKoLdKjhwBHpP_IEoMm_FcE3tDF9eG6GWAZoRfpThHHsT0GdAkLsXmxPSB31CVBwGE/s400/IMG_7177.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So what are my thoughts of Poland thus far?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I grew up in New Jersey with a Polish Mother and Grandmother, both of whom spoke Polish to each other, yet neither of us three children were taught to speak it. So I am a Pollack as they say and Polish is in my blood. I heard plenty of Pollack jokes and was teased about having a big nose, which I was told was a Pollack trait. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Holidays were spent at Grandma's house eating pierogi, kielbasa, blessed hard boiled eggs at Easter, along with plenty of other Catholic and Polish traditions. But as I grew into my teens I began to hate these family traditions, regarding them as stupid. Yet I always wondered did the REAL Polish people in Poland eat this stuff or act like this?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClseu1AYv-ODDPgyKPoZ7Cl5PQO_Mtg7V8JxjAghhVLA-nj1a13lc0WashBlI0K5RVVEiGYUEAgYt0kSB8DKGZpTK7zFD9iPyYnPBQnMxThfMACHrnJKRLZtLGtI4rUS1U6JbKu6sgMY/s1600/IMG_7258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClseu1AYv-ODDPgyKPoZ7Cl5PQO_Mtg7V8JxjAghhVLA-nj1a13lc0WashBlI0K5RVVEiGYUEAgYt0kSB8DKGZpTK7zFD9iPyYnPBQnMxThfMACHrnJKRLZtLGtI4rUS1U6JbKu6sgMY/s400/IMG_7258.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Pulled Pork with Coleslaw</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jvD-9a1k_e_GuxzXrflUcJeDViOMF5yEco8hxzdauJVibOkt_HYU8ykfcZ8JeAMIXIBuHSp3jbO2BHKGTHF08Czvthjz-6qVmKzRcSMu9QEd3iINjm2dBXc4JH52tjoKcRnPvXH9RfU/s1600/20190903_180900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_jvD-9a1k_e_GuxzXrflUcJeDViOMF5yEco8hxzdauJVibOkt_HYU8ykfcZ8JeAMIXIBuHSp3jbO2BHKGTHF08Czvthjz-6qVmKzRcSMu9QEd3iINjm2dBXc4JH52tjoKcRnPvXH9RfU/s400/20190903_180900.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Pierogi</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well they say that travel is meant to change us, and it took visiting Poland to have an eye opening moment at breakfast one morning. There I sat eating kielbasa (fried Polish sausage) with eggs and a piece of rye bread dipped in mustard when tears began to roll down my face. The tastes on my tongue took me back to the early days of my childhood and I suddenly realized something. My childhood that I often thought of as less than wonderful, with an overbearing, mean mother who never accepted me for who I was, had surely left an impact deep down in my soul. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The thing that I was blessed with from my youth was this incredible food culture and a sense of belonging to a large Polish family. The traditions that were passed down from one generation to the next, the food, the recipes, and the belonging to something bigger than myself was suddenly clear to me. And it took visiting Poland, the land of my ancestors and eating real Polish food. Perhaps there is something about being here, among these people that makes me feel like I fit in? I am no longer a stupid Pollack, but instead I realize there are people like me, and here I am surrounded by them, although we speak a different language. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Poland is a beautiful country with people who have endured such tragedy yet have endured despite of it all. Warsaw, its Capital was demolished during WWII and nothing was left to the historic old town. Like nowhere else we have been, Warsaw is a stark contrast of modern, shiny skyscrapers that stand tall next to demolished remnants of buildings. The ruined buildings bare scars of war and bullet holes, yet some have modern structures built on top of their rubble. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDONgLLjkzNgL1jGwoOQJBgcJV0xuZzkdEWIspQigAaq3ajG_igaczww1QG7CiNA8ga8xZHK8JiqqkMRk_mLL87NjGqsbW769FVFf61wJfzO2wsJmBsaUZ3iqNqkoFNs1PzVtKSctlsc/s1600/IMG_7288.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXDONgLLjkzNgL1jGwoOQJBgcJV0xuZzkdEWIspQigAaq3ajG_igaczww1QG7CiNA8ga8xZHK8JiqqkMRk_mLL87NjGqsbW769FVFf61wJfzO2wsJmBsaUZ3iqNqkoFNs1PzVtKSctlsc/s400/IMG_7288.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sights Around Warsaw, Poland</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG4rPmO8YiKcxiz5QhVBlKsNo6kYyU4vZdqHD2ScKdXNDNrNkC-zi2WpdytBv44uG3FA52o9DVnuxu6NhTT3Rp1HiXa6aFU5GYD8K2scqDqLXAz7PxU3fZD7X7iIRO_iOzDRhmkf6W2g/s1600/IMG_7281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEG4rPmO8YiKcxiz5QhVBlKsNo6kYyU4vZdqHD2ScKdXNDNrNkC-zi2WpdytBv44uG3FA52o9DVnuxu6NhTT3Rp1HiXa6aFU5GYD8K2scqDqLXAz7PxU3fZD7X7iIRO_iOzDRhmkf6W2g/s400/IMG_7281.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf93Ul5DyRnnTsE8kCm-qdB4YNajQuNI-JoihhQeSCRdg8BksK1B6Ttrly2MoOqbIq19vg5ycp5NKJp-QE5KlZ9UhOD3x349rKB4hgWSCB7MCsUMb0C1i3v1HMLLJK1tehzf_HXX-XJ_Q/s1600/IMG_7283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf93Ul5DyRnnTsE8kCm-qdB4YNajQuNI-JoihhQeSCRdg8BksK1B6Ttrly2MoOqbIq19vg5ycp5NKJp-QE5KlZ9UhOD3x349rKB4hgWSCB7MCsUMb0C1i3v1HMLLJK1tehzf_HXX-XJ_Q/s400/IMG_7283.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLRkU3Y1s1PznJMSygkSYpO5svVZkAXpVQcrvNk5IBFP9_t2JWt1kHhG4AD1kfAsJ0S7dafVu0tewFh25_Vcnx1kqBDx9e3cGckbrBzNhafybsEsBRldbMEPD6uJc4knwRi-yuMmmylg/s1600/IMG_7286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrLRkU3Y1s1PznJMSygkSYpO5svVZkAXpVQcrvNk5IBFP9_t2JWt1kHhG4AD1kfAsJ0S7dafVu0tewFh25_Vcnx1kqBDx9e3cGckbrBzNhafybsEsBRldbMEPD6uJc4knwRi-yuMmmylg/s400/IMG_7286.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0nvet4DcP0NJrK-2kTYcJSn7VHgbobM_nnn8uOMxhbdEKTnYzNNRRaUp5sdSxwD8VupnuCl1e5B96MlILP7-lh_pFdjyvzGkTwsWufHbO1H_G_NQRSawM83Di7BPbYOEnmNzR3F_9G8/s1600/IMG_7287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC0nvet4DcP0NJrK-2kTYcJSn7VHgbobM_nnn8uOMxhbdEKTnYzNNRRaUp5sdSxwD8VupnuCl1e5B96MlILP7-lh_pFdjyvzGkTwsWufHbO1H_G_NQRSawM83Di7BPbYOEnmNzR3F_9G8/s400/IMG_7287.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The historic old town was painstakingly rebuilt, piece by piece using photos to make it as authentic as possible. It's stunning buildings, fountains and statues frame the pathways to plazas full of locals and tourists alike. Breathtaking Catholic churches stand proud and tall as believers enter and fall down to their knees to bow before the cross. Some of the women wear veils as we did in my childhood and some older women bow so low as to put their foreheads on the floor in worship. While we have visited many churches around the world we have never witnessed such serious religious practices as we have here in Poland.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBj5eYXQfkIT9JwM975Xmrm_2slrLpEvTAVf0cD1LW6qoN-SXXjJTmx1ABtsS0As0XEuGDlZFuWBy33imlWOe4Dx_2M1fOAkSQ9WHzbJvW3EzcJhTVEty8BuhzyVhi90VyUj-tRZn4qA/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1555" data-original-width="1009" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixBj5eYXQfkIT9JwM975Xmrm_2slrLpEvTAVf0cD1LW6qoN-SXXjJTmx1ABtsS0As0XEuGDlZFuWBy33imlWOe4Dx_2M1fOAkSQ9WHzbJvW3EzcJhTVEty8BuhzyVhi90VyUj-tRZn4qA/s400/1.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0hwIhXK6nb9cobuBQeCDeyp5uu52tPT-UJW0-298crjmaMGpeviVZQ4rTW_nCs0oHSOHKIcSjTBsrIbWFCtkv2BIuFFQuHbIeyDxZBzt3nyN0nY4-XVr1VmCHctDiIP20wtTYABT9BM/s1600/20190903_151454.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl0hwIhXK6nb9cobuBQeCDeyp5uu52tPT-UJW0-298crjmaMGpeviVZQ4rTW_nCs0oHSOHKIcSjTBsrIbWFCtkv2BIuFFQuHbIeyDxZBzt3nyN0nY4-XVr1VmCHctDiIP20wtTYABT9BM/s400/20190903_151454.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0g7DSpj6PIqaAfZmJyCyZkxFnQNheoyTJerJEM-XGAJGY6CvAYUAkyIlYiz_SsY5n65ldNnDyee_C4SYmVdqtR9e5l_1ldYlC9PVa5FtNWS5oxOGtLuRRqF0gFnfQBWeiDN0f7zEYkA/s1600/20190903_165603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL0g7DSpj6PIqaAfZmJyCyZkxFnQNheoyTJerJEM-XGAJGY6CvAYUAkyIlYiz_SsY5n65ldNnDyee_C4SYmVdqtR9e5l_1ldYlC9PVa5FtNWS5oxOGtLuRRqF0gFnfQBWeiDN0f7zEYkA/s400/20190903_165603.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ceexEfb3fMj3eJXTxiSBHPqVF-9BVGIXFkmkriXBpMBaOcAPRrTB0VUVDD0SwGGRLtflF8wcCvyofRhcaX3wtA0qvGFsW65oWphqgGidlq5WPYK-ytkSsnXIWkrf5zKcPv6nGyfU740/s1600/20190903_170143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ceexEfb3fMj3eJXTxiSBHPqVF-9BVGIXFkmkriXBpMBaOcAPRrTB0VUVDD0SwGGRLtflF8wcCvyofRhcaX3wtA0qvGFsW65oWphqgGidlq5WPYK-ytkSsnXIWkrf5zKcPv6nGyfU740/s400/20190903_170143.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Polish people appear bulky, or husky as we might call them, perhaps storing extra body fat for the long winters here? They seem aloof and unfriendly to foreign visitors like ourselves, and few we have met speak any English. Pedestrians and cyclists seemingly tried to run us over on the streets of Warsaw, perhaps the only safety issue I have had here. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Yet this country offers visitors some spectacular sights to see and such a vast array of sad, yet important history to be learned. We have seen some of the most beautiful churches, palaces and castles here, and we have been to many other countries. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32nfYDnBQgozGgSoqGt38CaWmzldBO6hu9NT3WOWc9x_kMp3-ZUpdUi0ruN68s3BcNvQNhazG8UADNA1lY5LSxS9t3pUaztbx7rPg7bI9Y5IUnZEOlHB51G9qQOIR1gXXUh1wIYi2DNw/s1600/IMG_7349.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg32nfYDnBQgozGgSoqGt38CaWmzldBO6hu9NT3WOWc9x_kMp3-ZUpdUi0ruN68s3BcNvQNhazG8UADNA1lY5LSxS9t3pUaztbx7rPg7bI9Y5IUnZEOlHB51G9qQOIR1gXXUh1wIYi2DNw/s400/IMG_7349.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Malbork Castle, Malbork, Poland</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyCgaPeJYgI3F7I5mHdoyOsqoiGzn4jGiMrJt5mNNJGNiUzLY30f6Z_0nVr7jaO2TisTQWwLF0McSW6TYnwkOuexOk4fYXeBKrayalRAoOMHZSLefuBfBE7I6bljWFCosDsezQaA-Kkw/s1600/IMG_7289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqyCgaPeJYgI3F7I5mHdoyOsqoiGzn4jGiMrJt5mNNJGNiUzLY30f6Z_0nVr7jaO2TisTQWwLF0McSW6TYnwkOuexOk4fYXeBKrayalRAoOMHZSLefuBfBE7I6bljWFCosDsezQaA-Kkw/s400/IMG_7289.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4eCYKuS2_pJEwhgUhiS-9FaE0L6c7L-XTUYrz0mFJo5Wn4saOGoOZLVnJrvr4FPiei32dHAn-AyLqqUp3WYajYE6MmqRtJwyDKT9ehr1U0731-ZCF-nghTOSBIxk-7_2KhHg9tSg4OY/s1600/IMG_7342.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4eCYKuS2_pJEwhgUhiS-9FaE0L6c7L-XTUYrz0mFJo5Wn4saOGoOZLVnJrvr4FPiei32dHAn-AyLqqUp3WYajYE6MmqRtJwyDKT9ehr1U0731-ZCF-nghTOSBIxk-7_2KhHg9tSg4OY/s400/IMG_7342.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcVLM6MaK6mORRrDW-u6tnysBnKtRBHoCy3wRhcxNK_FzZdIkZN_F-56d7Om-dA_zgNEOcblCrY4LAlu74-GVr4uNI1UUn9TsFCJsPXZCs4_xqws9DDJaet1mPpYLuokniBXSPDxf028/s1600/IMG_7352.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcVLM6MaK6mORRrDW-u6tnysBnKtRBHoCy3wRhcxNK_FzZdIkZN_F-56d7Om-dA_zgNEOcblCrY4LAlu74-GVr4uNI1UUn9TsFCJsPXZCs4_xqws9DDJaet1mPpYLuokniBXSPDxf028/s320/IMG_7352.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As we wrap up our first five days here we have only visited Warsaw and the small village of Malbork. Tomorrow we will take a train to Gdansk to continue our Poland adventures......along the gringo trail.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-61668298471750925592019-09-01T04:19:00.002-07:002019-09-01T04:19:06.681-07:00Our First Year Living In Portugal......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
As I gaze out from our balcony admiring the lush, green, rolling hills of fertile farmland that blanket the landscape, the silence in my head is interrupted by a noise. A rusty green, tractor hobbles up the road with an old farmer at the wheel and a woman, presumably his wife riding in the rear. He nods his dusty grey head at me as I lift my hand in a friendly wave. A smile spontaneously adorns my face as I remind myself just where I am.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_xpQEGYuWh6-4opw_J-L4rKDn9nlJx9RO41fqftrxvHjVB3cNSCoDgSyS4ca2Z_2UwxAn5RB9VnVuBL9x3z5ppwbhN7wnOrSQaqxlJQwSron9bF4aoEOjaRavkV2LxeqfUtKEu6ePL4/s1600/hourse1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_xpQEGYuWh6-4opw_J-L4rKDn9nlJx9RO41fqftrxvHjVB3cNSCoDgSyS4ca2Z_2UwxAn5RB9VnVuBL9x3z5ppwbhN7wnOrSQaqxlJQwSron9bF4aoEOjaRavkV2LxeqfUtKEu6ePL4/s400/hourse1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views of the farmlands of Portugal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFeEVR96qG30Q6FwN8heCUecc4pQCjmZ3xBsInTauaAZB2wFJV6qdygMMAjLMFW-Nofi0WjWunp6N5hyphenhyphenVCN7ZwyH9R-y82gMtePx2PHaCLzeFC2R372uvs2aQHmi2gMrv7pdye2dC5CU/s1600/house2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZFeEVR96qG30Q6FwN8heCUecc4pQCjmZ3xBsInTauaAZB2wFJV6qdygMMAjLMFW-Nofi0WjWunp6N5hyphenhyphenVCN7ZwyH9R-y82gMtePx2PHaCLzeFC2R372uvs2aQHmi2gMrv7pdye2dC5CU/s400/house2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
It's been one year already since we planted our feet on the ground in our newly adopted country of Portugal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KKVO2l8rZmf4n6LvlVQvvOUy7A3POHHkGfem3bBwV8gT0euB68UgQG2VHahsYPtn66vmgEgmtLtrsMW42n8eGQIMat7plDYq2YSFH5hpb4BTt3GmuVxlr59-WZSw09PaJ4n1nfrQW_k/s1600/Portugal+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3KKVO2l8rZmf4n6LvlVQvvOUy7A3POHHkGfem3bBwV8gT0euB68UgQG2VHahsYPtn66vmgEgmtLtrsMW42n8eGQIMat7plDYq2YSFH5hpb4BTt3GmuVxlr59-WZSw09PaJ4n1nfrQW_k/s400/Portugal+House.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
A neighbors dog comes to life barking out a warning of another passerby. A tiny, white haired woman comes into sight carrying a plastic bucket. Like many farm wives she wears a simple, house dress of black topped with a green and yellow flowery apron. I notice she wears black, rubber boots that cover her calves before she vanishes from my view into a nearby house.<br />
<br />
We need not go far to find gardens of fruits and vegetables that grow plentifully all around. And the wonderful Portuguese people are always willing to fill our arms with plenty of free produce. A few days ago Clyde was outside chatting with our landlady and came back with three large grocery bags stuffed to the brim. Courgettes, also known as zucchini to some, tons of tomatoes, plums, lettuce, strawberries, and more.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8Zr_p87eeZjijhTrf451rj8449n5XhpXlWMwfmUucWZPvPGTelcwKGcYLBzbLnx_S4UAtCsIMGUYGSAOIIX4rEk0se7As5-YCIbV80ByPENI2iT4InL5GTLTT5WC3IHsk8S5Zzk1aAw/s1600/20190601_142233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn8Zr_p87eeZjijhTrf451rj8449n5XhpXlWMwfmUucWZPvPGTelcwKGcYLBzbLnx_S4UAtCsIMGUYGSAOIIX4rEk0se7As5-YCIbV80ByPENI2iT4InL5GTLTT5WC3IHsk8S5Zzk1aAw/s400/20190601_142233.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From our Trip to the Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />Our first year in Portugal has been filled with the excitement of finding a place to live, getting our residency visas, buying a car, exploring our new town and making plenty of new friends.</div>
<br />
Those of you who have followed this blog might remember that we left the United States 8 years ago and first retired to Panama. From there we decided to travel fulltime as house and pet sitters and enjoyed that lifestyle for two full years. It was house sit that first brought us to Portugal. We looked around, talked to people that had already made the move and decided to make this our next home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6fOI_Tw5fo3THBwY_tKU0g4dmLdhZaLsJRsdvqGYaJyqIVBvRbDoH5cojQfH7uZ0ZBOG3Y5-t01tWQQgo5HN2wtHh5igwq4cwYgCFEYhpiXdpc7w4zZNRHD9bpQBpvhFjn_0XGvHjy8/s1600/leaving+panama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6fOI_Tw5fo3THBwY_tKU0g4dmLdhZaLsJRsdvqGYaJyqIVBvRbDoH5cojQfH7uZ0ZBOG3Y5-t01tWQQgo5HN2wtHh5igwq4cwYgCFEYhpiXdpc7w4zZNRHD9bpQBpvhFjn_0XGvHjy8/s400/leaving+panama.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are leaving Panama, heading for adventure!<br />Hard to believe, it has been over 3 years!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Over the past year we have joined a gym and are back to exercising five times a week for ninety minutes to two hours each time. My goal was to lose 10 kilograms (22 lbs) but I ended up losing 13kg or 28 pounds. Two times a week I work out with a personal trainer who pushes me hard. Clyde has turned his excess weight into muscle and is enjoying his new body too.<br />
<br />
We have, unfortunately tried out the healthcare system here with regular checkups and other ailments that we have had along the way. As part of our visa requirement we have purchased private health insurance at a cost of 250 euros per month ($278) for the both of us. It covers us at 90% if the doctor is in network and 80% if they are not. Some of you might recall that the major reason that we left the US was due to the high cost of health insurance. If we were still living in Texas today our monthly premium would be around $1800 per month!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL5UPnCJ0QzatE8q3iiJGz0H3nnDDSDh2mHOddLM-9VfJGHFr9WvK9feP0AdK-9yvNdPvHp3reaS0H-gZXWRFjVzNp6ZcfdMyEuc_0QwaOOw-d3s2Zo4Da47DxIS3HHUrvfKYzm_v3po/s1600/Terry%2527s+Arm+with+arrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOL5UPnCJ0QzatE8q3iiJGz0H3nnDDSDh2mHOddLM-9VfJGHFr9WvK9feP0AdK-9yvNdPvHp3reaS0H-gZXWRFjVzNp6ZcfdMyEuc_0QwaOOw-d3s2Zo4Da47DxIS3HHUrvfKYzm_v3po/s400/Terry%2527s+Arm+with+arrow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
So what are healthcare costs like in Portugal you may be wondering? To see a specialist we pay 80 to 90 euros, a general practitioner around 60, in private clinics. A month ago while doing a boot camp class outside, I was running and fell on cobblestone and broke my left elbow. First we went to a private hospital where I was seen quickly. Our cost was 75 euros. I was told by the doctor that he thought my arm was broke but since it was Sunday there was no orthopedic doctor on staff. I was sent to the public hospital where I saw an orthopedic in about an hour at a cost of just 18 euros. He confirmed that my elbow did have a slight break in the ulna and I was sent to buy a sling to wear for two weeks and could resume normal activity after three.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0pLqZDUOiX4ofVjCN6ewg32qSGi0CeTzfam3C4Lie9lorc0NrHd306m01i4jnmEz_a-hhTSld4Xhul8HtB4s7VNZao5DfkA9iSu7G3W2HJVKvREU8XK5TpA3-Gn_v1xwEM1N9Bc7tWY/s1600/13911_39075_Hospital_Caldas03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="187" data-original-width="249" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0pLqZDUOiX4ofVjCN6ewg32qSGi0CeTzfam3C4Lie9lorc0NrHd306m01i4jnmEz_a-hhTSld4Xhul8HtB4s7VNZao5DfkA9iSu7G3W2HJVKvREU8XK5TpA3-Gn_v1xwEM1N9Bc7tWY/s400/13911_39075_Hospital_Caldas03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caldas da Rainha Public Hospital</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For me it was time for a routine mammogram which here in Portugal is followed by a routine breast ultrasound. Of course I had to visit a gynecologist first for a checkup of the lady parts. Then I decided it was time to be allergy tested again and began immunotherapy in the form of sublingual drops. I am being desensitized against dust mites, dogs and cats and should begin to notice results in six months to one year. Also had an eye exam followed by ordering new contact lens. Total cost after insurance: Gyno, 18,50, Mammo, 4,50, Echo 3,50, allergist 18,00, immunotherapy for 5 months, 260, bone density, 7,50, eye exam 16,00. Also needed to have a root canal done at a cost of 200 that was reimbursed by our insurance. Following this procedure all dental cleanings will be done free of charge, every six months for life.<br />
<br />
For Clyde is was time for to have his pacemaker checked and first had to see a cardiologist for a referral. The cardiologist recognized us from the gym since he is there every morning also. Consult, 12,50, holter monitor overnight, 7,00, 12-lead ekg, 1,25. Then off we went to Lisbon to see a specialist that would check the pacemaker itself at a cost of 20,00. Everything with his heart is perfect and he was told to live life as usual and pretend that he does not have a pacemaker.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMIS6J4mx3-vabCilSS1qtSg_JnAMm7EJByMZsPXavN51Gotthr99ifyWG08vQCDZCjVv6j-qJrMvgQ6jeczik5yQMIhTd_R1pNkMbrex4lhuVFAinOYZr91sBt4TfQzKi3uJXKmxx_8/s1600/endurity-mri-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="650" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjMIS6J4mx3-vabCilSS1qtSg_JnAMm7EJByMZsPXavN51Gotthr99ifyWG08vQCDZCjVv6j-qJrMvgQ6jeczik5yQMIhTd_R1pNkMbrex4lhuVFAinOYZr91sBt4TfQzKi3uJXKmxx_8/s400/endurity-mri-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clyde's Pacemaker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Next was a checkup of the manly parts, urologist 16,00, eye exam for him, 12,00 along with a dermatologist for 4,00. This was just a quick breakdown of our medical costs. Medication at the pharmacy is far less than our US counterparts also. Costs are listed in euros so it does add up to a bit more in US dollars.<br />
<br />
As our first year comes to an end so does our rental agreement. But since we love living where we are we have decided to renew and ask for a long term, five year lease this time around. This agreement was contingent upon our landlady installing some type of heat source, other than the fireplace that we already have. Being warm blooded we both froze last winter since buildings here tend to have NO heat source and are old with no insulation. While Clyde was willing to absorb the entire cost of a heater, we asked our sweet landlady IF she would go half and she gladly agreed.<br />
<br />
At her request we had quotes done from several different companies and we all decided that a pellet stove insert put into the fireplace would be the best choice. From there tubes will run through the ceiling into several other rooms, offering us central heat throughout the home. If you are not familiar with pellet stoves they burn cleaner and more efficiently than wood and are quite economical to run. The total cost for this project is around 4,400, and if we pay half that adds just 41 euros per month to our rent of 350 euros for the next five years. A great deal for a three-bedroom, fully furnished house in the country, just a ten minute drive from town.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_MxNQkgeKElGmwM4Pb20yRSHB593q0e46zVXxjpKwd2vBdaJssJxqNc6hlZxfBcFjo6IkfGelQ_4YBxLH_WTB9s8l7YrWKlcZHVMZzK1XELboKwWtdv9X0sYaw1sqQRgmggXDS0zbgE/s1600/pellet-fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="458" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_MxNQkgeKElGmwM4Pb20yRSHB593q0e46zVXxjpKwd2vBdaJssJxqNc6hlZxfBcFjo6IkfGelQ_4YBxLH_WTB9s8l7YrWKlcZHVMZzK1XELboKwWtdv9X0sYaw1sqQRgmggXDS0zbgE/s400/pellet-fireplace.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What ours might look like</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
While are mornings are spent in the gym our afternoons for the past year have been spent, in part, working on learning European Portuguese. We are now at the point of being able to converse in Portuguese, somewhat anyway. Our first instructor was British and although we loved her and learned lots, we decided it was time for a change. Currently we are taking private lessons with a Portuguese teacher that we met in our gym. Although she does speak English, her classes consist of conversation totally in Portuguese to challenge us to speak more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglYQXNVsbYulgRp7ARWyJ7nEcKahqWKK_nqOrZs_-BijCV6CuYP9XSHmn_t6vWiSq8rAHweIt-ecFDl2WPlGgSTHd_4aGZLIrDmkMiCuahXeeJ0EdZYYkaj2pC7PammGGdmiObV9QIiI/s1600/learn+portuguese.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="394" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglYQXNVsbYulgRp7ARWyJ7nEcKahqWKK_nqOrZs_-BijCV6CuYP9XSHmn_t6vWiSq8rAHweIt-ecFDl2WPlGgSTHd_4aGZLIrDmkMiCuahXeeJ0EdZYYkaj2pC7PammGGdmiObV9QIiI/s400/learn+portuguese.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Life in Portugal is good and we are happy that we made the decision to settle down and create a home base here. Quite often we have to remind ourselves just how cool it is to say, "we actually live in Europe." Smile!<br />
<br />
We will resume our travels soon and have some cool trips planned for the near future. In just a few days we are heading to Poland for over two weeks. Since I grew up with a Mother and Grandmother who spoke Polish but did not teach it to us kids, it's a country that I have always wanted to visit. I grew up eating delicious Polish foods that I will soon get to sample in Poland. In November we will be house and pet sitting in France and in March we will revisit Valencia, Spain for another house and pet sit.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPF7-d0JGM0tsCslcOcVdluE7FiQYRYN0RLBB5sRs1A6fky-TdKN2PcP3LQ6NqKg97c_wo3y4spzYLDQo96fpmryYJFWeSF2qbR7UAUjrkV6ULC5E3EwaJhrjAuNO5PFNWMADSosQBU8/s1600/Old-Town-Warsaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPF7-d0JGM0tsCslcOcVdluE7FiQYRYN0RLBB5sRs1A6fky-TdKN2PcP3LQ6NqKg97c_wo3y4spzYLDQo96fpmryYJFWeSF2qbR7UAUjrkV6ULC5E3EwaJhrjAuNO5PFNWMADSosQBU8/s400/Old-Town-Warsaw.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warsaw, Here we Come!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Stay tuned for details here and on Facebook of our travels around the world and throughout this gorgeous country of Portugal that we now call home. Tomorrow our adventures in Poland begin as we head to Warsaw..….along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-269438155389351542019-07-08T13:03:00.000-07:002019-07-08T13:04:33.242-07:00The Festival of Trays.....Once Every FOUR Years<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Just an hours drive from where we live sits the medieval village of Tomar,(too-mAR) Portugal. While there are plenty of reasons for Portuguese people to celebrate, it's ONLY every FOUR years that Tomar hosts its biggest event. The Festa dos Tabuleiros, (fesh-ta doosh tab-lie-rossh) which translates to, "the Festival of the Trays," brings in literally bus loads of tourists and locals alike to experience this monumental street-party which is filled with much religious significance.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooSlsBiUe9cRDvBNEwTjYX9Xhv_0Rv_7OV1zwssHby1PAc2WPOY6qX6bao8_X62hkL3e01L6mogV2FmsU0LPzkJXIOOlMs72ZFNv5wLCdRx-DyuGZ4LrCHyg6_Sh8qcGcWl3d3SEaEjc/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1005" data-original-width="1509" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooSlsBiUe9cRDvBNEwTjYX9Xhv_0Rv_7OV1zwssHby1PAc2WPOY6qX6bao8_X62hkL3e01L6mogV2FmsU0LPzkJXIOOlMs72ZFNv5wLCdRx-DyuGZ4LrCHyg6_Sh8qcGcWl3d3SEaEjc/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
The origin of the festival is to worship the Holy Spirit, which began back in the 13th century, but the standards of the festival which are followed today date back to 1950, from what my research revealed. Although the entire festival runs for ten days, the largest parades and ceremonies are held on the two weekends involved.<br />
<br />
Soon after we planted our feet on the ground in Portugal back in August, I read something about the festival and thought, "we need to find a place to stay in Tomar soon." After all, I thought, if we don't go see this festival now, surely we will forget the next time it comes around in another four years. So we booked an apartment on the outskirts of Tomar, close enough to attend the festivities yet far enough away to avoid the traffic jams. Our little apartment in the country was a ten to fifteen minute drive into Tomar.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHDbT82dOc95Ddha_mL2qRSc1Bl8rnf1bJ6eTI_JIu8HLNXcCI_wmUmRg8v59gOnj8H67dBoC_l5hdrzcfgXiATqBAQEMRr7Am6G8heavu6j_V_4TsKIV76qUvqNjDcvEpEbzE1vWNkw/s1600/20190706_111521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrHDbT82dOc95Ddha_mL2qRSc1Bl8rnf1bJ6eTI_JIu8HLNXcCI_wmUmRg8v59gOnj8H67dBoC_l5hdrzcfgXiATqBAQEMRr7Am6G8heavu6j_V_4TsKIV76qUvqNjDcvEpEbzE1vWNkw/s400/20190706_111521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
With a festival of this magnitude, we found out in advance from our Portuguese teacher who lives near the area, that ALL roads into Tomar would be closed to incoming traffic. She told us about designated parking lots outside of the city where we could park and walk from there.<br />
<br />
After settling into our apartment on Friday we headed into Tomar to let the party begin. Clyde opted to take the back roads in and we managed to find a parking spot fairly close. The main event on Friday that we wanted to see was a parade of oxen and horses. According to tradition, the origin of this parade dated back to the days when oxen pulled carts of food to be delivered to the poor people. Soon after arriving we noticed locals perched along the roadside so we quickly found a spot to sit and wait for the parade to begin. As usual with this type of thing, the parade began about 45-minutes after it was scheduled to begin and lasted just 20-minutes or so.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_1893734269"></span><span id="goog_1893734270"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OEaxuN5cNGbAoa3cbyYdFIGspN6fMDIAmjC42HPnCDBWeLmsMSpTMZYPbDSQCn3vDVwuv4SLeAYt6s88fJZo3Eiv9Hq1uhso_xzsmDTVqYWOi-ENbuGw1vwliHnpUzm8V0MB3Svr_gU/s1600/Oxen+One.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OEaxuN5cNGbAoa3cbyYdFIGspN6fMDIAmjC42HPnCDBWeLmsMSpTMZYPbDSQCn3vDVwuv4SLeAYt6s88fJZo3Eiv9Hq1uhso_xzsmDTVqYWOi-ENbuGw1vwliHnpUzm8V0MB3Svr_gU/s400/Oxen+One.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvPTwGRSo9YGMd5CBwljOAjfAAtEzejOzLnhCJdkrLvGVN98GAtxKMO_cUF_yefOdfENsVqS5Q4luDJ6Lhf1qRgNq22O3EXRqlipL_P-eCILD7pRaicfFOi0vhTcaDPyLzfMa9hX0V7w/s1600/Oxen+Two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUvPTwGRSo9YGMd5CBwljOAjfAAtEzejOzLnhCJdkrLvGVN98GAtxKMO_cUF_yefOdfENsVqS5Q4luDJ6Lhf1qRgNq22O3EXRqlipL_P-eCILD7pRaicfFOi0vhTcaDPyLzfMa9hX0V7w/s400/Oxen+Two.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x_X3G-H1bkP3QXG5dM_dJ9ufltfwAHFO3NfOW_MZwKkIzkpykOoW0FTQuSVSHsc5Tp5KUQi7g4zx7GMM7XBRpsjHBRXp_5Pw3BeNOpw4AbVCZZcQvPCR4NTiIiqj5HtZ-hw8ss9zzDo/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x_X3G-H1bkP3QXG5dM_dJ9ufltfwAHFO3NfOW_MZwKkIzkpykOoW0FTQuSVSHsc5Tp5KUQi7g4zx7GMM7XBRpsjHBRXp_5Pw3BeNOpw4AbVCZZcQvPCR4NTiIiqj5HtZ-hw8ss9zzDo/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnVdnQeVrgtzfd9tAB80ZvKFgDT3twh6OtIa_tCVG0FNsRcX5d8g8Zfa1zGGdPyqlQVasuLfo7nP4rmtvdJSawMh1INPb5mHMjUlyDh8ssLo7dUnlJyMb5T7fzSCQfmBl5ijt3ty96XQ/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYnVdnQeVrgtzfd9tAB80ZvKFgDT3twh6OtIa_tCVG0FNsRcX5d8g8Zfa1zGGdPyqlQVasuLfo7nP4rmtvdJSawMh1INPb5mHMjUlyDh8ssLo7dUnlJyMb5T7fzSCQfmBl5ijt3ty96XQ/s400/2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ0eNy6o6cXu4iIz6_QTdst82J46Z-T0-mS9ft4Yk4RxxIuQlLGeqKSc9YE0Nk7rTmIDDkB64Xa7LeRUB3v4nRCFG4qWqBJuK6HffrUTKCAcQtEO8jM0ltsj8Uu2MOh4iaiqF36sONAQ/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQ0eNy6o6cXu4iIz6_QTdst82J46Z-T0-mS9ft4Yk4RxxIuQlLGeqKSc9YE0Nk7rTmIDDkB64Xa7LeRUB3v4nRCFG4qWqBJuK6HffrUTKCAcQtEO8jM0ltsj8Uu2MOh4iaiqF36sONAQ/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYGN6DG1WfYlC1IHLZlf7paHY9wX2CQExY2oquXwSIGfMa8UtXqbCo9ikHuH5xffw5V2gCGe5j-0CUwaSk8AZ4GSR56X21BNc7YdVzYLLVpNkzPVOk4dPzMKUi-5cVGafLrCCCB-l-GQ/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLYGN6DG1WfYlC1IHLZlf7paHY9wX2CQExY2oquXwSIGfMa8UtXqbCo9ikHuH5xffw5V2gCGe5j-0CUwaSk8AZ4GSR56X21BNc7YdVzYLLVpNkzPVOk4dPzMKUi-5cVGafLrCCCB-l-GQ/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_c4MGAhKjVMqr8X9TYgqDa7JwZhXmV7p24JA8gYp6A80RVN-EyPxeD5UGez4T7foInJ1wGykFbFJsDcU3B0Qq_BwqVokIEgPzyLNeUywesWBWaxaNvC5OB7oipxWX9yeMGhVVUb0Ghk/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL_c4MGAhKjVMqr8X9TYgqDa7JwZhXmV7p24JA8gYp6A80RVN-EyPxeD5UGez4T7foInJ1wGykFbFJsDcU3B0Qq_BwqVokIEgPzyLNeUywesWBWaxaNvC5OB7oipxWX9yeMGhVVUb0Ghk/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXDSUW6cCgYFajCgEMpYH1277cr3rMco6-jv3frPJ_PfdbtHn4BvLiexPHFi_P9Ja9mVwN099u3Xgs4OddaicmZ_0r-nzfem0RYh0ucoQr_EpZQZ4CGWXpriCEVDNaskRJ-6oSKCU-FM/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXDSUW6cCgYFajCgEMpYH1277cr3rMco6-jv3frPJ_PfdbtHn4BvLiexPHFi_P9Ja9mVwN099u3Xgs4OddaicmZ_0r-nzfem0RYh0ucoQr_EpZQZ4CGWXpriCEVDNaskRJ-6oSKCU-FM/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIztgh41sxXvXvG7WXsREryjQhpAuyyqWda1vb66DyYTMSJyfIY_PJvqH75zlaoxeCQXZA3HqNmpP-TUsPHhuWzsRmHJsZYCyFhnEIUlRP8IGadq_ZIE-zb4bxaY9u0Oa9zHBYCNDVsI/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIztgh41sxXvXvG7WXsREryjQhpAuyyqWda1vb66DyYTMSJyfIY_PJvqH75zlaoxeCQXZA3HqNmpP-TUsPHhuWzsRmHJsZYCyFhnEIUlRP8IGadq_ZIE-zb4bxaY9u0Oa9zHBYCNDVsI/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj222hItAlebM3Z_gI0wrkzneoEuQfT-H-U05Tad5Si3-nxBLFXbXnOkerNdtEj9qVq1twqPSmh6YXYUv2RdZkiueQsHcfKN9fRQfhr4eZ9xPvOWZPXuN6bN_qXtNgMHvekBjEInlKN8D0/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj222hItAlebM3Z_gI0wrkzneoEuQfT-H-U05Tad5Si3-nxBLFXbXnOkerNdtEj9qVq1twqPSmh6YXYUv2RdZkiueQsHcfKN9fRQfhr4eZ9xPvOWZPXuN6bN_qXtNgMHvekBjEInlKN8D0/s400/8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
We strolled around the streets of Tomar enjoying the beautifully decorated streets. In preparation for the festival, locals band together to make thousands of paper flowers and designs to decorate the city.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The following day was Saturday and according to the schedule of events, there was to be a procession of the tabuleiros into the park where they would be displayed for all to see up close. Traffic was much worse this day and we had to park FAR away from the city center and walk. As we approached the main area we noticed that crowds of people were once again lined up along the road. As luck would have it we found an open spot with a clear view of the parade, that would be starting soon.<br />
<br />
First came the marching bands playing festive music, followed by the what we came here to see. Girls carrying "tabuleiros" on their heads that were carefully and elaborately decorated with bread, flowers, wheat and topped with crosses or crowns.<br />
<br />
According to what I was told, each tabuleiro or tray needs to be the same height as the girl carrying it. So for someone who is 5'3" or 160 cm like myself, I would be expected to carry a tray of the same height. Each tray is built around a tall cage made of wire and consists of 30 loaves of bread that weigh exactly 400 grams each. A bamboo dowel is inserted through each loaf of bread to hold them in place. Paper flowers are then wired onto the cage with stalks of wheat in between. The whole thing is topped with either a dove, representing the Holy Spirit, a crown or Templar cross.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LORGy0NGN-f594LxRw6xTsKPmp5ZZrUFA5Zcrq4bb3eGDLPk9237yM0tecmPPfq8srPOgQP019MXsR2tVQCazEvULlR1_p7Tbz_aFUAZQM4rSQI0bAX2gxeg0K4dxlvkVyVTBJ2rKJs/s1600/20190706_122704%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LORGy0NGN-f594LxRw6xTsKPmp5ZZrUFA5Zcrq4bb3eGDLPk9237yM0tecmPPfq8srPOgQP019MXsR2tVQCazEvULlR1_p7Tbz_aFUAZQM4rSQI0bAX2gxeg0K4dxlvkVyVTBJ2rKJs/s400/20190706_122704%25280%2529.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The 30 loaves of bread alone weight in at 24kg or (52 pounds) before the other stuff is added. Not to mention the height of the thing that must be SO awkward to balance. Each girl wears a padded, round ring on top of her head that fits underneath the wicker basket that holds the large tray. Wow.....impressive to say the least. Each girl is coupled with a male partner who helps her bear the load, should it topple or begin to fall over. Both are dressed in traditional costumes. Girls wear long white dresses symbolizing purity. Each has a large ribbon sash tied around her waist that coordinates with her male partner. The young men wear black trousers with white, long sleeved dress shirts with the sleeves rolled up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZOHNy1oJT3yoPxHoYqMOx_tlFT2RQCJfpwmtgoTIifh64uwJIrOMxKLrckheQ460NYytCQv8obvZuXTL3yTBKec_jk2bAaO9mXLqs_1GcpvdjGGAWFXGZsBQAy2tAyrAizr4hpzuFQI/s1600/20190706_110257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZOHNy1oJT3yoPxHoYqMOx_tlFT2RQCJfpwmtgoTIifh64uwJIrOMxKLrckheQ460NYytCQv8obvZuXTL3yTBKec_jk2bAaO9mXLqs_1GcpvdjGGAWFXGZsBQAy2tAyrAizr4hpzuFQI/s400/20190706_110257.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEpq6xE9i0VhfwLdXBqPYMUTEJCh7CAclK5q14-aqfx1yplq5L_cWrysW-4W7iJ1jeG7coELckJhfipjxwmB3MAvzhiKfnIzfD3yz2HnKTlZp-impEhxLJgzxWOZgx_ZdMJy3lKP_O7k/s1600/20190706_110512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTEpq6xE9i0VhfwLdXBqPYMUTEJCh7CAclK5q14-aqfx1yplq5L_cWrysW-4W7iJ1jeG7coELckJhfipjxwmB3MAvzhiKfnIzfD3yz2HnKTlZp-impEhxLJgzxWOZgx_ZdMJy3lKP_O7k/s400/20190706_110512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h3C7RrmoW0KLnHP6sue7MDG2Bk9v7H4dMkk1mY8b2KOaUjcRA4jwAb_7LPEkG_iKJZob77x6UKZvOLgcmPT0J80wk-hKHsvyvP8JO6OZmXp8DgwhwiMoh6VHFI8cvulxrw3kcwZoMzw/s1600/20190706_110627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6h3C7RrmoW0KLnHP6sue7MDG2Bk9v7H4dMkk1mY8b2KOaUjcRA4jwAb_7LPEkG_iKJZob77x6UKZvOLgcmPT0J80wk-hKHsvyvP8JO6OZmXp8DgwhwiMoh6VHFI8cvulxrw3kcwZoMzw/s400/20190706_110627.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TyHulxy0SpI-eQSTO2-eNZt7-dpxfIO1RvRWRznnoqWHJOJ7hhFR7XjCy4ND0LcUhlNJ4ysg4ZHNlCqQhUqbaJ8ryygWbjsBrX-T0QsVEmCN1A5-NOZAH4XgozTC7n9mJMpWIgkNHYw/s1600/20190706_111521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8TyHulxy0SpI-eQSTO2-eNZt7-dpxfIO1RvRWRznnoqWHJOJ7hhFR7XjCy4ND0LcUhlNJ4ysg4ZHNlCqQhUqbaJ8ryygWbjsBrX-T0QsVEmCN1A5-NOZAH4XgozTC7n9mJMpWIgkNHYw/s400/20190706_111521.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
While we surely could not count the number of girls carrying trays in the procession, we were told there were 700 of them. This year they were trying to get into the Guinness Book Of World Records by having more girls carrying "tabuleiros" on their heads then ever before. So apparently somewhere, at sometime, some other people in the world attempted to carry more trays on their heads? Be that as it may, it is quite the impressive endeavor for any female to balance a 50 plus pound 5 foot tall, flower and bread covered cage on her head in hot, summer temperatures parading miles around a town. Don't ya think?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCVH6dlkSKwB_0TiLC-UDfk8VgdA2MWnxJfrQqiL6927GW5AJrtqVJcrdHcH_XidrBbBRWeXvvWUl_g3-j_s4K_KMEN6nOeuPS8g2KZVVueO7DEwopZwAl-bbL39OjgSrkD8nc7EtgNY/s1600/20190706_110512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCVH6dlkSKwB_0TiLC-UDfk8VgdA2MWnxJfrQqiL6927GW5AJrtqVJcrdHcH_XidrBbBRWeXvvWUl_g3-j_s4K_KMEN6nOeuPS8g2KZVVueO7DEwopZwAl-bbL39OjgSrkD8nc7EtgNY/s400/20190706_110512.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA211_on_mpy2eIXaQ92elDufxaFyLa-lAjvFgPdU3ibfT9uR0tVV2srZUET5M0ahbcdifukwf3MwcPnzripQWXkzJz9zeRWwMqKVQ3FqK8wzTk9LD1M0zeTBzm0iC2gbje0uZB02C-MI/s1600/20190706_110657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA211_on_mpy2eIXaQ92elDufxaFyLa-lAjvFgPdU3ibfT9uR0tVV2srZUET5M0ahbcdifukwf3MwcPnzripQWXkzJz9zeRWwMqKVQ3FqK8wzTk9LD1M0zeTBzm0iC2gbje0uZB02C-MI/s400/20190706_110657.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cGu4odoFomEh07M0NApY3toRVWNicNOlAR1DpetAtYtJMA-Qg-wCijxQR8FkJmIrPITAdVDgIMW7zXmsgkDekvOCww0sgQC8C0rXOIoJHLql2twLBfXPpMSuJ1hHJ9Jycp7iibYtTMM/s1600/20190706_111526.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cGu4odoFomEh07M0NApY3toRVWNicNOlAR1DpetAtYtJMA-Qg-wCijxQR8FkJmIrPITAdVDgIMW7zXmsgkDekvOCww0sgQC8C0rXOIoJHLql2twLBfXPpMSuJ1hHJ9Jycp7iibYtTMM/s400/20190706_111526.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuhvWGDu68DGulb5aLoFVMFiHC1PNg-tx3f1bkTnfAE2O4bQhoLVktRsulN_jOXvVOIDv4kKyM84i6uMklWd0VZ-HfSskOZ75h9ULA4WMxhfpY15dI3H6DzaBGGyLimGt-SOZws3Fbns/s1600/20190706_111553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzuhvWGDu68DGulb5aLoFVMFiHC1PNg-tx3f1bkTnfAE2O4bQhoLVktRsulN_jOXvVOIDv4kKyM84i6uMklWd0VZ-HfSskOZ75h9ULA4WMxhfpY15dI3H6DzaBGGyLimGt-SOZws3Fbns/s400/20190706_111553.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
And in case you are wondering about the temperature, this is July and temperatures during the parades were in the mid 80's (or 30 celcius).<br />
<br />
After the procession into the park each couple had to carefully sit their tray down, so they could be viewed by others. The couples then hopped up into trucks that whisked them away. Caravans of trucks carrying the courageous couples paraded by, horns honking as the crowds cheered them on and waved.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nbOvFzM5AJUEGfeTYLHzHcUhMP5JXkwjwit31NVp2ccUojgBZKZ6H1aCko2B0fielCgHAIXqwGCsaAjCtoRGb_EX_HXK9Y3hUBY5zvn3hyphenhyphenyRMYr6traSmnem77jO2NvzP8SKUMusa6k/s1600/20190706_122943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-nbOvFzM5AJUEGfeTYLHzHcUhMP5JXkwjwit31NVp2ccUojgBZKZ6H1aCko2B0fielCgHAIXqwGCsaAjCtoRGb_EX_HXK9Y3hUBY5zvn3hyphenhyphenyRMYr6traSmnem77jO2NvzP8SKUMusa6k/s400/20190706_122943.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Since we wanted to see the trays up close we waited to be able to enter the park, but this was taking way too long and we were starving as it was lunch time. Instead we opted to find food. But with hoards of people all around, every restaurant we poked our heads into had NO seating. We walked further away from the hoards of merry makers, hoping to find a seat in some restaurant anywhere. Eventually we did and were grateful to be offered food. We asked for menu's but were told there were only two choices of food. We could have a bifana sandwich, which is usually a slab of meat on a dry roll with no topping and not something that we enjoy. Or "lomo" which is pork served with fries. We choose the lomo which came with home made potato chips and a few picked vegetables. We washed it down with a huge bottle of water and shared a dessert of sweet pineapple, (ananas doce) in a gel type of sauce with coffees. The total for all this was around 21 euros.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi8pUI9aPlItVcU4cr3Ahm3hzVT8Wtv9AC-MsRYplo4_x_hcDkEKIQ2Z3Fi4IIwmEi3ZpopzSuEKU1i135KKuvfGn2Pf9qCoNDD66n2Uzck2VFB6T5B1ZjL_UbpWytcZJ16kBHzuI6I0/s1600/20190706_130028+-+Copy+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMi8pUI9aPlItVcU4cr3Ahm3hzVT8Wtv9AC-MsRYplo4_x_hcDkEKIQ2Z3Fi4IIwmEi3ZpopzSuEKU1i135KKuvfGn2Pf9qCoNDD66n2Uzck2VFB6T5B1ZjL_UbpWytcZJ16kBHzuI6I0/s400/20190706_130028+-+Copy+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Hika1q_b109RDO_42b1gNvwlDAqdeMrk2FBU6f6y-dYtdSif2EOh8e-u6LbZbH0d_WOi-0Xp69t9GU9EgkH7jpCAHks5eQNmSjPq7XGaBXB2sXUZm-nfvvM6y8aislyDn9FlzyV48M/s1600/20190706_130105+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4Hika1q_b109RDO_42b1gNvwlDAqdeMrk2FBU6f6y-dYtdSif2EOh8e-u6LbZbH0d_WOi-0Xp69t9GU9EgkH7jpCAHks5eQNmSjPq7XGaBXB2sXUZm-nfvvM6y8aislyDn9FlzyV48M/s400/20190706_130105+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6BfmqkU5K1NyDn8deuKRzUH5xK_suwCiFTaTQ6CzgXGxk3RkJeLJhCE7iZUGbea4Z25ZfW9tIm76qqBn24BDzEG85wpgdXqWYgTX7agnRHnqzPgEB1uWz0Z_kSCCg1j8UMxNjfEaQ0E/s1600/20190706_141441+-+Copy+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_6BfmqkU5K1NyDn8deuKRzUH5xK_suwCiFTaTQ6CzgXGxk3RkJeLJhCE7iZUGbea4Z25ZfW9tIm76qqBn24BDzEG85wpgdXqWYgTX7agnRHnqzPgEB1uWz0Z_kSCCg1j8UMxNjfEaQ0E/s400/20190706_141441+-+Copy+-+Copy.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGboOXa7KbnNjEPuOIlyZXW1QXj7bC9Fc1UxjmApHqg5dgStGj4U3w6lLSXGK3yhGIFj8M1ys89uhauwSzit1PjlgdSEyATa8pz-j-NbhYj7RJdh4N8eLcec91XP3mK-X3ZNR03RXUrFE/s1600/20190706_141619+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGboOXa7KbnNjEPuOIlyZXW1QXj7bC9Fc1UxjmApHqg5dgStGj4U3w6lLSXGK3yhGIFj8M1ys89uhauwSzit1PjlgdSEyATa8pz-j-NbhYj7RJdh4N8eLcec91XP3mK-X3ZNR03RXUrFE/s400/20190706_141619+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49PIoRkc4cM5dt7JVOPqSBazLngJfZRTjbjnt3qBNMWpF2e5ZwVcGS8Awa4jzQfxu4nvblYLhw816CLPrxKfI76tIxWn22DhXvGM-31I1KepyWxGJ0c-qLjt8I8Mztst79rMWVnqzF0Y/s1600/20190706_142721+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj49PIoRkc4cM5dt7JVOPqSBazLngJfZRTjbjnt3qBNMWpF2e5ZwVcGS8Awa4jzQfxu4nvblYLhw816CLPrxKfI76tIxWn22DhXvGM-31I1KepyWxGJ0c-qLjt8I8Mztst79rMWVnqzF0Y/s400/20190706_142721+-+Copy.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59s3dOv2AgJUERAvQ5BSOHPlxlyUJyoOqkZEHY-aaagXZIUTsHNXASK8iP0m7AveAo4OfLErnaavYddbD1anjJgz31e1etQC1ho8q8lXYC6nVf_mKS_Ttcmhp71eBC-mo4QVrbza7iSA/s1600/20190706_143037+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59s3dOv2AgJUERAvQ5BSOHPlxlyUJyoOqkZEHY-aaagXZIUTsHNXASK8iP0m7AveAo4OfLErnaavYddbD1anjJgz31e1etQC1ho8q8lXYC6nVf_mKS_Ttcmhp71eBC-mo4QVrbza7iSA/s400/20190706_143037+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Back on the streets we mingled among the crowds again to take in the pretty sights. Eventually we made our way into the huge park to view the beautiful display of 700 tabuleiros that were all lined up neatly on display. There were rows of these tall, stately, gorgeous, floral masterpieces for as far as our eyes could see.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IQKOuOLHaKE-FMZsZAWuh6eQNbr0oiU7BE300EZ-XotLFUKTeK61V7W7UY_yv_HK-Hp0xDmLOEyuF-Fl-Pwjy1vUkTV742YU6h_c7X3rLDf9ulPemlqIOD8p64e-o6NNikAMqFKaObs/s1600/20190706_144902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8IQKOuOLHaKE-FMZsZAWuh6eQNbr0oiU7BE300EZ-XotLFUKTeK61V7W7UY_yv_HK-Hp0xDmLOEyuF-Fl-Pwjy1vUkTV742YU6h_c7X3rLDf9ulPemlqIOD8p64e-o6NNikAMqFKaObs/s400/20190706_144902.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocRnqF9tuEUjTInjRxDHHuIzkKn2ARj2-Hb9xsNrX0th-qTX_6VpWVs9TQoWRj6lsx9Exyd_0-S_dZXHLgzTqwSgCaPq1MjXqUaaRhkKWYVQ8DXIdaj7NVyEg6FMayoECV9ahEPT3Kmo/s1600/20190706_144047+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhocRnqF9tuEUjTInjRxDHHuIzkKn2ARj2-Hb9xsNrX0th-qTX_6VpWVs9TQoWRj6lsx9Exyd_0-S_dZXHLgzTqwSgCaPq1MjXqUaaRhkKWYVQ8DXIdaj7NVyEg6FMayoECV9ahEPT3Kmo/s400/20190706_144047+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkVeXSzEFnCGlJlvsfJVjQR8vMZTg2llqZokw8slxOXj1E18HImPIuidJ8Z6n4SbwnD7n47d7aLan1SkPoDbpuYmBmtyJSvSAfaZYRERO17w6k6pJfNKe7p3gM3vNC1nUmRZugr9DNvA/s1600/20190706_144230+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLkVeXSzEFnCGlJlvsfJVjQR8vMZTg2llqZokw8slxOXj1E18HImPIuidJ8Z6n4SbwnD7n47d7aLan1SkPoDbpuYmBmtyJSvSAfaZYRERO17w6k6pJfNKe7p3gM3vNC1nUmRZugr9DNvA/s400/20190706_144230+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDEH6rfE-WvXGQzPjf5PDJj3SGUdxOqB9pXpRkNzp_106msU18RSkqFpsH9g6tlopYT5A16zad6KjiaLy_EX7ucjhUg73w5Sz89-APKUtf7htUTsg2D01PXw7x-7W_6ETjkAu7rs1lgU/s1600/20190706_144642+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkDEH6rfE-WvXGQzPjf5PDJj3SGUdxOqB9pXpRkNzp_106msU18RSkqFpsH9g6tlopYT5A16zad6KjiaLy_EX7ucjhUg73w5Sz89-APKUtf7htUTsg2D01PXw7x-7W_6ETjkAu7rs1lgU/s400/20190706_144642+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8C0tjz0kKsV1wj6OHy9feQG-2aGW-GQ43DkmIIaLwNvVJLUtm2Tokl5gPoZj115qaU5iH4zP4qUR4zFQNQbdKDC65MPN2H74SqS1OiI1S_Y84UqpvA39lQlLd7B1aFFFoDTGckDEvFIE/s1600/20190706_145117+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8C0tjz0kKsV1wj6OHy9feQG-2aGW-GQ43DkmIIaLwNvVJLUtm2Tokl5gPoZj115qaU5iH4zP4qUR4zFQNQbdKDC65MPN2H74SqS1OiI1S_Y84UqpvA39lQlLd7B1aFFFoDTGckDEvFIE/s400/20190706_145117+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
How impressed we were to see such a variety of flowers, styles and designs on these beautiful works of art that must have taken SO long to create. Wow!<br />
<br />
When we had enough of the festivities, the heat of the day, and the people we walked miles back to where our car was parked to end our happy day. Back at our rented apartment we enjoyed cool showers and relaxed. The nice thing about having an apartment instead of a hotel room is that we were able to cook a healthy dinner for ourselves. I made us chicken with vegetables along with some carrot soup and bread.<br />
<br />
Our plan for Sunday, the following day was to head back into Tomar to see the BIG parade. But when we thought about it we realized that we had ALREADY seen the procession of girls carrying trays, so why did we want to fight even BIGGER crowds to see it again?<br />
<br />
Many of our friends were taking buses into Tomar just for the day to take in the big event. There were reports of caravans of busses along the highways and side roads, ALL headed into Tomar.<br />
<br />
We decided to NOT go see the final parade which would leave room for those who had not seen it yet, since we already had.<br />
<br />
Instead we took in some other ancient sites: some Roman ruins, a castle in the middle of a river, a cave, and the house of a famous Portuguese photographer. Before heading back to our apartment we stopped to pickup a few groceries for dinner. Traffic coming out of Tomar was SO heavy with police directing traffic that it invaded the parking lot of the grocery store near our apartment. We were thankful that we opted out of the BIG DAY and instead enjoyed it a day earlier with far less crowds.<br />
<br />
Another busy weekend getaway, with so much to do and see here in Portugal.....along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-63537702998752573542019-06-01T10:31:00.002-07:002019-06-01T10:35:04.423-07:00Properly Probed And Buying Produce In Portugal......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div>
<span style="color: white;">It was early on a Saturday morning in Portugal, as I stood in line behind another women in the medical clinic. I was a bit perturbed to see only one receptionist behind the counter since the check in process was taking forever. Just then two more women wearing scrubs bearing the clinics logo on them walked in the front door and went behind the counter. A thin, young woman with her hair pulled back sat down beside the one who was checking in the patient in front of me. To my surprise she leaned over to the working receptionist and gave her a kiss on each cheek before logging onto her computer. Another younger girl went behind the desk and stopped to greet both of her co-workers with double kisses as well. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">I had to smile as I realized that this was not a doctor's office in the US, but here I was retired at an early age and living my life happily in Europe. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">Since the receptionist was expecting me she looked at me with a smile and said in perfect English, "you are next and I'll be with you in a minute." </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">An older gentleman wearing a bright green golf shirt and jeans walked into the room to join his wife who was already sitting down. Almost like he was greeting a room full of people he already knew, he said a loud, "bom dia," or good morning, to everyone in the room. Everyone looked up and replied before going back to what they were doing.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="color: white;">Soon the receptionist who was also the nurse moved from behind the desk and called me to follow her into the exam room. I was just there to have blood drawn for routine, fasting lab tests. This was the office of my new gynecologist who I met for the first time the previous day.</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOvtPaW8391QVg3PMueCa5y6nGTYJ9WIaBDnUZSCIbsWoixM25jD9XoJGjfkd4xcRDp2xuLDXc0JrsQeIaZyaYP0kwHwokASppA28afbN9L9UoxpV1RgOaUvYlTxizUt91V-H6sZtQWk/s1600/Nurse%252520Taking%252520Blood%252520Samples%252520from%252520Patient%252520590.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="590" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKOvtPaW8391QVg3PMueCa5y6nGTYJ9WIaBDnUZSCIbsWoixM25jD9XoJGjfkd4xcRDp2xuLDXc0JrsQeIaZyaYP0kwHwokASppA28afbN9L9UoxpV1RgOaUvYlTxizUt91V-H6sZtQWk/s400/Nurse%252520Taking%252520Blood%252520Samples%252520from%252520Patient%252520590.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white;">Do Not Remember IF Any Gloves Were Used Here</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="color: white;">Since we left the US almost 8 years ago we have seen doctors around the world, when needed. While it's never easy meeting with a new doctor it's even harder when we are not sure whether or not they speak English. Even while living in Panama for 5 years with a decent understanding of Spanish we still preferred to see only those doctors that spoke English. And having lived in Portugal now for just 9 months our language skills are still in the early stages of development. While we both feel confident that we CAN get our point across in Portuguese, our listening skills still need </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: white;">improvement. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<span style="color: white;">As the nurse escorted me into the exam room the prior day to see the doctor, I was a bit nervous. I did know the nurse from the front desk spoke decent English and if needed I knew that I could summon her for help, I thought to myself. The older, gray haired, cute, little gentleman sitting behind the desk greeted me with a handshake and a smile. He was Dr. Estêvão Ferreira, which translates to Stephen. Here in Portugal doctors seem to be called by their first name with the word doctor or doctora for females added as a prefix. "</span><br />
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVdVKT8EpMTwfPWytnpKejckXOUneKP5pjMxGXkmZlj_K6eKKi8g1izhnDurRee9DGoakZUFFuYjilY8gjdxesFHRXktfltHoU3jZp4XOdB84g7P2m490MbxnxsEeCv-cHsRcbArq4lQ/s1600/dr-estevao-ferreira_highres_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="470" data-original-width="820" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVdVKT8EpMTwfPWytnpKejckXOUneKP5pjMxGXkmZlj_K6eKKi8g1izhnDurRee9DGoakZUFFuYjilY8gjdxesFHRXktfltHoU3jZp4XOdB84g7P2m490MbxnxsEeCv-cHsRcbArq4lQ/s400/dr-estevao-ferreira_highres_2.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white;">Dr. Estavao Ferreira, OB GYN</span></b><br />
<b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="color: white;">"Bom dia," I said to Dr. <span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Estêvão who replied back with the same. "Estou aprender Portuguese e<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> nao falo ou compreendo tudo. Fala ingles?" Translated this means that I am learning Portuguese and don't speak or understand fully. Then I asked him if he spoke English? He said that he speaks a little English and we agreed that I would speak a little Portuguese and he would speak a little English.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unlike doctors in the US in other countries the doctor's typically enter all of the patient information into the computer. He asked the normal health history questions and pecked away at the keyboard using two fingers until finished. He escorted me to a small, corner of the room draped with a curtain for privacy and handed me a gown to change into. The gown was merely a paper wrap skirt that closed with Velcro to cover me from the waist down. I was instructed to keep my shirt and bra on for the exam. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then he informed me to wait until his assistant came into the room before climbing onto the exam table. The table was a chair with stirrups that tipped backwards, leaving me a bit on my head upside down for the exam. He performed a normal pap test and then proceeded to perform a vaginal ultrasound. This was NOT something that was routinely done at any previous Gyno appointment ever.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As part of my health history I informed the doctor that I had a full hysterectomy in Panama about 7 years earlier. Since one ovary was left intact he wanted to go in and view it for some unknown reason to me. With the help of the ultrasound he was able to locate the ovary and said that everything looked good.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He then printed out two photos of my insides, yes my vagina from the inside out, including the photo of my ovary. Later he presented me with these photos in an envelope to take home with me. Unlike healthcare in the US, in other countries there are NO patient charts kept in the office. Instead all tests, x-rays and such are given to the patient to keep.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the end of the exam Dr. Stephen shook my hand and said, "muito prazer," it was nice to meet you and sent me on my way. The total for one hour of the doctor's time along with the two in office tests came to 165 euros ($185). Since he is in network with our health insurance we paid just 16.50 euros, and the insurance will pay the other 90%. When we see an out of network doctor we have to pay the full amount upfront and later are reimbursed 80% of the total cost. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And if you're wondering about our health insurance cost, we pay around $250 per month for BOTH of us to be on this policy. It also covers us in other countries when we travel, including the US.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next we had to go to a nearby private hospital to schedule my routine mammogram, which here will be a digital mammogram along with an ultrasound. Again I am not sure why he scheduled both, since there are no problems, just routine checkups. Perhaps that's the way they do things in Portugal? Also had to schedule a routine bone density test to be done.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We took a "senha" or ticket with a number on it and waited for our turn. The receptionist spoke no English but we understood what she way saying and managed to schedule both exams rather easily. One is scheduled for this week and the other for later in the month.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After my morning bloodwork I was starving and needed coffee so it seemed like the perfect time for breakfast out. Since this is Portugal we dined outdoors at a small café, overlooking the bustling market. Eggs, bacon, toast and coffee for just 4.50 euros each.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next we bumped elbows with the locals as we took in the sights, smells and culture of all that surrounded us. We shopped as the Portuguese do at the daily fruit and vegetable market. While I admit that we usually are too lazy to go out of the way to the market, it's easier to buy our produce at the large grocery stores. Add to that the best produce can be found early in the mornings when we typically are working out at the gym. But since this was Saturday, our day off from the gym, and we did need plenty of produce, it was the perfect opportunity to indulge. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtj7PLfvJExNvdxy-ocFUn-uefmnOnrFPVGedC17X5kDznuK85oMtQAOsJQ0fsGa_t-PejqXWfux6aLE2vhjt9EYKvyame2NaMG5tK1_ECWk0rhNocQXRqBA8qdSdDqhOk294sHJuiAU0/s1600/20190601_100729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtj7PLfvJExNvdxy-ocFUn-uefmnOnrFPVGedC17X5kDznuK85oMtQAOsJQ0fsGa_t-PejqXWfux6aLE2vhjt9EYKvyame2NaMG5tK1_ECWk0rhNocQXRqBA8qdSdDqhOk294sHJuiAU0/s400/20190601_100729.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Praca de Fruta, Caldas da Rainha, Portugal</b></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTPt6YbFqmGVQ3EyLAlc5_lDeL4BAmSauAb0KgSZTm5zLdEoEJk4esfupcivKLU89COMDNFvz9tb8MBeONVyQDiD_IbEET0WrSqGkBeE7llmEshWuAsxMbupDtQade9lLYKx5XGTriPQ/s1600/20190601_100724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTPt6YbFqmGVQ3EyLAlc5_lDeL4BAmSauAb0KgSZTm5zLdEoEJk4esfupcivKLU89COMDNFvz9tb8MBeONVyQDiD_IbEET0WrSqGkBeE7llmEshWuAsxMbupDtQade9lLYKx5XGTriPQ/s400/20190601_100724.jpg" width="400" /></span></b></a></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white;">This Market is Open Everyday Here</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And boy did we indulge in the succulent strawberries, fresh apricots, juicy peaches, cherries, oranges, bananas, and plenty of veggies too. A quick stop along the way at a nut kiosk for some sesame seeds to grind up for homemade hummus too. The price for all this stuff was less than 20 euros, and enough to last us a week or two. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84DhMw0B4nwx4DNUMjZru7aJ19951y5qn1aJObs-vCjolKC48mi2Q_dGldNyaVVPO973xc7lp6H0fKun6Oy-wOcXF-LaL6rFhucZgElY30RHkXe94deQbebtswPpQ2pgURVMbcsHFefw/s1600/20190601_142231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84DhMw0B4nwx4DNUMjZru7aJ19951y5qn1aJObs-vCjolKC48mi2Q_dGldNyaVVPO973xc7lp6H0fKun6Oy-wOcXF-LaL6rFhucZgElY30RHkXe94deQbebtswPpQ2pgURVMbcsHFefw/s400/20190601_142231.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Our Purchases</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-35bIeXI7Uex00rxOuh_DP8Xd03p3C16tY58cd6vwyX0sZ4QSA3UlkQ57GJHWg2klO8T1boCXE1bbyIlzV0Ix0uN5hl-j0vRuJKzs8DSv1tr_0TRiJlo1QYQoBnCQxa5TxpPuV0o_gIk/s1600/20190601_142545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-35bIeXI7Uex00rxOuh_DP8Xd03p3C16tY58cd6vwyX0sZ4QSA3UlkQ57GJHWg2klO8T1boCXE1bbyIlzV0Ix0uN5hl-j0vRuJKzs8DSv1tr_0TRiJlo1QYQoBnCQxa5TxpPuV0o_gIk/s400/20190601_142545.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: white;">That Cut Up Orange Thing Is Spaghetti Squash</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white;">The Thing Was Huge So It Was Cut Up And Sold By The Kilo</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xy7GPYt98rJezOlIjHM2okQOQXx3IwTDgNTze1XHl8AOJs-HjjKlmAI0AXsNjPkm62uv2fMAr8K8wVCbHGnimqrIIRXZkzOTC42tyv2Y0TOlWr-EjI1M9Hdg4pHXWpfppdDKNMAh3r8/s1600/20190601_142252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xy7GPYt98rJezOlIjHM2okQOQXx3IwTDgNTze1XHl8AOJs-HjjKlmAI0AXsNjPkm62uv2fMAr8K8wVCbHGnimqrIIRXZkzOTC42tyv2Y0TOlWr-EjI1M9Hdg4pHXWpfppdDKNMAh3r8/s400/20190601_142252.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: white;">With Small Refrigerators In Europe Much Of Produce Is Stored In Our Pantry</span></b></div>
<b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjuwZZ_1Mla20RoWB4i1CbseAc6dpo9QsOimD4caKcTVOb1CPr-JV-v5iBMf6R1xCG3r-1ZW_ZLYdp4AdYZOk-NZkLk4Ggq7Y1OrmS1SkHPMEE2oTDUqW5PUrryPJ4DOKktIs80y-enA/s1600/20190601_142413.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: white;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjuwZZ_1Mla20RoWB4i1CbseAc6dpo9QsOimD4caKcTVOb1CPr-JV-v5iBMf6R1xCG3r-1ZW_ZLYdp4AdYZOk-NZkLk4Ggq7Y1OrmS1SkHPMEE2oTDUqW5PUrryPJ4DOKktIs80y-enA/s400/20190601_142413.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nearby at a local fish market we picked up some fresh salmon steaks, enough for two meals for around 14 euros.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBIj8LYUfd10FMEXRmJPmxnQL0q3DYr4VzJtfnQEECtRPD2F1ErOJwV9gEK-Dueef3Ck_QEA3B-mbR-HkTMvynq1JpXmgBTUOMIWi9ZtRI1ZzswXHDNvCzjHwRNLNVEODXC0cfKYwNgU/s1600/20190601_142323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzBIj8LYUfd10FMEXRmJPmxnQL0q3DYr4VzJtfnQEECtRPD2F1ErOJwV9gEK-Dueef3Ck_QEA3B-mbR-HkTMvynq1JpXmgBTUOMIWi9ZtRI1ZzswXHDNvCzjHwRNLNVEODXC0cfKYwNgU/s400/20190601_142323.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Fresh Salmon</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our two grocery bags were so heavy with our purchases that we decided I would stay with the bags while Clyde went to get the car. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Later in the day we stopped at a local Chinese store to pick up a shopping bag on wheels that are commonly used and seen throughout Europe. Our next trip to the market will be easier with our purchases in tow.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PGHZvI1fe-X11xlw2xtGkzeovU6Bs7mt6U4rGbsFtRujsBJHsvp4UoiqzbNzyws4w7PcAZ_1f0UkofRRWjXErycgGi5CtzEu4UF5DsJtAR5aRulgRHiNl7OJU8qpDJvz_0xN_eLI2mk/s1600/20190601_180058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8PGHZvI1fe-X11xlw2xtGkzeovU6Bs7mt6U4rGbsFtRujsBJHsvp4UoiqzbNzyws4w7PcAZ_1f0UkofRRWjXErycgGi5CtzEu4UF5DsJtAR5aRulgRHiNl7OJU8qpDJvz_0xN_eLI2mk/s400/20190601_180058.jpg" width="300" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: white;">Grocery Bag On Wheels For Just 10 Euros</span></b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: left;">
<b></b><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a lovely day of shopping and relaxing our sore muscles from 5 days in the gym, we are headed out tonight to dance the night away. With so many choices of things to do here for expats, tonight is just another one of those many events. A dance with a buffet dinner including drinks for 18 euros a person. Proceeds will go to help local families in need of items like clothing and food. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We are enjoying our new life in Portugal a little more each day. The sun is shining and the weather has warmed up to a balmy 85 F or 29 C. Time to shed the layers of winter clothes, show off our new bodies, and continue to enjoy life in Portugal.....along the gringo trail. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
<div>
<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: white;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-17359337149909206042019-06-01T06:39:00.004-07:002019-06-01T06:39:46.213-07:00Pet Sitting Resume<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h1 data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
Pet Sitting Resume</h1>
<br />
<h4>
House Sit Completed</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_8998-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" class="wp-image-3066 alignright" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_8998-1024x768.jpg" height="227" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_8998-1024x768.jpg" width="303" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
El Gouna, Egypt</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">El Gouna, Egypt</span><br /> June 5th to August 11th<br /> Two Rescued Desert Dogs<br /> Will and Tee Tee</div>
Our Reference letter:<br /> We are delighted to have welcomed Clyde & Terry back to our villa in El Gouna on the Red Sea for their second pet house sit with us. Our dogs Teetee and Will knew them immediately and Clyde & Terry; knowing out ‘set-up’, where able to settle in immediately too! It was lovely to have our sitter friends back and we had no worries during our 2 months away. On our return we were greeted by happy pets, a wonderfully clean villa and lunch in the fridge. We have no hesitation in<br /> recommending them, giving them 5 stars!<br />
<hr />
<strong><br /></strong>
<strong>House Sit completed<img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-3001" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/085314807c0a12e436e0fa176fe1b7ea14280-768x514.jpg" height="201" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/085314807c0a12e436e0fa176fe1b7ea14280-768x514.jpg" width="300" /></strong><br />
April 28th to June 1st<br /> Mtwapa, Kenya, Afrika<br /> no animals just taking<br /> care of the home<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<h4>
House Sit Completed</h4>
Soumagne, Belgium<img alt="" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-2625" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/P1110216b.jpg" height="211" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/P1110216b.jpg" width="300" /><br /> March 31st to April 15th<br /> 1 dog Pakman<br />
Reference: It was a real pleasure meeting Terry and Clyde!<br /> Our dog has been really well looked after and seemed to like them very much. When we came home everything was so clean and tidy, a real pleasure!<br /> They even rearranged their bedroom. The fact it’s an attic room made it a little bit difficult for tall people to move around, and they imagined a much more convenient position for the furniture.<br /> Great, guys! It’ll remain that way, so much better! Thank you.<br /> We would be happy to welcome them any time and wish them much fun for their next homesits.<br /> It’s just a pity they didn’t stay a while longer when we returned, we would have enjoyed spending more time in their company, but they still have so much left to discover…<br /> We heartily recommend them as home/dog sitters. Do not hesitate!<br /> Une belle et agréable rencontre. Terry et Clyde sont des gens charmants, ils se sont parfaitement occupés de notre chien et la maison était dans un état impeccable à notre retour. Le chien était parfaitement à l’aise avec eux et les appréciait beaucoup.<br /> Ils ont même réaménagé leur chambre à coucher (mansardée) d’une manière beaucoup plus agréable et pratique. Nous conserverons d’ailleurs cette nouvelle disposition des meubles. Merci à eux.<br /> Nous aurions volontiers passé un peu plus de temps en leur compagnie mais ils ont encore tellement de pays et de lieux à découvrir. Nous leur souhaitons le meilleur et beaucoup de plaisir pour leurs prochains séjours.<br /> Nous serions heureux de les accueillir à nouveau s’ils le souhaitent.<br /> Nous les recommandons sans la moindre hésitation<br />
<hr />
<h4>
House Sit Scheduled</h4>
Soumagne, Belgium<br /> March 31st to April 15th<br /> 1 dog Pakman<br />
<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2625 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/P1110216b-300x211.jpg" data-mce-style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Georgia,&quot; times new roman&quot;,&quot;bitstream charter&quot;,times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 211px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 163.18px; margin-right: 163.19px; max-width: 626.37px; orphans: 2; outline-color: #72777c; outline-style: solid; outline-width: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" height="211" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/P1110216b-300x211.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Georgia,&quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 211px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 163.18px; margin-right: 163.19px; max-width: 626.37px; orphans: 2; outline-color: #72777c; outline-style: solid; outline-width: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="300" /><br />
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Review:</strong> It was a real pleasure meeting Terry and Clyde!<br /> Our dog has been really well looked after and seemed to like them very much. When we came home everything was so clean and tidy, a real pleasure!<br /> They even rearranged their bedroom. The fact it's an attic room made it a little bit difficult for tall people to move around, and they imagined a much more convenient position for the furniture.<br /> Great, guys! It'll remain that way, so much better! Thank you.<br /> We would be happy to welcome them any time and wish them much fun for their next homesits.<br /> It's just a pity they didn't stay a while longer when we returned, we would have enjoyed spending more time in their company, but they still have so much left to discover...<br /> We heartily recommend them as home/dog sitters. Do not hesitate!<br /> Une belle et agréable rencontre. Terry et Clyde sont des gens charmants, ils se sont parfaitement occupés de notre chien et la maison était dans un état impeccable à notre retour. Le chien était parfaitement à l'aise avec eux et les appréciait beaucoup.<br /> Ils ont même réaménagé leur chambre à coucher (mansardée) d'une manière beaucoup plus agréable et pratique. Nous conserverons d'ailleurs cette nouvelle disposition des meubles. Merci à eux.<br /> Nous aurions volontiers passé un peu plus de temps en leur compagnie mais ils ont encore tellement de pays et de lieux à découvrir. Nous leur souhaitons le meilleur et beaucoup de plaisir pour leurs prochains séjours.<br /> Nous serions heureux de les accueillir à nouveau s'ils le souhaitent.<br /> Nous les recommandons sans la moindre hésitation</div>
<hr />
<h4>
House Sit Completed</h4>
Munich, Germany<br /> December 29th to January 19th<br /> Two Sweet Dogs<br />
<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2624 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/8a53c48605dcd84dee6af6c7419f57c2f2f4bd-300x225.jpg" data-mce-style="background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Georgia,&quot; times new roman&quot;,&quot;bitstream charter&quot;,times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 225px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 163.18px; margin-right: 163.19px; max-width: 626.37px; orphans: 2; outline-color: #72777c; outline-style: solid; outline-width: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/8a53c48605dcd84dee6af6c7419f57c2f2f4bd-300x225.jpg" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: block; font-family: Georgia,&quot; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; height: 225px; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 163.18px; margin-right: 163.19px; max-width: 626.37px; orphans: 2; outline-color: #72777c; outline-style: solid; outline-width: 1px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" width="300" /><br />
<strong>Review: </strong>Terry & Clyde clearly really enjoy their lifestyle! They saw more of Munich in three weeks while they were here than we even have in a year :) The apartment was clean & tidy when we returned and they were very considerate upon our return, letting us rest and getting some rest of their own before their trip to India and beyond. Safe travels back to Panama, guys!<br />
<hr />
<h4>
House Sit completed</h4>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
Sarnadas de Rodao, Portugal<br /> December 18th through 28th<br /> 5 Rescue Dogs</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="" class="aligncenter wp-image-3026 " data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/dog.jpg" height="235" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/dog.jpg" width="391" /></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Review:</strong></div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
Left to care for 5 small dogs all with their specific problems came back to find everyone alive and well! Would have preferred to see you both a little longer before I went, and would have preferred if youcould have stayed until my husband got back just in case there were plane problems, but that's probably me being over-fussy. All in all, considering the very basic conditions in our home, I am very happy with the way this worked out.</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
A very pleasant, easy going couple that I would recommend.</div>
<div data-mce-style="text-align: left;" style="text-align: left;">
Skills: Pets well cared for, Followed instructions, Home neat and clean, Punctual</div>
<hr />
<strong>House Sit Completed</strong><br />
Canary Islands Corralejo, Fuerte Ventura<br /> N<span data-mce-style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">ovember 23rd to December 12th</span><span data-mce-style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">2 Dogs and a Cat</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><br />
<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2623 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/b948d0bce00c08170951a69ef4db6e4b8a3ef5-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/b948d0bce00c08170951a69ef4db6e4b8a3ef5-300x225.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<b>Reference Letter:</b><br />
<div class="ng-binding">
<b></b>We had Clyde and Terry looking after our little friends for three weeks. We had a perfect comunication before the sitting for all the info about how to get to our house and how to look after Mika Lola and Gigia, we have to say that Clyde is super organised. We would have them back to our place any time they want, house was perfetly clean and most important the "beasts" very happy and well cared. All the best for they fabulose abventure aaround the world!!!!</div>
<hr />
<strong>House Sit Completed</strong>Horsham, United Kingdom<br /><span data-mce-style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">November 15th through November 20th</span><span data-mce-style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">One dog and One cat</span><b></b><i></i><u></u><br />
<img alt="" class="wp-image-2671 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_0191-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/IMG_0191-300x225.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<br />
<strong>Reference Letter:</strong><br />
Terry and Clyde made the effort to pop in and see us before the sit so we had an opportunity to get to know them a little. We were happy to leave them in our home and it was good to have some experienced sitters for our first time having sitters here.<br /> The house was spotless when we got back and the animals seemed very happy and relaxed. Terry had cooked a meal for us which was most kind and greatly appreciated. I would certainly offer them a sit again should the opportunity arise.<br />
<br />
<hr />
<strong>House Sit Completed<br /> A wonderful experience in Egypt</strong><br />
<a data-mce-href="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/el-gouna-egypt-house-sit-coming-to-an-end" href="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/el-gouna-egypt-house-sit-coming-to-an-end" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Read the blog</a><a data-mce-href="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/el-gouna-egypt-house-sit-coming-to-an-end" href="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/el-gouna-egypt-house-sit-coming-to-an-end" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">post on this house sit</a><br />
<a data-mce-href="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/el-gouna-egypt-house-sit-coming-to-an-end" href="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/el-gouna-egypt-house-sit-coming-to-an-end" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><span data-mce-style="display: inline !important; float: none; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;">El Gouna, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt</span><br data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; color: #333333; text-transform: none; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; overflow: visible; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; min-height: 0px; max-width: none; orphans: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" /><span data-mce-style="font: 400 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; text-align: left; color: #333333; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 400 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"> September 8th 2017 Through October 18th</span><br data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; color: #333333; text-transform: none; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; overflow: visible; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; min-height: 0px; max-width: none; orphans: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" /><span data-mce-style="font: 400 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; text-align: left; color: #333333; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 400 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"> 2 dogs and 6 cats (1 indoor cat)</span><br data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; color: #333333; text-transform: none; line-height: 24px; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; overflow: visible; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; word-spacing: 0px; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; min-height: 0px; max-width: none; orphans: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; max-width: none; min-height: 0px; orphans: 2; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" /><span data-mce-style="font: 400 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; text-align: left; color: #333333; text-transform: none; text-indent: 0px; letter-spacing: normal; word-spacing: 0px; display: inline !important; white-space: normal; word-wrap: break-word; orphans: 2; float: none; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent;" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font: 400 16px/24px Georgia,'Times New Roman','Bitstream Charter',Times,serif; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;"> Will and Tee Tee</span> </a><br />
<br />
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-681 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tee-Tee-300x211.jpg" height="211" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tee-Tee-300x211.jpg" width="300" /><strong>Reference Letter:</strong><br />
What can we say! Clyde and Terry are ‘The’ prefect house and pet sitters. This amazing couple ‘travelling the world pet sitting’ have a wealth of experience and some amazing stories. We felt happy when we skype interviewed them and even more delighted when we met them. We know our dogs and cats were well looked after and loved whilst we took our vacation. In fact we can honestly say that the dogs missed Clyde and Terry after they left! Our villa was also immaculately clean and tidy when we returned home. What more can one ask! In the short time we spent with them before and after the sit, we also know we have made new friends….we are hoping to arrange another sit with them in the future. Have no hesitation in asking them to sit for you.<br />
Kim & Andy Earl October 2017<br />
<hr />
<strong>House Sit confirmed and Completed</strong><br />
Madrid, Spain<br /> July 24th to August 3rd<br /> One Sweet Cat, Swiffer<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-2419 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/madrid-300x211.jpg" height="211" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/madrid-300x211.jpg" width="300" />Our Review: Clyde and Terry cared very well for my cat Swiffer and gave me news regularly : thank you !<br />
<br />
<hr />
<h4>
House Sit Completed<br /> Javea, Valencia Spain<br /> July 11th to July 18th<br /> Springer Spaniel "Oatie"<br /><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-277 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2145743466_2-225x300.jpg" height="300" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/2145743466_2-225x300.jpg" width="225" /></h4>
<br />
<hr />
<h4>
House Sit Confirmed and Scheduled<br /> Pobla del Valbona (near Valencia), Spain<br /> July 1st to July 9th<br /> One dog, two cats and a turtle</h4>
<h4>
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-745 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pascal_Valencia-300x200.jpg" height="200" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Pascal_Valencia-300x200.jpg" width="300" /></h4>
<strong>Our Review from this House Sit</strong> <!-- End Facebook Pixel Code --><br />
<article id="content"><div class="Container">
<div class="BackendForm" id="user-backendform">
<form action="/user/endorsements" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" method="post">
<div class="Endorsement EndorsementPublished">
<div class="Text">
Terry and Clyde are the perfect house sitters. They have a loving way with the animals, kept the house in perfect order - as much as this is possible in our house ;-) , were interested to get to know the city, the area and the customs of Valencia. Being very experienced in this "profession" they also have quite a few stories to tell from their world trips, yet they're also excellent listeners (I tend to tell too much stories...)<br />
Yet they are also able to "disappear into the background" when needed, for instance so we could perform our work during the days we were together.<br />
I can fully recommend them, and would immediately have them back here again.</div>
</div>
</form>
</div>
</div>
</article><hr />
<h4>
House Sit Confirmed and Scheduled</h4>
<h4>
Tivissa, Spain<br /> June 12, 2017<br /> 2 dogs and 1 cat<img alt="" class="size-medium wp-image-1291 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/237863551131_146003803304306-300x300.jpg" height="300" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/237863551131_146003803304306-300x300.jpg" width="300" /></h4>
<span data-mce-style="color: #ff0000;" style="color: red;"><strong>Had to Cancel this House Sit</strong></span><br />
Sorry to say, we had to cancel this house sit due to a medical emergency with Clyde. Yes, a week before the sit, I had to have a Pace Maker implanted. I was still in ICU when we were due to show up for our sit. Would like to say that our Home Owners were very gracious and understanding.<br />
<hr />
<h4>
House Sit Confirmed and Scheduled</h4>
Alicante, Spain<br /> May 9 to Jun 11, 2017<br /> Three Dogs and one cat<br />
<br />
<h4>
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-278 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Margaret-300x224.jpg" height="224" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Margaret-300x224.jpg" width="300" /></h4>
<strong>Our Review from the owner</strong><br />
Terry and Clyde proved to be resourceful and adapted very well to our<br /> household of 3 dogs and one cat. Clyde fixed our ancient swimming pool<br /> pump and kept it running. Terry is a very good organiser and the house<br /> was left in a clean and tidy manner. A read of their blog will show<br /> what an adventurous couple they are and they are very experienced<br /> housesitters who are not fazed by remoteness or unusual<br /> locations.Unfortunately Clyde spent a few days in hospital due to a<br /> medical issue but is now up and running again.We have no hesitation in<br /> recommending Terry and Clyde and wish them well.<br />
Margaret, 27 June, 2017<br />
* Tidy<br /> * Organised<br /> * Good at pet care<br /> * Reliable<br /> * Kept in contact<br /> * Friendly<br /> * Handy around the house<br />
<hr />
<h4>
House Sit Completed!</h4>
<h4>
Howth, Ireland<br /> April 26th to May 5<br /> 2 dogs and 1 cat<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-279 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/df59f2200b3f0d8b31ed2034453cdb25c5a55f-300x204.jpeg" height="204" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/df59f2200b3f0d8b31ed2034453cdb25c5a55f-300x204.jpeg" width="300" /></h4>
<strong>Our Review:</strong><br />
What a lovely couple and we are full of admiration for their travelling! We got to know them over a few dinners and realised they know exactly what is required from house/pet sits. We left our dogs and cat and knew that all would be ok. We got home to find a very clean house and Terry had done a 'spring clean'<br /> on our hot press/airing cupboard - I walked in and hardly recognised it as it was so tidy! They also cooked a great tex-mex meal for us on our return. The animals were very happy and had obviously been well looked after and Clyde had done a great job keeping an eye on my greenhouse. We will be following their travels and maybe one day they might come back to us again!<br />
<hr />
<h4>
Completed House Sit</h4>
Edinburgh, Scotland (sit 2)<br /> Mar 31 to Apr 16, 2017<br /> 1 puppy, 1 cat, 2 Guinea Pigs<br />
<h4>
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-686 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/20170226_175039-300x169.jpg" height="169" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/20170226_175039-300x169.jpg" width="300" /></h4>
<strong>Our Review</strong><br />
Clyde and Terry looked after our house, retriever puppy, cat and two guinea pigs while we were away for over two weeks in April 2017. They did a superb job.<br />
First they are very efficient, contacting us in advance to make handover arrangements. They arrived, as promised, in good time (which mattered as we were headed for a plane to India) and were relaxed and friendly. They listened carefully to our briefing on the house and pets.<br />
While we were away they sent us update emails and posted pictures on Facebook showing the pets playing. On our return the house was immaculate and they had even changed the sheets. Clyde had - on his own initiative - mended the broken dishwasher door. The pets were happy and relaxed and had clearly been looked after.<br />
We recommend Clyde and Terry without reservation and would be happy to provide a reference (email address below).<br />
Gill Findlay and Charles Winstanley<br />
<br />
<hr />
<h4>
Completed House Sit</h4>
Edinburgh, Scotland (sit 1)<br /> Mar 19 to 28, 2017<br /> 1 black lab (Midnight)<br /> 1 cat (Neus)<br />
<h4>
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-280 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/midnight-300x225.jpeg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/midnight-300x225.jpeg" width="300" /></h4>
<br />
<hr />
<h4>
Completed House Sit</h4>
Dunfermline, Scotland<br /> March 10 to 19<br /> 3 Lhasa Apsos and 1 House Rabbit<br /> Pebbles, BamBam and Zeka<br />
<h4>
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-281 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/884ea5f5448bdb57a342e378c663427401d7e0-1-300x225.jpeg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/884ea5f5448bdb57a342e378c663427401d7e0-1-300x225.jpeg" width="300" /></h4>
Terry and Clyde sat for my three dogs and house rabbit. They were all very happy when we returned home and the house was tidier than when I left! Terry and Clyde even visited me in hospital a couple of weeks afterwards as they were sitting in another home in the area. They are a lovely couple and I would have no histation in recommending them to<br />
anyone. I hope they will remain our friends.<br />
<hr />
<strong>Completed House Sit</strong><br />
<strong>Maesteg, Wales<br /> February 21 to March 23<br /> 3 Dogs<br /> Dave, Holly and Henry<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-283 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_1060-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_1060-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></strong>Review for Sit:<br />
We were fortunate that Terry and Clyde were between house-sits so were able to stay with us for a couple of days before we went off. This gave them a chance for us to socialise and get to know each other as well as for them to get to know our dogs and for the dogs to be comfortable with them. Clyde and Terry are very well organised and very professional in their approach to house sitting and it was a pleasure to welcome them into our home. We were able to go away knowing that both the dogs and our home were in good hands. It was obvious on our return a week later that the dogs were very contented and after a warm welcome from them, they went straight back to sit with Clyde and Terry. When we came home, the house was spotlessly clean and tidy and we enjoyed dinner together, cooked by Clyde and Terry followed by cookies baked by Terry with our tea. Thank you both and I hope we are able to welcome you back at some time in the future. Hopefully, our hooligans were not too much of a handful.<br />
<hr />
<strong>Completed House Sit</strong><br />
Princes Risborough, United Kingdom<br /> Feb 1 to 21, 2017<br /> 3 Dogs Poppy, Bertie and Barney<br />
<strong><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-284 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0528-1-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0528-1-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></strong><br />
<strong>Our Review:</strong><br />
Terry & Clyde were an absolute delight from start to finish. They regularly communicated in advance of our sit and arrived promptly on the day. A really lovely couple with many different experiences to share! We subjected them to an evening with our friends which they embraced fully. Whilst we were away they kept in touch and posted many pictures on Facebook so that we could see how our dogs were. On return the house was spotless and the dogs happy - Terry has a passion for cleaning! Thank you both - you are welcome to return anytime. Enjoy your travels. Sarah & Guy.<br />
<hr />
<strong>Completed House Sit</strong><br />
<strong>March, United Kingdom<br /> Jan 19 to Feb 21, 2017<br /> 2 dogs -- Daisae Mae and Evie<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-62 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0243-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0243-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></strong><br />
Our Review:<br /> Terry and Clyde arrived a day before we were leaving, at once we could see our girls were in two pairs of safe hands, making our holiday away so much better. I would have no hesitation in recommending them for any house sit and if they are ever back in our area would love to see them again.<br />
<hr />
<strong>Completed House Sit<br /> Taunton, United Kingdom<br /> Jan 1 to 19, 2017<br /> 2 dogs Eric and Buster</strong><br />
<strong><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-285 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_9998-1-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_9998-1-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></strong><br />
<br />
<hr />
<strong>Completed House Sit</strong><br />
<strong>Storrington, United Kingdom<br /> Dec 13 to Jan 1<br /> 1 dog Beryl<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-286 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_9043-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_9043-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></strong><br />
<br />
Our Review:<br /> Terry and Clyde were great Housesitters. Our home was well cared for, left immaculate. Our dog bonded with them and was happy and settled when we returned. There was a good level of communication both before and during the housesit, we felt relaxed and confident about leaving them in charge while we relaxed on holiday. Highly recommended, lovely people!<br />
<hr />
<h3>
<strong>Completed House Sit<br /> Penzance, United Kingdom<br /> Dec 7 to Dec 13<br /> 1 dog Alvin</strong></h3>
<h3>
<strong><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-287 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_8851-300x195.jpg" height="195" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_8851-300x195.jpg" width="300" /></strong></h3>
Our Review:<br />
Terry and Clyde house sat for me recently and proved to be a reliable and trustworthy couple. They kept me in touch with Alvin's progress so that i was able to relax knowing all was good at home. I can certainly recommend their house sitting skills.<br />
<hr />
<h3>
<strong>Completed House Sit<br /> London, England<br /> Dec 2 to 5<br /> two dogs Pixie and Betsie and 1 cat Lilly</strong></h3>
<h3>
<strong><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-288 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sweeties-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/sweeties-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></strong></h3>
No Review Given<br />
<hr />
<br />
<h3>
<strong>Completed House Sit</strong></h3>
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-mce-tabindex="0" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption"><span class="hasCaption">Cupramontana, Italy<br /> Nov 16 to 23<br /> 1 dog (Molly) 3 cats Cassa<br /> ndra, Smudger and kitten</span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-mce-tabindex="0" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption"><span class="hasCaption"><br /><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-289 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/e8f9c31a56328d5fe5e34d1dd6c06f43c8a8e2-300x225.jpeg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/e8f9c31a56328d5fe5e34d1dd6c06f43c8a8e2-300x225.jpeg" width="300" /></span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-mce-tabindex="0" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption"><span class="hasCaption">Home Owner Review:</span></span><br />
<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" data-mce-tabindex="0" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption"><span class="hasCaption"> Terry & Clyde were excellent house sitters. They are very organised and asked all the right questions in order to fulfill our requirements. We were quite confident in leaving our home and pets in their capable hands. We would certainly recommend them to anyone looking for a worry free house sit. We returned home to a lovely clean and tidy house and a happy and content pets.</span></span><br />
<br />
<hr />
<div class="pts fbPhotoProductsTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftProductsTagList">
<strong>Completed House Sit</strong><br />
Rasina, Casentino, Italy<br /> Nov 3 to 16<br /> 2 dogs, cats, 2 birds and 4 Alpacas!Our <img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-66 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_7198-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_7198-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></div>
<div class="pts fbPhotoProductsTagList">
</div>
<div class="pts fbPhotoProductsTagList">
Review:<br /> A lovely couple who left the place clean and tidy and were extremely friendly and communicative. I felt very cam and confident while they were looking after the house and pets. Thank you Terry and Clyde!</div>
<div class="pts fbPhotoProductsTagList">
</div>
<div class="pts fbPhotoProductsTagList">
</div>
<hr />
<strong>Completed House Sit<br /> Chianti, Italy<br /> Oct 12 to Nov 3<br /> 2 chickens</strong><br />
<br />
<strong><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-291 aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chickens-1-300x146.jpg" height="211" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/chickens-1-300x146.jpg" width="434" /></strong><br />
Our Review<br />
Among the various replies to our house sitter ad, Clyde and Terry's struck us as particularly promising. Clyde's background as a fire fighter and para medic meant to us that he was a person capable of dealing with emergencies. Fortunately, he did not need to demonstrate his skills! He and Terry were excellent sitters in other ways, however: they kept in touch with us on a daily basis, and left the house spotless. We would gladly have them back any time, and highly recommend them to others. Venere<br />
<hr />
<strong>Completed House Sit</strong><br />
S'ant Andrea di Sorbello, Italy<br /> Oct 3 to 12<br /> 2 cats Tigro and Crash<br />
<strong><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-292 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tigro-300x225.jpeg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Tigro-300x225.jpeg" width="300" /></strong>Our Review:<br />
Terry and Clyde were house sitting a few kms from us and were more than happy to meet up so we could get to know each other a little and on another occasion came to the house for supper and met the cats which was very important as one of ours is very nervous around people. We need not of worried, he was fine and when we returned from our holiday he was in the house with them an<span class="text_exposed_show">d very relaxed. Our other cat loves cuddles and they sent us a photo of him with Clyde whilst we were away.<br /> We returned to a very clean and tidy house ( just as I left it) and as I said two relaxed happy cats which is all I asked from them.<br /> They kept in contact both before the sit and during proving their reliability and commitment. I would recommend them and would have them back again if they ever return to Italy.</span><br />
<hr />
<h3>
House Sit Completed<br /> La Mita, Italy<br /> Sep 27 to Oct 3<br /> 1 shy cat</h3>
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-293 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cwvDm9asA_Lw9YsGTQNy8vWzhgo-300x199.jpg" height="199" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cwvDm9asA_Lw9YsGTQNy8vWzhgo-300x199.jpg" width="300" /><br />
<hr />
<div id="content">
<div id="trip_content">
<div data-trip-id="182330253" id="trip_header">
<div id="trip_header_meta">
<h3>
House Sit Completed<br /> Giavera del Montello, Italy<br /> Sep 1 to Oct 3<br /> 1 dog Penny, 1 puppy Billie, 1 cat Fred and 4 hens with chicks</h3>
<h3>
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-295 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_4101-cropped-300x196.jpg" height="196" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_4101-cropped-300x196.jpg" width="300" /></h3>
<br />
No Review Given<br />
<hr />
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Bangkok, Thailand August<br /> 18 thru 28<br /> 1 cat<br />
<a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1383592505" data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/terry.h.coles" href="https://www.facebook.com/terry.h.coles"><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-301 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cat-300x211.jpg" height="211" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/cat-300x211.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /> Our Review<br /> We absolutely adore Clyde and Terry! They flew literally to the other side of the world to come and sit for our cat while we went on a long holiday out of the country. While we ended up having to cancel the trip due to our pet's health, Terry and Clyde did come and stay with us and they are wonderful house guests. They a<span class="text_exposed_show">re tidy, responsible and excellent communicators. They are both very practical as well, and with their current travels added to their experience living abroad, they know how to deal with the new and unexpected situations that can pop up when you are in a new environment - like someone else's country and home <span class="_47e3 _5mfr" title="smile emoticon"><img alt="" class="img" data-mce-src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v7/fa5/1.5/16/1f642.png" height="16" src="https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v7/fa5/1.5/16/1f642.png" width="16" /><span class="_7oe">:)</span></span><br /> Additionally, they are just really lovely people. We thoroughly enjoyed our long chats and walks around the neighborhood. We would welcome them back to care for our home and pets anytime, and really hope we have that chance again soon!</span><br />
<hr />
Round Rock, Texas<br /> July 1st to July 21st<br /> Jack a chihuahua/dachshund<br />
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-296 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0865-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/IMG_0865-300x225.jpg" width="300" /><br />
Our Review:<br /> Terry and Clyde were excellent house sitters. They are a polite, eager, friendly and clean couple who are committed to doing the best for your pet(s) and your home. They communicated, via email, with us about a tree branch that broke. They dealt with this problem and utilized local resources to take care of it. We came home to a happy dog, a VERY clean house, a plate of cookies and lovely note. They are a delightful couple who can be relied upon to take care of everything that may come up during a house sit.<br />
<hr />
<br />
<h4>
Completed House Sit<br /> Ambatto, Ecuador House Sit<br /> October 2015 for three weeks<br /> Taking care of a blue tick hound dog named Jethro<br /> Gotta love that smile of his!</h4>
<h4>
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-302 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Jethro-300x200.jpg" height="200" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Jethro-300x200.jpg" width="300" /></h4>
Our Review<br />
Clyde and Terry were absolutely wonderful! Throughout the entire process of interviewing via Skype and email and when they actually got here until they left, they were open, kind, and courteous. We were a little nervous if they would like the sit since our area isn't really 'touristy', but their prior experience in South America was invaluable and really helped in every aspect. Once we met them in person, we felt 100%% confident that they were the perfect couple to stay with our (slightly neurotic) hound While we were gone, they kept us regularly updated not only on the status of our dog, but also with their adventures and sightseeing! It was great to see our area through their eyes. We came home to a sparkling clean apartment, happy and healthy dog, and a pot of chicken soup for lunch! It was a wonderful end to a great trip. We'd be more than happy to have them sit for us again if they ever want to head our way in the future!<br />
<hr />
<strong>House Sit Completed!<br /> Parrita, Costa Rica<br /> September 2015 for three weeks<br /> Taking care of Bolle, a german shepherd and Luna a mixed breed</strong><br />
<strong><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-303 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bolie-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Bolie-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></strong><br />
<br />
We do have a Property of 8000 qm2 ground. We had two Dogs on it, and a big house. We wanted to go to switzerland, as we had to resolve many idems. Therefore we where looking for a Housekeeping Couple. In Tierry and Clyde Cole we found a mindful, honest, clean Couple. We left them our KIA Pick Up Car, House with Swimming pool, and two Dogs. We staied away for 4 weeks.<br />
As we came back the car was in good condition, Clyde took care of it and also went once to the Garage. The house was clean and in order. Everthing was at its place, and the dog was happy and healty. As a house keeping Couple we can recogmend Clyde and Tierry Cole for sure.<br /> They have all what a house keeping Couple should have.<br />
So you really can go away without any worries or dubts. And when you come back you will enjoy even with a bunch of flowers and a clean house.<br />
Cheers INKA & Jörg Moser<br />
<hr />
<strong>House Sit Completed!<br /><span data-mce-style="color: #ff0000;" style="color: red;">Our first house sit!</span><br /> Ajijic, Mexico on Lake Chapala.<br /> July 2015 for three weeks<br /> Taking care of Everest the cat</strong><br />
<strong><img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="wp-image-304 size-medium aligncenter" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/1cat2-300x225.jpg" height="225" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/1cat2-300x225.jpg" width="300" /></strong><br />
<br />
No Review Given<br />
<br />
<br />
<hr />
<br />
<strong>Comments:</strong><br />
<img alt="Pet Sitting Resume" class="alignleft wp-image-468 size-medium" data-mce-src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/share-300x179.jpg" height="179" src="https://traveltheworldhousesitting.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/share-300x179.jpg" width="300" /><br />
If you have any suggestions, questions or just want to say Hello, feel free to leave a comment below. And if you like this post, please like it on Twitter, Facebook, G+ or other social networks.<br />
<span data-mce-style="border-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font: bold 11px/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% / 14px 14px; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; top: 412px; left: 610px;" style="background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% / 14px 14px; border-radius: 2px; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font: bold 11px/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; left: 610px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 412px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><br />
<span data-mce-style="border-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font: bold 11px/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% / 14px 14px; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; top: 8048px; left: 692px;" style="background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% / 14px 14px; border-radius: 2px; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font: bold 11px/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; left: 692px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 8048px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><br />
<span data-mce-style="border-radius: 2px; text-indent: 20px; width: auto; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; text-align: center; font: bold 11px/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; color: #ffffff; background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% / 14px 14px; position: absolute; opacity: 1; z-index: 8675309; display: none; cursor: pointer; top: 5387px; left: 211px;" style="background: #bd081c no-repeat scroll 3px 50% / 14px 14px; border-radius: 2px; color: white; cursor: pointer; display: none; font: bold 11px/20px 'Helvetica Neue',Helvetica,sans-serif; left: 211px; opacity: 1; padding: 0px 4px 0px 0px; position: absolute; text-align: center; text-indent: 20px; top: 5387px; width: auto; z-index: 8675309;">Save</span><br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-26002387774770839292018-12-23T09:02:00.002-08:002018-12-23T09:02:38.659-08:00Our Year In Review.....Feliz Natal....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This is actually our second Christmas in Portugal, even though we just moved here four months ago. If you remember, last Christmas was spent doing a house sit about two hours north of here, near the city of Castelo Branco. It was during that time that we first set eyes on this gorgeous country, talked to other foreigners who had settled here, and began seriously thinking about establishing a home base here.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUi0mpluso-kuFjX8s05OhmJIzKV4358286HE0smsMfZZvxqnoVwWel6H9SfduoJ4HniJJLfBIV2ossfmWDpHNTZrmgh-dAaJO44AgGRhGYAPqpGtKiu49P5U-tVW10nv3VbQRIFbvAc/s1600/Portugal%252C+Algarve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="400" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUi0mpluso-kuFjX8s05OhmJIzKV4358286HE0smsMfZZvxqnoVwWel6H9SfduoJ4HniJJLfBIV2ossfmWDpHNTZrmgh-dAaJO44AgGRhGYAPqpGtKiu49P5U-tVW10nv3VbQRIFbvAc/s400/Portugal%252C+Algarve.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Algarve, Portugal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<br />
After Christmas we headed to Munich, Germany where we welcomed in the New Year partying with the Germans. Our temporary home was located smack in the middle of the best part of Munich, where we cared for two darling dogs. With a free car to use we were able to explore numerous German towns that were just dripping with Bavarian charm.<br /><br /><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwRUEz-_LxOHlrD9XlaKjK3pbdlY5LxDCFgdd2RxCjNnrKDomDNh8LJzpM3vDZLR3VitiFtTE6exbM2d1syz63NqhzPb-Bd-JFbcuuylUz07StlMqlN6U1PNpFQF9VvZbR_fEbV2HfLM/s1600/Munich.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwRUEz-_LxOHlrD9XlaKjK3pbdlY5LxDCFgdd2RxCjNnrKDomDNh8LJzpM3vDZLR3VitiFtTE6exbM2d1syz63NqhzPb-Bd-JFbcuuylUz07StlMqlN6U1PNpFQF9VvZbR_fEbV2HfLM/s400/Munich.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Glockenspiel in Munich, Germany</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
From there we headed to India where we had booked a 10 day tour of the Golden Triangle. We visited New and old Delhi, Rajasthan, Jaipur and Agra where we delighted at the sights of the Taj Mahal. A world like no other we had seen, with smog, food and water that could kill us, we were way out of our comfort zone, but loved every minute of it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVG5LF2eQjJsLGCMxuZjQtq4qasn3DvQmCcRfndXykx1wuwzTPPTcGzIvYfPkyywNgXp9qZpqLyzOzxZJnY7P7HqjuWUt1lWoTnBGK2n4cSA4lcdXBSWPfzyrJ15ADvQi8m311fgqKvM/s1600/India.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMVG5LF2eQjJsLGCMxuZjQtq4qasn3DvQmCcRfndXykx1wuwzTPPTcGzIvYfPkyywNgXp9qZpqLyzOzxZJnY7P7HqjuWUt1lWoTnBGK2n4cSA4lcdXBSWPfzyrJ15ADvQi8m311fgqKvM/s400/India.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Taj Mahal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Then it was a long-haul, twenty hour flight from New Delhi, India to Panama City, Panama to visit the place we once called home. Our six-week vacation in Panama would allow us to visit old friends. Another perk is because we already had residency in Panama, we would be allowed to apply for residency in Portugal at the consulate there, instead of going back to the US to start the process.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVmoFI7bHb9x5ocixEo1GyKe3MbVXMKDwGZ2hShpJvDbNIpcm5TNQOaLKNrf0yMYsUOb6Z8cHsxmrnXd9BTZY8OOuZC2P2lumGVdXoZYbzyC3O-_hOCRx9PTxVg9ZTxia8qS-XRPii7A/s1600/Panama.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVmoFI7bHb9x5ocixEo1GyKe3MbVXMKDwGZ2hShpJvDbNIpcm5TNQOaLKNrf0yMYsUOb6Z8cHsxmrnXd9BTZY8OOuZC2P2lumGVdXoZYbzyC3O-_hOCRx9PTxVg9ZTxia8qS-XRPii7A/s400/Panama.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Coronado, Panama</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
From Panama we headed to El Paso, Texas for a family wedding, and to visit our kids and other family members. A side trek to the Grand Canyon in Arizona and New Mexico was a nice break also before flying onto other adventures.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ncc3yrOmXK4sT5unwm1dCEYGMZy-oWp33K3l_HQtB5ia7YHwU7MHgnE3-NUIkfMqRA_-RzirlNv7X5Vo5YHtmAIWaYJ7YhnbtvNAPkmLBSdHJPeLjb7ZYuqDR9BFclzWS30aO5FFu9M/s1600/Texas+Wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ncc3yrOmXK4sT5unwm1dCEYGMZy-oWp33K3l_HQtB5ia7YHwU7MHgnE3-NUIkfMqRA_-RzirlNv7X5Vo5YHtmAIWaYJ7YhnbtvNAPkmLBSdHJPeLjb7ZYuqDR9BFclzWS30aO5FFu9M/s400/Texas+Wedding.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clyde's son Cobey and his wife in the middle<br />Clyde's sister Donna, and her husband on the right</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6spTe5Yc-OD-NP3RJWIoXDnIwWo8g95km5Q5yNL2BptvGBS-FnVG2vo1Ku2qD3J2l7UtUc6f_2Ql0KSaYDe-4hiySN9pZ2ffBfo99MQheNIRS8cVawAKsVFIqxPrjLbG2IKDDdqIPYDA/s1600/Arizona.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6spTe5Yc-OD-NP3RJWIoXDnIwWo8g95km5Q5yNL2BptvGBS-FnVG2vo1Ku2qD3J2l7UtUc6f_2Ql0KSaYDe-4hiySN9pZ2ffBfo99MQheNIRS8cVawAKsVFIqxPrjLbG2IKDDdqIPYDA/s400/Arizona.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grand Canyon, Arizona</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgretRQjp7FlLy7pqek0dvw4r_0-jxTrSUx401WAvl5yGsGodNWFHNCFpTrIs8irE4MXmzuiTNfzk4-8WWyErmFPwFo08cIid0BvksN0WbioKiWOUCNetfTzRbKCvDIG50x5XQeE9yjta8/s1600/New+Mexico.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgretRQjp7FlLy7pqek0dvw4r_0-jxTrSUx401WAvl5yGsGodNWFHNCFpTrIs8irE4MXmzuiTNfzk4-8WWyErmFPwFo08cIid0BvksN0WbioKiWOUCNetfTzRbKCvDIG50x5XQeE9yjta8/s400/New+Mexico.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">White Sands, New Mexico</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
From Texas we flew to New Jersey, where I spent the first 19 years of my life. There we visited my sister and friends before heading back to Europe.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GeKyciOj2yusyXu_l5kFLkqLHfadK1GBl81GL8XzqvJtANWYhHrMhAnzJWyOfw12f5wUdDQz2O-VOdN20Pg4-kBc7vi9LuIx80OgAvSJw-RbEdw1C7o_VD43VKIykArFCcd16wl6Ae8/s1600/Jersey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-GeKyciOj2yusyXu_l5kFLkqLHfadK1GBl81GL8XzqvJtANWYhHrMhAnzJWyOfw12f5wUdDQz2O-VOdN20Pg4-kBc7vi9LuIx80OgAvSJw-RbEdw1C7o_VD43VKIykArFCcd16wl6Ae8/s400/Jersey.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Terry and her sister, Maryann</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_r4vT6Vbpmeumh3loDYJPXXBc3gSIWOGq84qMzOtmjHtVhdUW4flE592g6NT2oqdbzBcIeZrx3m2TisC5-kl_ufKCb90ls0vvoLYEs2QpQan8_3_APbmq7qyGgkPd8JUy2Fle8jn1wM/s1600/new+Jersey.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_r4vT6Vbpmeumh3loDYJPXXBc3gSIWOGq84qMzOtmjHtVhdUW4flE592g6NT2oqdbzBcIeZrx3m2TisC5-kl_ufKCb90ls0vvoLYEs2QpQan8_3_APbmq7qyGgkPd8JUy2Fle8jn1wM/s400/new+Jersey.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">New York Skyline in the background</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Back in Europe we landed at our next house sit in Belgium, a country we had long been wanting to visit. The tiny country exceeded our expectations with great people, food, and plenty to do and see. Besides seeing much of Belgium we explored the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Germany and more. And since we just happened to be there in April during tulip time, we were lucky enough to explore the massive fields of tulips that went on for miles.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9yBLL4NaqBOD44eh-sSttgdFQ8dogU2RvuDsaikEi0NjBNnKxBFpD2CHQvzxbNo5XpgWFKYYnA_cGZbZ0Q_Izfj6cEYIhgophh1Kzsfu_3pZvLq15c0oE52Ij4UkZfY1QlzOLs1SCgE/s1600/Belgium.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9yBLL4NaqBOD44eh-sSttgdFQ8dogU2RvuDsaikEi0NjBNnKxBFpD2CHQvzxbNo5XpgWFKYYnA_cGZbZ0Q_Izfj6cEYIhgophh1Kzsfu_3pZvLq15c0oE52Ij4UkZfY1QlzOLs1SCgE/s320/Belgium.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Belgium</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4j0WwYZciOWgfB6_7IXDGN5-hUEsl5-_fvVWGyitsegK2cI9Zb2ixfieNkyMTCwwkXPuwGzn41idRQBnUczCX-_WA3ffiZ25hyBN6suZQtv2ngXEDAHY5ZYpipVj4xB3U0JNvfayI6w/s1600/Holland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib4j0WwYZciOWgfB6_7IXDGN5-hUEsl5-_fvVWGyitsegK2cI9Zb2ixfieNkyMTCwwkXPuwGzn41idRQBnUczCX-_WA3ffiZ25hyBN6suZQtv2ngXEDAHY5ZYpipVj4xB3U0JNvfayI6w/s400/Holland.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="font-size: small;">Holland Windmill, Netherlands</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gYtfflAjHSRnluAjcesmDVlOUbDBmUDm7L_Luhg3oBrCq2eyETwqmOQvN8dKkA3opjh3ewujvFiZff4zxgwBvLlYRQImlCDWAgFLDrMF7YtrdznvZ3Xj3Z7Y7qE25lE6raSsZJKdgRI/s1600/Luxemberg.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7gYtfflAjHSRnluAjcesmDVlOUbDBmUDm7L_Luhg3oBrCq2eyETwqmOQvN8dKkA3opjh3ewujvFiZff4zxgwBvLlYRQImlCDWAgFLDrMF7YtrdznvZ3Xj3Z7Y7qE25lE6raSsZJKdgRI/s400/Luxemberg.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Luxemburg</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Our next destination was Mombasa, Kenya where we would spend the next six weeks. This was a place I had wanted to visit for many years, and was thrilled to have the opportunity to finally get there. Since we landed a five week house sit in the town of Mtwapa, I convinced Clyde that we must do a safari and game drive while there. With a private guide we toured Tsavo East and West National Parks along with Amboseli. For five days we stood in an open top van while viewing lions, giraffe's, elephants, antelope, hippos, water buffalo, and more roaming freely in their natural habitat. Wow....was all we could say! There we stayed in lovely lodges where wild animals roamed freely beneath us and even a tented hotel, where we were instructed not to go out at night. Since there was a lake full of hippos nearby, and hippos come out at night, we could not leave our tent until daylight.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YHjDoryfQ8Hnlb76bTVDkAiY-w2qHf523dHQyGw6w_rbYrDmVd33FlFELmXspKjTQmUpd0gUTzEmRebGALDmTRdPDPVDzgSHNtnpYl38mkJmzqYb_bUJRYFwP6O8VAoe1DZ6-WcDF2A/s1600/Kenya.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8YHjDoryfQ8Hnlb76bTVDkAiY-w2qHf523dHQyGw6w_rbYrDmVd33FlFELmXspKjTQmUpd0gUTzEmRebGALDmTRdPDPVDzgSHNtnpYl38mkJmzqYb_bUJRYFwP6O8VAoe1DZ6-WcDF2A/s400/Kenya.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Safari!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
After our safari our house sit proved to be yet another adventure of being way out of our comfort zone. While there were no domestic animals to care for, there were packs of wild monkeys that came around several times daily to entertain us. They climbed on the side of the house, the terraces and even peeked in the windows, apparently as fascinated with us as we were with them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgar3Dy8Borf4zeaRj69OFoGZ9Eif8-uH5k07YZJ06Luw_4nBy46_2BSi0pOTuBsoCVT2ve0kN75rneN7HVO4CIXbrk1GMq7PqKCEmHHYqwlRl2Dmy-ATkAbZi1N03WeRrAwmt69FNsNfY/s1600/Kenya%252C+Monkeys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgar3Dy8Borf4zeaRj69OFoGZ9Eif8-uH5k07YZJ06Luw_4nBy46_2BSi0pOTuBsoCVT2ve0kN75rneN7HVO4CIXbrk1GMq7PqKCEmHHYqwlRl2Dmy-ATkAbZi1N03WeRrAwmt69FNsNfY/s400/Kenya%252C+Monkeys.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Evening Entertainment</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Next we revisited an old favorite and repeated a house sit in El Gouna, Egypt. Our home was a large villa with a pool, on a beach that lead to the Red Sea. Although we arrived safely my two suitcases DID NOT! Egypt Airlines managed to lose my luggage and was totally unresponsive in answering the phone, emails or any other form of communication. It took one week to locate the first bag, which according to the tags on it had been around the world and back. The second bag remained lost for a total of three weeks and ended up being in Cairo Airport the entire time. Still to this day I have NOT received any compensation from the airline for clothing and other necessary items that we had to buy while waiting for my luggage. We have even hired a third-party company that is taking Egypt Airlines to court over the issue, but still have heard nothing in several months.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f4rX4tDKvy6rcm2BIJ3KFxFofARCXwG2dBZMRZ0p_oVKXeoEshwnePP8zBNRTNxJCBd1QAz4iVXcoRdVD7d9bU0gTPnFX3rBXqPFwodgm1DMNSu4lTuWIqUontRiz4GZWCbY_tSZ1wQ/s1600/Egypt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8f4rX4tDKvy6rcm2BIJ3KFxFofARCXwG2dBZMRZ0p_oVKXeoEshwnePP8zBNRTNxJCBd1QAz4iVXcoRdVD7d9bU0gTPnFX3rBXqPFwodgm1DMNSu4lTuWIqUontRiz4GZWCbY_tSZ1wQ/s400/Egypt.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Egypt House Sit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We left Egypt in August and landed in Portugal to begin our new lives here. Our new home is located near the city of Caldas da Rainha, about one hour north of Lisbon. The house we are renting has three bedrooms and one bath, a large balcony, private courtyard and stunning views of the countryside. And the best part is we pay only 350 euros ($400) per month.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1EBNSoh5xXydxuryJ2WtBfhtEPRRFqm9XzgVndmhV20UreIs1zAeGDzbshO4m2BiugOEl0OlhtaygN7g9SMVS2No7NOWKvv_5NA8bTuWQ-pIR0D7iayPup5Fak9S_uErpugnS7aqDz8/s1600/Portugal+House.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq1EBNSoh5xXydxuryJ2WtBfhtEPRRFqm9XzgVndmhV20UreIs1zAeGDzbshO4m2BiugOEl0OlhtaygN7g9SMVS2No7NOWKvv_5NA8bTuWQ-pIR0D7iayPup5Fak9S_uErpugnS7aqDz8/s400/Portugal+House.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our New HOME in Porugal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
One of the major reasons that Clyde wanted to settle in Portugal was for the healthcare. As residents we can access their National Healthcare System for little to no money. But like most public healthcare the wait times are long and doctors are few so we choose to go private. Even private healthcare is cheap here and we can see a doctor for just 40 euros. We have private healthcare for just 250 euros per month, for the two of us. It covers us at 90% if the doctor is in network, and 80% if they are not. We have used doctors here and the care is wonderful and they all speak English. Clyde's cardiologist even uses the same gym that we do so we see him every morning.<br />
<br />
Our mornings are spent in the gym and in the afternoons we study Portuguese, a difficult language to master. There are numerous events going on in and around Caldas and we have already met so many people here. We are SO much more involved with the community here than we were in Panama and even have Portuguese friends.<br />
<br />
We are involved with a private language teacher and do a weekly Skype lesson, along with weekly self study lessons from her. A local woman has started an informal conversation group that we attend as a way to allow ourselves more time to practice.<br />
<br />
There is a weekly bowling night of mostly British expats that we enjoyed which even includes dinner for just 15 euros a person. There is a monthly night of 60's and 70's soul music, dancing and dinner for the same price. There are expat mixers, luncheons, walking groups, and women's socials just to name a few of the many things offered here.<br />
<br />
We have friends from all over the world and are loving our new lives here. The weather is mild, with lows around 45 and highs around 60 during the day. But Portugal is damp which makes it feel cooler. And since buildings here have no insulation, the outside temperatures are actually warmer than inside the house. Yet we still love our rental house that offers us spectacular views of lush, green rolling hills, with few neighbors and easy access to the city and all that it has to offer. There are plenty of stores here, restaurants, gyms, clinics, produce markets, and a weekly market that sells just about everything.<br />
<br />
It's amazing to think that we actually live in Europe now and are speaking Portuguese, although not perfectly. The Portuguese people are friendly, caring and will go way out of their way to help just about anyone. Many of them do speak at least some English, which has made the transition much easier.<br />
<br />
From our corner of the world to yours, we wish you all Feliz Natal e Feliz Ano Novo de Portugal.....along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-37463895461134387052018-12-06T01:34:00.001-08:002018-12-06T01:34:13.743-08:00Another Day, Another Castle.......Oh My!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After our amazing visit to Fatima we followed signs to find yet another of Portugal's many castles in the village of Ourem (or-ahegn). The medieval little village with it's cobblestoned, narrow streets, tiny churches, and hilltop castle was just dripping with Portuguese charm. But since all castles sit high up overlooking the city that they were put there to protect, this one was no exception.<br />
<br />
After finding a place to park the car we headed out and up the long, steep hill. Unlike the hoards of people in nearby Fatima, we had this tiny hamlet all to ourselves. With its compact structure and two towers it offered a modern active defense system that protected against enemy fire.<br />
Behind the towers sits a palace that was used by the Count as his home. Nearby the newer structure sits a 12th century castle called, "Abdegas," which was also the ancient name of the settlement.<br />
<br />
While the Castle of Ourem was not one of the prettiest we've seen, it was nearby, free and not packed with tourists. Just another exciting day of exploring Portugal......along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/j5BovsbKvCE/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/j5BovsbKvCE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-45366145277141460112018-12-04T07:25:00.003-08:002018-12-04T07:25:37.600-08:00Hunting Down Dinosaurs......In Portugal.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Recently I blogged about apparitions said to have taken place in the historic village of Fatima, Portugal. For those of you that don't believe in sightings of the Virgin Mary, perhaps you will be more inclined to join us as we track down DINOSAURS?<br />
<br />
Dinosaurs? Really? Here in Portugal? Who knew? Certainly, not us! On our way back to the house, not far from the village of Fatima, I noticed a sign, which of course was in Portuguese. It said something to the effect of dinosaur footprints, from what we could figure so we followed it to see what was there.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/4gTyIe46hv4/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4gTyIe46hv4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Here is the video of our trip</div>
<br />
Out in the middle of nowhere was the entrance, marked by a giant statue of a dinosaur. We paid our 3 euros each and were guided through the building to a path. For the next 45 minutes to an hour we followed the rocky path until what appeared in the middle was an area encircled in rope. Once we reached the end of the path we walked down onto the smooth rock surface and literally walked next to over 200 preserved tracks from real dinosaurs that lived here some 175 million years ago. Wow!<br />
<br />
According to a Portuguese paleontologist named Vanda Santos, "It's as if the tracks are fresh, like the animals just passed by." The footprints form at least 15 tracks, two of which are more than 140 meters long. The longest track has some 90 footprints. Add to this the 141 meter track discovered near Lisbon a few years back and they make Portugal one of the worlds most concentrated areas of fossilized dinosaur footprints in the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jyA-kPcj4BNV9ttsDUXUZrdfwQa-enIYOdbJhUa2GsmUWf5bDQr-oxacuYnFplYpkYrkxvpWztdB9-0swApoCylzjaFaGlzRjcwMBKrQimPd0t6T5_33c4TPuJNsJCwxSJlUtLUj6Po/s1600/dino.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="768" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jyA-kPcj4BNV9ttsDUXUZrdfwQa-enIYOdbJhUa2GsmUWf5bDQr-oxacuYnFplYpkYrkxvpWztdB9-0swApoCylzjaFaGlzRjcwMBKrQimPd0t6T5_33c4TPuJNsJCwxSJlUtLUj6Po/s320/dino.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
While we know that Europe is old, we had no idea it existed some 180 million years ago!<br />
<br />
The tracks consist of the longest and oldest sauropod tracks anywhere in the world, that has been discovered. The sauropods were quadruped herbivorous dinosaurs with small heads and long necks and tails. They are some of the largest animals that ever lived on the planet.<br />
<br />
So once again by taking the road less travelled we discovered something new and exciting that happened oh so many years ago......along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
http://www.pegadasdedinossaurios.org/html/monumento_uk.htm<br />
<br />
<b></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "quot"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauropoda</span></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-50894030765442837052018-12-02T11:10:00.003-08:002018-12-03T09:50:51.187-08:00The Miracle Of Fatima.....In Portugal.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Many of you have inquired as to why I have not been blogging about our new life in Portugal like I did when we first landed in Panama seven years earlier? When we first settled in Panama everything was new and exciting, from going to the grocery store to the tropical sights all around us. But now that we have been living in Europe for the past two years during our house sitting adventures, things here have become normal, and don't seem worth writing about. Perhaps it's because we have become so well traveled that the new and unusual have become routine?<br />
<br />
But to sum it up our daily lives here include spending a few hours in the gym, five days per week followed by studying Portuguese every afternoon. Our studies begin on Monday with a self study pack from our teacher, then on Tuesday she sends us material for our lesson on Wednesday. On Thursday we attend a conversation group created by a local woman for foreigners to give us a place to practice chatting. Every morning while at the gym we chat with those around us in Portuguese too. I train with a personal trainer two times per week and have asked her to speak to me only in Portuguese for more practice, and even take a group exercise class where no English is spoken.<br />
<br />
Portuguese is a difficult language to learn but since we chose to move here we feel it's our responsibility to learn the language of our newly adopted country.<br />
<br />
Last weekend to break out of our normal routine, Clyde suggested we take a road trip to the village of Fatima. Just a one-hour drive from where we live, this once sleepy, unknown village is now visited by millions of people from around the world.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1rCnw4BcdFI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1rCnw4BcdFI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Check Out the Video Above</span></b></div>
<b></b><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
Having grown up Catholic, I had heard of Our Lady of Fatima through the years, but had absolutely no idea that the miracle happened in some unknown place called Portugal, that I would someday call home.<br />
<br />
According to legend, it was in May of 1917 when three shepherd children, Lucinda, age 10 and her two cousins, Jacinta age 7 and Francisco, age 9, claimed to have seen the Virgin Mary.The oldest child, Lucinda was the only one that spoke to Mary, who told them that she would appear to them on the 13th day of the month for the next six months. The children told their parents and others about the apparition and while some people in the village believed them, others did not. But as word spread more believers visited the village, until the final sighting on October, 13, 1917 where over 70,000 were in attendance.<br />
<br />
Mary told the children there should be a chapel built on the site where she appeared, along with predicting the end of World War I. Lucinda was informed by Mary that she would need to take the other two children soon to heaven, but that she herself would remain on earth to teach people about the Virgin Mary. Lucinda entered a convent and lived a religious life until the age of 96, and was later canonized into sainthood.<br />
<br />
While we had no idea what to expect in Fatima, we were both touched and rather impressed. Just the shear magnitude of the plaza surrounding the religious complex was awesome. Our first stop was the Basilica Of Our Lady of the Rosary. As we entered this grand scale church there was a service in progress with a priest chanting in Portuguese prayer. The altar was topped with a realistic painting of Mary with the children. Tears filled my eyes as I suddenly realized how special this place was to so many believers. We sat down for a bit to take it all in before heading back outside to the hoards of people.<br />
<br />
Nearby was an open air building packed with people looking and listening to yet another service being held in Portuguese. From what I could see in the distance was the statue of the Virgin Mary enclosed in glass. As I unfolded my brochure of the complex to see what this was, I realized that this very spot was the Chapel of the Apparitions that Mary instructed the children to have built in memory of her. The statue of Mary that the crowd was praying to was the exact spot where Mary was said to have appeared to the children.<br />
<br />
Just then I noticed a man on his knees literally crawling down a pathway as he was holding a small child. Soon I realized that other people were also doing penance, crawling on their knees to the shrine. Each year thousands of people make this pilgrimage, most on foot from various parts of Portugal to the world-famous shrine. Wow!<br />
<br />
On one end of the massive plaza was a tall cross known as The High Cross. In the middle of the plaza was a set of stairs that rose to a platform high into the sky. From the platform a priest or even The Pope himself could preach to nearly 100,000 people on any given day.<br />
<br />
Clyde and I have visited the Vatican in Rome and even toured Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other parts of the Holy Land in Israel, yet this place still impressed us.<br />
<br />
Opposite the ornate church sat an ultra, modern Basilica of the Holy Spirit. Although not as pretty as the older building, the inside of the basilica was more like a football stadium that could sit 9,000 people. Between the massive size of the basilica and the thousands of seats outside on the plaza we knew this place could host hundreds of thousands of people who came hoping for a miracle.<br />
<br />
The air was filled with smoke and the smell of melting wax filled our nostrils. A line of people snaked through the plaza, each and every one holding armfuls of golden candles. They faced an open fire pit where golden flames shined brightly. Clyde went to purchase some candles for us to add to the fire along with our prayers. While most people were tossing 4 foot candles into the raging flames others were gently placing smaller tapers into holders that sat perched in front of the fires.<br />
<br />
During our travels around the world we have encountered various religions, and to our amazement ALL attest to Mary as being the Mother of God, and she has a special place in the hearts of SO many.<br />
<br />
Whether you believe in the miracle of the apparitions at Fatima or not is up to you, but we felt the energy and enjoyed our experience there. From the mouths of innocent children, this unknown village gained worldwide fame as believers from around the globe made the trek there to experience the miracle. There are so many beautiful, fascinating and extraordinary places that we have yet to visit here in Portugal.....along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-28127252811771190922018-10-09T10:26:00.001-07:002018-10-09T10:26:31.606-07:00How Our Life In Portugal Is Shaping Up.......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It has been two months now since we planted our feet in Portugal with no further travel on our schedule for a while. Our days have been spent getting settled into our new rental house, working out at a nearby gym, and enjoying our new lives.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Here is a video that Clyde has done on one of our adventures. </b></div>
<div>
<b>Exploring the streets of Monsanto, Portugal</b></div>
<div>
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/mBk84lAezNs/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mBk84lAezNs?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></b></div>
<br />
<b></b><br />
<br />
There is the stress associated with the residency process, which we knew was a given, since we had been through a similar process in Panama. There are appointments with the local government offices that issue resident permits, tons of paperwork being sent back and forth from here to the US, and lots of headaches. Someday it will all be behind us, but for now it seems like that "someday" will never come.<br />
<br />
For the past two years when we were traveling fulltime people would often ask us, "what do you miss most about not having a home base?" My answer was always, "the gym." I missed my workouts, my tight abs, toned arms and sexy muscles that made it easy to stand, sit, and function in everyday life.<br />
<br />
Then last year I was diagnosed with osteoporosis in my left hip after my last bone density test was done in Spain. My hips hurt when I climbed stairs and my legs ached when I tried to sleep at night. Clyde was feeling the pains of aging also as he continually groaned whenever he would get up or move. Like they say, "if you don't use it you lose it, " and that applies to muscle as we get older.<br />
<br />
When I looked in the mirror I no longer liked the person that looked back. Instead of the fit, strong woman that I once was I saw a hunched over, flabby, old lady. I was no longer that dedicated, body builder who was in the gym at 5 in the morning when they first opened up. And Clyde no longer had a house on a large piece of land, like in Panama to keep him in shape.<br />
<br />
Something needed to be done and since we are somewhat settled here, we both thought it was essential that we find a gym and start working out again. The town that we live in has 4 or 5 gyms of varying sizes and equipment, so we toured several before deciding which one was right for us.<br />
<br />
Being a former gym rat, I have noticed some differences between US gyms and the one here. While Portuguese women do lift weights they tend to be thin with long, lean muscle. American women like myself want to see shapely muscles as a sign that we are fit and strong. Even most of the men here are not huge, bulky, body builders like many I saw in the US gyms. But chatting to my personal trainer she said it's a different way of thinking. Here, they are more concerned with health and well being and not so much about the size of ones biceps. And they think that all Americans that lift weight take muscle enhancing drugs to achieve that bulky, muscular look. I did dispel that fact that it is not the norm.<br />
<br />
As Americans we always heard about the healthy Mediterranean Diet along with the fit lifestyles of the European people as a whole. It's now been over two years that we have been living in various European countries and have the proof to share with you all.<br />
<br />
Vegetables, fruit, and fish are abundant throughout Europe and more affordable than they ever were in the US. But Europeans do love bread which is commonly eaten with most meals. Add to that the double carbohydrates, rice and potatoes are served with most restaurant meals here.Not to mention wine which literally costs way less then water. Europeans also eat dinner late in the evening, typically between 8 and 10pm probably due to the fact that they work later than a typical 9-5 workday. And every community has a bakery that is the heart of the community where people meet to socialize on a regular basis.<br />
<br />
So just like everywhere, there are people that frequent gyms and avoid the bad foods, and there are those that eat tons of carbs and live a more sedentary lifestyle. Throughout Europe and the United Kingdom though, people do love to walk and do much more of it than us Americans. Perhaps that helps to keep Europeans more fit than their American counterparts?<br />
<br />
In our spare time we do manage to get out and explore this gorgeous country that we now get to call home. Everywhere we look there are villages, cities and ancient ruins to visit. The highways here are smooth, wide and easy to navigate although pricey since many roads have imposed tolls. But that is the price we pay for modern infrastructure<br />
<br />
Shopping is varied from small markets in the village squares to mega shopping malls with brand names and prices to match. Sizing is a bit strange and something that I will have to get used to. For the ladies, bra sizes run in the 90's to 100's with similar cup sizes as the US. Instead of looking for 34 or 36 C, here there are sizes like 95C. Pants sizes are strange also and are listed with number sizing that does NOT coordinate to one's waist size. Sizes like 36, or 40 coordinate to US sizes of 6 or 10 in misses. Shoe sizes we had become accustomed to while living in Panama since they used European sizes there. Instead of wearing a size 8 someone here would wear a size 38 to confuse things even more.<br />
<br />
Time is spoken as the 24-hour clock or "military time" as many of us have come to know it. When asked to meet at 1300 that translates to 1pm for the rest of us. And the metric system is used throughout the world, with the exception of the US. Yet still we convert numbers in our head each time we see them. "What's the temperature today," Clyde might ask? I answer by saying it's 15 which converts to 60.<br />
<br />
But the most confusing change for us is to write the date which is written as day/month/year and screws with my head each and every time. Again, the stubborn US seems to be the ONLY country in the entire world that writes it as month/day/and year.<br />
<br />
Then there is the confusing language that we are learning called European Portuguese. In Portuguese a dog is a "cao" pronounced, "cow,".....the word for "pull," is, "puxar," pronounced, "pushar," just to name a few. The days of the week are numbered according to "market" days. There is "segunda feira," second market day, "terca feira," third market day and so on. And many of the vowels are "swallowed" as they say or just thrown out the window. Whenever the letter "m" is last it is never pronounced as an, "m" but is instead a nasal sound that sounds more like "n". Our language teacher tells us that the best way to pronounce a nasal sound is to smile. Apparently by keeping ones mouth mostly closed is the best way to speak European Portuguese, which works for me. Perhaps I should just shut my mouth all the time and be thankful that so many Portuguese people speak English?<br />
<br />
Regardless of our woes, we are loving our new life in Portugal. We are making friends, finding our way around and giving thanks that we have chosen this as our new adopted country to brag about......along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-89295732336012963762018-09-10T08:33:00.002-07:002018-09-24T07:56:06.249-07:00Our New Life In Portugal.....Living As Europeans.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The past few weeks here have whizzed by making us feel like spinning tops, whirling around at excessive speeds only to topple over at the end of the day when the twirling stopped. The internet at our rent house was just connected a few days ago, so we have felt a bit disconnected from the rest of the world, even with our phones connected.<br />
<br />
Saturday made it one week since we settled into our rented house and met our Portuguese landlady. Thankfully, the property manager was there to introduce us to her and help translate, since the homeowner speaks NO English. We are renting the upstairs of a two story house near the town of Caldas da Rainha, which literally means, "the queens hot springs."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8BVBMDRtf2eYaShwtiZOEQ6JBbx1lu0jv6TFQ30FLp11YZED1iuSLE4gimVHBJGgjYkeqYKS43j_livNxtHhym-vez1LMzuQfR7ybqfrd1PvVhsxBPRPvbNuXiUgr_VP02eZ25WRoiU/s1600/IMG_7090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy8BVBMDRtf2eYaShwtiZOEQ6JBbx1lu0jv6TFQ30FLp11YZED1iuSLE4gimVHBJGgjYkeqYKS43j_livNxtHhym-vez1LMzuQfR7ybqfrd1PvVhsxBPRPvbNuXiUgr_VP02eZ25WRoiU/s400/IMG_7090.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrWdZRgbJP9h5f4nwYC5h5y56p79QL0i0bbzVGH9TuaOqhvIcTnb6ckrDAQYs14LqqdRS_Cou6K_SfJMy1A5ExLBoiHISHS3cS-L04dNlUVW7FwgrSRWv89Ktbw9bP5nuert7H1jMW-c/s1600/IMG_7091.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrWdZRgbJP9h5f4nwYC5h5y56p79QL0i0bbzVGH9TuaOqhvIcTnb6ckrDAQYs14LqqdRS_Cou6K_SfJMy1A5ExLBoiHISHS3cS-L04dNlUVW7FwgrSRWv89Ktbw9bP5nuert7H1jMW-c/s400/IMG_7091.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
As the story goes, Queen Leonore was travelling through the area when she noticed some pheasants bathing in foul smelling waters near the roadside. She questioned why they would be soaking in such nasty liquid and was told of the miraculous, healing powers of the enchanting waters. The Queen tried the waters for herself and was SO impressed by the results that she ordered a hospital to be built around the waters, so that many people could benefit from its powers. The town of Caldas da Rainha was literally built around those thermal springs and that hospital is still a vital part of the community today.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0ePZRY636ip7qJRa8_wQ_l2XZQaSRAiTyLkeWHPPSY09gDvGbOJvYGoIPzSoh0BMKiVX53GgJ6BG5iLJ7q4LXETA5vReFnHRGRjWN4JwcryUF-f-fOPklDTFq4AbNP-Y9AXpUsZ0JVc/s1600/IMG_7088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN0ePZRY636ip7qJRa8_wQ_l2XZQaSRAiTyLkeWHPPSY09gDvGbOJvYGoIPzSoh0BMKiVX53GgJ6BG5iLJ7q4LXETA5vReFnHRGRjWN4JwcryUF-f-fOPklDTFq4AbNP-Y9AXpUsZ0JVc/s400/IMG_7088.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Located about an hour north of Lisbon, the town has it's cobblestoned downtown area that is so quintessentially European, along with a modern 3-story mall, giving us the best of both worlds. Caldas da Rainha sees only the occasional tourist pass through it's streets, and is home to a small expat community who share the area with many locals. All Portuguese towns are sectioned off into several smaller areas called, "freguesias," so we actually live in an area called, "Casal do Cozinheiro," about a ten minute drive from downtown Caldas.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyhTcHZru9SfqPEkNP5R_jTEtKxGlNMmoCC_kg38Y69j1qHtGM9sUxfql9TTRTOhPLCdT2i1Qi31wXo-N_IIcP1-Y6XwIzmALezwxdwc0TtqHp4SC_YN1DwHOQ4GQ6ormcyRVUBROuTw/s1600/IMG_7122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWyhTcHZru9SfqPEkNP5R_jTEtKxGlNMmoCC_kg38Y69j1qHtGM9sUxfql9TTRTOhPLCdT2i1Qi31wXo-N_IIcP1-Y6XwIzmALezwxdwc0TtqHp4SC_YN1DwHOQ4GQ6ormcyRVUBROuTw/s400/IMG_7122.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCU9oCAsSFsz8_c6GMIuwEQYWsVM0LPw6WfzinpzywvhcTOXE8P3Ds4v7kNNjvVVtnhekjqQB5GkX366mpBGRcb7zawG-00MVWH7KRTuFfgROr6H9iBNRVEU46oEB0TIAWa5iYRbu78c/s1600/IMG_7121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCU9oCAsSFsz8_c6GMIuwEQYWsVM0LPw6WfzinpzywvhcTOXE8P3Ds4v7kNNjvVVtnhekjqQB5GkX366mpBGRcb7zawG-00MVWH7KRTuFfgROr6H9iBNRVEU46oEB0TIAWa5iYRbu78c/s400/IMG_7121.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Meanwhile back at the house we attempted to chat with our landlady, a sweet, red-haired lady who works as a nurse in a Lisbon hospital. She lives full time in Lisbon, and only comes to this house for the occasional holiday. When she is here she will live next door, in the attached house, so there will be plenty of privacy for both us and her.<br />
<br />
In order to help us settle in she stayed here for three days, hiring a parade of workers to come and go from our house. First she had someone bring in a refrigerator and the following day workers came to check all of the doors and windows for proper working order. Since the house has never been rented before and had been sitting vacant for a long time, this all was necessary. She even had new pulls put onto every cabinet and drawer in the kitchen along with new hinges to ensure proper working order.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegc_w4v3Q-90R3OydUEeB38SbSa0bFVe4UEeVM9i7ky9G8Dd6vSr0iUp3NyDi7G9aMxwvimW7Io7tI-VFQN5R3WHqtJKlkjQ0Wfdo25ENQUAsS3BLFW3zSL5jeppQegZxWF2l4_jiV6E/s1600/IMG_7134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhegc_w4v3Q-90R3OydUEeB38SbSa0bFVe4UEeVM9i7ky9G8Dd6vSr0iUp3NyDi7G9aMxwvimW7Io7tI-VFQN5R3WHqtJKlkjQ0Wfdo25ENQUAsS3BLFW3zSL5jeppQegZxWF2l4_jiV6E/s400/IMG_7134.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
A few days later a washing machine showed up and later was installed along with having work done on the old dishwasher. The first wash cycle of clothes did not go well, and in fact caused a small flood in the laundry room. Our dear landlady took our clothes back to her house and washed them in her washer. A few days later when the washer was still not running properly, she insisted on leaving her door unlocked so that we could do laundry in her house while she was gone. And to think that we just met this woman and she was going out of her way to accommodate us.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaHis7zmxRLxli7kGcaj8qjfG3MGWLowidy8Cvvp_pXveVH1GNdgaAT9eedG1nWtTs9M53y9tr2a0OYEEpx1RwRTkvHkg9FWP8MSSmPWJNWavbRISEMLL5OiL6SRpjMXff1wE22q9ub4/s1600/IMG_7132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAaHis7zmxRLxli7kGcaj8qjfG3MGWLowidy8Cvvp_pXveVH1GNdgaAT9eedG1nWtTs9M53y9tr2a0OYEEpx1RwRTkvHkg9FWP8MSSmPWJNWavbRISEMLL5OiL6SRpjMXff1wE22q9ub4/s400/IMG_7132.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDVLEAT2XKilRmZrKr5TbxjoZevtdnTy56LsCr6CXwBIRK1_JBgoQ50KD1AlxDQ3zzFfOjg4ekWE355yNGNE5jld6ofPUqKc6yFLC44AHND_BFIvglUf6scR8BezdCji0cSnCKV9u7rg/s1600/IMG_7133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoDVLEAT2XKilRmZrKr5TbxjoZevtdnTy56LsCr6CXwBIRK1_JBgoQ50KD1AlxDQ3zzFfOjg4ekWE355yNGNE5jld6ofPUqKc6yFLC44AHND_BFIvglUf6scR8BezdCji0cSnCKV9u7rg/s400/IMG_7133.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Thankfully, before she left the washer was up and running properly. Clyde went downstairs to talk to her before she left and came back with a huge basket full of grapes and tomatoes from her garden. She gave us strict orders to help ourselves to anything growing in her garden while she was gone, otherwise it will just to go waste.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1FgJxEandiWWZzZRp7MY4Kh1fcqHvSwE0jJQsjLGqkvM0kxShlL_IjnWs727ib2rTdKTJgrr_hbovkIRh2lLymKc41omtyoNdcqMyiQ5Bmp_dkkCD7SviEWZxxV-pNglP3XQSDwcGIE/s1600/grapes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs1FgJxEandiWWZzZRp7MY4Kh1fcqHvSwE0jJQsjLGqkvM0kxShlL_IjnWs727ib2rTdKTJgrr_hbovkIRh2lLymKc41omtyoNdcqMyiQ5Bmp_dkkCD7SviEWZxxV-pNglP3XQSDwcGIE/s400/grapes.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We could not have wished for a better place to live and are so happy that we landed here. This house is old but full of antiques and old collectibles that are free for us to enjoy. What fun it was to "shop" for free in all parts of the house, moving around decorations and furniture to suit our needs. And besides the beautiful inside we have a garden and backyard to enjoy that even comes complete with a barbeque.<br />
<br />
A few days later another worker showed up to fix the dishwasher, that according to the homeowner never worked. While he did manage to get it running and all seemed good, the next morning we woke up to find that the dishwasher did not drain, and was full of water. Another call to the homeowner via the property manager, and today we were told that on Thursday a brand new dishwasher is being delivered and installed. Wow!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj6ooYGNDSvjMn0LmF3piOusnAUJbjX2tLz42g6kaNPY-Vt33n7RLDgZfxptTHM8h1-tbHH3gc-3q0FY_IG6dbRZOvmxzcoSrQy2KuGiYgcSWSaqVQfK0ZwVO7MRYguwqOEST4pbsVwI/s1600/ceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIj6ooYGNDSvjMn0LmF3piOusnAUJbjX2tLz42g6kaNPY-Vt33n7RLDgZfxptTHM8h1-tbHH3gc-3q0FY_IG6dbRZOvmxzcoSrQy2KuGiYgcSWSaqVQfK0ZwVO7MRYguwqOEST4pbsVwI/s400/ceiling.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0N9TDiF3Fr_pE3MT5owtwFFHVgKPSXJDbTuOu4J8QrYnsVzP1YP60_44bs53aZR9NHNRu3WIDgVGhgo7y_KOxsT3F9yDg_2iKTsDVBvzvTtcJpn-Y2kNvlg9EYh3n8gKIcW5vgbDcG2w/s1600/bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0N9TDiF3Fr_pE3MT5owtwFFHVgKPSXJDbTuOu4J8QrYnsVzP1YP60_44bs53aZR9NHNRu3WIDgVGhgo7y_KOxsT3F9yDg_2iKTsDVBvzvTtcJpn-Y2kNvlg9EYh3n8gKIcW5vgbDcG2w/s400/bar.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Our house even comes with fresh, baked bread delivered right to our door every morning, if we desire? And we were told that once the man knows what we want he will leave it on our doorstep, so we don't even have to be out there waiting. This is where I had to put my foot down and say NO to Clyde who was all for this little perk. Europeans LOVE bread and it's really cheap here which makes it hard to say no.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUz8qBWkTirOTJeUfw-axX0nIprsrynb_F2VAEQ88VYQEFA-KDl1OOOk_B_WK-OlbspFSWZl3i7xj5W1wBzFTpJlnRoBzUC7rejppg2eCMzdBpZu7emutfK0LEiZST_hlcgT6hUFMRZY/s1600/fireplace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoUz8qBWkTirOTJeUfw-axX0nIprsrynb_F2VAEQ88VYQEFA-KDl1OOOk_B_WK-OlbspFSWZl3i7xj5W1wBzFTpJlnRoBzUC7rejppg2eCMzdBpZu7emutfK0LEiZST_hlcgT6hUFMRZY/s400/fireplace.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Although the house is furnished with plenty of pots, pans, glassware and other stuff, we did make several trips to the store to pick up things that were missing. I insisted on new sheets, towels, pillows and one thing lead to another, and before we knew it we were the owners of plenty of new stuff.<br />
<br />
And within a few nights of sleeping on this tiny, double bed that measures only 135 centimeters in width, we realized that it would just not do. Another trip into downtown Caldas da Rainha to look for a store that sells mattresses, and one that would deliver to the house. As promised the store owner said the bed would be delivered on Tuesday at 2pm, and like clockwork there he was on our doorstep.<br />
<br />
As he and another man attempted to bring the base of the bed up that sixteen stairs into the house, I heard him say to Clyde, "sorry, but it will not go." What, I thought? That is NOT an option and there must be a way to get it up here? <br />
<br />
Since it was a warm day we had the balcony doors open to let in the fresh air. The balcony is off the living room and looks out onto the front of the house, right above where the van with our new bed was parked. Clyde suggested to the men that they push the base up onto the balcony from outside. Both men pushed it up to the balcony while Clyde and I hung onto it from above. Then one man raced up the stairs, grabbed the end that I was holding and the three men pushed, and pulled the thing up onto the balcony and eventually through the house and into the bedroom.<br />
<br />
Throughout Europe, many of the houses feature hooks that hang from the roofs of the houses for this exact reason. Oftentimes furniture needs to be lifted into the house via the windows or balcony doors, and today we witnessed that very thing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAly5z1se-8Tjy7btRZUzKp2m71jKIQATBHFx8FPLRuCs0vMX2kLem37X6NNizyXPvpoTt72tYmdVzY_uD5HbmZM4k83eY2j26X0gEkDh3UkDavtWc15QHVAN8kt50kyDIorRxdB3q6JY/s1600/IMG_7131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAly5z1se-8Tjy7btRZUzKp2m71jKIQATBHFx8FPLRuCs0vMX2kLem37X6NNizyXPvpoTt72tYmdVzY_uD5HbmZM4k83eY2j26X0gEkDh3UkDavtWc15QHVAN8kt50kyDIorRxdB3q6JY/s400/IMG_7131.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>This was the bed that came with the house<br />much too small for us!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfF1f4_dXexaWB1unmlYkHZ4TYsI3RfC5KArgkFpumSEimz4juyZI9jH-XLmrlsgEcZ4aXcrjQ9LT8kDjxk_xtCuCOK9CdngKv1VhITYBnTdPYOemACp7cyZFV1SBsMRpOML5m5jusrHI/s1600/bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfF1f4_dXexaWB1unmlYkHZ4TYsI3RfC5KArgkFpumSEimz4juyZI9jH-XLmrlsgEcZ4aXcrjQ9LT8kDjxk_xtCuCOK9CdngKv1VhITYBnTdPYOemACp7cyZFV1SBsMRpOML5m5jusrHI/s400/bed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Here is the bed we splurged on<br />I don't know if you can tell, but it is much wider!</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
To get around we would need to buy a car and since we plan to drive into other European countries, a newer model was necessary. With the advice of a friend and much research on Clyde's part, we choose a 2014 Renault Clio Diesel. The Clio diesel will get about 60 miles per gallon and since diesel costs around 80 cents less per gallon than gasoline, it's very cost efficient. Most of the cars here run on "gasoleo," which is the word for diesel in Portuguese.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX63TnWdRxfQbLPMrFSOeONb3LhjDAfuc2MYK9G3mgkP5kxzGC9GiPXLpoUpdG5PR1tSN_fqd-KMlBGVtWVkxQ3-uYM5EfoFHT0lBEUvit8k5hdD2hQ2b7TmgaRKtjwuaVz077BG_qYbA/s1600/Mondial-Renault-Clio-Initiale-Paris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="632" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX63TnWdRxfQbLPMrFSOeONb3LhjDAfuc2MYK9G3mgkP5kxzGC9GiPXLpoUpdG5PR1tSN_fqd-KMlBGVtWVkxQ3-uYM5EfoFHT0lBEUvit8k5hdD2hQ2b7TmgaRKtjwuaVz077BG_qYbA/s400/Mondial-Renault-Clio-Initiale-Paris.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Moving to Portugal was WAY easier than moving to Panama was. The Portuguese people are kind and hard working, service workers show up on time and get the job done quickly, and many of the locals speak English. And what a nice surprise to discover that television programming is mostly in English with Portuguese subtitles. Even the movie theaters here show English films with Portuguese subtitles at a cost of 4 euros per movie.<br />
<br />
I have to admit that I was not too happy about coming here since for me it meant settling down into a normal, boring life again. Clyde wanted to come here for the good, affordable healthcare and by having residency here it will allow us to stay in Europe long term. But since we have been here I have to say that I really like it. The house, the town, making friends, and still begin able to travel will be wonderful. The best part is by having a home base we NO longer have to travel with everything that we own. We will be able to pack one small suitcase and go.<br />
<br />
Today we tried out the bus system since we needed to return the rental car to a drop off point near Lisbon Airport. Instead of driving both cars into Lisbon, we parked the Clio in Caldas and drove the rental car to the drop off spot. From there we ordered an Uber taxi to take us to the main bus terminal in Lisbon, at a cost of 7 euros. From there we bought two bus tickets on the Expresso Bus back to Caldas da Rainha, at a cost of 8 euros each for the one hour ride. The bus was plush and modern and even offered an on board bathroom. A stress free ride back for Clyde and a bit of nap time for me.<br />
<br />
Life in Europe is rather different than life in the US in many ways. Cars all come with standard transmissions, clothes dryers are nowhere to be found, refrigerators are tiny so many things are stored in the pantry and wine is cheaper to buy than water. Coffee is served everywhere in itsy, bitsy cups that look more like a shot glass than a coffee cup. We order,"cafe Americano," which is served in a 6 ounce cup that sells for the low price of 40 to 60 cents per cup! Aside from the price of gasoline or diesel, electricity, and the price to buy a car, everything else is cheaper here, and that is precisely why we are here.<br />
<br />
We are loving life in Portugal, learning to live as Europeans and looking forward to more adventures.....along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-57081576498438472382018-08-27T14:05:00.000-07:002018-08-27T14:38:18.476-07:00Our New Home In Portugal......The Decision Has Been Made....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Sometimes we just have to believe that something out there that is greater than us will lead us in the right direction and help us make the right decision. This was the case in finding a place to live here in Portugal. While we had decided that we wanted to live in a town not in the country, in an apartment not a house and in certain towns that seemed to have no available rentals, the universe had other ideas.<br />
<br />
We literally sent out over 80 inquiries, in Portuguese, that we found on websites along with texts to match, and only received maybe 8 to 10 replies back. Some of those replies said the apartment had already been rented, another specified that he wanted longer than a one year contract signed, and still others did not offer what we needed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKI8x-bEW-Ee9y1dMSCCszh-LVrLIQ-UgEBXz4pG2z3DthL0YZ48yOrLdpa9NjUC7BQ6X7V7RU4DiQ1xm50tIvijMngLMt_3YkE0zyYn5hXk9v_cypYRZr9MKzh3NkzzVnq6q_4_a-Hk/s1600/pulling+out+hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="292" data-original-width="323" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKI8x-bEW-Ee9y1dMSCCszh-LVrLIQ-UgEBXz4pG2z3DthL0YZ48yOrLdpa9NjUC7BQ6X7V7RU4DiQ1xm50tIvijMngLMt_3YkE0zyYn5hXk9v_cypYRZr9MKzh3NkzzVnq6q_4_a-Hk/s400/pulling+out+hair.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Then one day out of the blue a female real estate agent named Celia called Clyde's cell phone asking us to come into her office so she could show us what she had available to rent. At the time we were looking in towns other than where she was, but explained that when we were in her area we would be in touch. Since we are renting in the Algarve Region of the country, she was a good 4 hour drive or more from where we were, so we could not meet with her until we were closer.<br />
<br />
Frustrated by the lack of response on rentals I had the bright idea to look for a short-term rental in Central Portugal, closer to the towns that we wanted to live in. This would give us a chance to talk to agents, contact people through ads and hopefully get to see some available rentals.<br />
<br />
What I found was a $35 a night, four-bedroom apartment in the town of Alcobaca. Here we could cook some meals in the apartment and explore areas of interest to us. When we arrived we were greeted by two gentleman, a father and son who showed us to the house. The apartment was in the basement of a house under renovation, attached to several other houses in the same state of disarray. One man spoke good English while the older gentleman did not speak any. Once inside we were shocked and realized that we were definitely in REAL Portugal now. The kitchen is tiny with the remains of an old fireplace over the stove that hangs down so low that even I can bump my head on it. The bathroom is an adequate size and the rest of the apartment is JUST rooms with small beds in them. Because it's a basement apartment it's colder than outside each time we walk in. But the good news about this place is that everything is new, so it's clean, and it has WIFI and free parking nearby.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZDMUNeafrTZmSthQDC6MmdCoU8wCkDs6qe17AZZWfJMQ4K38fqy0IfCvAuFp7B-XUuM1QfZ3KKa-VUpcWQSL7y2o30EaxUBva4-oW7Owxk8ExJX-1Zerh2xiCUUeht1SRoUwruFCNMc/s1600/IMG_7128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbZDMUNeafrTZmSthQDC6MmdCoU8wCkDs6qe17AZZWfJMQ4K38fqy0IfCvAuFp7B-XUuM1QfZ3KKa-VUpcWQSL7y2o30EaxUBva4-oW7Owxk8ExJX-1Zerh2xiCUUeht1SRoUwruFCNMc/s400/IMG_7128.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Is This Thing A Hazard Or What? </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>This Is The Cheap Temporary Rental Apartment</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<br />
Back to the apartment hunt, our plan was to contact Celia the day after arriving here to meet with her and see if she could help us find a place to live. Clyde looked through his notes and phone and could not figure out which phone number was hers, so we could not call her. We gave up on that idea and decided to head into the town of Caldas da Rainha, since we had heard it might be a place we'd want to live.<br />
<br />
While driving down the highway Clyde's phone rang and he handed it to me to answer. It was Celia who said, "I have been waiting to hear from you since you said you would call me when you were in this area." She said she could meet with us later that afternoon and said she would call us around 1pm when she was free.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4oRPbpi4O32uZt0lCiqWsPEmb3L496y6PsMn2L-OjrT5J1EuxcwKXVYpHyK6pFBtSrAYD0iNik8dDHwTFmx2s6YgTrP3eUNBOJKN0HFGgvrNfjCris6kgb3ItLlIigTYKqEc4vPizUg/s1600/ringing-cell-phone-clip-art-images-pictures-becuo-obdogm-clipart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1300" height="333" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4oRPbpi4O32uZt0lCiqWsPEmb3L496y6PsMn2L-OjrT5J1EuxcwKXVYpHyK6pFBtSrAYD0iNik8dDHwTFmx2s6YgTrP3eUNBOJKN0HFGgvrNfjCris6kgb3ItLlIigTYKqEc4vPizUg/s400/ringing-cell-phone-clip-art-images-pictures-becuo-obdogm-clipart.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Once inside the town of Caldas da Rainha, which literally means, "queen's hot springs," we drove around admiring the small city. Just then Clyde's phone rang again and it was another gentleman offering to show us an apartment. First we said no since we had the appointment with Celia, but later called the man back to see the apartment. We found the building and waited inside the lobby until 2pm but the man never showed up. Frustrated we went back to the car to call Celia who was an hour late calling us back.<br />
<br />
When Clyde asked Celia where her office was, coincidentally, her office was right down the street from where we were parked. It was so close that we could see it from where we were parked, so we hopped out of the car to go meet with her. Inside her office we were greeted by a young, red-haired woman who spoke good English and began telling us what she had to offer. Not an apartment but a private home in the country, about a ten minute drive from the center of Caldas da Reinha. The house is fully furnished and we could rent it for 350 euros ($400) per month. She showed us photos on her computer and we agreed to follow her in our car to see the house.<br />
<br />
We followed her for what seemed like an eternity (only 10 minutes), down winding roads, past cornfields, lush farmland, orchards and through little villages that dripped with European charm. And finally she pulled up alongside a house that sat not far from the road. <br />
<br />
Just then I yelled out to Clyde, <b>"this is that house we tried to find that day!" Oh My Gosh.....maybe this IS meant to be? It's a sign!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-ccRZnjBZWBRc1lMeYKhdjcsG1nc1UpzytWvO5XwtanxACAtwI8OiY876NALqxYj1COR1XRbzDQ66HrEAfxjeRiva0pMbT5CqP5rKnOsXk9zw4Xe5a5SxDI4nNSYVuM3M1SlAu5lxjI/s1600/IMG_7090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-ccRZnjBZWBRc1lMeYKhdjcsG1nc1UpzytWvO5XwtanxACAtwI8OiY876NALqxYj1COR1XRbzDQ66HrEAfxjeRiva0pMbT5CqP5rKnOsXk9zw4Xe5a5SxDI4nNSYVuM3M1SlAu5lxjI/s400/IMG_7090.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>The Outside....Notice The Windows That Lead To Another House Where The Owner Stays When She Is Here</b></div>
<b>
<br />
</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sQsJW-s9UtBdGq5c9Qn1Xvh3uECVC01zl5RazLibIlkBV4BuB2FshMA8t5TeP46ULSL4DmNLgQC68Ts7cc3JGk5qmJNJPi1_XHPOjX0_lleH6oAvYbyYVIjqfTXcbJ75DXuZNY_m4ro/s1600/IMG_7092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2sQsJW-s9UtBdGq5c9Qn1Xvh3uECVC01zl5RazLibIlkBV4BuB2FshMA8t5TeP46ULSL4DmNLgQC68Ts7cc3JGk5qmJNJPi1_XHPOjX0_lleH6oAvYbyYVIjqfTXcbJ75DXuZNY_m4ro/s400/IMG_7092.JPG" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<b>
</b><b><br /></b>
Soon after arriving in Portugal Clyde and I had to meet with our lawyer in Lisbon to work on our residency visa. Afterwards, we went out exploring an hour or so from Lisbon, since that is the area we were hoping to live. I was looking online for apartments and sending out emails in Portuguese assuming that people would call us back and we could go look at some places. Up popped a photo of a villa for rent, and since it was nearby we put the address into google maps to go find it and at least see it from the outside.<br />
<br />
But sometimes the google maps lady leads us astray, and try as we may we could NOT find the house and finally gave up. The house featured an unusual exterior that I could not forget, so when we came to a stop in front of the same house behind Celia, <b>I was shocked.</b><br />
<b></b><br />
Most houses in Portugal are white in color with orange, tiled roofs, but this house was different. It stood out among the others in the neighborhood, with its black and white bricked façade, tiled courtyard that was accented by plants and a tree. It was ever so inviting with its cute curb appeal and looked like the type of place that had been well cared for.<br />
<br />
And here we were about to go into this house that could be our new home! WOW!<br />
<br />
Inside we were greeted by a staircase that sat in the middle of a spacious entryway. Celia explained, there was a garage and bedroom on the bottom floor. On the rare occasion that the homeowner, a single female who worked as a nurse in Lisbon was there, she would live in the downstairs bedroom. It offered a separate entrance from the outside along with a house attached to the main house, so we would never have to see each other. Upstairs were 3 bedrooms, one large bathroom, a large eat-in kitchen with pantry, formal dining room and living room combination with a huge fireplace, a long balcony, corner bar for entertaining, a gorgeous tiered ceiling trimmed with crown molding.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoDc_5A1gQGFETAFNUKf_G1frLvgsmVb49hNohWhTgWW-1owcNrP17WspMjZhv_yCyuV4DJ339g5BRvYiOezN4Ll1Z8BlZGQx4uG3lZY2W79tBceHuzcrgGyOZhcq8SnZPXQUAkjZeu0/s1600/IMG_7115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkoDc_5A1gQGFETAFNUKf_G1frLvgsmVb49hNohWhTgWW-1owcNrP17WspMjZhv_yCyuV4DJ339g5BRvYiOezN4Ll1Z8BlZGQx4uG3lZY2W79tBceHuzcrgGyOZhcq8SnZPXQUAkjZeu0/s400/IMG_7115.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>The Entryway....Red Fabric Protecting The Rug Runners On The Steps</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hg6Se0OUCU99Uz9AwP0rrlVdvq48LBFGBM2-WcPb1SAdZtx0dOW-lskNg_8kImjVcQLUqmndC-SizkMNt3LhKXcvIAgRGgXAthkMK1yR6dO5z4Aq9geeqvdzL9nJVGgNX6qPi2CBi4M/s1600/IMG_7125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8hg6Se0OUCU99Uz9AwP0rrlVdvq48LBFGBM2-WcPb1SAdZtx0dOW-lskNg_8kImjVcQLUqmndC-SizkMNt3LhKXcvIAgRGgXAthkMK1yR6dO5z4Aq9geeqvdzL9nJVGgNX6qPi2CBi4M/s400/IMG_7125.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We could describe our new home as "Antiqure Elegane in an Almost New Conditions". The furnishings were incredible<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span>and the walls were painted bright colors that coordinated with the Portuguese tile on the floors and walls. This place was truly like a museum filled with antique furnishings, decorations, and radiant elegance. And it comes complete with pots and pans, dishes, glassware, appliances and more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhKMokyyVAmfM5o_1B94AS9Y4JHGbzHjMN7mTVxw28biglotbAn0ux7pEuoLeVT7D_2nECH0gIcHUfOkOY8He-wAKwDh-7ZYJ4D3le-MHplXQ9LjpfK0gBbsPoO0yCNy08k8IcJTzLDs/s1600/IMG_7095.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjhKMokyyVAmfM5o_1B94AS9Y4JHGbzHjMN7mTVxw28biglotbAn0ux7pEuoLeVT7D_2nECH0gIcHUfOkOY8He-wAKwDh-7ZYJ4D3le-MHplXQ9LjpfK0gBbsPoO0yCNy08k8IcJTzLDs/s400/IMG_7095.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Old Time Bar In The Corner</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxKdEBiq-ZZWefw_axH46lM-816TNo7b6B2RFphTpYIkcZeSQr4vCfhsFSixLT88E1odTbYhoMMENSH0CW4tnsC09xdfY9LiYYgio88BXxgYBQ6eFgLeTMpMGG1PPnBPWQWOzrUqMvXM/s1600/IMG_7117.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXxKdEBiq-ZZWefw_axH46lM-816TNo7b6B2RFphTpYIkcZeSQr4vCfhsFSixLT88E1odTbYhoMMENSH0CW4tnsC09xdfY9LiYYgio88BXxgYBQ6eFgLeTMpMGG1PPnBPWQWOzrUqMvXM/s400/IMG_7117.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Nic Nacs Everywhere</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEVAW-H-1nCN-Gg9CNmjBMZxxp02xnM7ANaxn0ryNQCMAubjD_qWsFpjYg-PdJ2KY11FZQw0USUzpUlGNXxgo6rIZvAskd8YmKFpeSDmT5Fafd-_7oYTC95McqepylCGPx5Dpmi5QaKE/s1600/IMG_7096.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEVAW-H-1nCN-Gg9CNmjBMZxxp02xnM7ANaxn0ryNQCMAubjD_qWsFpjYg-PdJ2KY11FZQw0USUzpUlGNXxgo6rIZvAskd8YmKFpeSDmT5Fafd-_7oYTC95McqepylCGPx5Dpmi5QaKE/s400/IMG_7096.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Lovely Fire Place In Living Room</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcU2UbePdcfA2K90P1UYGoJZKNIJ0HH0dZi9zSHAq_v3OUuqMf6bRofkHn9NqZxYiNRB9Zakyfuz49knIcrCUQ5Khu6NguBn18pr_w0na1D0mFbJwXNidOwpspNpp9L4Qdtey69x6Oxg/s1600/IMG_7097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcU2UbePdcfA2K90P1UYGoJZKNIJ0HH0dZi9zSHAq_v3OUuqMf6bRofkHn9NqZxYiNRB9Zakyfuz49knIcrCUQ5Khu6NguBn18pr_w0na1D0mFbJwXNidOwpspNpp9L4Qdtey69x6Oxg/s400/IMG_7097.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Formal Dining Room</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aheRv0e1Mm7_Z5zpQiaxkxJcg3zrYkwxI95l3o2xVK0xdaoVel5iEjjEK216yiVrDiK6p9-RBJE7fBpRMW1ID_LdPqTswf8fOGWwoR1DxFtS8uau2yKrHZsuWcROfMe7OihHUwF6-30/s1600/IMG_7098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2aheRv0e1Mm7_Z5zpQiaxkxJcg3zrYkwxI95l3o2xVK0xdaoVel5iEjjEK216yiVrDiK6p9-RBJE7fBpRMW1ID_LdPqTswf8fOGWwoR1DxFtS8uau2yKrHZsuWcROfMe7OihHUwF6-30/s400/IMG_7098.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Love The Ceiling In Living Dining Area</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSTr6_iCxFkD2WG030Vy1rnokoG72EZ2rMK3YWxqvcg75xXrtfGx8Vrzouq-GxZU-TRF4AaRO0taDl8L4pkS4yBHh96NO8mm7x6IZbF2dJK77Rdw9QRVeXTvLYmbMZ6IyasRKon-_dDI/s1600/IMG_7116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSTr6_iCxFkD2WG030Vy1rnokoG72EZ2rMK3YWxqvcg75xXrtfGx8Vrzouq-GxZU-TRF4AaRO0taDl8L4pkS4yBHh96NO8mm7x6IZbF2dJK77Rdw9QRVeXTvLYmbMZ6IyasRKon-_dDI/s400/IMG_7116.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6RxxpMugCTQCw78Nqmn921Bt7VH6sqmzNRLixi_HaGLAOdXiMFggrw6z9iCMSsQGuSIzud26iKMqxZmatru04cVJtSegt43_gcuxr6ejoqHog7FBJCz6GyNdrBKfGgXil9F-sa7K0V4/s1600/IMG_7124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6RxxpMugCTQCw78Nqmn921Bt7VH6sqmzNRLixi_HaGLAOdXiMFggrw6z9iCMSsQGuSIzud26iKMqxZmatru04cVJtSegt43_gcuxr6ejoqHog7FBJCz6GyNdrBKfGgXil9F-sa7K0V4/s400/IMG_7124.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
While Clyde was chatting with Celia and the caretaker I plopped down on the couch and immediately felt at home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4bLuckphFLKUcR6N8e-tDiIzenlJK4oM2fPO8yFpkucZ9PiAtl929Be1IH1fpYeplr6cYrGDHoFitpYJ1GfV-PfYwXOLYKAf0pwx-L4FsPpWLSDNXNBpAIn6Uw8QGZF9bFrn5BT4kOU/s1600/IMG_7101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl4bLuckphFLKUcR6N8e-tDiIzenlJK4oM2fPO8yFpkucZ9PiAtl929Be1IH1fpYeplr6cYrGDHoFitpYJ1GfV-PfYwXOLYKAf0pwx-L4FsPpWLSDNXNBpAIn6Uw8QGZF9bFrn5BT4kOU/s400/IMG_7101.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Kitchen, Laundry Room In Distance, Pantry To The Right</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNsCVnd7xG3Xo8iaKUT3YcHXQstYyCwKBtbDTPpFpnjN4KDpvQUx94fBmHWdShjUE7UqeLAYSkbzY8PrOyD1msj1Sr30iHRNFPW6d5JKs21HAnosBGisvcNW6663MqfcIF28j-2skeew/s1600/IMG_7105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNsCVnd7xG3Xo8iaKUT3YcHXQstYyCwKBtbDTPpFpnjN4KDpvQUx94fBmHWdShjUE7UqeLAYSkbzY8PrOyD1msj1Sr30iHRNFPW6d5JKs21HAnosBGisvcNW6663MqfcIF28j-2skeew/s400/IMG_7105.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Eat In Kitchen, Door Leads Out To Yard</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>That Is Yellow Fabric Protecting The Area Rug Underneath</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><b></b><br /></div>
<br />
I cornered Clyde to ask what he thought and all he could say was, wow! We were amazed that we could live in this nice of a house, with so much stuff, for just 350 euros, or $400 US. We had found our new home!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuypbNDKLAfroI55hROeIKP3679lChxBhQfLdn9ZjgJ-UGceAhGCg9eCiYv8YCqFoAeAfc76FQx5RGMEHlDZwszDD7WddvWyPI7iSssLUh8z52icQfvze6ddlB5sgL5iQm8QoxRky-u0c/s1600/IMG_7100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuypbNDKLAfroI55hROeIKP3679lChxBhQfLdn9ZjgJ-UGceAhGCg9eCiYv8YCqFoAeAfc76FQx5RGMEHlDZwszDD7WddvWyPI7iSssLUh8z52icQfvze6ddlB5sgL5iQm8QoxRky-u0c/s400/IMG_7100.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Today we met with Celia again to sign a contract to rent the house for our first year. She said the owner was delighted to hear about us and even said she would give us the WIFI code for the house, so no need to sign up for internet. We have discussed rearranging some of the furniture which we were told was just fine. Not to mention that there is a garage FULL of other furniture, decorations and plenty more stuff just in case we need something else.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KsFdi-dcetFH1mEsg2CGCdd83e-EU75mt5Q_nmfK5AzTwPzCohg4ht5XXrenTibZ-RV_EmhdOMKb8fbLU26mSfp7Yn0-1aFIPAZxahzYXs49k1px3ZszPcedHhTE66QEM58-fn2Q0ok/s1600/IMG_7108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KsFdi-dcetFH1mEsg2CGCdd83e-EU75mt5Q_nmfK5AzTwPzCohg4ht5XXrenTibZ-RV_EmhdOMKb8fbLU26mSfp7Yn0-1aFIPAZxahzYXs49k1px3ZszPcedHhTE66QEM58-fn2Q0ok/s400/IMG_7108.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Bathroom</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-F23geoYJPx_o-ToZlycl-IpX3_Yumyq9cgmivdDM2zi9KS-MTtkfQuWBo_yEANNaOQoreMLvXCvYhCU1DV_QJSyVBMWHEH_SA2zIZeNfz7hnZv88L_Sk6TxK10NjVDQkud3MOdwALU/s1600/IMG_7109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy-F23geoYJPx_o-ToZlycl-IpX3_Yumyq9cgmivdDM2zi9KS-MTtkfQuWBo_yEANNaOQoreMLvXCvYhCU1DV_QJSyVBMWHEH_SA2zIZeNfz7hnZv88L_Sk6TxK10NjVDQkud3MOdwALU/s400/IMG_7109.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Funky Lime Green Bathroom....Lots Of Portuguese Tile<br />and she has a bidet!</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /></div>
<br />
When we first started talking about renting in Portugal we decided on a budget of 300 to 500 euros per month. While we can afford to spend more we do still want to travel and by spending less on rent and monthly expenses we will have more money available to explore this wonderful world in which we live.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-5v4Qfhz3YH0ADcI9gk4bsf7g8Mu8h9IgFCyz67IZ0tCZF7vcncZyTPwT83Sw5b4VUA_z-BWogtz1-ARB8KrlT2a8EtJS9NBWqttKiXDv2FHukzLU2RkJHqctBXCuDwW4u9f-uhWp3I/s1600/IMG_7099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-5v4Qfhz3YH0ADcI9gk4bsf7g8Mu8h9IgFCyz67IZ0tCZF7vcncZyTPwT83Sw5b4VUA_z-BWogtz1-ARB8KrlT2a8EtJS9NBWqttKiXDv2FHukzLU2RkJHqctBXCuDwW4u9f-uhWp3I/s400/IMG_7099.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Bedrooms</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1eiVFYgy-BYMpVEcWggNGrtG9sGeLvQhe9fCDZDpcKeaRdP1LPHXFxZUj3JJA4ELTcP4ZS0Yz-lOYnMz5dQrBsvCc1Dn08aRnlCeh-M0NXsfJ5MTMLO9It2sMELObumO35oYukD_e88/s1600/IMG_7110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX1eiVFYgy-BYMpVEcWggNGrtG9sGeLvQhe9fCDZDpcKeaRdP1LPHXFxZUj3JJA4ELTcP4ZS0Yz-lOYnMz5dQrBsvCc1Dn08aRnlCeh-M0NXsfJ5MTMLO9It2sMELObumO35oYukD_e88/s400/IMG_7110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJhkLpBV2mVqXzoZg4gfUMwcPAxKP7ujAALzECu254VEkWAiFeJ2Z20pNNkMBPUyPGnpxPHP1VMtdQ58RK5GM_WxyPkXzmMLgh7939LRaGmtnVRTKhFlu5E4xICv9AM8N6ZfiTL5UzDI/s1600/IMG_7111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJhkLpBV2mVqXzoZg4gfUMwcPAxKP7ujAALzECu254VEkWAiFeJ2Z20pNNkMBPUyPGnpxPHP1VMtdQ58RK5GM_WxyPkXzmMLgh7939LRaGmtnVRTKhFlu5E4xICv9AM8N6ZfiTL5UzDI/s400/IMG_7111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZkOcxexYZ6wRroT_C1LdN3ujYgHeyDe7Y-JvvQSjuLzWwd32o7D1JAm343AnScDkeoB8WQ9lXLkKhocwBd2WDYzEjuA_ndjvcCaK4L6ibYjoboU7JXwy2JLPqRGw2_CGT69twwXMW_4/s1600/IMG_7112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimZkOcxexYZ6wRroT_C1LdN3ujYgHeyDe7Y-JvvQSjuLzWwd32o7D1JAm343AnScDkeoB8WQ9lXLkKhocwBd2WDYzEjuA_ndjvcCaK4L6ibYjoboU7JXwy2JLPqRGw2_CGT69twwXMW_4/s400/IMG_7112.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
After our meeting with Celia we went to look at the house again and were even more impressed with it the second time around.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU7n8uVPWuB5fOBZOkQUki7jvGNZPbw5gy4c24JMKCs0eBFS64EZPUGfXC0rliFJgC0x2Ft8m57VvisR0QtBwTGYrWd3BqRdY1SydsC7l_1-KXrERLR2qbr9lSzCrky7gdbLquYpfLus/s1600/IMG_7102.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeU7n8uVPWuB5fOBZOkQUki7jvGNZPbw5gy4c24JMKCs0eBFS64EZPUGfXC0rliFJgC0x2Ft8m57VvisR0QtBwTGYrWd3BqRdY1SydsC7l_1-KXrERLR2qbr9lSzCrky7gdbLquYpfLus/s400/IMG_7102.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Back Yard</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tJKZsBe5HKxA7Sk2d7kpfd10LngA0pl7PvzzA6cRUDZ4FBZvyj8-AFKL9diGf7_MGjFIwYjX3PlkGPxebYaam6f0lfRP32sP-k6Tg4UB6rnSG399YCSrXI0FftkHZhx_RMz7Z9Yfzx8/s1600/IMG_7121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tJKZsBe5HKxA7Sk2d7kpfd10LngA0pl7PvzzA6cRUDZ4FBZvyj8-AFKL9diGf7_MGjFIwYjX3PlkGPxebYaam6f0lfRP32sP-k6Tg4UB6rnSG399YCSrXI0FftkHZhx_RMz7Z9Yfzx8/s400/IMG_7121.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Views From The back Of the House</b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKikojPaEgRbWno6lqVThiSCFly4xQK0MnqTN2w0s9wmk4SIFnc_Mj4eRZWsQdJu0HXszmhp39HIjJCEi3Arlnm0UqOZ8WTkr_Ws06HpySKhfkY8yYa25XwnxxrU9PFCSqIv6gp9yqMBE/s1600/IMG_7122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKikojPaEgRbWno6lqVThiSCFly4xQK0MnqTN2w0s9wmk4SIFnc_Mj4eRZWsQdJu0HXszmhp39HIjJCEi3Arlnm0UqOZ8WTkr_Ws06HpySKhfkY8yYa25XwnxxrU9PFCSqIv6gp9yqMBE/s400/IMG_7122.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQ7N9RBc52Yscsls8I8h8YfqGtTwxpEQuH_ly58dz5gN_SbAVUZTIVjgJk39rs2r1OtpQpwebWS8n2OYcwuoSDcRo7RqJh-K1Bqx58v30IOUa-YFub8JRQ9UTfSBOAfzh6CUCzhDWF3s/s1600/IMG_7123.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWQ7N9RBc52Yscsls8I8h8YfqGtTwxpEQuH_ly58dz5gN_SbAVUZTIVjgJk39rs2r1OtpQpwebWS8n2OYcwuoSDcRo7RqJh-K1Bqx58v30IOUa-YFub8JRQ9UTfSBOAfzh6CUCzhDWF3s/s400/IMG_7123.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Earlier in the day we met with another American expat who lives in Caldas da Raina, only to discover there is a large expat community established there. How much fun it will be to make new friends, invite them over to our lovely new home and begin to enjoy our new life in Portugal......along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-13538884369227032432018-08-25T00:38:00.000-07:002018-08-25T02:40:00.594-07:00Portugal....Why Are We Here Seeking Residency?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">For those of us that travel the world, change is just part of our everyday lives. Each new country we visit or live in brings new challenges, new opportunities to grow and new wonders. On August 14th we landed in our second adopted country of residence, Portugal.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7UJk8pkHOxe8sWpZdPknuhY7mW7bFRgRgCuedcYxxU3PCsW-I5tDdBG0nl2hVzxgusUTPFc-N4Us23WLuqB7qsySooG4oegVmRNsXJJ6d8-OO6U3xmTJ51rNyqzxhXsqf_et2sgzyyY/s1600/IMG_6899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD7UJk8pkHOxe8sWpZdPknuhY7mW7bFRgRgCuedcYxxU3PCsW-I5tDdBG0nl2hVzxgusUTPFc-N4Us23WLuqB7qsySooG4oegVmRNsXJJ6d8-OO6U3xmTJ51rNyqzxhXsqf_et2sgzyyY/s400/IMG_6899.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Market in Setubal</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">We smile in excitement each time we realize that we are not only visiting but we actually can say that we <b><i>live </i></b>in Europe. How cool is that!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Uqntf0_sVUnV-8eIRT8lgJQPORUEPWhZQ1F1JgN_qs6K0TLgtUo7i6CqCu6ozd0vRJTIJpWFduFDxs3c4wlCksDIiAdN_-kPhSp3RU6mC0IFs85lzEOl_8mwAg0zONc3kNagW75R_hs/s1600/IMG_6905+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9Uqntf0_sVUnV-8eIRT8lgJQPORUEPWhZQ1F1JgN_qs6K0TLgtUo7i6CqCu6ozd0vRJTIJpWFduFDxs3c4wlCksDIiAdN_-kPhSp3RU6mC0IFs85lzEOl_8mwAg0zONc3kNagW75R_hs/s400/IMG_6905+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Since we first settled in Panama eight years ago, we have learned a whole lot about living abroad, which is making this transition a bit easier. As I think back to those first few days in Panama when I was literally terrified to look at anyone, for fear that they would speak to me in Spanish. I walked around with my head hung low, hoping and praying that no one would see me. As the years went by and I learned more and more of the language, I welcomed the opportunity to chat with people in Spanish.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-b37Y0KxRMOIsPx_EEl3DMS_gJrsiTI-qb-iX7BdDUNjy3eRaueEVg3cqbUDbyjUEpGHgzQKRwPfRazA0zKoVasL2rE-KHPBjclSAzSZiBmxh2MBVTNz3SvczdYZaRvXCUx8fifafpqo/s1600/IMG_6908+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-b37Y0KxRMOIsPx_EEl3DMS_gJrsiTI-qb-iX7BdDUNjy3eRaueEVg3cqbUDbyjUEpGHgzQKRwPfRazA0zKoVasL2rE-KHPBjclSAzSZiBmxh2MBVTNz3SvczdYZaRvXCUx8fifafpqo/s400/IMG_6908+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">So here we are eight years later, learning European Portuguese, not to be confused with the Brazilian version which is different. The good news is that many of the words are similar or identical to Spanish, but the pronunciation is totally different. A few months ago we started learning European Portuguese while house sitting in Egypt, since we had plenty of time. And we have signed up for private lessons with a teacher here, along with online self study.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTAWMZiiilJSvOBorGj0iCoMbSFtx2WJB7ODpQz6U15BSvXKxXmtPck1nvYyOUxxOJJZWhX_ztRlymjvUtVt6uxUeZahDUkiRHqREobEWtbYteYoQVQ9C0JMMNtSNfWCWKn0fKzH9knw/s1600/IMG_6912.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTAWMZiiilJSvOBorGj0iCoMbSFtx2WJB7ODpQz6U15BSvXKxXmtPck1nvYyOUxxOJJZWhX_ztRlymjvUtVt6uxUeZahDUkiRHqREobEWtbYteYoQVQ9C0JMMNtSNfWCWKn0fKzH9knw/s400/IMG_6912.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">It is because we took the time to learn Spanish while living in Panama that our transition to learning Portuguese is so much easier. Even during our first few days here, I did not feel that same degree of panic that I had back then. All I needed to do was tell myself, "if you can say it in Spanish, then you can say it in Portuguese," and just alter the pronunciation a whole lot. All of the Portuguese people tell us that they understand Spanish but the Spaniards do not understand Portuguese.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUCDyD2uuWESXxjjQqsZIHSu3aM1T9xNU8okVmxYmFJnT4YQiJhrGw5OxtPkzJhx_vyJ1fx3juEcg75gmO_pu1Wi1scWf7FXJ9WI3bI45CKzzojdzHYTtNX-eCH2Ylf1tNP04L_-jxso/s1600/IMG_6916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUCDyD2uuWESXxjjQqsZIHSu3aM1T9xNU8okVmxYmFJnT4YQiJhrGw5OxtPkzJhx_vyJ1fx3juEcg75gmO_pu1Wi1scWf7FXJ9WI3bI45CKzzojdzHYTtNX-eCH2Ylf1tNP04L_-jxso/s400/IMG_6916.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Portuguese is a strange language where many of the s's take on a shhhh sound, and m's are nasal and sound like n's. Contractions are mandatory unlike in English where we can or can't use them, creating strange new words that are confusing to the learner. Vowels tend to be dropped unless they are stressed with accent marks or other symbols, that we have never seen before. The letter x is commonly used and can be pronounced in 5 or 6 different ways. Nao is "no" and "no" is a contraction meaning, "in the" which we continually read as NO and have to correct ourselves. When listening to the language we must realize that each word is NOT pronounced but instead strung together with others. Como estas , (how are you) becomes, com stash. Enough about the language.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIHvFfh25Fs9ltE4Gn411y4doqHIoEDvUxjXwRFf76jYeh-l4NbXY5uUaHzNqvhsVBA03TndBQoGTw6bEd0TNfeoZzgc1PAyjfH0Wc7BT7RbuVop11M5jpu4BHA0eK_x237vk_PcRF3k/s1600/IMG_7015+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioIHvFfh25Fs9ltE4Gn411y4doqHIoEDvUxjXwRFf76jYeh-l4NbXY5uUaHzNqvhsVBA03TndBQoGTw6bEd0TNfeoZzgc1PAyjfH0Wc7BT7RbuVop11M5jpu4BHA0eK_x237vk_PcRF3k/s400/IMG_7015+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Tuk Tuk Tour In Tomar</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Why are we in Portugal seeking residency? Have we stopped traveling and are we settling down now?</b> Not at all, but instead by having a home base here it will allow us to travel lighter, not taking all that we own everywhere we go in the world.</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9p6sv4uFcUSKQhrVpXpWAjogFBHhBXiyQI0BHUGkzRJuPNct1XIlDGHM2PygZg_b48f2BkGuQZme6FAJXRQH-N_bJ0YaLc7-Jb4kDK8z1LMHthF-MH9oBLKR3SFvJUTrR_jZLBq2UeU/s1600/IMG_6993+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9p6sv4uFcUSKQhrVpXpWAjogFBHhBXiyQI0BHUGkzRJuPNct1XIlDGHM2PygZg_b48f2BkGuQZme6FAJXRQH-N_bJ0YaLc7-Jb4kDK8z1LMHthF-MH9oBLKR3SFvJUTrR_jZLBq2UeU/s400/IMG_6993+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Roman Acuaducts, Tomar</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b>
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Portugal is one of the safest countries in the world, with low-cost, excellent healthcare, a moderate climate, warm, welcoming people, first-world infrastructure and a low cost of living. And it is one of the easiest countries in which to obtain residency in Europe that will allow us to use the public healthcare system free. And on top of that we can buy health insurance cheap that will also allow us to access private hospitals and doctors at a low prices.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIuh-uPMdVtMiczmnCn7oGbq5d6jDfTxcb-e4ur2dkqpXzJQGOxvjvlWV1FDXYbRRNamxDgySGZdtqJOPaubhL2fW3dAb4cClGnG1guHNMO0tInqU3-0p5ZaV2XjCGkPbfzzhTRJkCY0/s1600/IMG_6933+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXIuh-uPMdVtMiczmnCn7oGbq5d6jDfTxcb-e4ur2dkqpXzJQGOxvjvlWV1FDXYbRRNamxDgySGZdtqJOPaubhL2fW3dAb4cClGnG1guHNMO0tInqU3-0p5ZaV2XjCGkPbfzzhTRJkCY0/s400/IMG_6933+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">City Of Tomar</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><b></b><br /></span>
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">But in order to fulfill our residency requirements, we do have to show proof that we are living here at least six months out of the year. The first part of our residency is only good for 4 months, then extends to one year. At the end of our first year we will have to extend it for another two years and so on. At the end of six years we can apply for a Portuguese passport, if we want to but that does require being able to speak and write in Portuguese since there is a test. We have hired a lawyer to help with the residency process although it's not necessary here, but easier. </span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span>
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: large; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMAiYbqTS4vbXUZ216qpIWXLQvw9i8XPsC4giP0RlXC7j0yNbCAzxBUmzooPdGmDypqCqrornmImDNA77fVeOImQey8Pkxs_oWcTmv3bbeGgs50WbdpX3vf1BYWvA6PnbuMB718-2HDs/s1600/IMG_7026+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLMAiYbqTS4vbXUZ216qpIWXLQvw9i8XPsC4giP0RlXC7j0yNbCAzxBUmzooPdGmDypqCqrornmImDNA77fVeOImQey8Pkxs_oWcTmv3bbeGgs50WbdpX3vf1BYWvA6PnbuMB718-2HDs/s400/IMG_7026+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Santa Cruz</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b></b><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></span></div>
<span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
</span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span>
We are feeling a bit overwhelmed with other decisions that need to be made here, like where to live? Do we want to live in a city, small town, house, apartment, near the beach or inland?</span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Aymq-v-H-oBWZGyF9TkO4t8wacuNivRieHLDROInt8jgyprhkvWAmVUmOuT6KSOtSBI_ZLGaVoBeOf5-vAuOpFIDdKBsEae05RU0UCDRhXOmNwvRWScQwUsVt2SuPJlds3r9SsGDtEM/s1600/IMG_7027+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Aymq-v-H-oBWZGyF9TkO4t8wacuNivRieHLDROInt8jgyprhkvWAmVUmOuT6KSOtSBI_ZLGaVoBeOf5-vAuOpFIDdKBsEae05RU0UCDRhXOmNwvRWScQwUsVt2SuPJlds3r9SsGDtEM/s400/IMG_7027+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">When we moved to Panama we bought a house near a large expat community, hung out with other expats and English speakers, and only used Spanish when we really had to. We hope to do things differently the second time around.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjXGyRmb-qx15zUZ1DvVF7FyS0SE_bS5So9qKCBE7gno0x6TdB0gV4uYUohcPa2Np8KgcKDWTj54CeqKwa15Ykrehk_LG7DGSDQWaYIxRVdoZLSrE0wdVvbwQI4dKNNCqDvl6uVzcXYk/s1600/IMG_7031+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjXGyRmb-qx15zUZ1DvVF7FyS0SE_bS5So9qKCBE7gno0x6TdB0gV4uYUohcPa2Np8KgcKDWTj54CeqKwa15Ykrehk_LG7DGSDQWaYIxRVdoZLSrE0wdVvbwQI4dKNNCqDvl6uVzcXYk/s400/IMG_7031+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Our goal is to rent a furnished apartment away from other expats, surrounded by non English speakers in order to force ourselves to get out there and speak the language. Because many Portuguese people do speak some English, we have to continually ask them, "fala Portuguese comigo, por favor," which means, speak Portuguese with me please.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tF9ElPF4qfEoGchj7YsJrgzC70NQY6MGGvCH2hfl6w7HFcYtiYDQU6GXNXRNN-7rcBmg9WiXKVCzLxBsoGhoiOgRO24lELZH9RSbYxSb-d69tziJcRcLbGyiSOIoQa9T3STIjLQ0i4U/s1600/IMG_7035+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4tF9ElPF4qfEoGchj7YsJrgzC70NQY6MGGvCH2hfl6w7HFcYtiYDQU6GXNXRNN-7rcBmg9WiXKVCzLxBsoGhoiOgRO24lELZH9RSbYxSb-d69tziJcRcLbGyiSOIoQa9T3STIjLQ0i4U/s400/IMG_7035+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">A few months ago we rented a three bedroom condo in Tavira, the Algarve Region of the country for our first month here. Originally we thought that we might like to live in the Algarve because it's warmer in winter and has a large expat community of mostly British, so learning Portuguese is not necessary. But then we changed our minds.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pRxV32EC8BN99MogIf8Z7KXoqOW2b0afWJkKoZxJtpIJkVkb3YVAydPMlocRigr4QZ2SLlC8Th4A2LCnIEN2ll1xiugiAATylLXfi16ESNthP9cdU-PUQxlYsubKZQPLnG-YrslIa9M/s1600/IMG_7039+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pRxV32EC8BN99MogIf8Z7KXoqOW2b0afWJkKoZxJtpIJkVkb3YVAydPMlocRigr4QZ2SLlC8Th4A2LCnIEN2ll1xiugiAATylLXfi16ESNthP9cdU-PUQxlYsubKZQPLnG-YrslIa9M/s320/IMG_7039+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Since we are planning to live in Central Portugal, this week we have rented a cheap, $35 a night, 4 bedroom apartment, in the city of Alcobaca. From here we will be closer to towns that we want to explore as possible locations in which to live. We are looking at fully furnished apartments with anywhere from 1 to 3 bedrooms for 300 to 550 euros per month.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0As6-lx6i85z5NiGRwq5nMQseIJGI2TIro5s0v5A3w4QoruQ-rUpabtcpjlAn_A9HF-OwX1D77LFPhtiDiXA_tocfsMbLUxp6Uz48hvLIuzxjb9ES_ernWGtK_IuUsnzzHmWeBBm8JQ/s1600/IMG_7045+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0As6-lx6i85z5NiGRwq5nMQseIJGI2TIro5s0v5A3w4QoruQ-rUpabtcpjlAn_A9HF-OwX1D77LFPhtiDiXA_tocfsMbLUxp6Uz48hvLIuzxjb9ES_ernWGtK_IuUsnzzHmWeBBm8JQ/s320/IMG_7045+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Along with finding a place to live, we need to buy a car, do follow up appointments with our lawyer regarding our residency visa, open a bank account and so much more. So for now our travels will be exploring our new homeland and getting settled.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjo76r3PP0VsjvlfZhGp8BnF6sxzT2H8F1XwdCqlHctmeguEtYwqRnmE7ZlzSAns43d6lT5boGPqLlV76l4r-y21hDJ_oryJxV7hk0kk7oMFDEUuMIC6vpeVilK5yFBW7C5I_KsTjMm9Y/s1600/IMG_7075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjo76r3PP0VsjvlfZhGp8BnF6sxzT2H8F1XwdCqlHctmeguEtYwqRnmE7ZlzSAns43d6lT5boGPqLlV76l4r-y21hDJ_oryJxV7hk0kk7oMFDEUuMIC6vpeVilK5yFBW7C5I_KsTjMm9Y/s320/IMG_7075.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-size: large;">Until next time stay tuned for our adventures of life in Portugal......along the gringo trail.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br /></div>
</div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-86446097460434977822018-07-26T03:21:00.000-07:002018-07-26T03:32:46.217-07:00Our Boring Life, House and Pet Sitting In Egypt.......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_fJhcjqdjwAszgoTl-HuU8qn2bwBTzyJuOizgOc8eA8WxvBU-lJS5NOx1IIKL7lFaq-4Y67_8rB8ZNDtPr1YmA_XtJzY8ExW5P271HyxOc4DM3Z0SV4aUgIh3Jt_tAqm906ddRWKQ7w/s1600/IMG_8998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF_fJhcjqdjwAszgoTl-HuU8qn2bwBTzyJuOizgOc8eA8WxvBU-lJS5NOx1IIKL7lFaq-4Y67_8rB8ZNDtPr1YmA_XtJzY8ExW5P271HyxOc4DM3Z0SV4aUgIh3Jt_tAqm906ddRWKQ7w/s400/IMG_8998.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Ready for Our Morning Walk</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
For the past few months Clyde and I are being boring, settled into a house sit in Egypt. Although the house is spacious, modern and lovely with a gorgeous water view, we have not done much to blog about lately. Our days begin soon after sunrise, as we crawl out of bed around 5:30 AM, in order to walk the two dogs, Will and Tee Tee before the heat of the day sets in. Since Tee Tee sleeps on the floor of our bedroom, today I woke up being poked by a snout, telling us it was time to get out of bed. Will prefers sleeping downstairs or in the upstairs hallway, and keeping the two apart seems to alleviate any barking during the night.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN_URYa2wK918tfA6lumpDqk6-sJqyzSSu8xEDECtozMr122LGRKvY7dhhnGwkShBvPsAxbXpMw6XWLdrRtAo-3RpyZS_tCmpXUHYpnrIFf2wIrcOaYET1b07Dl8i71khtoMzf4g7Tcw/s1600/20180720_182939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDN_URYa2wK918tfA6lumpDqk6-sJqyzSSu8xEDECtozMr122LGRKvY7dhhnGwkShBvPsAxbXpMw6XWLdrRtAo-3RpyZS_tCmpXUHYpnrIFf2wIrcOaYET1b07Dl8i71khtoMzf4g7Tcw/s400/20180720_182939.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Tee Tee Giving Hints That It's Time For The Evening Walk</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMBsXJnq1V3PXB3N5wGOllf8SM6sQk4uD5XHcXNpN7z84eC0WtBsLqyolbYf33HHe76ekhVFaspzDG_wg3LWM-xXhp4JsM_g66AZLSYF9XtAMk0gnTrER-rN3jnYRPCkVGR16uGnfpOw/s1600/20180622_183432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMBsXJnq1V3PXB3N5wGOllf8SM6sQk4uD5XHcXNpN7z84eC0WtBsLqyolbYf33HHe76ekhVFaspzDG_wg3LWM-xXhp4JsM_g66AZLSYF9XtAMk0gnTrER-rN3jnYRPCkVGR16uGnfpOw/s400/20180622_183432.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiFgADaYXuikJ0q4nmSBJgsSdA4WFWOjW9Q2c7tkNxjRG7yWBSwvP_6NSVP6U6WSn0fkKH5Od4u7-VXa7YFfv6npQe5Hp_FIZGDCRe8BmUIq4P26zjTdqQHn9Vs8vd-rX_o55bkEwcig/s1600/20180720_184127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFiFgADaYXuikJ0q4nmSBJgsSdA4WFWOjW9Q2c7tkNxjRG7yWBSwvP_6NSVP6U6WSn0fkKH5Od4u7-VXa7YFfv6npQe5Hp_FIZGDCRe8BmUIq4P26zjTdqQHn9Vs8vd-rX_o55bkEwcig/s400/20180720_184127.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">And Sometimes Mouse The Cat, Who Thinks She's A Dog Comes Along</span></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
While we typically never repeat a house sit since there are so many other places to see, this one is a repeat. If you recall, as Americans we can only stay in the Schengen countries in Europe for 90 days and then need to leave for 90 days before reentering. So before leaving this house sit last year I indicated to the homeowners that we certainly would not mind coming back. By coming to Egypt again it filled that gap, giving us plenty of time out of Europe Besides that, the the house is lovely with a gorgeous pool outside, the dogs and cat are easy to handle, and we have made friends with some of the British people and Europeans that live here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg99sC2d9mcPe0dKYPo-4nkWvv6BUXbbCXJR5uNBEZxDcySkW4TbfEirFB57iQPaqGa6K7h4UtvtWoePyhTldm75nhN0qJKXquwoTTEY1bbsXsKxD_0DpiTDDQHUc56iQgmqe_gzUC7y0/s1600/20180607_141432%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg99sC2d9mcPe0dKYPo-4nkWvv6BUXbbCXJR5uNBEZxDcySkW4TbfEirFB57iQPaqGa6K7h4UtvtWoePyhTldm75nhN0qJKXquwoTTEY1bbsXsKxD_0DpiTDDQHUc56iQgmqe_gzUC7y0/s400/20180607_141432%25280%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Back Of The House With Pool</b><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
But this is El Gouna, a resort city for the rich and famous. Those that live here are rich Egyptians who either retired here or use their villa here as their weekend getaway. The Brits and Europeans bought into the development ten or more years ago when property was selling at good prices, compared to those back in their countries. Nowadays, homes here are selling for a million euros and up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitjN3h3UmQv-YrQovvLMjkhiVR_rObrclbZh4HVJ6DW43iNHSzblSP65pKgSXekorTC-2ABTqGSN1_D-6gd9Xe1nUb77By9ZtTcMi1fgGd7X8Sk7p4eXzCgG7JD9QrUSH5dIHjp2Mipc/s1600/20180622_081110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiitjN3h3UmQv-YrQovvLMjkhiVR_rObrclbZh4HVJ6DW43iNHSzblSP65pKgSXekorTC-2ABTqGSN1_D-6gd9Xe1nUb77By9ZtTcMi1fgGd7X8Sk7p4eXzCgG7JD9QrUSH5dIHjp2Mipc/s400/20180622_081110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Lagoons Surround Most Villas Here</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>El Gouna Means, "Lagoon."</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQDE5rk5l3lGMfj4ItDHR2-dTcC2IJYcfLmvWgkymqksVQal0JMs7Cs7rpFcKlsCNsjg0sS5Gvj-PHqxaLxNYZAhZGfMawbynT3Hg3DH_GX-GfmI72s_T1Mmh4gk24a09XSmiYP-vgGk/s1600/20180614_183025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJQDE5rk5l3lGMfj4ItDHR2-dTcC2IJYcfLmvWgkymqksVQal0JMs7Cs7rpFcKlsCNsjg0sS5Gvj-PHqxaLxNYZAhZGfMawbynT3Hg3DH_GX-GfmI72s_T1Mmh4gk24a09XSmiYP-vgGk/s400/20180614_183025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Watching The Sunset From The Pool</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jyos99JfpkaIHHniMKPsnP4o5aRsZrfNPzpySVybPsQa-XtNzOCwXD8nGigUkA1E05_c8VibguDT_PL8Iv5qVLrHnV_8Z_AEUfQ09oxefav5KoKIJDnlUsZmzD3v6RWgT3pYWtGBUjE/s1600/20180721_121428.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Jyos99JfpkaIHHniMKPsnP4o5aRsZrfNPzpySVybPsQa-XtNzOCwXD8nGigUkA1E05_c8VibguDT_PL8Iv5qVLrHnV_8Z_AEUfQ09oxefav5KoKIJDnlUsZmzD3v6RWgT3pYWtGBUjE/s400/20180721_121428.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Our View From The Dining and Living Room</b><br />
<b>This Place Really Is Lovely!</b></div>
<br />
During the daytime temperatures rise to 100F/40C with scorching sunshine and dry, dusty air. The streets are like that of a ghost town since people stay inside, only venturing out in the early mornings or at night. The only people outside are the workers who meticulously keep El Gouna clean. They include gardeners, pool boys, garbage men, security guards, military soldiers standing guard, fumigators, drivers of taxi's, tuk-tuk's, and buses just to name a few.<br />
<br />
We have been going out to dinner on a regular basis since eating out is cheap here. We can literally get a meal out for as little as $2 each, or splurge on an array of other restaurants. Typically we spend around $15 for two meals and drinks and have enjoyed Italian, Egyptian, Greek, seafood, grilled meats and so much more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc8innqD_Fa0rOGFhbbPoRvXS6Z8hY4eGqenHBfEN3K-DqZKH_6_s8LCTbFYKKQCryUDNon7DFXw574P5jKhQEBIo-3_DdoLu41yD26WCigayMWU5b3sCNGgznekRKLsEoCFPapLTcHw/s1600/IMG_8976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc8innqD_Fa0rOGFhbbPoRvXS6Z8hY4eGqenHBfEN3K-DqZKH_6_s8LCTbFYKKQCryUDNon7DFXw574P5jKhQEBIo-3_DdoLu41yD26WCigayMWU5b3sCNGgznekRKLsEoCFPapLTcHw/s400/IMG_8976.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkWY7Tt7pkdf3wSOAeTjb-GwEwzHy3wumFz7l_1ahJhi-VQ80bgrSmZjVEzTsBMHNuA-TsF3ObdiW9b4kb41nWiNSpucJNoHB6Kd_0j5QGe2GGaActjvwgrWQWhyphenhyphenunEo4RDnNAm4dOBQ/s1600/IMG_8895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkWY7Tt7pkdf3wSOAeTjb-GwEwzHy3wumFz7l_1ahJhi-VQ80bgrSmZjVEzTsBMHNuA-TsF3ObdiW9b4kb41nWiNSpucJNoHB6Kd_0j5QGe2GGaActjvwgrWQWhyphenhyphenunEo4RDnNAm4dOBQ/s400/IMG_8895.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Thanks to the Brits that live here a local restaurant has become the place for Friday night karaoke. We have enjoyed a night out, with a few drinks to party with Europeans and Egyptians alike. Most Egyptians are Muslim and despite what you may think about Muslims, they do get out to party like the rest of us. Hearing karaoke sang in Arabic was a rather different experience, although we were not able to sing along.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1XfQuPh1TqNaoZewcJv6nR52U66F9-Rh4N_file9ykEjhqlEkFan8oj8JLc-hiqAi4waiiIBFJk9rD_LACMn9-WkHY35HE_NL47G1Thr5u71p828cni23zxw12u-znLTX-Bzw8W2-pk/s1600/37629131_10216613218031344_2452457348564779008_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1XfQuPh1TqNaoZewcJv6nR52U66F9-Rh4N_file9ykEjhqlEkFan8oj8JLc-hiqAi4waiiIBFJk9rD_LACMn9-WkHY35HE_NL47G1Thr5u71p828cni23zxw12u-znLTX-Bzw8W2-pk/s400/37629131_10216613218031344_2452457348564779008_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b> Karaoke With New Friends</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmmCzVo2Uxz0ip6RozjjqOm0MgAYsNok_b2tUIo4BbBuvpKnyUpr3nYnipJfC78tCCoGXK5fRT7dQohNkeA2I_glRXtCcFSMZqFp702fvC8N-Rdyf1_GXpxbeKHuk9gacGHKWJB-eahM/s1600/37530131_10216613190470655_1348004996569890816_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="1600" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdmmCzVo2Uxz0ip6RozjjqOm0MgAYsNok_b2tUIo4BbBuvpKnyUpr3nYnipJfC78tCCoGXK5fRT7dQohNkeA2I_glRXtCcFSMZqFp702fvC8N-Rdyf1_GXpxbeKHuk9gacGHKWJB-eahM/s400/37530131_10216613190470655_1348004996569890816_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzuKojkWgf30xPOT76FBT9Xe_ASiitTzWX4RER5KEFqrLvFAXMqUg0_-_qIwSPV1xSXnz_wjtQIlO3ASMrN-CJ-UwQdixZ-dooPq8ya29DlKIUr6OUxMv9L7BXFd0n5Z4QFbTj-41VJs/s1600/37587415_10216613190950667_7985982643093110784_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzuKojkWgf30xPOT76FBT9Xe_ASiitTzWX4RER5KEFqrLvFAXMqUg0_-_qIwSPV1xSXnz_wjtQIlO3ASMrN-CJ-UwQdixZ-dooPq8ya29DlKIUr6OUxMv9L7BXFd0n5Z4QFbTj-41VJs/s400/37587415_10216613190950667_7985982643093110784_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Yes These Are Conservative Egyptians, </b></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Even The Girl In The Tiny Shorts sang</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">
<b style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">"My Way," by Paul Anka. Way Before Her Time! </b></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_RqOoKWl4lwJpgDPDR2A-wgle3DvKpN1n-9TyOr7DHkXzCNUx3v6YI6ua2Ew1v9F_TuxPdgWylXWmRpFPc-LZ5rK4qOAahfp-3VHmBeUFxY8zuprQ5hlKBVl6kqCjqG4E9V_VYpTzYA/s1600/37596879_10216613217791338_3540999324924116992_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_RqOoKWl4lwJpgDPDR2A-wgle3DvKpN1n-9TyOr7DHkXzCNUx3v6YI6ua2Ew1v9F_TuxPdgWylXWmRpFPc-LZ5rK4qOAahfp-3VHmBeUFxY8zuprQ5hlKBVl6kqCjqG4E9V_VYpTzYA/s400/37596879_10216613217791338_3540999324924116992_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Partying With and Like Egyptians</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b> </b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Also we have enjoyed several days out on the Red Sea that included snorkeling, lunch, some time on a beach and socializing with our new friends that live here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLz6PSqsKpWPcYmZdwaHCElJ0rJ-fs23vHDBzyE9MbmCRrvI3f4uA3g7DAeSEmP9_23UyGkN0aEYVie-EgTCHmvmgMGwQTHgwxrmwa4p8sHCMKjZuLWzIlunqGAseyUablOI-b-7TUhkY/s1600/IMG_8902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLz6PSqsKpWPcYmZdwaHCElJ0rJ-fs23vHDBzyE9MbmCRrvI3f4uA3g7DAeSEmP9_23UyGkN0aEYVie-EgTCHmvmgMGwQTHgwxrmwa4p8sHCMKjZuLWzIlunqGAseyUablOI-b-7TUhkY/s400/IMG_8902.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Out On The Red Sea</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQ4Ro1yvM_YISQ9OBhJahzT0HI0Elj1oBr2LDCpZgjF6pxwqUyWY8tJ1gDP6DgvJJeeZ1l5PEvQ-zKVo4J0azQdEytJNyBUIXE3E6xI4hOo0cYq2R9ST258Y9gbmEZrcjRYEYnJBWiDc/s1600/Untitled.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="555" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQ4Ro1yvM_YISQ9OBhJahzT0HI0Elj1oBr2LDCpZgjF6pxwqUyWY8tJ1gDP6DgvJJeeZ1l5PEvQ-zKVo4J0azQdEytJNyBUIXE3E6xI4hOo0cYq2R9ST258Y9gbmEZrcjRYEYnJBWiDc/s400/Untitled.png" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
In our travels we need to take time out once in a while to do routine things like having our teeth cleaned. Since we were overdue we decided to visit a dental clinic here.....yes in Egypt! At the advice of our British friends, we made appointments with a local dental clinic that they use. First we hired a taxi to get us into the nearby city of Hurghada to find the clinic.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUnxy8z5PlZaBJqVf2OvUPsH-HDGhkZF50IGkR0AerXJaCHUEsz0Lq-XqPGhJ4tyXTPwLTle1mlyMjh2mbA22EHzE6eiQUXhpEpbbkdnE6g2viKCo5iRt4M_JyFG8Zy1zSmHfrEhbh3o/s1600/img_0216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNUnxy8z5PlZaBJqVf2OvUPsH-HDGhkZF50IGkR0AerXJaCHUEsz0Lq-XqPGhJ4tyXTPwLTle1mlyMjh2mbA22EHzE6eiQUXhpEpbbkdnE6g2viKCo5iRt4M_JyFG8Zy1zSmHfrEhbh3o/s400/img_0216.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b> Dental Clinic In Hurghada, Egypt</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE6YNn9A4fZEDaWppT9i-DzTptupo_EfOpddceSV81pR_VLTpfCUUahErhFka8jB7ZVzyEIVJNja2PVgP4tYBecDY7IBFlOCFCMiZhfzVvie3_SHznlcTNP0aYMid3BGLO6TL8nWuI4I/s1600/img_0220.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilE6YNn9A4fZEDaWppT9i-DzTptupo_EfOpddceSV81pR_VLTpfCUUahErhFka8jB7ZVzyEIVJNja2PVgP4tYBecDY7IBFlOCFCMiZhfzVvie3_SHznlcTNP0aYMid3BGLO6TL8nWuI4I/s400/img_0220.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIZtCDaoXA11bimrpOIpXBrWxq5iNzDN2_MLS0WDVqPRLaSKYNX2AIr49weFqCK7kVwU-gPcRhLIwVfhYJOwLuzR9G_AqImtqGVPWVj1jmJ-8vj2NBTYVGsrkHO3oOBf0FweHwkO3EUU/s1600/img_0214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIZtCDaoXA11bimrpOIpXBrWxq5iNzDN2_MLS0WDVqPRLaSKYNX2AIr49weFqCK7kVwU-gPcRhLIwVfhYJOwLuzR9G_AqImtqGVPWVj1jmJ-8vj2NBTYVGsrkHO3oOBf0FweHwkO3EUU/s400/img_0214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-7MMNSvIhhmr_TGfz6FhSAYVoM1cLhDElIXwNkLSreaSLkH8y-sDqlg-gAMNhRn79VLXvTKvPjypZTBwJGxcZd8lDU2YMtQ2oJakaaW8a5HWoYHxlrtTPQI3Cfd6dI1XoY1VN9NCzo4/s1600/img_0212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD-7MMNSvIhhmr_TGfz6FhSAYVoM1cLhDElIXwNkLSreaSLkH8y-sDqlg-gAMNhRn79VLXvTKvPjypZTBwJGxcZd8lDU2YMtQ2oJakaaW8a5HWoYHxlrtTPQI3Cfd6dI1XoY1VN9NCzo4/s400/img_0212.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Outside the building was old and rundown and featured a restaurant on the ground level with the clinic up above. Not sure where to go we first walked into the restaurant to see if there was access to go upstairs. As I looked around the modern cafe I realized that there was not another woman in there. Men sat at tables wearing long robes, some white, gray or black while others were dressed in normal clothing. Many were smoking "sheesha" pipes, that were attached to elaborate, silver bottles through long tubing. While we have no idea what the attraction to sheesha is, we see men and women at just about every restaurant here smoking it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZikozDqMdRFwgJMQrbnQeZ3WNIcPnWco9u1Oi48E_okwczmyn7KJ3hhinI4j-H5k9iFpeoc_PxgioyuawkHKrQqo2HssgjazBSZyNVhVGrXkztGqvRfW1itepsS6a83etUnWsdmkBVs/s1600/hookah-two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1278" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxZikozDqMdRFwgJMQrbnQeZ3WNIcPnWco9u1Oi48E_okwczmyn7KJ3hhinI4j-H5k9iFpeoc_PxgioyuawkHKrQqo2HssgjazBSZyNVhVGrXkztGqvRfW1itepsS6a83etUnWsdmkBVs/s400/hookah-two.jpg" width="340" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A Sheesha Pipe</b></div>
<br />
We left the restaurant and walked outside and around the side of the building where we found an elevator up to the second floor. Once inside, the dental clinic was bright, clean and modern with the latest equipment and English speaking staff. We paid about $38 each for thorough cleanings and were quite impressed with the service. And our appointments were on a Sunday afternoon which we thought was strange.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Because we have nothing but time at this house sit, we have decided to spend it wisely doing something useful. We are learning European Portuguese for the next chapter of our lives that includes setting up a home base, apartment in Portugal and pursuing residency there. Although learning a new language is <i><b>never</b></i> easy, we are <b>SO</b> thankful that we have learned Spanish since many of the words in Portuguese are similar. But while the written language looks similar, the spoken words are totally different! We found some self-learning programs to do at the house and have just signed on for private lessons via Skype with a teacher in Portugal. Hopefully, with our knowledge of Spanish that gives us a head start, we will go further with our knowledge of Portuguese than we ever did with Spanish. Time will tell and we will let you know after we land in Portugal next month and see how it all plays out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNXGk03To4_QQ8gyXiI4FN7gO_ZUpcWnFSZ9tMpsgU4ajamHWGZ75YuiL-ymz-JpmsD75F0L5q-3eKC9qgWAaNrb6yxPsgi_3CtTqOL2294qPvPWsU5I8m4Wlh1vAqBkIs5bDBoWiCLY/s1600/study.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="474" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNXGk03To4_QQ8gyXiI4FN7gO_ZUpcWnFSZ9tMpsgU4ajamHWGZ75YuiL-ymz-JpmsD75F0L5q-3eKC9qgWAaNrb6yxPsgi_3CtTqOL2294qPvPWsU5I8m4Wlh1vAqBkIs5bDBoWiCLY/s320/study.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
A bit strange to think that we are Americans who first leaned Spanish and British English, and now are learning Portuguese while living in Egypt. Amazing where our lives have taken us! Stay tuned as the next chapter of our lives unfolds in a few more weeks as we begin our lives in Portugal......along the gringo trail.</div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-79245035681176094592018-07-01T05:10:00.001-07:002018-07-01T05:10:46.965-07:00Two Years Homeless, Where Have We Been?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It was two years ago on June 30th that we handed over the keys to our home in Panama, and left bearing nothing more than what would fit into two, small suitcases. But where would we go? We had NO home, few things and were ready for a life as retired, nomads, ready and willing to travel the world. Although we were, "homeless by choice," we would be making ourselves at home by living for FREE in other people's houses as house and pet sitters. It was our time in life to stop collecting things and start collecting memories of our adventures around the world.<br />
<br />
So where have we been in the past two years? The list is mind-blowing and still hard to believe each and every time we look at it.<br />
<br />
From Panama we flew to Texas, for a house sit near Austin that we would use to visit with our family for the last time before heading abroad.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoK2-kzyF0rDp7VIH_-Agsq6TIXM9kmoFuDpNpnbILX0X_y571ejlMCCEoh2qhdBaUmNUJgMWHpAVBih0Z8RxqEZc1UUQFNceqWyn3-zEQAEQYwD-O3xEOwZV3Rb28t27Sz2qHpt-dp4/s1600/IMG_0865.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDoK2-kzyF0rDp7VIH_-Agsq6TIXM9kmoFuDpNpnbILX0X_y571ejlMCCEoh2qhdBaUmNUJgMWHpAVBih0Z8RxqEZc1UUQFNceqWyn3-zEQAEQYwD-O3xEOwZV3Rb28t27Sz2qHpt-dp4/s400/IMG_0865.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPm7vG6b-Kl4a14h1SSKZyfK70LFbMmHkRL4LHaNY1EH2pquvqgzp6XVFOrn-EhLFcwXVyq6wdWfhrUc7Pzv3FTJFCz3lZAFyx9qHTv6wfQB-UBBmtxzezEA_fFcT5Il1dpipoEhsc_4/s1600/IMG_0882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglPm7vG6b-Kl4a14h1SSKZyfK70LFbMmHkRL4LHaNY1EH2pquvqgzp6XVFOrn-EhLFcwXVyq6wdWfhrUc7Pzv3FTJFCz3lZAFyx9qHTv6wfQB-UBBmtxzezEA_fFcT5Il1dpipoEhsc_4/s400/IMG_0882.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrrSttgi47skSo16T37RMDXfSYd_3MWUPlVrJqtc9E_HgSfs_6Szd_Mb4yzmzvFarstMIqTRSWMqRbgkyreqMYuvkHqoNTShgkAHRwkE4aOgdxqkT7faVvdcLSHucaB6SRn6Ibsj4KoU/s1600/IMG_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrrSttgi47skSo16T37RMDXfSYd_3MWUPlVrJqtc9E_HgSfs_6Szd_Mb4yzmzvFarstMIqTRSWMqRbgkyreqMYuvkHqoNTShgkAHRwkE4aOgdxqkT7faVvdcLSHucaB6SRn6Ibsj4KoU/s400/IMG_0886.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Next it was onto New Jersey to visit my sister and friends, before boarding a plane for a 20-hour flight to Bangkok, Thailand.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlDQtFnaaQ4kj1NiKyFZmHWhSHaybmYiKvS3nw-kWVfWEBMDBw8q33cP7bLq31E05ffSt28fhGXB0tFO-wUiEjUs9Ro0CTIrwvqNvl2bBPBlZP7M_TFtG9ueNu7K1ub8yUwxpMJOB0ko/s1600/IMG_1121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUlDQtFnaaQ4kj1NiKyFZmHWhSHaybmYiKvS3nw-kWVfWEBMDBw8q33cP7bLq31E05ffSt28fhGXB0tFO-wUiEjUs9Ro0CTIrwvqNvl2bBPBlZP7M_TFtG9ueNu7K1ub8yUwxpMJOB0ko/s400/IMG_1121.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
During our one-month stay in Thailand we visited Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and took side trips to Hong Kong and Cambodia. Amazing people, temples, and so much more!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHX4txlGvg1VjtVg5zQ02r2sxCeNb1CJaak85PW1EaQJAzkg2RPbgKyYuPSqIzr6j_zPKu2Jk-QOGn6DeM-ocScSqmC_fkg4k6LyokXafNxcR0nsQrPOC5tUKywL5lwdLM3qKplcfK8o/s1600/IMG_3074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVHX4txlGvg1VjtVg5zQ02r2sxCeNb1CJaak85PW1EaQJAzkg2RPbgKyYuPSqIzr6j_zPKu2Jk-QOGn6DeM-ocScSqmC_fkg4k6LyokXafNxcR0nsQrPOC5tUKywL5lwdLM3qKplcfK8o/s400/IMG_3074.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfJ37tMTQx2atBnMHI27AIsH4Lg55FLiJ5gTTR7BxPGhn1i-HEcSh1fu2ccJTQCSgnhbZ-YCsG4cNrldjucoxhQPQD1E0kAav71u5CdgK8Y7-U1ZvVP66hp3ZEvfTWtcca2A2eoI49rw/s1600/IMG_1381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXfJ37tMTQx2atBnMHI27AIsH4Lg55FLiJ5gTTR7BxPGhn1i-HEcSh1fu2ccJTQCSgnhbZ-YCsG4cNrldjucoxhQPQD1E0kAav71u5CdgK8Y7-U1ZvVP66hp3ZEvfTWtcca2A2eoI49rw/s400/IMG_1381.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hQ6GyvGMSGBOw4qqOAoMu_2vRwR0vpEkuWSS__RxQA9unKHTVYfEMQ3hiNPj5xqKma49y-zLJ-N87KSUBE7cFcKMo6Pu7MIvXXX4sxkzOl02VWELLTc86JVbBFnc13puVPKkja3HMxA/s1600/IMG_1479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7hQ6GyvGMSGBOw4qqOAoMu_2vRwR0vpEkuWSS__RxQA9unKHTVYfEMQ3hiNPj5xqKma49y-zLJ-N87KSUBE7cFcKMo6Pu7MIvXXX4sxkzOl02VWELLTc86JVbBFnc13puVPKkja3HMxA/s400/IMG_1479.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYN_mv8ihHm0rT6kw2F42fKwMO7SC-5MNZ10HtssuYGm4hp9NV8ReSuE1ljssI6KYYaVAPWpblrvFEgTGDIA8ZOfzYz01KaqqA0IVMPywi3TKg4Wt0sKds_9e6d7nyd9YPhbuPeSEogDQ/s1600/IMG_1527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYN_mv8ihHm0rT6kw2F42fKwMO7SC-5MNZ10HtssuYGm4hp9NV8ReSuE1ljssI6KYYaVAPWpblrvFEgTGDIA8ZOfzYz01KaqqA0IVMPywi3TKg4Wt0sKds_9e6d7nyd9YPhbuPeSEogDQ/s400/IMG_1527.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyL649QNjzZd1rksWHgJs04QOFIni5mFc-pZZcfQQ7NHQWr7z-uTkpXCImTs0HOHarYRPaKdLspuxHIlaIYxgUkqELsQtdaRUaDk2dNjt6iX0RfDwYKk9nveZVA0k-sWutYcs8dKwAFHA/s1600/IMG_1536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyL649QNjzZd1rksWHgJs04QOFIni5mFc-pZZcfQQ7NHQWr7z-uTkpXCImTs0HOHarYRPaKdLspuxHIlaIYxgUkqELsQtdaRUaDk2dNjt6iX0RfDwYKk9nveZVA0k-sWutYcs8dKwAFHA/s400/IMG_1536.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4lcZi6tfXW7ARECyDrZwOYKsPNPOYZJt1071SVZeXfJcrw2J1d-_V2Asjdhk6qNRr-IzLrfz6ljDO51WBWDIfoz4sxcnbGBK38vRhSJ6el3UQEet0a-NsW4rcsz_Qo1c5xxtbfpXS8g/s1600/post4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1062" data-original-width="1192" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4lcZi6tfXW7ARECyDrZwOYKsPNPOYZJt1071SVZeXfJcrw2J1d-_V2Asjdhk6qNRr-IzLrfz6ljDO51WBWDIfoz4sxcnbGBK38vRhSJ6el3UQEet0a-NsW4rcsz_Qo1c5xxtbfpXS8g/s400/post4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmocsWk4bvmyUbuHQEwgiih7TkOqPAYwA5r4cq5S5kR7LCR6wEuHn-RlyLiKL_HveCY3oyTMpKrVTuVsWxrefIwk7Bgc5ip_3xxz8EShPFHPNxs8Q0dy0pa3hP2ExbJSeEO4RqXnlG_M/s1600/IMG_2593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmocsWk4bvmyUbuHQEwgiih7TkOqPAYwA5r4cq5S5kR7LCR6wEuHn-RlyLiKL_HveCY3oyTMpKrVTuVsWxrefIwk7Bgc5ip_3xxz8EShPFHPNxs8Q0dy0pa3hP2ExbJSeEO4RqXnlG_M/s400/IMG_2593.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iaVV7tHw2pCekVYOw-UYMDo4CycBZksQWG1yqd2BsRhWtX6Eg6ZUFunDiZHNcUm1YEfFuIDOGdVz6c6eEhOSl7jDH9DAkbfGIRQMtZWxMiBovsDRk0oDiTU9bbjJcfqEjitl-kHwyrw/s1600/IMG_3524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iaVV7tHw2pCekVYOw-UYMDo4CycBZksQWG1yqd2BsRhWtX6Eg6ZUFunDiZHNcUm1YEfFuIDOGdVz6c6eEhOSl7jDH9DAkbfGIRQMtZWxMiBovsDRk0oDiTU9bbjJcfqEjitl-kHwyrw/s400/IMG_3524.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8llUlq6aZYC6DC8iVS72yvXnivB0tss1_XQNmocwLmH9xCeWRxnNDggGcT1XwQuz84Dgzan4CIJaTZJ07SKbHmtg-og7RecwBItXgAnqn3Eupke8qbARZVOk8sP4PrMalEuztkHePFIM/s1600/IMG_3529+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="394" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8llUlq6aZYC6DC8iVS72yvXnivB0tss1_XQNmocwLmH9xCeWRxnNDggGcT1XwQuz84Dgzan4CIJaTZJ07SKbHmtg-og7RecwBItXgAnqn3Eupke8qbARZVOk8sP4PrMalEuztkHePFIM/s400/IMG_3529+cropped.jpg" width="313" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEA6vDas0RdOg5TpgP1Ok-0HPoSXoXFOgzJYwh__HKjMVQJeo93p1FsMPKZkytPnwK8Km9CzDl2_TUTVHjV_NQlC9uS1j4xVaD7CvkyBk7WgnnfhblYFFYH5rnvlwaj_fyJ2sUROjBBcw/s1600/IMG_3541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEA6vDas0RdOg5TpgP1Ok-0HPoSXoXFOgzJYwh__HKjMVQJeo93p1FsMPKZkytPnwK8Km9CzDl2_TUTVHjV_NQlC9uS1j4xVaD7CvkyBk7WgnnfhblYFFYH5rnvlwaj_fyJ2sUROjBBcw/s400/IMG_3541.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl-2yBayTE0sA6R5BMhNDPGsepPYWHHnPFlqblJnrJsUJybAUKSJMNqxVFzNvrVT8j3yBj1TTJIKYyunMrwwBxM3xNB3hMEk_SMDpFpZ40Zb4jOnFrijL933NHaVozt6P5V0ZwVFjxUk/s1600/IMG_3640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQl-2yBayTE0sA6R5BMhNDPGsepPYWHHnPFlqblJnrJsUJybAUKSJMNqxVFzNvrVT8j3yBj1TTJIKYyunMrwwBxM3xNB3hMEk_SMDpFpZ40Zb4jOnFrijL933NHaVozt6P5V0ZwVFjxUk/s400/IMG_3640.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l_LN1WFB9wPH5IbPMQ7wrKxCJv9t19igffrWlmYWQaye1_1AftRCK3uQcPty2Ig0jgpMzL2nJkGBRNRXusOrjjQKDzCiE-7yKj1DTSAGB9CKYE4LYkEZFe6487vjCpXjvMyT69TPk-c/s1600/IMG_3840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9l_LN1WFB9wPH5IbPMQ7wrKxCJv9t19igffrWlmYWQaye1_1AftRCK3uQcPty2Ig0jgpMzL2nJkGBRNRXusOrjjQKDzCiE-7yKj1DTSAGB9CKYE4LYkEZFe6487vjCpXjvMyT69TPk-c/s400/IMG_3840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
From Thailand we flew to Italy, which would be our home for the next 3 months. There we lived in the former bell-ringers house next to a church, on the hillsid. Overlooking the town of Giavera del Montello, we were about a 40-minute drive from Venice. From there we stayed in a restored grainery on the border of Umbria. Right down the road was our next house sit, a two-story stone house that sat in the shadow of a majestic castle with over 300 rooms. Gorgeous!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYr5GTjH1YLq5-Uyk97THEYlJUER_EjXk8XcUEocSt0Qtm1bhDBqa73ucTcar78B_6QVHV4YCaUesJa-mihK_mkc4jcG05N1Xyzrrxd_uAZBfGbXFjGelOzqsCVNKUVGMhJ6wfYhsuyc/s1600/IMG_4033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYr5GTjH1YLq5-Uyk97THEYlJUER_EjXk8XcUEocSt0Qtm1bhDBqa73ucTcar78B_6QVHV4YCaUesJa-mihK_mkc4jcG05N1Xyzrrxd_uAZBfGbXFjGelOzqsCVNKUVGMhJ6wfYhsuyc/s320/IMG_4033.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa92sOuuk_VzHvyCNqDJ18JI98ehyols1w7CwapApa78LreGzVcY_lJy4eWqxIg_7VI-H5prrcoUiJfblDfsPcQukInkrpah_I6_xQs48fPc3upUs_aNNWLO_4hk8T1rmTNV0wvTDJs8/s1600/IMG_4023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTa92sOuuk_VzHvyCNqDJ18JI98ehyols1w7CwapApa78LreGzVcY_lJy4eWqxIg_7VI-H5prrcoUiJfblDfsPcQukInkrpah_I6_xQs48fPc3upUs_aNNWLO_4hk8T1rmTNV0wvTDJs8/s400/IMG_4023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9EjAHV-1nDc-4ITvWUpJarNV5yaHTQO7K047YvJyhIyNDOp1K5bbreOf4bUTVTM_rYjR4yPgU-fzLqkyrDV88T4gwJgKa70PYAuxcdUh_Ohd9kP_0u3-GldoDmjPzM1VEC3W2C8tEeE/s1600/IMG_5426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9EjAHV-1nDc-4ITvWUpJarNV5yaHTQO7K047YvJyhIyNDOp1K5bbreOf4bUTVTM_rYjR4yPgU-fzLqkyrDV88T4gwJgKa70PYAuxcdUh_Ohd9kP_0u3-GldoDmjPzM1VEC3W2C8tEeE/s400/IMG_5426.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTfFn6h-_p3qQTZ6fFPwor1MXIB-7jlcXMulcArjreGtBW4czP7FUMJrbWJ03V8HIDSD0mm-7-hDRNbHaXxehG9auYX4hpcdA3kiZJK0CCs7g2IX4sG_hmgCy8DEuLoxioVKC3Ebv4GQ/s1600/IMG_5693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTfFn6h-_p3qQTZ6fFPwor1MXIB-7jlcXMulcArjreGtBW4czP7FUMJrbWJ03V8HIDSD0mm-7-hDRNbHaXxehG9auYX4hpcdA3kiZJK0CCs7g2IX4sG_hmgCy8DEuLoxioVKC3Ebv4GQ/s400/IMG_5693.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Then we were off to Tuscany where we lived in a huge, old farmhouse on what was once a working vineyard. The views from the balcony were gorgeous as we watched deer come up from the woods daily to feed on the shrubs nearby. Nearby was the lovely city of Siena, spelled with just one "n" in Italian.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSC_wOvnJXs5RO0MUe_zXbdbZgar7v184zzr5MF-MCHtAm7AOjmu_R5rWoZrNKMM8KN0mJLY1SOo2y4J6q7bnkmsuqrQJOITGs1XF66G0zdZ5DTHVZNBAMVNDTAFLzSXfTJZkI83um4A/s1600/IMG_6171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidSC_wOvnJXs5RO0MUe_zXbdbZgar7v184zzr5MF-MCHtAm7AOjmu_R5rWoZrNKMM8KN0mJLY1SOo2y4J6q7bnkmsuqrQJOITGs1XF66G0zdZ5DTHVZNBAMVNDTAFLzSXfTJZkI83um4A/s400/IMG_6171.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdDDUr17XgEsNES67d-yC-twfv511ODHPEb1NhhKoXhUVsi0TnIOJGF9kWexPEGdO5VjamOqhdMDkcqpEqmhtjFjYZrCnelHTFIH7u6c_VsUNMc4nQ615UPUDdWfQ1igm5XE3b_OQEZk/s1600/IMG_6173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXdDDUr17XgEsNES67d-yC-twfv511ODHPEb1NhhKoXhUVsi0TnIOJGF9kWexPEGdO5VjamOqhdMDkcqpEqmhtjFjYZrCnelHTFIH7u6c_VsUNMc4nQ615UPUDdWfQ1igm5XE3b_OQEZk/s400/IMG_6173.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrg5ozxXRmNlW5r7oka6ogBsG7a7tYusnL1sLVPdjurP-_WhgsFS0M9nNg7V-d0h-r6Et6SEEPDHziZ1gfUTiT5N5Wp2Nza_BZOd6DvHexx0xePCff_QSJAqewYOG6Waaz-Fd6FO_Uvs/s1600/IMG_7548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrg5ozxXRmNlW5r7oka6ogBsG7a7tYusnL1sLVPdjurP-_WhgsFS0M9nNg7V-d0h-r6Et6SEEPDHziZ1gfUTiT5N5Wp2Nza_BZOd6DvHexx0xePCff_QSJAqewYOG6Waaz-Fd6FO_Uvs/s400/IMG_7548.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Onto a hilltop village, also in Tuscany where we took care of alpacas, rescued pigeons, dogs and cats from the privacy of our Granny flat next to the main house. Our last stop in Italy was the lesser known region called Le Marche, where we stayed in a totally renovated farmhouse that was both modern and old.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFKY8SsuBoTUfydtn0ACIVplIGUszfKsOYxJIMKnQ4IxyYyv0qr8l_TIjTmlTx_fMc2_VbktSWj-rOe6wnrGg1e-XQ58oggb4iAj2wXpBynpeylncKWujR5S2I4YvnxZzEo4pVYQqnf4/s1600/IMG_7198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFKY8SsuBoTUfydtn0ACIVplIGUszfKsOYxJIMKnQ4IxyYyv0qr8l_TIjTmlTx_fMc2_VbktSWj-rOe6wnrGg1e-XQ58oggb4iAj2wXpBynpeylncKWujR5S2I4YvnxZzEo4pVYQqnf4/s400/IMG_7198.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WJruFh__L_7AITVX1NpIvpduwu0zMSTpnp1NVFbnABPbEFB04Do9CG5okqX7TcZQfEmAgJ5bGlnsak575x4pjIViY_n6yAHizzfCUgKqjYY1-pxOdW3bb4mG5zxjPk8kXEQPbm9raeE/s1600/IMG_7202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WJruFh__L_7AITVX1NpIvpduwu0zMSTpnp1NVFbnABPbEFB04Do9CG5okqX7TcZQfEmAgJ5bGlnsak575x4pjIViY_n6yAHizzfCUgKqjYY1-pxOdW3bb4mG5zxjPk8kXEQPbm9raeE/s400/IMG_7202.JPG" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M_UYmCo_cv0-m9kTYpK8ds7v_Xlp6RrZL43gmD88nRMWa92qNxo03CEw3nzP1cLsDwpcbl3-pa2B075j1TNQe2VOwFm-wEgXmjFt5dgtslA4Ktkwdc8fur2oMsMbBBixV9LF8hfM5rc/s1600/IMG_7207.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8M_UYmCo_cv0-m9kTYpK8ds7v_Xlp6RrZL43gmD88nRMWa92qNxo03CEw3nzP1cLsDwpcbl3-pa2B075j1TNQe2VOwFm-wEgXmjFt5dgtslA4Ktkwdc8fur2oMsMbBBixV9LF8hfM5rc/s400/IMG_7207.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
While in Italy we drove from one end of the country to the other, taking in the sights, smells and of course the food at each stop along the way. We even added two other countries to our list as we spent a few days exploring the tiny countries of San Marino and Vatican City.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePF9_b5A08Vo4_WtStXs5htHfNMLQ8_8EShYuNCsUAQnUJ1faacujHRgHNrffv7U4utkOzqLz_PCnNnsHZIFvn24bcdiri_68ytNWQYqA0Nbc5QBI9R39qlwOZBy9mU1Nd2BKa-XuXFg/s1600/IMG_5128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiePF9_b5A08Vo4_WtStXs5htHfNMLQ8_8EShYuNCsUAQnUJ1faacujHRgHNrffv7U4utkOzqLz_PCnNnsHZIFvn24bcdiri_68ytNWQYqA0Nbc5QBI9R39qlwOZBy9mU1Nd2BKa-XuXFg/s400/IMG_5128.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsk0_Egv1scUcDVJG8qNQvtKX9C1o2jBuHS8nBTrg_kf2z6ib1KugjCxDsv2ubJZ9LNeCoOprvw9h7V3EruaQQch9sE5_cDJtzX-3RgBq-zw2MD7PG3ch0Qdchupn1zk4Jdy7a-z7DJk/s1600/IMG_5168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGsk0_Egv1scUcDVJG8qNQvtKX9C1o2jBuHS8nBTrg_kf2z6ib1KugjCxDsv2ubJZ9LNeCoOprvw9h7V3EruaQQch9sE5_cDJtzX-3RgBq-zw2MD7PG3ch0Qdchupn1zk4Jdy7a-z7DJk/s400/IMG_5168.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbh-JYpZ_lBFNePbWtzsNWOqglzzXWtil2auiMi-OqUx-zD-DL-abpHVe6UUfkF5njCS_z6QooqCfHJmMBwcw6n8yGPtnc3iY06_jeqsoe-c2wd-LZassIPL7DYydWV1ykUaB29w-WJs/s1600/IMG_4716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKbh-JYpZ_lBFNePbWtzsNWOqglzzXWtil2auiMi-OqUx-zD-DL-abpHVe6UUfkF5njCS_z6QooqCfHJmMBwcw6n8yGPtnc3iY06_jeqsoe-c2wd-LZassIPL7DYydWV1ykUaB29w-WJs/s400/IMG_4716.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSki3nN7cBMomu11K8a6De-rxXfdnEtRZly79DKhn3ahVmfFsxp-0cawGD5NwQekB0p8eP33FsfDxY72fWMGbUzOXl6lJOwESYu5bJ1zKY3Konrva78aqwhrd0y20O_fPHnBc8c-EywM/s1600/IMG_4815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSki3nN7cBMomu11K8a6De-rxXfdnEtRZly79DKhn3ahVmfFsxp-0cawGD5NwQekB0p8eP33FsfDxY72fWMGbUzOXl6lJOwESYu5bJ1zKY3Konrva78aqwhrd0y20O_fPHnBc8c-EywM/s400/IMG_4815.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVZLVkP0hIdl1qfDyvEyZJETCfFEGt7DvNbZJdu8-k7B0t_hlxPXtVs9dXTgKxdrKdNmWASUncJwAsnjT8PKL53xOPGDoNJ5izT8dDc79O6JZao3b2Q3ip5l9dmSiknmlYM-8M3ICX1o/s1600/IMG_5778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfVZLVkP0hIdl1qfDyvEyZJETCfFEGt7DvNbZJdu8-k7B0t_hlxPXtVs9dXTgKxdrKdNmWASUncJwAsnjT8PKL53xOPGDoNJ5izT8dDc79O6JZao3b2Q3ip5l9dmSiknmlYM-8M3ICX1o/s400/IMG_5778.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Jfh9ktfnaFUBaQKFBGhS4wL7PZ9EVrKbWM8DI6P11Id3oH8xOFHTqjaQoBj_mITr_2WkZ7xBNmO5w6odeqWzHm4nW6_h8WfyDYFI68joQ_Ec3BhE6TBgeMrnkvyDaehHZKn-wNUljZc/s1600/IMG_5448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Jfh9ktfnaFUBaQKFBGhS4wL7PZ9EVrKbWM8DI6P11Id3oH8xOFHTqjaQoBj_mITr_2WkZ7xBNmO5w6odeqWzHm4nW6_h8WfyDYFI68joQ_Ec3BhE6TBgeMrnkvyDaehHZKn-wNUljZc/s400/IMG_5448.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HVMVSbVdPc-gnSHm8vbNfbIuuphJ8K5OGK8FIgsfnozjhRMFM3KIn2NRVzm7d1NqhoHcSVvFxUTo4y39lwVRJt6yQKeFftIcUPafwxJdGqvRbmqarWv_j1LwdoHsrmqcINjxGotNNz4/s1600/IMG_5589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HVMVSbVdPc-gnSHm8vbNfbIuuphJ8K5OGK8FIgsfnozjhRMFM3KIn2NRVzm7d1NqhoHcSVvFxUTo4y39lwVRJt6yQKeFftIcUPafwxJdGqvRbmqarWv_j1LwdoHsrmqcINjxGotNNz4/s400/IMG_5589.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzdKh_cjIHFG-BPTdOIPv9ce8orNIHdNENDKq-x6lp5UEy1cCYuDb196mywk-cEVE1jo8mT1ZSx6sLm46XXvbPq7NcHE9QxDhxEiG22dXTiyySC4cb8m7t99rGQoU5w_RTMPCF47TTkI/s1600/IMG_5678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzdKh_cjIHFG-BPTdOIPv9ce8orNIHdNENDKq-x6lp5UEy1cCYuDb196mywk-cEVE1jo8mT1ZSx6sLm46XXvbPq7NcHE9QxDhxEiG22dXTiyySC4cb8m7t99rGQoU5w_RTMPCF47TTkI/s400/IMG_5678.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Next we were off to the United Kingdom where we would live for the next 5 months rent free. We spent 3 months in England, 6 weeks in Scotland, 3 weeks in Wales, 1 month in Ireland and one day in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Along the way we explored castles, the famous Stonehenge, toured the old stomping ground of the Beatles in Liverpool and so much more. We enjoyed a cool, holiday season complete with a Christmas tree in our temporary home that took us well into the New Year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVcRZiIqOzqit80qRocX5UVYMYogaruMRvKUqaaaezPagNJ1E-w0fMDPaa8Om7CdnDds1Uu2C0C9EM110rMnKQ8caISVK-YhGaegC_z9ixmtmGOWXTTxEN4xQdJJgRxbs14Q0u9wT4iM/s1600/IMG_8446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVcRZiIqOzqit80qRocX5UVYMYogaruMRvKUqaaaezPagNJ1E-w0fMDPaa8Om7CdnDds1Uu2C0C9EM110rMnKQ8caISVK-YhGaegC_z9ixmtmGOWXTTxEN4xQdJJgRxbs14Q0u9wT4iM/s400/IMG_8446.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlC8lAJEUBzgx0O29f2d2V7jDZ1vUaE3otAACfcju7xku3plTOyfzhUq5trAxrCV-sXnz8V0eX-A2sR56OqD7JsHQHo72SUrSzJuUfwRc2wzWEO9h5mDa18F_jJpMkaW1RT88Yqc_vS8/s1600/IMG_8493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlC8lAJEUBzgx0O29f2d2V7jDZ1vUaE3otAACfcju7xku3plTOyfzhUq5trAxrCV-sXnz8V0eX-A2sR56OqD7JsHQHo72SUrSzJuUfwRc2wzWEO9h5mDa18F_jJpMkaW1RT88Yqc_vS8/s400/IMG_8493.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIrBi_yYQpXPWk7QQmkaLBjvsmDapQZs4s5VM2JvR_h7lfGF0JUpeSQqliPCpFb5QdnHat_MojQGponHrwYi0dsTBnUMVzKKQ3p9e9yF7QfdyBtID17MF6JVHzyTAZn4dNZ62h_Fc5hk/s1600/IMG_0821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdIrBi_yYQpXPWk7QQmkaLBjvsmDapQZs4s5VM2JvR_h7lfGF0JUpeSQqliPCpFb5QdnHat_MojQGponHrwYi0dsTBnUMVzKKQ3p9e9yF7QfdyBtID17MF6JVHzyTAZn4dNZ62h_Fc5hk/s400/IMG_0821.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zIuq8GbJjVv-7_nCtHIL5R0wBOC-GSQYacEhyphenhyphen8GWTWa-Ly6ZJpSUZS4-XYdXEx8wd5FpOhDfgqR1OV_0McjbvaEfSsrx1iptAHO43LVLKc9uvLZ45R6_XqkSxHgebrIklvlIIN2XRxM/s1600/IMG_0581.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4zIuq8GbJjVv-7_nCtHIL5R0wBOC-GSQYacEhyphenhyphen8GWTWa-Ly6ZJpSUZS4-XYdXEx8wd5FpOhDfgqR1OV_0McjbvaEfSsrx1iptAHO43LVLKc9uvLZ45R6_XqkSxHgebrIklvlIIN2XRxM/s400/IMG_0581.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVksJ8qjsSn-4XUB_-VqDTKF5VpDJSyfKv0Yw4By-sDYZFoNj9VruvSW_r-sG1vJ_XdpLYqo2fyy8mjogGBE2X9x2pBTGKQ6RcXfPA-7bHvU9E34fvGteHkVwpr7bNmMLzaU4_eXlBsWM/s1600/IMG_0588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVksJ8qjsSn-4XUB_-VqDTKF5VpDJSyfKv0Yw4By-sDYZFoNj9VruvSW_r-sG1vJ_XdpLYqo2fyy8mjogGBE2X9x2pBTGKQ6RcXfPA-7bHvU9E34fvGteHkVwpr7bNmMLzaU4_eXlBsWM/s400/IMG_0588.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo7_L4BRYUav_YsOpBT8JNF0vl2AcQmxX1kQisNlLYpm8H_pxnCa1icIBCsw-bH22r6gYqovyXldHyTqP5tVlsbwBTqPYiwfFfBF0csJnAzvcQa5WzHtA80h4cWo6Ybb51TGtOroCWpg/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIo7_L4BRYUav_YsOpBT8JNF0vl2AcQmxX1kQisNlLYpm8H_pxnCa1icIBCsw-bH22r6gYqovyXldHyTqP5tVlsbwBTqPYiwfFfBF0csJnAzvcQa5WzHtA80h4cWo6Ybb51TGtOroCWpg/s400/IMG_0626.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEYgzhl5bcjo52iDAFGw9-peFUfuaw3HT8m2LU7h3u6WDMubXvLtZPJPGkLdVgnMuQqJsYJVdmtvDZ_DXKdHWfUI1kYGRfb64frSj5VntCOBP1xILip08tjaomiSrmFsjDRZNcSgZqdU/s1600/IMG_0630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCEYgzhl5bcjo52iDAFGw9-peFUfuaw3HT8m2LU7h3u6WDMubXvLtZPJPGkLdVgnMuQqJsYJVdmtvDZ_DXKdHWfUI1kYGRfb64frSj5VntCOBP1xILip08tjaomiSrmFsjDRZNcSgZqdU/s400/IMG_0630.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVZbcSm3a86wsAhU495Z5hfpjkHbZy3SvkPzyj97TEB-wDN-Igs3t0akIEywyKIwAD2_kLsh3xvPpQSd3DfTo2jOhZyktyfD51ZQHw6L1amWlx5H7UqpiZ2Mp6Fmer6NNOuWW12JIm-A/s1600/IMG_1597+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="1600" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAVZbcSm3a86wsAhU495Z5hfpjkHbZy3SvkPzyj97TEB-wDN-Igs3t0akIEywyKIwAD2_kLsh3xvPpQSd3DfTo2jOhZyktyfD51ZQHw6L1amWlx5H7UqpiZ2Mp6Fmer6NNOuWW12JIm-A/s400/IMG_1597+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy0tsHx0KExDnjQTKHWrMGQ2t7uZJrWwN96_sJmfF8O1r13IHmQSOydEbJvJxuMooCjdgE0MM2aSPL8_xZhmPTLDSq0U5fbWBTjfp_-4kZVzXjzdp4gV-wqowuezmIVyom2nJTCaVjoM/s1600/IMG_1610+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="859" data-original-width="1198" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsy0tsHx0KExDnjQTKHWrMGQ2t7uZJrWwN96_sJmfF8O1r13IHmQSOydEbJvJxuMooCjdgE0MM2aSPL8_xZhmPTLDSq0U5fbWBTjfp_-4kZVzXjzdp4gV-wqowuezmIVyom2nJTCaVjoM/s400/IMG_1610+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ_omhM6ESzB_PdJ3YvvxstCfnQUBO72hXR89Jymo9hkJem3Fo-2yGkxWVXQ7Q3HxeJIWeVXTQczZw1DpB_6ELT1MOoileUzRL5eh-xVCPYCgzVJkizQGdiLD0bF4s_dfiALU04BMDZE/s1600/IMG_1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ_omhM6ESzB_PdJ3YvvxstCfnQUBO72hXR89Jymo9hkJem3Fo-2yGkxWVXQ7Q3HxeJIWeVXTQczZw1DpB_6ELT1MOoileUzRL5eh-xVCPYCgzVJkizQGdiLD0bF4s_dfiALU04BMDZE/s400/IMG_1610.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBlsvUQqU6XBBE6CcLqKUsEZF-o4ai0UVSw9IYLrGgB43bzUXMjBvW30JD6ynw-6dYdutWA-opoxocYCOUarMomXZQLlWk5x0mEbLzBPyV_SoNbtRyjcde68sC_E5i1yp8jiPox4ctR8/s1600/IMG_1611+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="812" data-original-width="1198" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisBlsvUQqU6XBBE6CcLqKUsEZF-o4ai0UVSw9IYLrGgB43bzUXMjBvW30JD6ynw-6dYdutWA-opoxocYCOUarMomXZQLlWk5x0mEbLzBPyV_SoNbtRyjcde68sC_E5i1yp8jiPox4ctR8/s400/IMG_1611+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7myygQmMztrY7UGe9pVerzk8hvzv0dBr24CGATmfcB4qKtlJuELT8IfYD4nDz1eVjnc13HeEJtCVUq2Mz6Zo_T74Qh0hBZWgze8LUIguCl4xWjdJWXs1PpZz5mOD4PX9EbxFYwxBsHO4/s1600/IMG_0022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7myygQmMztrY7UGe9pVerzk8hvzv0dBr24CGATmfcB4qKtlJuELT8IfYD4nDz1eVjnc13HeEJtCVUq2Mz6Zo_T74Qh0hBZWgze8LUIguCl4xWjdJWXs1PpZz5mOD4PX9EbxFYwxBsHO4/s400/IMG_0022.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx48YGUhpvcTDdVvpBiWK-VhR-ggbBv0IfwDqSmkdN4EAE26rT6PFygWOx1IaLues6Mmrm-xRRRIS2TKKUckrTHCFcv2w5SoCYUXMpCpfCv7o8FL07hgkaReJSW7tJBkThlPD6pmoBVQ/s1600/IMG_2963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSx48YGUhpvcTDdVvpBiWK-VhR-ggbBv0IfwDqSmkdN4EAE26rT6PFygWOx1IaLues6Mmrm-xRRRIS2TKKUckrTHCFcv2w5SoCYUXMpCpfCv7o8FL07hgkaReJSW7tJBkThlPD6pmoBVQ/s400/IMG_2963.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyxjWElGlSJjKpAf3cOVu4zEf9u0e6UaiKTLKYDPzmHl9aFgJ81Y1A-qNVLL4wwydSVr9QloiiWi08zQUvJri721omo83DNKXpqM_WCjLEN-UqHRHgdYTA1fNs1kXrzIG-udhtL5VMKw/s1600/IMG_2998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXyxjWElGlSJjKpAf3cOVu4zEf9u0e6UaiKTLKYDPzmHl9aFgJ81Y1A-qNVLL4wwydSVr9QloiiWi08zQUvJri721omo83DNKXpqM_WCjLEN-UqHRHgdYTA1fNs1kXrzIG-udhtL5VMKw/s400/IMG_2998.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBzYiWXyKnxpSVTigS9uR0Lh_7kBNQ6Ie3oBoqid3xq0wMQyavg5zqzXFqeZQ3JTfW10Yq520GpL_gZ-QH0BVSlrjjCRrMYh0NoT-C4s2VAV8F863WF2UFOf4UEnAQC8JxxZHn9RAiMM/s1600/IMG_3072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjBzYiWXyKnxpSVTigS9uR0Lh_7kBNQ6Ie3oBoqid3xq0wMQyavg5zqzXFqeZQ3JTfW10Yq520GpL_gZ-QH0BVSlrjjCRrMYh0NoT-C4s2VAV8F863WF2UFOf4UEnAQC8JxxZHn9RAiMM/s400/IMG_3072.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqOo0onSuYSRY1tBD9jdAsXhRVS-JTnXrktuuL3MsFrd6VXQkImEXvuMy0p3mVHgXRzJIaWoFMH0zoBeJh_x9NWtCwhxzHTwIHCD_p84m7RCVeymEpKNIDT-tQs8w1yUhwNe4mSway4k/s1600/IMG_3073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqOo0onSuYSRY1tBD9jdAsXhRVS-JTnXrktuuL3MsFrd6VXQkImEXvuMy0p3mVHgXRzJIaWoFMH0zoBeJh_x9NWtCwhxzHTwIHCD_p84m7RCVeymEpKNIDT-tQs8w1yUhwNe4mSway4k/s400/IMG_3073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5xHjRkPFqes5it7yuwse2FLxq-yFkoFTn8ihIw9cL15IRtU9FJC3FuGD_B_S8aVoBUoakCoys1R1ogBk9UbecfAnSWcIZZT9IeaQjjXVTcI-9joUO9shZfNLwcizkznAZBGjfMj7CFU/s1600/IMG_3074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR5xHjRkPFqes5it7yuwse2FLxq-yFkoFTn8ihIw9cL15IRtU9FJC3FuGD_B_S8aVoBUoakCoys1R1ogBk9UbecfAnSWcIZZT9IeaQjjXVTcI-9joUO9shZfNLwcizkznAZBGjfMj7CFU/s400/IMG_3074.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTCcCTRwFP4Zr0ZrzM5sc0VGC73wk0kDel-jiTj-FvGrW4LHikWnO-OfIHYeZptyxZCJ8U8x6uJgmQtMA4taPPi_gQuriFtFGx-1GpvHVzHK8XTrYa8smLigxpWfGRxcVDok7zARHFSo/s1600/IMG_3644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGTCcCTRwFP4Zr0ZrzM5sc0VGC73wk0kDel-jiTj-FvGrW4LHikWnO-OfIHYeZptyxZCJ8U8x6uJgmQtMA4taPPi_gQuriFtFGx-1GpvHVzHK8XTrYa8smLigxpWfGRxcVDok7zARHFSo/s400/IMG_3644.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGTOjqau6JTyPPxO10HgDCsBHgS2mA3mo3scfGOzLqTKGgGlmqrz9BhzgAQbbTCtSbfZdH0pFfqCvmXpBj4dEK5vFtDvOgdBNPxfcYrm_WQD7ylZqsy9GqyC4R8jSzeKuKp3dJo7KePw/s1600/IMG_3645+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="494" data-original-width="779" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidGTOjqau6JTyPPxO10HgDCsBHgS2mA3mo3scfGOzLqTKGgGlmqrz9BhzgAQbbTCtSbfZdH0pFfqCvmXpBj4dEK5vFtDvOgdBNPxfcYrm_WQD7ylZqsy9GqyC4R8jSzeKuKp3dJo7KePw/s400/IMG_3645+cropped.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqa1n4Izgv5wh2ObKr56jO0WYWEDW1l6Mx2kOm7v7zkgV5EhuxRfVh67SfYtJqDfnH_v8-HCqKYV_vm8DAVjBx_3gEbRqGbTxWiW-tzdy8yFSS8MC0Y7CnJc6-gaUdUFTqL6U0LMfrZTw/s1600/IMG_3842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqa1n4Izgv5wh2ObKr56jO0WYWEDW1l6Mx2kOm7v7zkgV5EhuxRfVh67SfYtJqDfnH_v8-HCqKYV_vm8DAVjBx_3gEbRqGbTxWiW-tzdy8yFSS8MC0Y7CnJc6-gaUdUFTqL6U0LMfrZTw/s400/IMG_3842.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprtQ7Nc9q8Z3ndRdru8AglQwKMgQwoqaZQ5jvQLr39AJAwbd5nhAsn9586MQJMyuUigcmO4rtR5QboditwXMz3d8HW9GjF1mBLtNB-TLaf6aGtHWy0Es7ZjM9_rDDYaXrcoBQTCCbAbU/s1600/IMG_3883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiprtQ7Nc9q8Z3ndRdru8AglQwKMgQwoqaZQ5jvQLr39AJAwbd5nhAsn9586MQJMyuUigcmO4rtR5QboditwXMz3d8HW9GjF1mBLtNB-TLaf6aGtHWy0Es7ZjM9_rDDYaXrcoBQTCCbAbU/s400/IMG_3883.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ROw7w0oXly-1fwCIt9MhvDBjwHnI2M-DhjLKovIu4N51G1xPgqCwgTj5iWszYws2JnKiVnPI5psgYTmKyn7Qbr6N0IxwC_eaIy8DVc3L1P2kzeC2WeztiAltMea9qjgBs1BBeIyykHU/s1600/IMG_1674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ROw7w0oXly-1fwCIt9MhvDBjwHnI2M-DhjLKovIu4N51G1xPgqCwgTj5iWszYws2JnKiVnPI5psgYTmKyn7Qbr6N0IxwC_eaIy8DVc3L1P2kzeC2WeztiAltMea9qjgBs1BBeIyykHU/s400/IMG_1674.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6PSYUB08xeEnxZIpl4W-PyGUk0z4vF2kASD7nDB6LK-xEuMQnVOxA_L3PvTgLdrABDYjmb9fYsX1k0xZwiMpMhdqnuoYsoXvBvIku-XzdYOgI8Ggcab_FYr2hLflEDbC-Ez3WoQu6AE/s1600/IMG_2301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga6PSYUB08xeEnxZIpl4W-PyGUk0z4vF2kASD7nDB6LK-xEuMQnVOxA_L3PvTgLdrABDYjmb9fYsX1k0xZwiMpMhdqnuoYsoXvBvIku-XzdYOgI8Ggcab_FYr2hLflEDbC-Ez3WoQu6AE/s400/IMG_2301.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTJQYjP-XQm5BB2726_2a6e46FWkHqCbSRfJ4eYvWpK4eGNmKxG50zK6_2_vlb9IWlneOxtGsjz1J7ayqX9isiWrraUgzH1SQK6iCUfRdIM2tSXDits64HmNSE5vks5Ph0EGBkQ4BShs/s1600/IMG_2311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVTJQYjP-XQm5BB2726_2a6e46FWkHqCbSRfJ4eYvWpK4eGNmKxG50zK6_2_vlb9IWlneOxtGsjz1J7ayqX9isiWrraUgzH1SQK6iCUfRdIM2tSXDits64HmNSE5vks5Ph0EGBkQ4BShs/s400/IMG_2311.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiLPTTvDyfa-_yYJ0L9MzYuGg_TBwFyM2dLsmIH2k7JjpYh6b9DNkb5s2V8pW2FnJ8sIfWYzCPYR3-rnP81TYdctAjvpp_RBx8aPECQzIBoE4G5estGAk6o6HbeWq6NVsg1itTcpcPvg/s1600/IMG_2366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaiLPTTvDyfa-_yYJ0L9MzYuGg_TBwFyM2dLsmIH2k7JjpYh6b9DNkb5s2V8pW2FnJ8sIfWYzCPYR3-rnP81TYdctAjvpp_RBx8aPECQzIBoE4G5estGAk6o6HbeWq6NVsg1itTcpcPvg/s400/IMG_2366.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDxASW0ciV76WBht7duyDr7twmbk0WHFM0H9yYaxhys8BRgYLIYRUZhsJPolAP_N78bBU3qha_AQeELqZZEgrNW342CAl2pCKm2Sc_-NMIwfZpeKemXKBUsfBg6ZolWc7KO3eSqEs9SA/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDxASW0ciV76WBht7duyDr7twmbk0WHFM0H9yYaxhys8BRgYLIYRUZhsJPolAP_N78bBU3qha_AQeELqZZEgrNW342CAl2pCKm2Sc_-NMIwfZpeKemXKBUsfBg6ZolWc7KO3eSqEs9SA/s400/IMG_2462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3Dbp24zl_Yj2B3YfF62H0CsT7etJkIYLPPup_2vr9Co8E-m-fJy-09JSdKxyZQv7NnRzCrPmcQJwo9Ll9Dq7zRAM-FJFj5WiUaLX1mpn5TWo8PPmZzeXxXHY8TrI5qU9NKHVXGq3I4I/s1600/IMG_2476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd3Dbp24zl_Yj2B3YfF62H0CsT7etJkIYLPPup_2vr9Co8E-m-fJy-09JSdKxyZQv7NnRzCrPmcQJwo9Ll9Dq7zRAM-FJFj5WiUaLX1mpn5TWo8PPmZzeXxXHY8TrI5qU9NKHVXGq3I4I/s400/IMG_2476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8MIzpE57ENdq4LbHz8cDiL2HEPiAGE5JzW32P4cd6aBx3rJHxbeFQ1exdI21MA1UnSpQ8NsrPyUoolJj1qz8Lqe34sb_vJPmDj1vGRNsYH057pp0CBT-WsbHq9BBgwZJEGqwi17Ozwk/s1600/IMG_2485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv8MIzpE57ENdq4LbHz8cDiL2HEPiAGE5JzW32P4cd6aBx3rJHxbeFQ1exdI21MA1UnSpQ8NsrPyUoolJj1qz8Lqe34sb_vJPmDj1vGRNsYH057pp0CBT-WsbHq9BBgwZJEGqwi17Ozwk/s400/IMG_2485.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Then we enjoyed 3 warm, sunny months living in Spain, starting in the countryside and ending in Madrid. Since we speak Spanish we felt right at home chatting with the locals and enjoying the white, sandy beaches along the way. We explored cities like Valencia, Alicante, and Pamploma, even taking in the sights of the Running With The Bulls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPS56V_3Hxz5HvSkMj358HW9jyba1nKCvFGUunmc680wBsa3NHAlBycbk4GVESNGBq18khkResBvhyphenhyphenWdE0cUR_Pw_36n-dXNvwlTjvHWgA1aLuV_2rZXUyZTSmGz7USju1MaTxPvCR7g/s1600/IMG_3929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEPS56V_3Hxz5HvSkMj358HW9jyba1nKCvFGUunmc680wBsa3NHAlBycbk4GVESNGBq18khkResBvhyphenhyphenWdE0cUR_Pw_36n-dXNvwlTjvHWgA1aLuV_2rZXUyZTSmGz7USju1MaTxPvCR7g/s400/IMG_3929.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhLkOHuziIj2pqnGyrqI9uCHi1mJY448jvcxMpzQ9ptw0IWz74j6fsgG70B5fLzyAWybfMQPOlXNy8j4MuFF5wxtKUDGHK-DVoRfzSsg_aH_5R-5ZmHHn_sGiGi3sA_iccbWEB5liT5s/s1600/IMG_3930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQhLkOHuziIj2pqnGyrqI9uCHi1mJY448jvcxMpzQ9ptw0IWz74j6fsgG70B5fLzyAWybfMQPOlXNy8j4MuFF5wxtKUDGHK-DVoRfzSsg_aH_5R-5ZmHHn_sGiGi3sA_iccbWEB5liT5s/s400/IMG_3930.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-uWAJzLwkAplG2XSP8NFWZUS1evEtXIfr-yo2eM4UuxwgpQsO5taIFNY_m9W7aY097UtdyvaHS8m3dS6VOBLMSZ57PEQt4peFVM24hTUzZ2oJLDZaP_X-rZuR8XquKKoVZ6fhj6A6Ic/s1600/IMG_3958.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij-uWAJzLwkAplG2XSP8NFWZUS1evEtXIfr-yo2eM4UuxwgpQsO5taIFNY_m9W7aY097UtdyvaHS8m3dS6VOBLMSZ57PEQt4peFVM24hTUzZ2oJLDZaP_X-rZuR8XquKKoVZ6fhj6A6Ic/s400/IMG_3958.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2EEeVhsLfi7nnKTY5gDiUwf2UpFYUqzMPqA-oram7J-R4Z2o8PG_8V03Qz0Ytrb1Gp8vIXZeksRlLaU9T_zNG4IKF2lc8rO2zvMmGO8-rZs2CFOrc035mJk1eaM3gEmN5qHSnm58QC0/s1600/IMG_3987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2EEeVhsLfi7nnKTY5gDiUwf2UpFYUqzMPqA-oram7J-R4Z2o8PG_8V03Qz0Ytrb1Gp8vIXZeksRlLaU9T_zNG4IKF2lc8rO2zvMmGO8-rZs2CFOrc035mJk1eaM3gEmN5qHSnm58QC0/s400/IMG_3987.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_EUEh6BXfZmg0dVz1IHnTu8IRilF6cde2zju-VkvqM9YTTB9i2mrucm8dzbRGPN9vMWTjf9otgZ3DOHIounFhXL-emLrqMife_AeRPf6wK07GCSpbSeXmCkKNgViiSYuN5hZQ4LlIwA/s1600/IMG_4057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8_EUEh6BXfZmg0dVz1IHnTu8IRilF6cde2zju-VkvqM9YTTB9i2mrucm8dzbRGPN9vMWTjf9otgZ3DOHIounFhXL-emLrqMife_AeRPf6wK07GCSpbSeXmCkKNgViiSYuN5hZQ4LlIwA/s400/IMG_4057.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAu4iNJUZ3ihpms4sG1wJphVIvfZjrHlEOaigYyjjfdNet4-4agIGil5t9lwNnX_NqlsJIPaeaQW_xtItGq55OIrRz4iZMToGTIddenLDeKuJ-JLWrAQoxWtErc6NofagtvOQGZLvFLw/s1600/IMG_5405.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwAu4iNJUZ3ihpms4sG1wJphVIvfZjrHlEOaigYyjjfdNet4-4agIGil5t9lwNnX_NqlsJIPaeaQW_xtItGq55OIrRz4iZMToGTIddenLDeKuJ-JLWrAQoxWtErc6NofagtvOQGZLvFLw/s400/IMG_5405.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KM7hAw1eTCR4t09X3OBlRZkugMABsDHOlO9V3I1xR40OcHWFSEseEoAuKD3FZSRIUjb9rTKJ9IddDp4oa0eWuuMSwl_j3YlNdOKTrvok-TXV9kpsvzuGP52mC0euI4zjADH3D5chSPE/s1600/IMG_5422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KM7hAw1eTCR4t09X3OBlRZkugMABsDHOlO9V3I1xR40OcHWFSEseEoAuKD3FZSRIUjb9rTKJ9IddDp4oa0eWuuMSwl_j3YlNdOKTrvok-TXV9kpsvzuGP52mC0euI4zjADH3D5chSPE/s400/IMG_5422.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6xRzebILRdW91ZsSQCydPGRkbIo6PpnfNNRrnkXr6Q1orkUNNvK2CNvGuM9_2_KHtQkVhbNXKf76GXNwp8it-FR_TDlran3fySODRx6V8JsjH_bO9W_yzo07RqWCaYcTqKlrHYpS9h4/s1600/IMG_5480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi6xRzebILRdW91ZsSQCydPGRkbIo6PpnfNNRrnkXr6Q1orkUNNvK2CNvGuM9_2_KHtQkVhbNXKf76GXNwp8it-FR_TDlran3fySODRx6V8JsjH_bO9W_yzo07RqWCaYcTqKlrHYpS9h4/s400/IMG_5480.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNVi9ipfZQhLZHXkxBjKWKs5zF-CNrsMTMuNK0UHYuI1N5BnpDrWq1VrGbSVoUFc1kC3N6hmEJwc_iWESflHpYFDLI8tjp4EXvFRcASICC6aOJ0TdcRV14CtJFSg9nr8UnLQb1DK5pX4/s1600/IMG_5508.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCNVi9ipfZQhLZHXkxBjKWKs5zF-CNrsMTMuNK0UHYuI1N5BnpDrWq1VrGbSVoUFc1kC3N6hmEJwc_iWESflHpYFDLI8tjp4EXvFRcASICC6aOJ0TdcRV14CtJFSg9nr8UnLQb1DK5pX4/s400/IMG_5508.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxje0Nw2FN5e7g6BSwxEM6Bu58tBQGq3HAfPB87bRH7VVv0OuOLVB5CHTz_XpIkarD95jzj-Wx-RMhALVrZDcUQ4Pp72XJ20mUliunboU5E4Ak73NrmSbKpvS3_AK2w2nJwYPOgCrvbBE/s1600/IMG_5711.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxje0Nw2FN5e7g6BSwxEM6Bu58tBQGq3HAfPB87bRH7VVv0OuOLVB5CHTz_XpIkarD95jzj-Wx-RMhALVrZDcUQ4Pp72XJ20mUliunboU5E4Ak73NrmSbKpvS3_AK2w2nJwYPOgCrvbBE/s400/IMG_5711.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJNvoctaloJ-ICCI1YxTD2dvwXw4FCIJTPmIS2XhDV8RB6ze_-XQCMH0TIHlFELVBK-_4kTgpf70xj8uepjTG2kjwGWlNMUp-a74Ksn0OIvFXi1x-pXXdpIUB-bTbZdVhW1tLv86GRdw/s1600/IMG_5727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJNvoctaloJ-ICCI1YxTD2dvwXw4FCIJTPmIS2XhDV8RB6ze_-XQCMH0TIHlFELVBK-_4kTgpf70xj8uepjTG2kjwGWlNMUp-a74Ksn0OIvFXi1x-pXXdpIUB-bTbZdVhW1tLv86GRdw/s400/IMG_5727.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT2jxC4i626TfSmOjtDUyu2BAD6emY7UKN8_yR6TyP4M_SwPW_pzGnlMVoRwdvPYHj8Lygp6XKnkDos2OmCI3PS4XmnQfZwt1yXxeztMP6Jw5bxLfz6K8lHJSI6d8oe-XEjC3H_7opLM/s1600/IMG_5731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwT2jxC4i626TfSmOjtDUyu2BAD6emY7UKN8_yR6TyP4M_SwPW_pzGnlMVoRwdvPYHj8Lygp6XKnkDos2OmCI3PS4XmnQfZwt1yXxeztMP6Jw5bxLfz6K8lHJSI6d8oe-XEjC3H_7opLM/s400/IMG_5731.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZC_kBOK63y7zT17CsX4KXUdQ8bJpu3A1dXwupYY1RtlvzE9TeW3Iiag2sEXtV9vY6OtccfZkysgW-d4Y2YLXqicqq7Y4R07UmJ90jMLHYMDLiWiih_LCa9kqvrzISXh5IuIHWUXW_9g/s1600/IMG_5763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZC_kBOK63y7zT17CsX4KXUdQ8bJpu3A1dXwupYY1RtlvzE9TeW3Iiag2sEXtV9vY6OtccfZkysgW-d4Y2YLXqicqq7Y4R07UmJ90jMLHYMDLiWiih_LCa9kqvrzISXh5IuIHWUXW_9g/s400/IMG_5763.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9vywOqXiJTVxDbEmq0n6Unj6JPs2D6NvZL7kVZLk8Wkqs3IeDjdlZN3yiByXAfS3I97fCEt3v1VUtL9wYzJzy1IXG9IK-v2HlCT_YlxOZ4640oekG9jZmsHenHmQyq8mlW5GgTx8DgM/s1600/IMG_5774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9vywOqXiJTVxDbEmq0n6Unj6JPs2D6NvZL7kVZLk8Wkqs3IeDjdlZN3yiByXAfS3I97fCEt3v1VUtL9wYzJzy1IXG9IK-v2HlCT_YlxOZ4640oekG9jZmsHenHmQyq8mlW5GgTx8DgM/s400/IMG_5774.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Since Morocco was the next country over we took some holiday time and played tourist for three weeks. We rented a car and drove from one city to another stopping to see Casablanca, Fes, Marrakesh and Rabat while melting in the scorching, summer sun.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-BrV0sxcFrV1boXD5aUrnOEFkmDYlEDuR7yKvI01WEToZwqc873L_X99qtwt2wQVRpOUp2UtRHdG1F1HtehvLOe3L9KXZ9b1XGCp_-Bn_BebF6ioImhBgnMGrHHM95YT-QVtWUGi5c8/s1600/IMG_6540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM-BrV0sxcFrV1boXD5aUrnOEFkmDYlEDuR7yKvI01WEToZwqc873L_X99qtwt2wQVRpOUp2UtRHdG1F1HtehvLOe3L9KXZ9b1XGCp_-Bn_BebF6ioImhBgnMGrHHM95YT-QVtWUGi5c8/s400/IMG_6540.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OXUPWttSdrbKiASZhbC8Rm6VUg4ciP55vI1qDOv3dlT7OvzLRx6Nima9BepFtqEBWhXY7nRoBZdiVUXAvUIF15c9fYH2bDqQs06frOPcyxLYauB86XgTgi9gbRU7VOl6HUHkmmHjP-8/s1600/IMG_6563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6OXUPWttSdrbKiASZhbC8Rm6VUg4ciP55vI1qDOv3dlT7OvzLRx6Nima9BepFtqEBWhXY7nRoBZdiVUXAvUIF15c9fYH2bDqQs06frOPcyxLYauB86XgTgi9gbRU7VOl6HUHkmmHjP-8/s400/IMG_6563.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JJ8C4id3XclPj1KPFSca1kBTGEnvRgC0mqw7vuGLFtqwRO8L0kBXsNKaT3xijVVfKucWDoqoj-33CcCKSR6DcVTFo79I9MtoaC8t2fl1yKqz2pnIPv478tuW-i3UNuxxLJLiC-Zrrsg/s1600/IMG_6607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JJ8C4id3XclPj1KPFSca1kBTGEnvRgC0mqw7vuGLFtqwRO8L0kBXsNKaT3xijVVfKucWDoqoj-33CcCKSR6DcVTFo79I9MtoaC8t2fl1yKqz2pnIPv478tuW-i3UNuxxLJLiC-Zrrsg/s400/IMG_6607.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9g6o6yXPiuWpIhFBc8FrTCWZpiAKQv8YC0QXPyiC1EiWUCVt_qafQzTBDbYubWb6dnQYamgBeqTse1a6P_vDmOc-PYMCdNbiaAAFvuLghpt5IhUCAJzJjc27FDJZ2BBLs_2GqEAJQ4w/s1600/IMG_6660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS9g6o6yXPiuWpIhFBc8FrTCWZpiAKQv8YC0QXPyiC1EiWUCVt_qafQzTBDbYubWb6dnQYamgBeqTse1a6P_vDmOc-PYMCdNbiaAAFvuLghpt5IhUCAJzJjc27FDJZ2BBLs_2GqEAJQ4w/s400/IMG_6660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEqn-VcsnJYzVHHY8Mfsgg1qR0d7OdIeo7AouA6yqVYEug_ZOMeku4B93Sjp_GuwvUeLfuTBfEeSLRbjQDPM656Tlb7b1hGD8KxMtRe72NqP4azWs3fYrlll64pKHUxUZAaOlABnm3WI/s1600/IMG_6698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEqn-VcsnJYzVHHY8Mfsgg1qR0d7OdIeo7AouA6yqVYEug_ZOMeku4B93Sjp_GuwvUeLfuTBfEeSLRbjQDPM656Tlb7b1hGD8KxMtRe72NqP4azWs3fYrlll64pKHUxUZAaOlABnm3WI/s400/IMG_6698.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF4GwOqU7U-M6sEoHlqWSmJPTLXOWlXFhkRl-359XXXaDXAUBaZUl8w_SyRLlxLGVNhU3PfG_ygFMlQ1cTepViczfhOQUnhtKmfpM1ETz9COSisT1-HdKAtT8jgc193aFE-uqmwYzSgc/s1600/IMG_6722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJF4GwOqU7U-M6sEoHlqWSmJPTLXOWlXFhkRl-359XXXaDXAUBaZUl8w_SyRLlxLGVNhU3PfG_ygFMlQ1cTepViczfhOQUnhtKmfpM1ETz9COSisT1-HdKAtT8jgc193aFE-uqmwYzSgc/s400/IMG_6722.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqMtd8CCnCvI1ui8YM8Xy_GgA4S0S8SE_9OJk8e_578QnTdMu9pkQuI_Yqvpls8QH5YgYRPY-ksisuvX84h2R26G-4BC_4FXzTs83QkXqpNNBUA_6Z9V7LyyBRGOZOaP1vMrV8x9IfcE/s1600/IMG_6951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGqMtd8CCnCvI1ui8YM8Xy_GgA4S0S8SE_9OJk8e_578QnTdMu9pkQuI_Yqvpls8QH5YgYRPY-ksisuvX84h2R26G-4BC_4FXzTs83QkXqpNNBUA_6Z9V7LyyBRGOZOaP1vMrV8x9IfcE/s400/IMG_6951.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBCZsYRcmOzLekF9zkwSEquys1y8DLbnfOZgu2IbeqQ1kqOLwl2uln1mbtMGRKVmGv_4r_uKHyWYUGlofXP2v3WJVCxlDKqxFXUCzEgkC-sTdztltVy0vOL7UIhgW_vsmui175CVP_XE/s1600/IMG_6965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpBCZsYRcmOzLekF9zkwSEquys1y8DLbnfOZgu2IbeqQ1kqOLwl2uln1mbtMGRKVmGv_4r_uKHyWYUGlofXP2v3WJVCxlDKqxFXUCzEgkC-sTdztltVy0vOL7UIhgW_vsmui175CVP_XE/s400/IMG_6965.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdirvSfKhu2FSX2EV02IHzLYXC1Bt8_nQ3O8ux9tV4_THzzxLkjirhqkrZVRlN4J2wf_cZda1kpmdxkO_yL2tpf5_OfSlnR4WW7VxnnVwgVWxMJGMqDoVu-b5J8gveBJaiJ7zF14c2TtM/s1600/IMG_6994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdirvSfKhu2FSX2EV02IHzLYXC1Bt8_nQ3O8ux9tV4_THzzxLkjirhqkrZVRlN4J2wf_cZda1kpmdxkO_yL2tpf5_OfSlnR4WW7VxnnVwgVWxMJGMqDoVu-b5J8gveBJaiJ7zF14c2TtM/s400/IMG_6994.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiWPa4jocMGfYf1mkx-Keg66qVEWIknPxPpYftu_06jc19ZPsR5uN7iZGARd1xWExaZZF9YiLN1nG3ZC1FkQBDJbpGswcJaEmDkBfVLJ35xDUyTo2khQqfjYE23ZEXZvLW7q-KF69qtU/s1600/IMG_6995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLiWPa4jocMGfYf1mkx-Keg66qVEWIknPxPpYftu_06jc19ZPsR5uN7iZGARd1xWExaZZF9YiLN1nG3ZC1FkQBDJbpGswcJaEmDkBfVLJ35xDUyTo2khQqfjYE23ZEXZvLW7q-KF69qtU/s400/IMG_6995.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfT4wmst0kJhFGvMRK4ev39zsbvFm0jruHFeiikTOngjaetp9baDbYyngXSAnii-0B0jnvuNEWolb8qzSWIlOp8OmdyOBvbm81qwt6KJXnivcgHmLJ7GWuP7d51SIxtL9ykjRxODcUSY/s1600/IMG_7007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglfT4wmst0kJhFGvMRK4ev39zsbvFm0jruHFeiikTOngjaetp9baDbYyngXSAnii-0B0jnvuNEWolb8qzSWIlOp8OmdyOBvbm81qwt6KJXnivcgHmLJ7GWuP7d51SIxtL9ykjRxODcUSY/s400/IMG_7007.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMuB-vJ_PrA07zBtlPKa7qaMRYcqCGQfqcO2dktvpXZq4mul8izZtuSH8ULTWm-XAlsM97mZU8IfGi41w7uA1b9e2cP4q3zhfe7GfHmtQpzmAPNG-EYwGoMO8QBx1oupQZLyr5o_7I9Y/s1600/IMG_7013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzMuB-vJ_PrA07zBtlPKa7qaMRYcqCGQfqcO2dktvpXZq4mul8izZtuSH8ULTWm-XAlsM97mZU8IfGi41w7uA1b9e2cP4q3zhfe7GfHmtQpzmAPNG-EYwGoMO8QBx1oupQZLyr5o_7I9Y/s400/IMG_7013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5kygXbM9-UwRKwK9kgnGd8tsrkSVGIa7wQvk6nFp-83Ii4DFvRIuqiQ3dh7T8S9Zqgno2fvuGbb7-jmfH5A8avgXDeB-wGWhYBGpuplIGDaD4UUyuMefqwI6S0fQAYgXXpWlwVm_HQk/s1600/IMG_7030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-5kygXbM9-UwRKwK9kgnGd8tsrkSVGIa7wQvk6nFp-83Ii4DFvRIuqiQ3dh7T8S9Zqgno2fvuGbb7-jmfH5A8avgXDeB-wGWhYBGpuplIGDaD4UUyuMefqwI6S0fQAYgXXpWlwVm_HQk/s400/IMG_7030.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMXbCrHEDoRDshfmlX1YE_D3JgsxgKKtb-WGct07iN4dNVqdew9p3hBM0kddsfWD_V22jvtxvmGcwCln1pkpEI0QLAZ5fB3-732K-dlZfw0lDS91nqnY30HZn_jsiuZaPQJsXWBFsTTE/s1600/IMG_7214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMXbCrHEDoRDshfmlX1YE_D3JgsxgKKtb-WGct07iN4dNVqdew9p3hBM0kddsfWD_V22jvtxvmGcwCln1pkpEI0QLAZ5fB3-732K-dlZfw0lDS91nqnY30HZn_jsiuZaPQJsXWBFsTTE/s400/IMG_7214.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsHlRHgirZ3xHAZR8yG_etjVR8TmivY4_M4yAI5BwfB-8cYBVx6T8EN3kC-SH6ChU-g2UCA5rzjxKKd2yAgfGnfxMM_oJ419ImEyhrMSrfuui-YDcw-vR-SIrCydxvT1HnolUmBK_pco/s1600/IMG_7229.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSsHlRHgirZ3xHAZR8yG_etjVR8TmivY4_M4yAI5BwfB-8cYBVx6T8EN3kC-SH6ChU-g2UCA5rzjxKKd2yAgfGnfxMM_oJ419ImEyhrMSrfuui-YDcw-vR-SIrCydxvT1HnolUmBK_pco/s400/IMG_7229.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ1aYOl98AJFg2b__FFY_W9ZznXmWzuZE4AgyFNvZnsxoO_yAfqTg0twa3zJNZyn_pCyjxZDu_OlePKhTB185hMFTS3orcEGIeuY5Tzy-LW_Ztr1ok8-kCN47aCtrtGru4f6cKCQ1x_s/s1600/IMG_7260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ1aYOl98AJFg2b__FFY_W9ZznXmWzuZE4AgyFNvZnsxoO_yAfqTg0twa3zJNZyn_pCyjxZDu_OlePKhTB185hMFTS3orcEGIeuY5Tzy-LW_Ztr1ok8-kCN47aCtrtGru4f6cKCQ1x_s/s400/IMG_7260.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Then onto a place we never thought we would be, the ancient, civilization of Egypt. Since we landed a 6 week house sit in the resort town of El Gouna, we could afford to splurge and see the sights in other parts of Egypt. But to our surprise Egypt has been the most affordable destination we have visited or lived in, with the Egyptian Pound to US Dollar running around 18-1.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1b6ovCZfeZd0OTx8vRnhT8dXO7DgG7bRPCmwOvpj3R7oDen1cVhytuEyKdjmJF6wn8JpX1gDR-NEBkygGexeCH2h5Q7gqc6oRVp-ZipXMZu3eS3pk04K1R9Gwv5pWMAd8MDRNaHCeyg/s1600/IMG_7565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1b6ovCZfeZd0OTx8vRnhT8dXO7DgG7bRPCmwOvpj3R7oDen1cVhytuEyKdjmJF6wn8JpX1gDR-NEBkygGexeCH2h5Q7gqc6oRVp-ZipXMZu3eS3pk04K1R9Gwv5pWMAd8MDRNaHCeyg/s400/IMG_7565.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABQB4NtDLMCLTZCX3ty6T1ith6qiyKzse6e8AQn68hw1kaq8ULn6rXMpcgUAp3_YhhF43yJFajuZ_Dhv-a7AGYhml9cLPI-DpelsjxfZSazdtj-QGtAp5zOWyO9Kd4swG5pQZ1igJ6_c/s1600/IMG_7362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjABQB4NtDLMCLTZCX3ty6T1ith6qiyKzse6e8AQn68hw1kaq8ULn6rXMpcgUAp3_YhhF43yJFajuZ_Dhv-a7AGYhml9cLPI-DpelsjxfZSazdtj-QGtAp5zOWyO9Kd4swG5pQZ1igJ6_c/s400/IMG_7362.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeMaSm7-NM8yEbWalIqavUyByH_Fn-iPp7aaagwVcwiuioR15HVbvy64z0bN3tIM7DNPM8KOQELwCCvYOv_zvojtFEQV0xPYLIJqF6iJhZX7nmFI1fry-nnshuFTFbLTHvFuoDeuN8yQ/s1600/IMG_7369.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOeMaSm7-NM8yEbWalIqavUyByH_Fn-iPp7aaagwVcwiuioR15HVbvy64z0bN3tIM7DNPM8KOQELwCCvYOv_zvojtFEQV0xPYLIJqF6iJhZX7nmFI1fry-nnshuFTFbLTHvFuoDeuN8yQ/s400/IMG_7369.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1P_rRv1v9EG8GULKod7cob8aShmBVfFeUKSe8WcU_sU2k9V-Dkc_U_9uf1QIhenXxLsT9YPl1wGaGC4cuA1Un6Vvs7c5BgouCPFsC-kcmjQRTPPSi7aEHTMBFNJV1UswUPdxGQz_6is/s1600/IMG_7374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR1P_rRv1v9EG8GULKod7cob8aShmBVfFeUKSe8WcU_sU2k9V-Dkc_U_9uf1QIhenXxLsT9YPl1wGaGC4cuA1Un6Vvs7c5BgouCPFsC-kcmjQRTPPSi7aEHTMBFNJV1UswUPdxGQz_6is/s400/IMG_7374.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl_O8MIpRSTdxP9WRdYGqo-Z4EdzlgAgXvyJYqBwCsKZ-bJEbRzdp0xUZMBg0u_mZySy-ry8l_mv3TRgpKSTXW6r8jqtRqKN13PsF4xms7jBSCsl47ACT7MwYYFrBO7kn89PgSoPpe-Q/s1600/IMG_7400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNl_O8MIpRSTdxP9WRdYGqo-Z4EdzlgAgXvyJYqBwCsKZ-bJEbRzdp0xUZMBg0u_mZySy-ry8l_mv3TRgpKSTXW6r8jqtRqKN13PsF4xms7jBSCsl47ACT7MwYYFrBO7kn89PgSoPpe-Q/s400/IMG_7400.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxi6L0XuYEtZg3hqt2pZU5RhJKJ_SNgxlmyD4ecywKG441TpQ1Z92l-rnInVcDzQTZ9PIqUUvJ8-bjcatFkzkNhA-aoVM34-rjIKd_QfdEhUDOH8hNFEBW28wc2wrS-Rg09ZrN3EtPl0k/s1600/IMG_7459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxi6L0XuYEtZg3hqt2pZU5RhJKJ_SNgxlmyD4ecywKG441TpQ1Z92l-rnInVcDzQTZ9PIqUUvJ8-bjcatFkzkNhA-aoVM34-rjIKd_QfdEhUDOH8hNFEBW28wc2wrS-Rg09ZrN3EtPl0k/s400/IMG_7459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYS4-p8wt99CRoDKLdqv9_7CFNkCCPVDC10gsqPXxRTu53JPmzOS5xLl7K35n69zcGoJYuCK5HQYNaMr6P6TMZnooq2hYksxnSWHHAp20263YC19282SkZr2i-LSkVcqAxPOtwmu2Xds/s1600/IMG_7468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTYS4-p8wt99CRoDKLdqv9_7CFNkCCPVDC10gsqPXxRTu53JPmzOS5xLl7K35n69zcGoJYuCK5HQYNaMr6P6TMZnooq2hYksxnSWHHAp20263YC19282SkZr2i-LSkVcqAxPOtwmu2Xds/s400/IMG_7468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDBcuSq-iZQu7tDCcpGkDWSMHxJnJY76MEMK5deyPC0M6WOjl7GXOGCDoTX46vm43QNRGUeiwNXwm0npZG5ztuzeScW0o6P9__SyPSOTDHVCGTOPaPwSrb4EQ0QGwOdIaaT8FCXjQ38I/s1600/IMG_7537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDBcuSq-iZQu7tDCcpGkDWSMHxJnJY76MEMK5deyPC0M6WOjl7GXOGCDoTX46vm43QNRGUeiwNXwm0npZG5ztuzeScW0o6P9__SyPSOTDHVCGTOPaPwSrb4EQ0QGwOdIaaT8FCXjQ38I/s400/IMG_7537.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1mu-22_noz9l1JpPxwyz6sPKoIuohqyWR5WZdmJZVEzIKSnNtyju2NI4N6vHgBWJ2C8ssO3R8i_X2A5tOhtIL29sMl__uUof97BL_kFW5TWOCs0m1l9XDfgPlKp1IhmdIcgVLaJpzzg/s1600/IMG_7545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY1mu-22_noz9l1JpPxwyz6sPKoIuohqyWR5WZdmJZVEzIKSnNtyju2NI4N6vHgBWJ2C8ssO3R8i_X2A5tOhtIL29sMl__uUof97BL_kFW5TWOCs0m1l9XDfgPlKp1IhmdIcgVLaJpzzg/s400/IMG_7545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFaA0iqluNxNxzeO6_T2B2PCkZUTf784ln9cD3Uotgw6SpoAo5to2Oi2r39mR1zT1-B8YdCwQjWBrw5Wb0jroJZslPvI5YvED1KcQIBZqrVFf0KAFwijiNphVCdyd2ipu4EFm-G05NqI/s1600/IMG_7563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjFaA0iqluNxNxzeO6_T2B2PCkZUTf784ln9cD3Uotgw6SpoAo5to2Oi2r39mR1zT1-B8YdCwQjWBrw5Wb0jroJZslPvI5YvED1KcQIBZqrVFf0KAFwijiNphVCdyd2ipu4EFm-G05NqI/s400/IMG_7563.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
We flew into Cairo to begin our adventure visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza, the Sphynx, temples and more of this, lively, over crowded metropolis. Next we flew to Luxor to pick up an 8 night Nile Cruise with a private guide who stayed on the boat, for the low cost of $550 each. This included everything! Food, entertainment, and shore excursions too. From Luxor we made our way by land to the resort city of Hurghada, on the Red Sea, before making our way to our house sit in El Gouna.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo95IeppbDNEbVcy_B8Sp_aOqJPmBTIDgBVZYgifjGIk2s7PZw4TF_bJa9ykuvo2zhZbzZfFMiiHSTRVuPyyl5gNTbbepjHs74OQ-UP5kXosSROX_WcN4rgXxpQU02tBZmg62vEcVVRVM/s1600/IMG_8011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo95IeppbDNEbVcy_B8Sp_aOqJPmBTIDgBVZYgifjGIk2s7PZw4TF_bJa9ykuvo2zhZbzZfFMiiHSTRVuPyyl5gNTbbepjHs74OQ-UP5kXosSROX_WcN4rgXxpQU02tBZmg62vEcVVRVM/s400/IMG_8011.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqeAkncjpAQf67bDYRovb6c_D9c96xu56c_l0mnjSp8ZCBF3RGO2XfHvjv4iRdX9bcMwyBwbx-gZHqUv3d6cFXEj0KUTnFi7iPAaS4YIsQTnpq98ExGfbvE6AiUSHBqI0ZGhCdvbPn_w/s1600/IMG_7931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqeAkncjpAQf67bDYRovb6c_D9c96xu56c_l0mnjSp8ZCBF3RGO2XfHvjv4iRdX9bcMwyBwbx-gZHqUv3d6cFXEj0KUTnFi7iPAaS4YIsQTnpq98ExGfbvE6AiUSHBqI0ZGhCdvbPn_w/s400/IMG_7931.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJlXcPNAzw7qwkuA_2Ja_c_sHLF36HXAYiKJaopQ_KcDFazyRRtBWmBI1cfrE6ObX9wQxjW7LWRaiVXqmfi8_TtkBdGXJptG-Etui1S8JmfOld5OowI5olM2tklJC1omVMgQJgdXcvNY/s1600/IMG_7933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheJlXcPNAzw7qwkuA_2Ja_c_sHLF36HXAYiKJaopQ_KcDFazyRRtBWmBI1cfrE6ObX9wQxjW7LWRaiVXqmfi8_TtkBdGXJptG-Etui1S8JmfOld5OowI5olM2tklJC1omVMgQJgdXcvNY/s400/IMG_7933.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNlSby-nQKp7zMn5d8UhUxhAd55blIXaIhHazbQP9d6dmTon7tWWQZJKwTl09YuGhfppjntiZl4fEYqwYqJEaZlg9vxw9fYjgaN5THw6vP9_hyphenhyphen5SfFgBOSYIKB107yeC7v8oVQG9twPI/s1600/IMG_7943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNlSby-nQKp7zMn5d8UhUxhAd55blIXaIhHazbQP9d6dmTon7tWWQZJKwTl09YuGhfppjntiZl4fEYqwYqJEaZlg9vxw9fYjgaN5THw6vP9_hyphenhyphen5SfFgBOSYIKB107yeC7v8oVQG9twPI/s400/IMG_7943.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHFZpr1rPuz4LGQGod4rtV_t9TyFWYcgvsjvGAQ6Y3WOrrj_6RDNWVV0UN5UZmawUhyiEWyjJWsioecSBP0s25z-cg5hzhEVGdWkKySsj40L2Xqh2-UHo5F0pOFRYK0zgGiTf8GuTCNw/s1600/IMG_7977.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioHFZpr1rPuz4LGQGod4rtV_t9TyFWYcgvsjvGAQ6Y3WOrrj_6RDNWVV0UN5UZmawUhyiEWyjJWsioecSBP0s25z-cg5hzhEVGdWkKySsj40L2Xqh2-UHo5F0pOFRYK0zgGiTf8GuTCNw/s400/IMG_7977.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp56rAP_K6bG70oJ00e3CWk1933XR2SfCRiyq-HA-f28GMUSdLyg8p3IUFu5DD9eYs14u8qd4LkueShO0qt0ku9FqkAMH3IiTSu3Rg4TXGoryYxiLruOFzhkYM7Cw66p9i3oJrs4Q4IeU/s1600/IMG_7988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp56rAP_K6bG70oJ00e3CWk1933XR2SfCRiyq-HA-f28GMUSdLyg8p3IUFu5DD9eYs14u8qd4LkueShO0qt0ku9FqkAMH3IiTSu3Rg4TXGoryYxiLruOFzhkYM7Cw66p9i3oJrs4Q4IeU/s400/IMG_7988.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEN-eI8LmZ_LTCCa0V85DIpK-PVLvZ3e5HcrJFAEmANK9JRYcMg-i3pz7FBnRyKsM7aQqmzE70V_ruSdN-JkMMXwhNby98ZI8URka41OFHNCWhIQ9ie6WXQGGfMnG8OgbJMJEeTF1MvQ/s1600/IMG_7992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEN-eI8LmZ_LTCCa0V85DIpK-PVLvZ3e5HcrJFAEmANK9JRYcMg-i3pz7FBnRyKsM7aQqmzE70V_ruSdN-JkMMXwhNby98ZI8URka41OFHNCWhIQ9ie6WXQGGfMnG8OgbJMJEeTF1MvQ/s400/IMG_7992.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXEc4so_0wTg9Z98zbKiBKUqYPn_N5OmdThyphenhyphen_PJg9er4JhhniTZh16SGJxQRUuOvfTtkBLclLa-PW7vx7Q2Wk8Ucj53G0nrY-EqHKW0iwa8AGuCpTiJRJvdEsvIv46irtMeEIuEYRHzs/s1600/IMG_7998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXEc4so_0wTg9Z98zbKiBKUqYPn_N5OmdThyphenhyphen_PJg9er4JhhniTZh16SGJxQRUuOvfTtkBLclLa-PW7vx7Q2Wk8Ucj53G0nrY-EqHKW0iwa8AGuCpTiJRJvdEsvIv46irtMeEIuEYRHzs/s400/IMG_7998.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpjyOlUUk-pcM22a7Q0tGYMYEf-2_TZvA7FQl-wjuWKLfpO0lxcSRa3VtP6iTVvtDXeHVyeq0E7cLHitO_7N06GIFXzR3NAeVRgO1XaARuFgs961BzyCqvckkRITAuEhkaGCjmDG9t40/s1600/IMG_8026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpjyOlUUk-pcM22a7Q0tGYMYEf-2_TZvA7FQl-wjuWKLfpO0lxcSRa3VtP6iTVvtDXeHVyeq0E7cLHitO_7N06GIFXzR3NAeVRgO1XaARuFgs961BzyCqvckkRITAuEhkaGCjmDG9t40/s400/IMG_8026.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dUAVUNS_88cieenW7pzxz470SYUuj4pACnQViSNhIKR8MzsSpe_mVWjmM-JWt1wy2Syg_H2hcdamoRIae1Ug6OuUpgKZkZd6FP-3-ziUFBNM_LvTrFqBWfaEV0oXUH-z0z79lqmVXMU/s1600/IMG_8151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4dUAVUNS_88cieenW7pzxz470SYUuj4pACnQViSNhIKR8MzsSpe_mVWjmM-JWt1wy2Syg_H2hcdamoRIae1Ug6OuUpgKZkZd6FP-3-ziUFBNM_LvTrFqBWfaEV0oXUH-z0z79lqmVXMU/s400/IMG_8151.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3krhzaXcXnYqMQM66kVaztDNO2OVp7jJBCslSueDzJcEIaG0fCWuM0LIcof-4aZJb_aUNlavn1jQDsnNz-1gt-ERIWSlxzLtip6atUByJ-_PxZiaPYc3nrvucY-YTYIccOpu-m8Qi1kk/s1600/IMG_8172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3krhzaXcXnYqMQM66kVaztDNO2OVp7jJBCslSueDzJcEIaG0fCWuM0LIcof-4aZJb_aUNlavn1jQDsnNz-1gt-ERIWSlxzLtip6atUByJ-_PxZiaPYc3nrvucY-YTYIccOpu-m8Qi1kk/s400/IMG_8172.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3AcpBEYkPiEfI6gMyfvTVOyRYyxzr0H1pswlouSv85KEBHMLhjV9tuwyToGY4_MyKPTpA4mqPHVFxg4RW72Y_NkhSavfH762YocMF26pLYM2CAd3dtchMjrefzrB3WkklEsgLOOm9bQ/s1600/IMG_8212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3AcpBEYkPiEfI6gMyfvTVOyRYyxzr0H1pswlouSv85KEBHMLhjV9tuwyToGY4_MyKPTpA4mqPHVFxg4RW72Y_NkhSavfH762YocMF26pLYM2CAd3dtchMjrefzrB3WkklEsgLOOm9bQ/s400/IMG_8212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTut_oWblnGhz_1SHRrp43_h1-8yMelfgshb2N5UR6YuLQnZc77RcC_HnwxLDBRCM5D70j6HY1r54Yk5kibLkvwGvv34_3S4R6zDflFW1ew1GwYBrEb1xHMWfa8VtmSZxVpTvg3bSWTMQ/s1600/IMG_8307.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTut_oWblnGhz_1SHRrp43_h1-8yMelfgshb2N5UR6YuLQnZc77RcC_HnwxLDBRCM5D70j6HY1r54Yk5kibLkvwGvv34_3S4R6zDflFW1ew1GwYBrEb1xHMWfa8VtmSZxVpTvg3bSWTMQ/s400/IMG_8307.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwHqcmcDYCyfDq19ykmZAeqh_mVAIWlG9tMisluXTAR-BD8ZjCoGV3kn8iZ9FnmSKXqciJDEwmZW5j6_CIHTSyYQ-o11oOEPg_m7ZsZujqkFLxZ_NMiUB8Nqjny0i1gzxIirq7n9NOaY/s1600/IMG_8338+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRwHqcmcDYCyfDq19ykmZAeqh_mVAIWlG9tMisluXTAR-BD8ZjCoGV3kn8iZ9FnmSKXqciJDEwmZW5j6_CIHTSyYQ-o11oOEPg_m7ZsZujqkFLxZ_NMiUB8Nqjny0i1gzxIirq7n9NOaY/s400/IMG_8338+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSBWPMDsjlEwpev_AkLk-LyeV4htBHqpG0GLk1-P8fq5nnNvlNkwKWgCaMPxay7xPhvaNnI3h63ma45cBmGs6stPSByfLH5GqhEbx4Y0IeQ9EOBGcH-MiIMJnD8ifQmsy-cKwD7FBvWI/s1600/IMG_8339+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYSBWPMDsjlEwpev_AkLk-LyeV4htBHqpG0GLk1-P8fq5nnNvlNkwKWgCaMPxay7xPhvaNnI3h63ma45cBmGs6stPSByfLH5GqhEbx4Y0IeQ9EOBGcH-MiIMJnD8ifQmsy-cKwD7FBvWI/s400/IMG_8339+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2F47zXKsey-lToHzDL8QrriuIrWhfvwt0aN4WUyPSraQSxNG2Lxsqgv6If55tbGGLPvmya9-yRY1Vva-vQlhPkpToU9-m4aaq0NUh0Cp_KbvN5dYWLjouo-ZFcUirgNJMY42e7crLvY/s1600/IMG_8427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC2F47zXKsey-lToHzDL8QrriuIrWhfvwt0aN4WUyPSraQSxNG2Lxsqgv6If55tbGGLPvmya9-yRY1Vva-vQlhPkpToU9-m4aaq0NUh0Cp_KbvN5dYWLjouo-ZFcUirgNJMY42e7crLvY/s400/IMG_8427.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39b1A1ZX4MRfELjqwSurpUrshYa9_umC7EZBGPgph9HfIJw8bNEt3KUPmSNGz_v4Hspt7suygvmRxqrBgJFa81IcTofFE-XJUulYmMby6_e1knJ6us9z8K_FMo9mlt2kDJynNNX-39h8/s1600/IMG_8484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg39b1A1ZX4MRfELjqwSurpUrshYa9_umC7EZBGPgph9HfIJw8bNEt3KUPmSNGz_v4Hspt7suygvmRxqrBgJFa81IcTofFE-XJUulYmMby6_e1knJ6us9z8K_FMo9mlt2kDJynNNX-39h8/s400/IMG_8484.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYmwu15BuirvQTAM9OQUUat1t0kYciiVrUJ_wdKC_8Bv9RUTe7f08kEqcYbVJuqoLapet0tYO92VLARbvL0J7pSOasG0Xx79ylbshc55n0T18wvy4FnY0pQnPNCZylCNNf7cCm6vrBaE/s1600/IMG_8506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKYmwu15BuirvQTAM9OQUUat1t0kYciiVrUJ_wdKC_8Bv9RUTe7f08kEqcYbVJuqoLapet0tYO92VLARbvL0J7pSOasG0Xx79ylbshc55n0T18wvy4FnY0pQnPNCZylCNNf7cCm6vrBaE/s400/IMG_8506.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_dXSgRWZPRbPL228kl0WTdSwRtNAYvIftWp7mEg-cPEzNwuJqRFNgmOQ_kSPbKi9Gr0KTzfx1abz31iFNJggq3hRCnhwLpD4oNU1mOoKe3REkokywfekD1SDph-xoypC9HhyfJPf8XA/s1600/IMG_8518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC_dXSgRWZPRbPL228kl0WTdSwRtNAYvIftWp7mEg-cPEzNwuJqRFNgmOQ_kSPbKi9Gr0KTzfx1abz31iFNJggq3hRCnhwLpD4oNU1mOoKe3REkokywfekD1SDph-xoypC9HhyfJPf8XA/s400/IMG_8518.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINN_57L6yCzpieIMrSx5wY06CQIsyyT9YN3tKZOswu0vJpeFSf3a_UeHTqtKHWRR8JYClpha4whUZbAjxwRAz63NHA8M7Qituj5oLHLVBMY_CUleN0t2UO1b0dI1dC0X_N6Q8yuTmQRA/s1600/IMG_8524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINN_57L6yCzpieIMrSx5wY06CQIsyyT9YN3tKZOswu0vJpeFSf3a_UeHTqtKHWRR8JYClpha4whUZbAjxwRAz63NHA8M7Qituj5oLHLVBMY_CUleN0t2UO1b0dI1dC0X_N6Q8yuTmQRA/s400/IMG_8524.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAjhSeojX2dia5gPos0Nsoj9chhZN73rwwMaXmwSFNaThfMKYMyLr-xje1qQNCbhs0Rvf7t-SKL6I73jrjR89TdLgmO7DW0s49ZgxVPlfJPBh4QDiPfFjhzJwu5tInDYkjAJDllEW7Xs/s1600/IMG_8528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAjhSeojX2dia5gPos0Nsoj9chhZN73rwwMaXmwSFNaThfMKYMyLr-xje1qQNCbhs0Rvf7t-SKL6I73jrjR89TdLgmO7DW0s49ZgxVPlfJPBh4QDiPfFjhzJwu5tInDYkjAJDllEW7Xs/s400/IMG_8528.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
One day while in Egypt I looked at a map only to discover that Israel was just a one-hour flight away, so visiting that country was a must. How cool it was to play tourist and visit the Holy Land We began in Jerusalem and visited Galilee, Bethlehem, Palestine, Tel Aviv and Nazareth on an 8 day tour. Since our scheduled allowed, we spent extra time in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv where we explored on our own before and after the tour.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuBsOnMvZgbU-4Ph0QdNiBaVUHSbBqY4C_6dxWBfLybQ95_kj9NDoT9DvNaAps7WRps-9wIUHicsD9dFWJNcylpe5jWo37aNo1CEPTBJIeDFZYmIrrtznbbUqUq0Rlpqb_zMiLtP7a9I/s1600/IMG_9255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuBsOnMvZgbU-4Ph0QdNiBaVUHSbBqY4C_6dxWBfLybQ95_kj9NDoT9DvNaAps7WRps-9wIUHicsD9dFWJNcylpe5jWo37aNo1CEPTBJIeDFZYmIrrtznbbUqUq0Rlpqb_zMiLtP7a9I/s400/IMG_9255.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbdFbnMZJAHb-w952zklaUEUmAGQHop6iEFHzBfkbamVUP2NEM6L8rlcefDspxe_4NqssKe_UZRLx3Z187H6sQgbCAk5cKhTr2jYAhFPAvK14jleOjAShO4t0JcVW0YM5y-NZDJ2hRck/s1600/IMG_9286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnbdFbnMZJAHb-w952zklaUEUmAGQHop6iEFHzBfkbamVUP2NEM6L8rlcefDspxe_4NqssKe_UZRLx3Z187H6sQgbCAk5cKhTr2jYAhFPAvK14jleOjAShO4t0JcVW0YM5y-NZDJ2hRck/s400/IMG_9286.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UT2xs0Hw2tC6d8CcVEm4BVDiyWVe0iY28uW7zbk1x-vuq5voB2cjQXXabyuH5c5DjNQU3JhEO9H0ddxQ9HMB938MLCnPzlDoPG6ky-_j4g6EgCvCn8P0JvOXaD4LdwfKC-E4WMz-YmQ/s1600/IMG_9293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4UT2xs0Hw2tC6d8CcVEm4BVDiyWVe0iY28uW7zbk1x-vuq5voB2cjQXXabyuH5c5DjNQU3JhEO9H0ddxQ9HMB938MLCnPzlDoPG6ky-_j4g6EgCvCn8P0JvOXaD4LdwfKC-E4WMz-YmQ/s400/IMG_9293.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpLkrvudzalozqRSkiix19W6F_Iv6sxVjTOhcfFTDvU0UQzBACkd0yP9FzyuSYpcf9xp1gRSUUACuAKahI8vlFznvOtfiV_OPrZ0BlEHkQiai9SavU4zUIZOj1uZyg42iIZ76bJVhUX0/s1600/IMG_9344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgpLkrvudzalozqRSkiix19W6F_Iv6sxVjTOhcfFTDvU0UQzBACkd0yP9FzyuSYpcf9xp1gRSUUACuAKahI8vlFznvOtfiV_OPrZ0BlEHkQiai9SavU4zUIZOj1uZyg42iIZ76bJVhUX0/s400/IMG_9344.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubWcLdZ2mWBDT_qduwJCjKYlcWAL0vxaX7uYaY5cCSQVKPIqiz-qiMfrnIKYfcB26BfdwBjJJUAZojwPkdocyu2FpZMy4mGgKzpaIVL1egU29TkDBG7gKQnhgPqPUSDObOS-Mm1O18aw/s1600/IMG_9545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubWcLdZ2mWBDT_qduwJCjKYlcWAL0vxaX7uYaY5cCSQVKPIqiz-qiMfrnIKYfcB26BfdwBjJJUAZojwPkdocyu2FpZMy4mGgKzpaIVL1egU29TkDBG7gKQnhgPqPUSDObOS-Mm1O18aw/s400/IMG_9545.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sXrW-Oj3Ua6Pn0f6UgBHqCmeIidBCfhL4QnzMLlPQgPwKzg1zRJaiS3Al01JrzDEcs5JO-zBZucvMt0e_OrjvVSTvew0LV1phOtpt8C6HcaO4kq6K-TF7rMytt3D1ICZLai6979hC-E/s1600/IMG_9548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8sXrW-Oj3Ua6Pn0f6UgBHqCmeIidBCfhL4QnzMLlPQgPwKzg1zRJaiS3Al01JrzDEcs5JO-zBZucvMt0e_OrjvVSTvew0LV1phOtpt8C6HcaO4kq6K-TF7rMytt3D1ICZLai6979hC-E/s400/IMG_9548.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVWql52KDuFlt2JfhInLEUSI83PhG7-rZXxDi2_tHhj5VbPrKjDf66LPIvqjvU1_XqnCEjEiJ_i_W8Zf9gBebrNMO69U55Y-LyW2kg9BXQFxWKPUQeK6FxnIdmGb_4zHji0D8yLAWD8o/s1600/IMG_9606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMVWql52KDuFlt2JfhInLEUSI83PhG7-rZXxDi2_tHhj5VbPrKjDf66LPIvqjvU1_XqnCEjEiJ_i_W8Zf9gBebrNMO69U55Y-LyW2kg9BXQFxWKPUQeK6FxnIdmGb_4zHji0D8yLAWD8o/s400/IMG_9606.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_bWGLuSjMsHRHueOjcHL5YZl0lncKrnlkUGpdBAE78L7feoMXH1PCL-WcMUvDBlL410wF5dK7bdp6K3ztMLJEnO_GmAQGHK285SyjbHuC5gSrM67xGjjoDpiB7Gjqu0Z0qSaixTGbXE/s1600/IMG_9614.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG_bWGLuSjMsHRHueOjcHL5YZl0lncKrnlkUGpdBAE78L7feoMXH1PCL-WcMUvDBlL410wF5dK7bdp6K3ztMLJEnO_GmAQGHK285SyjbHuC5gSrM67xGjjoDpiB7Gjqu0Z0qSaixTGbXE/s400/IMG_9614.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdF-aAeEbjrkBUt87Yyn2wL_6sZb-jLGLiPs6BoAHu-fgTPjdpCfEWQZ-nluduPq1OAZG-s3QJzzNZTv1Rsp3hgTs6PVcWQ3GHNRRrlo1KyhPBhWgHYzCTnw72ks2UdhaTInv239Lxg0/s1600/IMG_9779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdF-aAeEbjrkBUt87Yyn2wL_6sZb-jLGLiPs6BoAHu-fgTPjdpCfEWQZ-nluduPq1OAZG-s3QJzzNZTv1Rsp3hgTs6PVcWQ3GHNRRrlo1KyhPBhWgHYzCTnw72ks2UdhaTInv239Lxg0/s400/IMG_9779.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAacMON0kYmzUNz2E0INmIjXeooO7JMCBm-paub1wa_Pvg3cw0LL0coht7CHheuIpWPuLgd65HOmU-QiMuMG_cwvHXL0FW8SaN-7Lr_xeKxmAY-ekkE38rb2XMLkHSM5sCBcbL7Qo592M/s1600/IMG_9928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAacMON0kYmzUNz2E0INmIjXeooO7JMCBm-paub1wa_Pvg3cw0LL0coht7CHheuIpWPuLgd65HOmU-QiMuMG_cwvHXL0FW8SaN-7Lr_xeKxmAY-ekkE38rb2XMLkHSM5sCBcbL7Qo592M/s400/IMG_9928.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2D9QylRi8hto3Lq8R0iMaEMOPP6Mg9NZkaWwxjhvmE01sC1MVU5pvQID_7IYCBR-zuGunTo54XmIKhqbBMj-W5SXWV8bb_VGXqwJNXzereKZ1nJ4PKHV6wIjBxC8ue3OfCs_UGX150xk/s1600/IMG_9935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2D9QylRi8hto3Lq8R0iMaEMOPP6Mg9NZkaWwxjhvmE01sC1MVU5pvQID_7IYCBR-zuGunTo54XmIKhqbBMj-W5SXWV8bb_VGXqwJNXzereKZ1nJ4PKHV6wIjBxC8ue3OfCs_UGX150xk/s400/IMG_9935.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_LnZZ8HD9M8XL91VgtOcDjXlVX-xLFiDYm-gwWChmLyr88n0q0pUvH0GD9rZ0L9hwcT-UV-HROdwCvcLvjToSpIvIGRL2cwp593u508K16EQo3NERYai5MtuRb9c4dj_BsMNSr_UAYI/s1600/GOPR0409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_LnZZ8HD9M8XL91VgtOcDjXlVX-xLFiDYm-gwWChmLyr88n0q0pUvH0GD9rZ0L9hwcT-UV-HROdwCvcLvjToSpIvIGRL2cwp593u508K16EQo3NERYai5MtuRb9c4dj_BsMNSr_UAYI/s400/GOPR0409.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Back to the UK we went in November to visit friends we had met the first time we house sat for them, for a three week stay.<br />
<br />
Next we were off to warmer temperatures in Fuerteventura, one of the Canary Islands owned by Spain. This beautiful island is covered with luscious white sand, clear blue waters and volcanic mountains for us to explore.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N85DTh93-a58TxKZtNGbxIWOkWg0_UghGuYunffbfFbAsTBqONm1UFEzgvbxP3sape2Ge2cBFzg4WLqKGhund0HKV3u-zZxi_jtOahNTjyL3-QLhltzpBfl35BvAWnegVdvlRcJL_nw/s1600/IMG_0348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6N85DTh93-a58TxKZtNGbxIWOkWg0_UghGuYunffbfFbAsTBqONm1UFEzgvbxP3sape2Ge2cBFzg4WLqKGhund0HKV3u-zZxi_jtOahNTjyL3-QLhltzpBfl35BvAWnegVdvlRcJL_nw/s400/IMG_0348.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6bDJ2dt6fNHi2hJXKp8kID7bm2WM4AfeaU4d1JB5rk55K5kVF-oEhODH3B8KNcpOft8Mr4w_KpP4pMpqp_MkrC5k5bjjAKbiLzyg5Qbvp0_zT_uWSuWAW3oejGBzt5xi6NP8S4fhkT0/s1600/IMG_0357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6bDJ2dt6fNHi2hJXKp8kID7bm2WM4AfeaU4d1JB5rk55K5kVF-oEhODH3B8KNcpOft8Mr4w_KpP4pMpqp_MkrC5k5bjjAKbiLzyg5Qbvp0_zT_uWSuWAW3oejGBzt5xi6NP8S4fhkT0/s400/IMG_0357.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuumTinXQLaGu9OmhMisOdpZkQ62wEacSwLenub8l5j1G0iCxVH3bRgyHbxkDZDnotVoCLPYzlu4E5ry4peY92t_Gl5vyvYksngUdg0f2Ay7QgGnQz9L5uUcyIIODUwMydqXIhs_GrcFk/s1600/IMG_0368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuumTinXQLaGu9OmhMisOdpZkQ62wEacSwLenub8l5j1G0iCxVH3bRgyHbxkDZDnotVoCLPYzlu4E5ry4peY92t_Gl5vyvYksngUdg0f2Ay7QgGnQz9L5uUcyIIODUwMydqXIhs_GrcFk/s400/IMG_0368.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDR0mtSzwHlfxkjiK2EWE4oG1cXhwDejnMI0FpQGokdZTS3j_uAJb-LhVu6T_Es3DtccJLk9p_xv-Mu7ZgCJoS0-goIeVuoHpTmmZRS7KIAuMErFtiuxezfOTCcJoRfX13WJuPPYK73U/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJDR0mtSzwHlfxkjiK2EWE4oG1cXhwDejnMI0FpQGokdZTS3j_uAJb-LhVu6T_Es3DtccJLk9p_xv-Mu7ZgCJoS0-goIeVuoHpTmmZRS7KIAuMErFtiuxezfOTCcJoRfX13WJuPPYK73U/s400/IMG_0401.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPcQ1GuKL_j0seCILQs4TWuRmFTI3ojhqPck3FQfkr1B4ACHX933vfgmgtN386mT5G9dGJvn4U1ahVuh2GehByguDK5_4ZswmZnWNZd9W-rlFXE2a2jUQ8-9iP6QPzUiBHEEaCKTXMQ0/s1600/IMG_0462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHPcQ1GuKL_j0seCILQs4TWuRmFTI3ojhqPck3FQfkr1B4ACHX933vfgmgtN386mT5G9dGJvn4U1ahVuh2GehByguDK5_4ZswmZnWNZd9W-rlFXE2a2jUQ8-9iP6QPzUiBHEEaCKTXMQ0/s400/IMG_0462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFwTAmJ6yRoRwQK4HldYZxQEsEpziwoyAwPJmadDssm1Wc7Dkkz0_YPVSbAKg6vwxUqbja3zHqSbPnIq8iKasAe_Xquwn9fc8tYn0I555q9Oc_ipPMAt8qm5XFtdjLpcCgAqp3FTJT6U/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEFwTAmJ6yRoRwQK4HldYZxQEsEpziwoyAwPJmadDssm1Wc7Dkkz0_YPVSbAKg6vwxUqbja3zHqSbPnIq8iKasAe_Xquwn9fc8tYn0I555q9Oc_ipPMAt8qm5XFtdjLpcCgAqp3FTJT6U/s400/IMG_0492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfqApAJyDHmfrRLFLf0OZmqJOCA5JjUPTaz_iyti6EeKzabk4y7fsJ9-gvCjDQpk0GEJtlpSLwfY38JaYlI-eJQS0Y-lLwmDKfOyDUosaHeZWvS8V1zQu67MOTA7n7_TF8KZgoieO7LU/s1600/IMG_0538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwfqApAJyDHmfrRLFLf0OZmqJOCA5JjUPTaz_iyti6EeKzabk4y7fsJ9-gvCjDQpk0GEJtlpSLwfY38JaYlI-eJQS0Y-lLwmDKfOyDUosaHeZWvS8V1zQu67MOTA7n7_TF8KZgoieO7LU/s400/IMG_0538.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ3h5kHcIHM4HtuqHWyq1Zwb-q237p_NhYxkVRgM5qo6b2f9mYsC6M9dBT8F27TQjLEvcyG5NMqjeSeTspRXCxCKZU-hdAf1hyphenhyphenJrBy9sa5TLfxCjAQrR8pALYmYgh3VgJ0c7cxIGRHwg/s1600/IMG_0542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYJ3h5kHcIHM4HtuqHWyq1Zwb-q237p_NhYxkVRgM5qo6b2f9mYsC6M9dBT8F27TQjLEvcyG5NMqjeSeTspRXCxCKZU-hdAf1hyphenhyphenJrBy9sa5TLfxCjAQrR8pALYmYgh3VgJ0c7cxIGRHwg/s400/IMG_0542.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLXTUPCxsX8WuOO2GA8RPTbA6vlAtIt_xavoWV3dGovnJJAFupafoE1fe_GA7MQ_-NqDXdf8wlDAjOrWnAafojDswLr5fUdEMwo-OwIEEGllspuTUJydsg1BybpgbXnKlnuL6rNUtyxk/s1600/IMG_0606.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLXTUPCxsX8WuOO2GA8RPTbA6vlAtIt_xavoWV3dGovnJJAFupafoE1fe_GA7MQ_-NqDXdf8wlDAjOrWnAafojDswLr5fUdEMwo-OwIEEGllspuTUJydsg1BybpgbXnKlnuL6rNUtyxk/s400/IMG_0606.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlevsV3eanCYMIAypLNzmme0KmUHvtb_N0S-6ZBDDeNQE9m5QhdETrTPh_vv01YoBn8_exW34Vf5lU-SRcTe0T4G_9NVXjrrReKJTGwMbcgrr1uWWYFdp0CziWK-Q3efbFqEC21ysgmIA/s1600/IMG_0691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlevsV3eanCYMIAypLNzmme0KmUHvtb_N0S-6ZBDDeNQE9m5QhdETrTPh_vv01YoBn8_exW34Vf5lU-SRcTe0T4G_9NVXjrrReKJTGwMbcgrr1uWWYFdp0CziWK-Q3efbFqEC21ysgmIA/s400/IMG_0691.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_5sPokUSxQc_fuWAdGHpN6vfBk6aj0aNLzANscX5FT2C9VyRgIJa_vgu6tZqX3mnrcdHi-3WfpSLy7b5F1B6Tj07FsthTc3J141CBJTleIUC9voK4DgE_m_r4z6Bry-HPS4OBq5a4N4/s1600/IMG_0721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_5sPokUSxQc_fuWAdGHpN6vfBk6aj0aNLzANscX5FT2C9VyRgIJa_vgu6tZqX3mnrcdHi-3WfpSLy7b5F1B6Tj07FsthTc3J141CBJTleIUC9voK4DgE_m_r4z6Bry-HPS4OBq5a4N4/s400/IMG_0721.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexR2Gnq_E4G_FU6mafdNFbZl-pAZHFjZMBPf4NHLz8_bwDx-URbzXPSkMYw3TqYk_Z6U29NOoBCsXKboJA-9qZbCLkEdSRM0hPGO5gMzr8YFIPlzz2CT34ertK5YXdJAjfwUrvFnjyng/s1600/IMG_0793.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjexR2Gnq_E4G_FU6mafdNFbZl-pAZHFjZMBPf4NHLz8_bwDx-URbzXPSkMYw3TqYk_Z6U29NOoBCsXKboJA-9qZbCLkEdSRM0hPGO5gMzr8YFIPlzz2CT34ertK5YXdJAjfwUrvFnjyng/s400/IMG_0793.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We rang in the holiday season in the countryside of Portugal before heading to Munich, Germany to ring in the New Year. We welcomed the new near along with hundreds of partying Germans on the famous Marianplatz part of the city, with fireworks shooting off from every corner of the plaza, even into the crowds. We decided to head to the safety of our apartment when we saw one man in the crowd catch on fire and his friends nearby just casually patted out the flames.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3CBSFHK_-qbi-FSu94eOKleLRyGPg2HT593M1c29FlQtHjmgiy1rsbgIXF_iYeVA_v69xX8OHj4Z_ul_lWjyunVOgWIo1mVqJ5cW9mEgXElG3wnzEG9mK5mEalJfumvV0YwFX6USMEw/s1600/25310950_10213540071068718_5929045608533519522_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK3CBSFHK_-qbi-FSu94eOKleLRyGPg2HT593M1c29FlQtHjmgiy1rsbgIXF_iYeVA_v69xX8OHj4Z_ul_lWjyunVOgWIo1mVqJ5cW9mEgXElG3wnzEG9mK5mEalJfumvV0YwFX6USMEw/s400/25310950_10213540071068718_5929045608533519522_o.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIFFG0rmz7RODXSxCB6OFHnWzirSXay-aDbKqM7ZRQMkUDmrQgfd-Q3rLr9plmd6RVBJ79BLit2iha1xZZ_7L1jS4q_q71oaEyL_SY_9_ra_6kGHHl5jhtZPYO85_YVC7F2YyNCo60gk/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIFFG0rmz7RODXSxCB6OFHnWzirSXay-aDbKqM7ZRQMkUDmrQgfd-Q3rLr9plmd6RVBJ79BLit2iha1xZZ_7L1jS4q_q71oaEyL_SY_9_ra_6kGHHl5jhtZPYO85_YVC7F2YyNCo60gk/s400/IMG_1163.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41nr6WhyphenhyphenoaT8ADLK4DZJTV68wSOxoczmKEUhaiMOjZiqjHzDeSFNzcwPdcoqcXd7-QbjS8wrcqvHnt2r7xAhRXlF_tE7yDLBvXqkgnbInQvGxlH1M5ZRvU9DopQ_t9UiVualPsEAMGZ4/s1600/IMG_1211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh41nr6WhyphenhyphenoaT8ADLK4DZJTV68wSOxoczmKEUhaiMOjZiqjHzDeSFNzcwPdcoqcXd7-QbjS8wrcqvHnt2r7xAhRXlF_tE7yDLBvXqkgnbInQvGxlH1M5ZRvU9DopQ_t9UiVualPsEAMGZ4/s400/IMG_1211.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZgGtpnVG7VSol9Zic1Z8vREG9bQWP3ELRgX4NUunY_Vu293L_q3gF6DgjyjM0iU0eoIWQ4Grgiw1RCBZ4vtAsf49aLpNSBDVgXgc0i11R-4LhJM_MzYY7kHnbwB_A_ziJud-6c5Qr0c/s1600/IMG_1222.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSZgGtpnVG7VSol9Zic1Z8vREG9bQWP3ELRgX4NUunY_Vu293L_q3gF6DgjyjM0iU0eoIWQ4Grgiw1RCBZ4vtAsf49aLpNSBDVgXgc0i11R-4LhJM_MzYY7kHnbwB_A_ziJud-6c5Qr0c/s400/IMG_1222.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdCk6lutVRXjKQhFoz8D3vDyq-AE45SrpYd1exi3tgARXwr4rDfO_YqSDkQtQnVAXdSgnabvqj8CuI8AScQ3liVXR05Oii6PbI0nRDgtrVNE_sew6GKAiX_3e6WmOMqCfZaLiMtZX0JY/s1600/IMG_0852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNdCk6lutVRXjKQhFoz8D3vDyq-AE45SrpYd1exi3tgARXwr4rDfO_YqSDkQtQnVAXdSgnabvqj8CuI8AScQ3liVXR05Oii6PbI0nRDgtrVNE_sew6GKAiX_3e6WmOMqCfZaLiMtZX0JY/s320/IMG_0852.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EpajzwuwuJAks8marAGoXSvYrhAiR4BVU-j-7JKhZHFdyZr6xMmSAGXaDXBZiSp9wcLOERk8Zc7c9asYVCW-MP7UmCf1OMoZ9JX7RkSVas52x98CL-Vy9Mg_w1VlmFTylZHq3yHNDO0/s1600/IMG_0868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EpajzwuwuJAks8marAGoXSvYrhAiR4BVU-j-7JKhZHFdyZr6xMmSAGXaDXBZiSp9wcLOERk8Zc7c9asYVCW-MP7UmCf1OMoZ9JX7RkSVas52x98CL-Vy9Mg_w1VlmFTylZHq3yHNDO0/s320/IMG_0868.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09jsqZBjILwQljfGSqBFv9jXVi5tstSwksSw8ypb4tsLc1FydApOPXDbvGyss3Ah6O4HQmVsQKf24CBrkGMYz8UAHvN1E4CIOaZEE9ZIl1E5PaDY1ZKT06Bnd2aJvsaIrBQhRi6Gn2wc/s1600/IMG_0897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09jsqZBjILwQljfGSqBFv9jXVi5tstSwksSw8ypb4tsLc1FydApOPXDbvGyss3Ah6O4HQmVsQKf24CBrkGMYz8UAHvN1E4CIOaZEE9ZIl1E5PaDY1ZKT06Bnd2aJvsaIrBQhRi6Gn2wc/s400/IMG_0897.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b_yP96FDQwIVD1LwwSoQZOrmco4wiXAGsLQxGYwGqRi0TpglgloW-ky9x9OkXFzdUsLsYKFx-Ahy8YRXDpOBgqGzNzb4hoGbrBPs-DBNhYn-qyfRjvlQD5vaJs1K2Jara_B9wjBLsRE/s1600/IMG_1330.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1b_yP96FDQwIVD1LwwSoQZOrmco4wiXAGsLQxGYwGqRi0TpglgloW-ky9x9OkXFzdUsLsYKFx-Ahy8YRXDpOBgqGzNzb4hoGbrBPs-DBNhYn-qyfRjvlQD5vaJs1K2Jara_B9wjBLsRE/s400/IMG_1330.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDIH1eY3r85IT3ZEWg3R1I1bEc3qa1_3hRDkNgNhwF5Ppp79vq_JJRfGYFGY5Iyu6KhopILcoJQX5lh-QTThxEEuLZ8axny8-meJ_eh01Jn_Z68OdmsKO0kz28JfJ5KvlD2Lc1Jy3ZrQ/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDIH1eY3r85IT3ZEWg3R1I1bEc3qa1_3hRDkNgNhwF5Ppp79vq_JJRfGYFGY5Iyu6KhopILcoJQX5lh-QTThxEEuLZ8axny8-meJ_eh01Jn_Z68OdmsKO0kz28JfJ5KvlD2Lc1Jy3ZrQ/s400/IMG_1459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcbOdYYMWQ1MOOOiPwrSSVd0SV46W4h3eztOawKkDHFjvPSMqbGKWYoqt95bpiimENkS_nVxvWWuySDyWByZK_g75EcKJMW4Msw0pLn4zRea6VYb5SoDEf9f_6ZS-EbvqyrndUo4KjRA/s1600/IMG_1461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcbOdYYMWQ1MOOOiPwrSSVd0SV46W4h3eztOawKkDHFjvPSMqbGKWYoqt95bpiimENkS_nVxvWWuySDyWByZK_g75EcKJMW4Msw0pLn4zRea6VYb5SoDEf9f_6ZS-EbvqyrndUo4KjRA/s400/IMG_1461.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW_QcN2-RLGRFu1c-djleOVu4HLxkSegLpaCBZMU6VK2pQyg337JUUztXu_IE2FWdnMre5YSAzzcZCtISeeM-5XFZwPyyHkjuVEDO-MOLLDoIW2hggw5FNOuddpmUBnXrxfk-aKqzVnU/s1600/IMG_1486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBW_QcN2-RLGRFu1c-djleOVu4HLxkSegLpaCBZMU6VK2pQyg337JUUztXu_IE2FWdnMre5YSAzzcZCtISeeM-5XFZwPyyHkjuVEDO-MOLLDoIW2hggw5FNOuddpmUBnXrxfk-aKqzVnU/s400/IMG_1486.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfzEDb-FVf1TEgffBAcj_Gj5mLRXlgWnXyfKf0Tjr6kHtllfoypO49fywSz_J6tLixpHoXyLV51C1JH75dJlE9waPYJ-kxJyqSSgCV-KuVp0_DEIjsOSmg1TkdTDejTmvTH-0vmGyn-I/s1600/IMG_1341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfzEDb-FVf1TEgffBAcj_Gj5mLRXlgWnXyfKf0Tjr6kHtllfoypO49fywSz_J6tLixpHoXyLV51C1JH75dJlE9waPYJ-kxJyqSSgCV-KuVp0_DEIjsOSmg1TkdTDejTmvTH-0vmGyn-I/s400/IMG_1341.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4c0R2Rix-RK9BS-w-hon7RPYa_qZcETwCM9xaPruwB2YmwqpyzXtXhj4u29Et8nlAadkQQ3XcJNElmnArvHJ7-pODfqZRyvJfBwURWfxeTdN_9UikVFnR8L-GPevbmUgkx0ysjB6WRyk/s1600/IMG_1346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4c0R2Rix-RK9BS-w-hon7RPYa_qZcETwCM9xaPruwB2YmwqpyzXtXhj4u29Et8nlAadkQQ3XcJNElmnArvHJ7-pODfqZRyvJfBwURWfxeTdN_9UikVFnR8L-GPevbmUgkx0ysjB6WRyk/s400/IMG_1346.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_Pd_dxyHtelISrYIk2Cm_NkVdi2Tqd-1RUHlWMQW8n8VUqDybjys_yqzWinIx0IvqJVPBcaeoyV3ZIvccqqhhaT0w7WnJuLXtpwhgRepJUX7rEesKzt4ZmUdv5gjgdbnZvm5qs4u2bU/s1600/IMG_1413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP_Pd_dxyHtelISrYIk2Cm_NkVdi2Tqd-1RUHlWMQW8n8VUqDybjys_yqzWinIx0IvqJVPBcaeoyV3ZIvccqqhhaT0w7WnJuLXtpwhgRepJUX7rEesKzt4ZmUdv5gjgdbnZvm5qs4u2bU/s400/IMG_1413.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS2Wpv2T06UpTMJt-UfqoP-c63s666S0MOMh2zAKg8aegZeJ_LUFn4Fzz4QNb3-rXo0xpc_Pm1O4j6HOxvAoOU840kkDc9a9MYnxZhkdylVHc_CWCU5wIKZEqtgtbw7weOxVjZSLI2IY/s1600/IMG_1418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilS2Wpv2T06UpTMJt-UfqoP-c63s666S0MOMh2zAKg8aegZeJ_LUFn4Fzz4QNb3-rXo0xpc_Pm1O4j6HOxvAoOU840kkDc9a9MYnxZhkdylVHc_CWCU5wIKZEqtgtbw7weOxVjZSLI2IY/s400/IMG_1418.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ViJTrTbVFenIGzPfeDZvCD3EM-tEKhyphenhyphenQZwXbGkiwbFG9LnjIgQhPdX-yuT-uO-VSbbaM_a-BWlO68vpC6uQmqH0eiv-NTZZ-6tZqlANsMlT4wyMQWtr9O5WyMIXkn1z1ToeVGYB542w/s1600/IMG_1911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ViJTrTbVFenIGzPfeDZvCD3EM-tEKhyphenhyphenQZwXbGkiwbFG9LnjIgQhPdX-yuT-uO-VSbbaM_a-BWlO68vpC6uQmqH0eiv-NTZZ-6tZqlANsMlT4wyMQWtr9O5WyMIXkn1z1ToeVGYB542w/s400/IMG_1911.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkQp4o9vorJaRs17PzVEu3KiHB7g9OYY12uu_lUs0ejDb8_bIid37o4KQFEBmA7ac55KAtI4MNFxxbxgDgfs_Gkp3a3KV0Jmz62RJz4qb5X5Ecxmgl__oiC64aWxjRh3YE__hedfkLjs/s1600/IMG_1939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdkQp4o9vorJaRs17PzVEu3KiHB7g9OYY12uu_lUs0ejDb8_bIid37o4KQFEBmA7ac55KAtI4MNFxxbxgDgfs_Gkp3a3KV0Jmz62RJz4qb5X5Ecxmgl__oiC64aWxjRh3YE__hedfkLjs/s400/IMG_1939.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTL9mW1XsrbcYIlsE-E9WLoMKK_u6SOoSdIEFj4Z8kGhQRvY9Z0baD94hbfMfE6vBU8dPB8grJ4JfSFK2JsR0DQ7Ye1I4fzUuaWjjpAiskQIe373lh6A48mL6iCUUGz9wO-d8QskuesQ/s1600/IMG_1946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTL9mW1XsrbcYIlsE-E9WLoMKK_u6SOoSdIEFj4Z8kGhQRvY9Z0baD94hbfMfE6vBU8dPB8grJ4JfSFK2JsR0DQ7Ye1I4fzUuaWjjpAiskQIe373lh6A48mL6iCUUGz9wO-d8QskuesQ/s400/IMG_1946.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgp_mP4pLmZ0zIryQNoWwqjYMqYiAAQQDHZOOM7JzEWSoulhFHTGGWia0UYOmgZAgAe83tTim0Qn3wo64speelPzgGWq6p8N4HuNTzLX9rGeS-LKzs8omYmnt-CoC5To5hGFaihgFAKw/s1600/IMG_1832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXgp_mP4pLmZ0zIryQNoWwqjYMqYiAAQQDHZOOM7JzEWSoulhFHTGGWia0UYOmgZAgAe83tTim0Qn3wo64speelPzgGWq6p8N4HuNTzLX9rGeS-LKzs8omYmnt-CoC5To5hGFaihgFAKw/s400/IMG_1832.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ9wHjkZNk4Z5IPzMxQhS4JmP5tJ1i0kaaapCuhFUkHfH9Xvy2RZPUU57MazKn1IvDAkoD8EQoaS_jeGpJM7SpJaclKu7pgtsd9wyt30-sYGn3M61WPyojWjHlHOnQKsi98s3wjyKVlo/s1600/IMG_1974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ9wHjkZNk4Z5IPzMxQhS4JmP5tJ1i0kaaapCuhFUkHfH9Xvy2RZPUU57MazKn1IvDAkoD8EQoaS_jeGpJM7SpJaclKu7pgtsd9wyt30-sYGn3M61WPyojWjHlHOnQKsi98s3wjyKVlo/s400/IMG_1974.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kZwIjd2aCeU7IiH4R71qe1t3rXFY58oinP6q6JxuYDkLambgnF-er-CK3BCGYUkyelb96jxppn0TxetPPXXBwZU-ErK2G2pWECiBaYk9MToXRhb-iRNR1f2sFLe1_x8c0oC5oyczNOI/s1600/IMG_1988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1kZwIjd2aCeU7IiH4R71qe1t3rXFY58oinP6q6JxuYDkLambgnF-er-CK3BCGYUkyelb96jxppn0TxetPPXXBwZU-ErK2G2pWECiBaYk9MToXRhb-iRNR1f2sFLe1_x8c0oC5oyczNOI/s400/IMG_1988.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkOAlZT8R_kFBL3N8boXhgJNY2Q4F_-41UzLjOZTUS_31wIJr4RuZMoj_RrHEZeYZglCzeZoNZWYXaerqwRXBjaz7xRM1QMjkT6gkPkdMMGXO7n9jZM2YKdikWvtw6uQiHdqbITqnwg4/s1600/IMG_1990.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkOAlZT8R_kFBL3N8boXhgJNY2Q4F_-41UzLjOZTUS_31wIJr4RuZMoj_RrHEZeYZglCzeZoNZWYXaerqwRXBjaz7xRM1QMjkT6gkPkdMMGXO7n9jZM2YKdikWvtw6uQiHdqbITqnwg4/s400/IMG_1990.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK1Wu5gB5YExJgs_mVK8QPk4313k-G8X-vW1rUiZrK5jAwEiNrzXMLUhJvAGM78CaJC95GUH58LXlsyii1ssBOeafev3Uh-LONs0Z6tMd51h4Wk7UmQNe3qSw0slxplp3FzrQneF_3r8/s1600/IMG_1998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBK1Wu5gB5YExJgs_mVK8QPk4313k-G8X-vW1rUiZrK5jAwEiNrzXMLUhJvAGM78CaJC95GUH58LXlsyii1ssBOeafev3Uh-LONs0Z6tMd51h4Wk7UmQNe3qSw0slxplp3FzrQneF_3r8/s400/IMG_1998.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkLGmTRPKnpzzc15yWXOEDja8cJeskGbUvrJLdycFGJfBn8PltRqD_oHaGvC7IqnafMUNcr4pbhYzutWNzaK366SeOMfKE93KSbXgCq6M9xQ4FnKeh4TTt521jDAG2X__PpM7kRa4ykA/s1600/IMG_2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqkLGmTRPKnpzzc15yWXOEDja8cJeskGbUvrJLdycFGJfBn8PltRqD_oHaGvC7IqnafMUNcr4pbhYzutWNzaK366SeOMfKE93KSbXgCq6M9xQ4FnKeh4TTt521jDAG2X__PpM7kRa4ykA/s400/IMG_2013.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gpJHKUBPdgVP7zf69H9NNjcmTUPVdE0ba8jgThtUt0JCKrMKEkEQ1ZiIb5iS54RbV-75k8EpgkaynMB2B4oAO1YNsnXdR85OuOy6emRSz0AZ0nzfHHjnmJY3q-DfGHxRuaZAOQX0mG0/s1600/IMG_2027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gpJHKUBPdgVP7zf69H9NNjcmTUPVdE0ba8jgThtUt0JCKrMKEkEQ1ZiIb5iS54RbV-75k8EpgkaynMB2B4oAO1YNsnXdR85OuOy6emRSz0AZ0nzfHHjnmJY3q-DfGHxRuaZAOQX0mG0/s400/IMG_2027.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU5oO9_1lOuy9Sz6WttH7IgexiU6r13724PAtM0UIMHe35_bVE5N8uknoulHt7Y6W-7gwby_Dq6SyF-rZ6tAh_MjKfX8iV70njwoqoa8l_9c3GGtTb9-Qza1P7MLJmbEmQUqtufof-tI/s1600/IMG_2051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMU5oO9_1lOuy9Sz6WttH7IgexiU6r13724PAtM0UIMHe35_bVE5N8uknoulHt7Y6W-7gwby_Dq6SyF-rZ6tAh_MjKfX8iV70njwoqoa8l_9c3GGtTb9-Qza1P7MLJmbEmQUqtufof-tI/s400/IMG_2051.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuBMO1RhRqSpdqPjBnJp2F1PyaA1zsMJrxWvGxbgpbdzOC13BNlXbbfASbxdrNoy5Cokx92QkB41twtyDA4a1VlGM0SrvdF7xn0TRWnHDHOGKQ5yl3-MzrGZvUbAPgCODoidJ4ofe6lw/s1600/IMG_2105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuBMO1RhRqSpdqPjBnJp2F1PyaA1zsMJrxWvGxbgpbdzOC13BNlXbbfASbxdrNoy5Cokx92QkB41twtyDA4a1VlGM0SrvdF7xn0TRWnHDHOGKQ5yl3-MzrGZvUbAPgCODoidJ4ofe6lw/s400/IMG_2105.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR80uOTCrkuzG-k0QeuTCPKdY6npZGWp-OkAbhn1OgBtdeiaN3IozDxCj02vU_UOjmbyCVsyW06epKcwQiS_K0khv3auZtXa4NawFUFcFj7N9Tm-tFoCczNZ8UYNy6dCyBRlzF0i5_9c/s1600/IMG_2111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrR80uOTCrkuzG-k0QeuTCPKdY6npZGWp-OkAbhn1OgBtdeiaN3IozDxCj02vU_UOjmbyCVsyW06epKcwQiS_K0khv3auZtXa4NawFUFcFj7N9Tm-tFoCczNZ8UYNy6dCyBRlzF0i5_9c/s400/IMG_2111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8K0npNYIRhUs4kIM5f6DHBoBfXB9-qTH16rYKIUzFHak1Wb5tvQCGkrAKeSWuFR-XuUyw8evGgMNj8JtTnlo9jqvsANuHIW_wPtXO9dtIVR1zMxJDJlSPVtwmhr6V6ZNAPl9eem98Cc/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir8K0npNYIRhUs4kIM5f6DHBoBfXB9-qTH16rYKIUzFHak1Wb5tvQCGkrAKeSWuFR-XuUyw8evGgMNj8JtTnlo9jqvsANuHIW_wPtXO9dtIVR1zMxJDJlSPVtwmhr6V6ZNAPl9eem98Cc/s400/IMG_2156.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iLjIYvWiSXp4cCx8RIIXaaPSxyv7HtkzQGrL2gba_O80EU87-B8AdwsnvkkTOKmH3-19sBYYM3hUIQhlarDKIyvfJqXEUTbB8I507pEl_acoO7zgsQUE21Y0stPd1CH8qyeIQpa7uxc/s1600/linderhof_speise600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="600" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9iLjIYvWiSXp4cCx8RIIXaaPSxyv7HtkzQGrL2gba_O80EU87-B8AdwsnvkkTOKmH3-19sBYYM3hUIQhlarDKIyvfJqXEUTbB8I507pEl_acoO7zgsQUE21Y0stPd1CH8qyeIQpa7uxc/s400/linderhof_speise600.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtji3N1V2KWc_Tz5zoPjctSBpN6xBfmrFHSJ7FT_B0O0JsuEwj2udimKQZlG2b5iZ_0BWHrUkA3_roKjpgi7ipR5on8Y5Io0iPfKAMAFprLxCIOY8UNnLJ9l3yb0OeGf-tQKDKupD1OI/s1600/IMG_2176.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivtji3N1V2KWc_Tz5zoPjctSBpN6xBfmrFHSJ7FT_B0O0JsuEwj2udimKQZlG2b5iZ_0BWHrUkA3_roKjpgi7ipR5on8Y5Io0iPfKAMAFprLxCIOY8UNnLJ9l3yb0OeGf-tQKDKupD1OI/s400/IMG_2176.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzvnPlp5fQIG8MQCwWO57gA_kWcHVKBE2QE40ayI2IXa68MWo8353ZGAbyeNu8VwHJbqSsp5-RmoV-s5RzC16667gCHK_WKlQd_QRpBzaWOtpre3o0MNq9SJ-UQaIOybmkGkMkQKjQKA/s1600/IMG_2191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQzvnPlp5fQIG8MQCwWO57gA_kWcHVKBE2QE40ayI2IXa68MWo8353ZGAbyeNu8VwHJbqSsp5-RmoV-s5RzC16667gCHK_WKlQd_QRpBzaWOtpre3o0MNq9SJ-UQaIOybmkGkMkQKjQKA/s400/IMG_2191.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOUm2o6SWgzA5o2pKxKqtju9d_Qiany6hEWybG3HVTF-Ixxsf-GLCYLLlTd-tBwTLSs11CfZ8ykHN2SrPcjkg_GqGeVZg_ph1ssCYsT5G_NVrI_1Vozbzg8wwQSoVX7ik1k1NUYjBOHY/s1600/IMG_2223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOUm2o6SWgzA5o2pKxKqtju9d_Qiany6hEWybG3HVTF-Ixxsf-GLCYLLlTd-tBwTLSs11CfZ8ykHN2SrPcjkg_GqGeVZg_ph1ssCYsT5G_NVrI_1Vozbzg8wwQSoVX7ik1k1NUYjBOHY/s400/IMG_2223.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH_hAmyUZFuKCsDPiDjY-lQKN0w0nQkcDZeJiZq77p05I4dM60c4LvU7jiWTP9tE3QVUbXMpYCNuPCU0QHFamHtMZ8K91GMrud05znLcaVkZvJeiV-PxCDqAboE1B6IRJu6XebiBRRZA/s1600/IMG_2277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbH_hAmyUZFuKCsDPiDjY-lQKN0w0nQkcDZeJiZq77p05I4dM60c4LvU7jiWTP9tE3QVUbXMpYCNuPCU0QHFamHtMZ8K91GMrud05znLcaVkZvJeiV-PxCDqAboE1B6IRJu6XebiBRRZA/s400/IMG_2277.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnBbi59YF40jGYbLS1sFwRT6uwGzw1AZ_WwESSZNfGzOYOEcHik6e6_BKznyZA3oC823h3v7C11-5IQ0yIMhXqh-6bPC4ntMNbBsa0T6Z09hwE3Jd7ns8Hpj6_JtwEnalJjP9Aby0Ms0/s1600/IMG_2402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnBbi59YF40jGYbLS1sFwRT6uwGzw1AZ_WwESSZNfGzOYOEcHik6e6_BKznyZA3oC823h3v7C11-5IQ0yIMhXqh-6bPC4ntMNbBsa0T6Z09hwE3Jd7ns8Hpj6_JtwEnalJjP9Aby0Ms0/s400/IMG_2402.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYk7phhEoFsXoOGw0Kd_F2aYv_jTmwNR3SekzyshcYUU-SIAsA4vQJt96P4FpTQMh2QnxF-mkcdcLY0S076VWyqjn8dk_nxmcM-hQJe4TaGUBUV7akj-ZgJWLkNG0CofxHhPgc9GktGk/s1600/IMG_2422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijYk7phhEoFsXoOGw0Kd_F2aYv_jTmwNR3SekzyshcYUU-SIAsA4vQJt96P4FpTQMh2QnxF-mkcdcLY0S076VWyqjn8dk_nxmcM-hQJe4TaGUBUV7akj-ZgJWLkNG0CofxHhPgc9GktGk/s320/IMG_2422.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RW2ruowaI439vrVBgcZTODGVzgzyAIKCyqPI1ppi6QwviKE6ghxILxlbSawpfuJRiNiuitOg2QvxwgmT3TDdmSG9teX5UxcMtrnPZ6-ffDJGDD_oDnJcylxXPkOfRS2BJv1m-QNQgxE/s1600/IMG_2424+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RW2ruowaI439vrVBgcZTODGVzgzyAIKCyqPI1ppi6QwviKE6ghxILxlbSawpfuJRiNiuitOg2QvxwgmT3TDdmSG9teX5UxcMtrnPZ6-ffDJGDD_oDnJcylxXPkOfRS2BJv1m-QNQgxE/s400/IMG_2424+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaya7867bUXhFys1IvOyd8LQtcJh4ENemjCbDhbLJn69Et-roFjWahOhcxOXN_eqhIZkja8vPSRMpGTyDqFFl8Mior11CIbT4E81xvMDc28TNOPBJQLFGYE_iFY8w8yEByEPoaEUHD54/s1600/IMG_2429+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinaya7867bUXhFys1IvOyd8LQtcJh4ENemjCbDhbLJn69Et-roFjWahOhcxOXN_eqhIZkja8vPSRMpGTyDqFFl8Mior11CIbT4E81xvMDc28TNOPBJQLFGYE_iFY8w8yEByEPoaEUHD54/s400/IMG_2429+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWngPQKeUP4R9pneWgDzWKGlE2tqin4gErJfLQdYJFH7olI4v49_KXSbKBtAs6MECyCGzW6J_2cZxyCpcAHeXITTS8AxYEguDgZvhn65RMRAFy0_WlJGr2HTuvVOzUQyYTHAtx146UvY/s1600/IMG_2431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtWngPQKeUP4R9pneWgDzWKGlE2tqin4gErJfLQdYJFH7olI4v49_KXSbKBtAs6MECyCGzW6J_2cZxyCpcAHeXITTS8AxYEguDgZvhn65RMRAFy0_WlJGr2HTuvVOzUQyYTHAtx146UvY/s400/IMG_2431.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OdGVxOOyKYEWraI-ouOz-xhwSxxaXkseuIl3G_G4hUetFbAn74U6eK3pCeOKdXZG1tC8MTJlkdbBrJoqwrg1nq4zgfkUMhbLznH998DHxiOq6kChzFNDYrvF9jJruHAzf5Qm__XIIIE/s1600/IMG_2440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OdGVxOOyKYEWraI-ouOz-xhwSxxaXkseuIl3G_G4hUetFbAn74U6eK3pCeOKdXZG1tC8MTJlkdbBrJoqwrg1nq4zgfkUMhbLznH998DHxiOq6kChzFNDYrvF9jJruHAzf5Qm__XIIIE/s400/IMG_2440.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy433x5QxCVEQavyKFdLSNrJtkepf3hEQlzjCjrMgVpjO9UpZo6j8HuvKyxR7VtnrTuLRtOcWvYptPeMzp9bpIGxzpT2WdS26PAGhYvy7-683DB2R9brEeUnkH2TmRhTc0BkI8o3Pzt0/s1600/IMG_2484.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfy433x5QxCVEQavyKFdLSNrJtkepf3hEQlzjCjrMgVpjO9UpZo6j8HuvKyxR7VtnrTuLRtOcWvYptPeMzp9bpIGxzpT2WdS26PAGhYvy7-683DB2R9brEeUnkH2TmRhTc0BkI8o3Pzt0/s400/IMG_2484.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9Wv2GXDmu2N3QybzNKSWyddDlbhePfsCniLZW6L5-xpdZIsaQkLnCbL92WSueEIqc1BrBR_Tf1NVPJY0KLd-K01fPiQ-zEgzqHSmGtKIEfoZrkSWfRkR2SiDT2LZJH0aLrxO6fL0Vtk/s1600/IMG_2550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD9Wv2GXDmu2N3QybzNKSWyddDlbhePfsCniLZW6L5-xpdZIsaQkLnCbL92WSueEIqc1BrBR_Tf1NVPJY0KLd-K01fPiQ-zEgzqHSmGtKIEfoZrkSWfRkR2SiDT2LZJH0aLrxO6fL0Vtk/s400/IMG_2550.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyQNS3k0uRwJemJKpNFErsMuUVyI78b8I1J7DCd5mJOpSx0gIUDE3v_aiiR80gAy3qeSNjtsgh8_DGMuNILCAB2gbWbdrzUVN0gssYk5PiwkCHAvtev-ZS4ubMFajFouzKUlyu7FYx_I/s1600/IMG_2555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWyQNS3k0uRwJemJKpNFErsMuUVyI78b8I1J7DCd5mJOpSx0gIUDE3v_aiiR80gAy3qeSNjtsgh8_DGMuNILCAB2gbWbdrzUVN0gssYk5PiwkCHAvtev-ZS4ubMFajFouzKUlyu7FYx_I/s400/IMG_2555.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMTyIioW3JqK-IXg6mYlQiqR_f_5TnaPAZcLi13YUfWCHPqLNBMZMXjDiYe8x-5QSZ-NDbf_-Ar9__PssnjJobnLUTGkRsB5P3k9gFlP4HNhgBPHyuJe-euvTPj2REFxNjpu365hK7qQ/s1600/IMG_1673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivMTyIioW3JqK-IXg6mYlQiqR_f_5TnaPAZcLi13YUfWCHPqLNBMZMXjDiYe8x-5QSZ-NDbf_-Ar9__PssnjJobnLUTGkRsB5P3k9gFlP4HNhgBPHyuJe-euvTPj2REFxNjpu365hK7qQ/s400/IMG_1673.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJwiSt618d26iF8g6Ptg-sY18BMA8mwY38hIneX2h3_JXFkT00_fY1CWqXLYgyUidns_LGDwrGJ34U0o6Rsc52VetxeuTJofDkfXEE8-d8ID8hW75ZPTCNNWS92no1tzADDdCNP6gFac/s1600/IMG_1751.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJwiSt618d26iF8g6Ptg-sY18BMA8mwY38hIneX2h3_JXFkT00_fY1CWqXLYgyUidns_LGDwrGJ34U0o6Rsc52VetxeuTJofDkfXEE8-d8ID8hW75ZPTCNNWS92no1tzADDdCNP6gFac/s400/IMG_1751.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkgDPoianBVdg9oOE3Y7jDQ5ThFuPNul36WZOz5h-wVoA1bFcySZzdUxSH0y0JTpCeFrvE4UNQhDajkBu6aei1ivhaVKaO0tEPtBloNAgkqCjgA5pqZQLDhykOZW9yXHldMDCs18TqXM/s1600/IMG_1782.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOkgDPoianBVdg9oOE3Y7jDQ5ThFuPNul36WZOz5h-wVoA1bFcySZzdUxSH0y0JTpCeFrvE4UNQhDajkBu6aei1ivhaVKaO0tEPtBloNAgkqCjgA5pqZQLDhykOZW9yXHldMDCs18TqXM/s400/IMG_1782.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
From Germany we flew to New Delhi, India for a tour of the famous Golden Triangle. We visited old and new Delhi, Rajastan, Jaipur and finally Agra to see the famous Taj Mahal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOtTbrDKBl-5ur6l8ta3qG91DA36jVmiy71cF0Sa1iVCq6wXyukjsKTHOJcQBqgVo62SJoXjYKzac0AsSrR6ak3jq41mi1OKOahOtaCas_VnJIKSE6cfaLTVTtim6LSoLh_bfdMb2ONc/s1600/IMG_4090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOtTbrDKBl-5ur6l8ta3qG91DA36jVmiy71cF0Sa1iVCq6wXyukjsKTHOJcQBqgVo62SJoXjYKzac0AsSrR6ak3jq41mi1OKOahOtaCas_VnJIKSE6cfaLTVTtim6LSoLh_bfdMb2ONc/s400/IMG_4090.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoS9yhI3DSApPNvXRp-dEhL4e59Crzd6CxCDoX_yWYGymYLmRM2wRd6oGPv6oBWvMb8go0CLc5YHtSxht2KvXVL1ozWGzCLHu68TbKusqW4NZh2wXi1W_zkRzy_BCD0OIFeH6CXdWxf4/s1600/IMG_3982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMoS9yhI3DSApPNvXRp-dEhL4e59Crzd6CxCDoX_yWYGymYLmRM2wRd6oGPv6oBWvMb8go0CLc5YHtSxht2KvXVL1ozWGzCLHu68TbKusqW4NZh2wXi1W_zkRzy_BCD0OIFeH6CXdWxf4/s400/IMG_3982.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tdEG3m2jXyCE-7INQ1c7z7X5uxzUPwb4Wb-ia8-dQCvttpO1iG_S_WIqXeYSDE9JM-NNiHnl_YlgEXHCgULErNG3CWzLyP_WpCTE8ZMhfCJwLBLqOb3wf5ifU2jjYcfD9F-4OhOC9Dk/s1600/IMG_3992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tdEG3m2jXyCE-7INQ1c7z7X5uxzUPwb4Wb-ia8-dQCvttpO1iG_S_WIqXeYSDE9JM-NNiHnl_YlgEXHCgULErNG3CWzLyP_WpCTE8ZMhfCJwLBLqOb3wf5ifU2jjYcfD9F-4OhOC9Dk/s400/IMG_3992.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9IZxVfqc7etehprbWj7t950A04Mk2gdZ2Obk7a9q2CMkuw7y8z26xMf-FaBwBE2xWUjQQZ09UxqKVnx-MbPWK_aGnXH8B6rzeNHuHGl-HT_vlOElZwLnolDXFdNy9k9sC18FJkF9_lE/s1600/IMG_2936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9IZxVfqc7etehprbWj7t950A04Mk2gdZ2Obk7a9q2CMkuw7y8z26xMf-FaBwBE2xWUjQQZ09UxqKVnx-MbPWK_aGnXH8B6rzeNHuHGl-HT_vlOElZwLnolDXFdNy9k9sC18FJkF9_lE/s400/IMG_2936.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisagkLO17t7KyEFI8dFSungcvBjnnuAt6j2h7qdoXPt7xlw6W7KcxsgQctatPG4mfPQZBHJ8xLc5ZFzEWsxfo6GrT24T0aa4meP7LpeK0qDqFYsHiZuC1qZcsYj1bZTX0UOIIwvDts8Kw/s1600/IMG_3100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisagkLO17t7KyEFI8dFSungcvBjnnuAt6j2h7qdoXPt7xlw6W7KcxsgQctatPG4mfPQZBHJ8xLc5ZFzEWsxfo6GrT24T0aa4meP7LpeK0qDqFYsHiZuC1qZcsYj1bZTX0UOIIwvDts8Kw/s400/IMG_3100.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVebU0fzJegt5cBA2ii0T9i_C0bL4R1bm0Abm-hxiGwNAphKfXmVssZUCmb3cKukm3Hpsx8zoecend-Lwy31wReCQuvXrGh5-2lUKIFWkhIW5SG95kjqx-rN_b_-nQ4qjihPefKQ0DK3w/s1600/IMG_3110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVebU0fzJegt5cBA2ii0T9i_C0bL4R1bm0Abm-hxiGwNAphKfXmVssZUCmb3cKukm3Hpsx8zoecend-Lwy31wReCQuvXrGh5-2lUKIFWkhIW5SG95kjqx-rN_b_-nQ4qjihPefKQ0DK3w/s400/IMG_3110.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRebNer8iz1N0RorYh0TYtUl2LKwvElXBUGazR5P9BTVKJuP5Rv2aArMIgDc-sJ_XNT4wQ7YjWGVGBtpwdW2kLocksrNkFZZwpE_9xynDGRfsLUbPbB_qIlMP1RSssIh86qxGhBiM0gkk/s1600/IMG_3114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRebNer8iz1N0RorYh0TYtUl2LKwvElXBUGazR5P9BTVKJuP5Rv2aArMIgDc-sJ_XNT4wQ7YjWGVGBtpwdW2kLocksrNkFZZwpE_9xynDGRfsLUbPbB_qIlMP1RSssIh86qxGhBiM0gkk/s400/IMG_3114.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfHBD7Nsb3y9JEVpcJTbcqx3OawrToa4Xs0mdP2OjInYnGnikpIB7K205FqBH-LWlxKnPfyMxcknIk8sRBPAeNr9dzrE0i85Ex98ojbHbArrzn4V6UkATUHUt5P65TqQyU52Peax8eMI/s1600/IMG_3501+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfHBD7Nsb3y9JEVpcJTbcqx3OawrToa4Xs0mdP2OjInYnGnikpIB7K205FqBH-LWlxKnPfyMxcknIk8sRBPAeNr9dzrE0i85Ex98ojbHbArrzn4V6UkATUHUt5P65TqQyU52Peax8eMI/s400/IMG_3501+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOFOEbKFB-KH_jvdZPc68u7upgX08JvN6bnIDD2sgxoXLSIgi2VXJy_9Lcn3jZervB2h80cCZJJBzt5IQM2JxWnlkC7GJRq5bmJZKEw1YlVLlocRm0s6EIxHf0kmpGbkljt2CvQRpcyQ/s1600/IMG_3567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcOFOEbKFB-KH_jvdZPc68u7upgX08JvN6bnIDD2sgxoXLSIgi2VXJy_9Lcn3jZervB2h80cCZJJBzt5IQM2JxWnlkC7GJRq5bmJZKEw1YlVLlocRm0s6EIxHf0kmpGbkljt2CvQRpcyQ/s400/IMG_3567.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ-aTA-A4QiUcPMoG0NaRab3gZsyOLZqx-0yaOU4ejCtAeUfXCQ8YqrHalDFvMysFAXSxFabP0EDlvDt-x63Ydz0lzvr0Hj4YaUkxs0Y9LkB5lRWbY6XVAfNNdCQvaOOoIFr8i1wTgAM/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbQ-aTA-A4QiUcPMoG0NaRab3gZsyOLZqx-0yaOU4ejCtAeUfXCQ8YqrHalDFvMysFAXSxFabP0EDlvDt-x63Ydz0lzvr0Hj4YaUkxs0Y9LkB5lRWbY6XVAfNNdCQvaOOoIFr8i1wTgAM/s400/IMG_3599.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxqU9wjPxEeTnV6KocJrQPngbTgXhhBrekQsepp4AiAwOC1_KgikJe0GmGAPiS6bl2oPyhgFZNnii6VyUDxTJzV_ifQOCmZ5Gv_BcHbYUclKKmJ1EMj0dqFyzmZjh1NXPdWq791NEajI/s1600/IMG_3638+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxqU9wjPxEeTnV6KocJrQPngbTgXhhBrekQsepp4AiAwOC1_KgikJe0GmGAPiS6bl2oPyhgFZNnii6VyUDxTJzV_ifQOCmZ5Gv_BcHbYUclKKmJ1EMj0dqFyzmZjh1NXPdWq791NEajI/s400/IMG_3638+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFh0ElnhhbsHLxpoyR-yw8Rh90EFUg2-I_kUrgdp7TDkgGlZbrA0BZ1rdiAhJdRsDKfETNOn-wOOIhqLrDmNxcxWFOBGX1WBoXQ6STGJOGWaEnZSpy0C_P7QOgZfhOY1wO-nXcDBszgEs/s1600/IMG_3951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFh0ElnhhbsHLxpoyR-yw8Rh90EFUg2-I_kUrgdp7TDkgGlZbrA0BZ1rdiAhJdRsDKfETNOn-wOOIhqLrDmNxcxWFOBGX1WBoXQ6STGJOGWaEnZSpy0C_P7QOgZfhOY1wO-nXcDBszgEs/s400/IMG_3951.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Then we flew half way around the world to visit Panama, where we would rent a condo for six weeks to visit old friends. The first of our friends we met up with was Jasmine (Our Spanish teacher and friend) and her husband. Because we lived in Panama for five years, we had friends that we wanted to reunite with, as well as visiting our old house and chat with its new owners. It was such fun to see our old house, the changes that they made and know how happy they are in their new lives. And a big perk was to visit with Coco, our Doberman who the new owners were kind enough to adopt. We are thankful that they adopted both Venus, the older Doberman who passed away prior to our visit, and Coco. And since our visit they adopted a Doberman puppy who will keep Coco young and lively for many more years to come.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD-LXF8-hIKHNhoXPqUik0vuMtm3f9NYJLr-kVauktlC3foKbCBC5QfqCwfzazndYQ4rdZb-k5uwAHn77sDtTq2GBzqCcVeZsD17TvBLmlUYn-gA2AB-wY5B0l73CFesDvWQuhE0-tIs/s1600/IMG_4179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdD-LXF8-hIKHNhoXPqUik0vuMtm3f9NYJLr-kVauktlC3foKbCBC5QfqCwfzazndYQ4rdZb-k5uwAHn77sDtTq2GBzqCcVeZsD17TvBLmlUYn-gA2AB-wY5B0l73CFesDvWQuhE0-tIs/s400/IMG_4179.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0giUNHwO5frsMHd0u9576EHAIdIQ6ilRHxDpEOfevrxD7be2fTAZKWPDB2GJhrAIFaBBnJLPftT2qZiQt3mp18yt7hlkhhXtCjIINphU3Hxr5eZY-XK-_XnB8H7YhBiNBYxfxXNQ6AGQ/s1600/IMG_4249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0giUNHwO5frsMHd0u9576EHAIdIQ6ilRHxDpEOfevrxD7be2fTAZKWPDB2GJhrAIFaBBnJLPftT2qZiQt3mp18yt7hlkhhXtCjIINphU3Hxr5eZY-XK-_XnB8H7YhBiNBYxfxXNQ6AGQ/s400/IMG_4249.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFta7n8dKFChZaPwSruBS4m81M4M9-Je0Y-S6vm6sG3ueOAjWivVDWtIWAinBKIUGb8ueWeBKcv9jRkCw62UgnBTjo9XH35dT_Jq10SvMRMiDbix6pVH8ZrjG31DedPuFuN4L9puEsM0/s1600/IMG_4323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFta7n8dKFChZaPwSruBS4m81M4M9-Je0Y-S6vm6sG3ueOAjWivVDWtIWAinBKIUGb8ueWeBKcv9jRkCw62UgnBTjo9XH35dT_Jq10SvMRMiDbix6pVH8ZrjG31DedPuFuN4L9puEsM0/s400/IMG_4323.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLhYzu4oCCdQH7jY8uOpgroZgd6_p7eS1tdUh2p-syh5eZeqeCbNAwv08udRqxfNPsz_8ys29Y3de0g6c65p1_gO34FMULpUY6GBEQTm-SR0VacbaOoJoFgKJ1lbX71HDzlvh27qeAUg/s1600/IMG_4409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLhYzu4oCCdQH7jY8uOpgroZgd6_p7eS1tdUh2p-syh5eZeqeCbNAwv08udRqxfNPsz_8ys29Y3de0g6c65p1_gO34FMULpUY6GBEQTm-SR0VacbaOoJoFgKJ1lbX71HDzlvh27qeAUg/s400/IMG_4409.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OJ-Vnhq3Dfk044f5nqn9MY34fdiOJItPALvwtulm3Buae2BDYpZOOQIW3wL3jxxGCxthSkKJtDgF6zrPjtuDB5fah6gIw-kJahfneBEJdQ5aEhlg3vpmRF4vc1uW0KB5TdNU7EOi62E/s1600/IMG_4412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1OJ-Vnhq3Dfk044f5nqn9MY34fdiOJItPALvwtulm3Buae2BDYpZOOQIW3wL3jxxGCxthSkKJtDgF6zrPjtuDB5fah6gIw-kJahfneBEJdQ5aEhlg3vpmRF4vc1uW0KB5TdNU7EOi62E/s400/IMG_4412.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKBvjNJmkn6fQTwAWii8UIdcomlxKRpJBk6zhXHU85Cp0HkTCgWZFtROJEnikJS4M0txdHbqh4bJ072BSYIytcc-Js9xGI5y4ZDW4wbAIrATe9lsDL-C3UQBVIJCZMzHw_7LtC-UlTD0/s1600/IMG_4438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKBvjNJmkn6fQTwAWii8UIdcomlxKRpJBk6zhXHU85Cp0HkTCgWZFtROJEnikJS4M0txdHbqh4bJ072BSYIytcc-Js9xGI5y4ZDW4wbAIrATe9lsDL-C3UQBVIJCZMzHw_7LtC-UlTD0/s400/IMG_4438.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Next it was time for some family visiting as we were off to Texas, in the US for about one month. Clyde's oldest son Cobey found the love of his life, Barbara and was getting married in El Paso. <br />
Since we wanted to be there for the celebration had had no house sits scheduled, we made arrangements for a visit with the kids. While in Texas we visited with my daughter and grandson, Clyde's three kids and even his sister and her husband came for the occasion. <br />
<br />
Clyde and his sister Donna grew up in El Paso, Texas. Clyde found their childhood home that they left in the mid sixties. An added surprise was that Clyde's cousin Mike and his wife Nancy lived nearby. Was nice to visit them. Clyde had not seen his cousin in probably forty or so years!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyfcthz6v6tVMUgxH8IjpyzYiJilwq1r9v3PhxLHywcVgW-9830DRYm-FvcqKNFpCvaCFI38j8YK9HqWomR66u78YmXj2CvUFPFnYrhl3Ray9wH0atDtHzLq0yjrDyfi0q7lxNdgGYwg/s1600/29468186_10212975554596483_7919083171633692672_n+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXyfcthz6v6tVMUgxH8IjpyzYiJilwq1r9v3PhxLHywcVgW-9830DRYm-FvcqKNFpCvaCFI38j8YK9HqWomR66u78YmXj2CvUFPFnYrhl3Ray9wH0atDtHzLq0yjrDyfi0q7lxNdgGYwg/s400/29468186_10212975554596483_7919083171633692672_n+-+Copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oWwA6IO4zugFK7AA17nqpnEoAzcMSB-8wGvVm7XSbxhzkhr-s0deD9VR49vmXTUOgB3tzY78lv5S7qtTS8YwHxQDjERl2zqV8azxexuA6rMyLnbVWbBcqZthlnLQT4X1ayAvhODsCbI/s1600/31117963_10213197491624770_4093370189779828736_n+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oWwA6IO4zugFK7AA17nqpnEoAzcMSB-8wGvVm7XSbxhzkhr-s0deD9VR49vmXTUOgB3tzY78lv5S7qtTS8YwHxQDjERl2zqV8azxexuA6rMyLnbVWbBcqZthlnLQT4X1ayAvhODsCbI/s400/31117963_10213197491624770_4093370189779828736_n+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mgUzbW-pKL1GQVfz3NdR4LNvC_KKeI2-a8ofrvUx7moeG4V0YuMJwM-69CcJO1SyDq2mQK-xZHLfJ2OEiynt1KFt2Vcle4WOYJNCp8MRmXvub0dwu1wC76oBP2-crjRvjdhIhemLdNo/s1600/31129619_10213197508185184_4658733150317314048_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5mgUzbW-pKL1GQVfz3NdR4LNvC_KKeI2-a8ofrvUx7moeG4V0YuMJwM-69CcJO1SyDq2mQK-xZHLfJ2OEiynt1KFt2Vcle4WOYJNCp8MRmXvub0dwu1wC76oBP2-crjRvjdhIhemLdNo/s400/31129619_10213197508185184_4658733150317314048_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFBAvm-4HocIFsqK3LN9GxyPulJ9WrP-8gMwuELg0WCwnz6PFstgvcJhA9mYffYyeGj8H4yBWorjVLTeGbvsTkWM60dNbAE4A465J_wagy_u7mqKt32y4wBd5pHsx2JPAG7TleZq-wMY/s1600/IMG_4464+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1148" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCFBAvm-4HocIFsqK3LN9GxyPulJ9WrP-8gMwuELg0WCwnz6PFstgvcJhA9mYffYyeGj8H4yBWorjVLTeGbvsTkWM60dNbAE4A465J_wagy_u7mqKt32y4wBd5pHsx2JPAG7TleZq-wMY/s400/IMG_4464+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" width="383" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA9kV6-_VtaNUTFT2rAtPs6ee-ZTj06IFVWJdhCPohPvu85mjzBg3KpW-hM3q2jZD0L7ClFo5gCDGy97KlghHwIZ1aeog7NZWTqoVHXck7VUgYJIYBgdgMTJStMmR2kt5fStC5SkMxV0/s1600/IMG_4465+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicA9kV6-_VtaNUTFT2rAtPs6ee-ZTj06IFVWJdhCPohPvu85mjzBg3KpW-hM3q2jZD0L7ClFo5gCDGy97KlghHwIZ1aeog7NZWTqoVHXck7VUgYJIYBgdgMTJStMmR2kt5fStC5SkMxV0/s400/IMG_4465+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwjsyIcB-cpzgdDlak9-8fBZVbxQnJ4uy9k11E2uNbpdkuQIBiVu0dzcqZ7MCH1YidWSBPSdTaqUvcIy6bbMXFLOwYAIu9rCbIbUc9M2FdO4g5hHdGj3Xp6_QVVjn5SDuiVxqpu_2jOo/s1600/IMG_4509+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlwjsyIcB-cpzgdDlak9-8fBZVbxQnJ4uy9k11E2uNbpdkuQIBiVu0dzcqZ7MCH1YidWSBPSdTaqUvcIy6bbMXFLOwYAIu9rCbIbUc9M2FdO4g5hHdGj3Xp6_QVVjn5SDuiVxqpu_2jOo/s400/IMG_4509+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm8FsiYYIzaMgHhXmsgE6f2nRmD-KSEx5ijixNK-zDJi7qDpEiRsFQuJUEoucb2ZDfCN0D5pMwbkVbFdMNyyjv1FpQvCh0MLNw1zn22IYSFI6MF_DOJUnrELTY7mia9E2K60oKYxXaMs/s1600/IMG_4510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQm8FsiYYIzaMgHhXmsgE6f2nRmD-KSEx5ijixNK-zDJi7qDpEiRsFQuJUEoucb2ZDfCN0D5pMwbkVbFdMNyyjv1FpQvCh0MLNw1zn22IYSFI6MF_DOJUnrELTY7mia9E2K60oKYxXaMs/s400/IMG_4510.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_aM4T_wRvgkE49TIFwNFRMZBIV9vM5k5tbX0-NSNM7yYcYXzRomUFUQaLS5oHj5TkSlo6lixx0d-tr2byZffdQ88FoBRtgKZ-IxJPMwueASfU0B4zS569xOXcqXR_vkZVyZr8QUZvI4/s1600/Visit+with+Mike+Coles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="960" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm_aM4T_wRvgkE49TIFwNFRMZBIV9vM5k5tbX0-NSNM7yYcYXzRomUFUQaLS5oHj5TkSlo6lixx0d-tr2byZffdQ88FoBRtgKZ-IxJPMwueASfU0B4zS569xOXcqXR_vkZVyZr8QUZvI4/s400/Visit+with+Mike+Coles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAVcIBDiuvLL9GCFvOz1dedviM8UkxKcwVfZDqvR_30eSMyfG1Om4eo9XBeN7PexhpNIzbNlpIYnm0k_XEOVeFyiNaeJkTVofQewM48722aMUbBXKba8sQ0lBnwaPz72oafUcugP1Jo8/s1600/El+Paso+House.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="1117" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAVcIBDiuvLL9GCFvOz1dedviM8UkxKcwVfZDqvR_30eSMyfG1Om4eo9XBeN7PexhpNIzbNlpIYnm0k_XEOVeFyiNaeJkTVofQewM48722aMUbBXKba8sQ0lBnwaPz72oafUcugP1Jo8/s400/El+Paso+House.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Since we had time to kill we opted to drive from Texas to Arizona to visit the Grand Canyon and New Mexico along the way. It was nice to have some down time to visit our old stomping grounds, and to actually play tourists in our own country.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaoRtpLdbe519QqRrgPgbS7EaxMXqBywrcc5_DOWPPIS1xjUScCo_vL0Kjim1yq8R9QQmbKVzo_1S_8B3483WQC933YOjtwXg5xeFGw5VTlFyoqX8grNsaa9r2Xe8uNTzWzTiVUpWVk8/s1600/IMG_4639+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJaoRtpLdbe519QqRrgPgbS7EaxMXqBywrcc5_DOWPPIS1xjUScCo_vL0Kjim1yq8R9QQmbKVzo_1S_8B3483WQC933YOjtwXg5xeFGw5VTlFyoqX8grNsaa9r2Xe8uNTzWzTiVUpWVk8/s400/IMG_4639+-+Copy.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2JMNZv9GYJyf6BfFjomhra55mHgpWfs12YfnI2D8XSXM9qrfZLPQjLF_iSG3YDEQ1YFaqBSsrSD30q1vbLKvm9_-g5y-wx4Tuce6Add5uQzeHwaM3W-SlU3S9JzUqQrvt_SQRJt1FZE/s1600/IMG_4641+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ2JMNZv9GYJyf6BfFjomhra55mHgpWfs12YfnI2D8XSXM9qrfZLPQjLF_iSG3YDEQ1YFaqBSsrSD30q1vbLKvm9_-g5y-wx4Tuce6Add5uQzeHwaM3W-SlU3S9JzUqQrvt_SQRJt1FZE/s400/IMG_4641+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4YoyDau0m8Oxs89gD3Y31YqbFqhzxqNT798l50hyphenhyphenYPDGEUYteE67sqgyd6hmdG6xFHmUXugiJOS6ud31KZYRx9lY15ij_r8dgF7QthAjKhd8WhaIrmGQKbeOo3MUAPLTBuZwVbarIXY/s1600/IMG_4645+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4YoyDau0m8Oxs89gD3Y31YqbFqhzxqNT798l50hyphenhyphenYPDGEUYteE67sqgyd6hmdG6xFHmUXugiJOS6ud31KZYRx9lY15ij_r8dgF7QthAjKhd8WhaIrmGQKbeOo3MUAPLTBuZwVbarIXY/s400/IMG_4645+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We then flew to New Jersey to spend some time with my sister before going back to the other side of the world. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4miAzGEUrXLtNh_pLsi_6KI6m7s4ZGgI6uQVQd4wMQX9p7DRBy3I1FJi-emDq64_BD2NoQtSAo4Mhht_r11HTW_JnDzrniR2VYj9FvIvTvyLM7nehvxO3hq0a7qniqClkdhD29q-kU8/s1600/29352401_10214394127859604_8269206214871063357_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="1316" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc4miAzGEUrXLtNh_pLsi_6KI6m7s4ZGgI6uQVQd4wMQX9p7DRBy3I1FJi-emDq64_BD2NoQtSAo4Mhht_r11HTW_JnDzrniR2VYj9FvIvTvyLM7nehvxO3hq0a7qniqClkdhD29q-kU8/s400/29352401_10214394127859604_8269206214871063357_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
But we missed our second home which is Europe and looked forward to our next sit which was in Belgium. Because our temporary home was located close to the border of Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands we were able to explore all of those countries. Once the sit was finished we took some time to tip toe though the tulips in Holland, walk the touristy congested streets of Amsterdam and explore further away parts of Belgium too.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Mt6fXgTrzYaQSZ_rgvAQzZ5pWaP01PreYVZojNgdNg5wJiu1ZrCsu4KKR1iEfEuHgJPlmWFEM0jRA90pl3IZmINtYhGJUobTrkN4ZWI6wtuQjId3Wu7xF381Izi3PnYbeyotPm2EFYI/s1600/boats+on+river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Mt6fXgTrzYaQSZ_rgvAQzZ5pWaP01PreYVZojNgdNg5wJiu1ZrCsu4KKR1iEfEuHgJPlmWFEM0jRA90pl3IZmINtYhGJUobTrkN4ZWI6wtuQjId3Wu7xF381Izi3PnYbeyotPm2EFYI/s400/boats+on+river.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUCN-aSIq8zm5T8IhUzGm12dlqtCEXZPrFGo_g5t3o6azcNQmJqrK26fEYG2EbHERCUF5Zk9K6vSVLD_FvCD-VU1utooVf55l6Rq9J35jnTzz6pJwMHvHcp9qnTMIUCtVE45xeavIfag/s1600/IMG_4835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUCN-aSIq8zm5T8IhUzGm12dlqtCEXZPrFGo_g5t3o6azcNQmJqrK26fEYG2EbHERCUF5Zk9K6vSVLD_FvCD-VU1utooVf55l6Rq9J35jnTzz6pJwMHvHcp9qnTMIUCtVE45xeavIfag/s400/IMG_4835.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MaLlHBNvWsyWKYW46J5XDtCu0Ft-g1Clos2Z8ctOzQ1wwQ1kaQjfo2A7g7paall9__SBIdXwDciACDaE2I_ecMOlnC8o2L95vqlWIERpDsZzfQH_CFkCFSxBkceFRRmlCe0xQDuSDhI/s1600/IMG_4902.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MaLlHBNvWsyWKYW46J5XDtCu0Ft-g1Clos2Z8ctOzQ1wwQ1kaQjfo2A7g7paall9__SBIdXwDciACDaE2I_ecMOlnC8o2L95vqlWIERpDsZzfQH_CFkCFSxBkceFRRmlCe0xQDuSDhI/s400/IMG_4902.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhkfoKA94qbb_al7BxYIzffBoTWEVxWDh8QiG1aSf-5UR532qtcALPxarIpntHEgTE_p5jlYHuCVLNAASaNJ51LxhUrLXnardwaywR6au1cEcAqV-fioF_0LVdXvXR4Zt4oEmQ4co8OU/s1600/IMG_4957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIhkfoKA94qbb_al7BxYIzffBoTWEVxWDh8QiG1aSf-5UR532qtcALPxarIpntHEgTE_p5jlYHuCVLNAASaNJ51LxhUrLXnardwaywR6au1cEcAqV-fioF_0LVdXvXR4Zt4oEmQ4co8OU/s400/IMG_4957.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmOrQCQ_XWGv6aIJTnHjVBzV3CjEwoeeRiF6aPPYjj-AjqXk-52KGsQ6iOqkKyXfs7nK-canTG6npnlS1CLnbvR0ZzTdZraiv4TFcnsZ9TKYzYAlYMIis25HKI6Gbit0XJpMZQwzoVyw/s1600/IMG_4988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWmOrQCQ_XWGv6aIJTnHjVBzV3CjEwoeeRiF6aPPYjj-AjqXk-52KGsQ6iOqkKyXfs7nK-canTG6npnlS1CLnbvR0ZzTdZraiv4TFcnsZ9TKYzYAlYMIis25HKI6Gbit0XJpMZQwzoVyw/s400/IMG_4988.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE1zEKk1mYh4dSCAAUk3pHpwBtCYpCqLbx2wyqJ2PO9si-gnaZ2E11LOKy3EsmbOFDcXEG7zYUSQOsifWzc2B82uUXG-STLdikT-bwH95i3l-1bK5wohttoiDOCaYWzDoH3InYH2ZJ8s/s1600/IMG_5073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLE1zEKk1mYh4dSCAAUk3pHpwBtCYpCqLbx2wyqJ2PO9si-gnaZ2E11LOKy3EsmbOFDcXEG7zYUSQOsifWzc2B82uUXG-STLdikT-bwH95i3l-1bK5wohttoiDOCaYWzDoH3InYH2ZJ8s/s400/IMG_5073.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT35KtF3ZSwbTg2AEf1NPvtjSOKa0B6Y_3LZF5yQHxBy8sG2tJ7Onagr7vj-mr4-TIAM874UbsCevoxCkOLrnQ3tLAzVziAq_mRFkLYSV6nSTR0r78TbdAcqthpspifvwVl_4-PhwG4M/s1600/IMG_5088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="1097" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfT35KtF3ZSwbTg2AEf1NPvtjSOKa0B6Y_3LZF5yQHxBy8sG2tJ7Onagr7vj-mr4-TIAM874UbsCevoxCkOLrnQ3tLAzVziAq_mRFkLYSV6nSTR0r78TbdAcqthpspifvwVl_4-PhwG4M/s400/IMG_5088.JPG" width="335" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKrdSKc1YP1eJMA7FAbt9-qvw_p-V7LJztgqpZh1tutppHr_g2lipgLVnZlD2Vm-0P-symcGN0ZhrAqqLz3aHm-H5fN59bA7XfZEpVRpzmR-qj9m8LotYsL3-P3IFh28YM4yWk5O8rZg/s1600/IMG_5177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUKrdSKc1YP1eJMA7FAbt9-qvw_p-V7LJztgqpZh1tutppHr_g2lipgLVnZlD2Vm-0P-symcGN0ZhrAqqLz3aHm-H5fN59bA7XfZEpVRpzmR-qj9m8LotYsL3-P3IFh28YM4yWk5O8rZg/s400/IMG_5177.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIwtCwDPRh2Y-QAm1nv4OF9CWTPjxkuvhMhUanXAiXz8MZIos15SI5dNOLhi9U_En-7IajXNWR2suNJ7mhLN1U4bQymcjNqjmLSwl2U84qLQmXM5Sz71VEp9ZFcX42TsP1cqhwm7DFpg/s1600/IMG_5204.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaIwtCwDPRh2Y-QAm1nv4OF9CWTPjxkuvhMhUanXAiXz8MZIos15SI5dNOLhi9U_En-7IajXNWR2suNJ7mhLN1U4bQymcjNqjmLSwl2U84qLQmXM5Sz71VEp9ZFcX42TsP1cqhwm7DFpg/s400/IMG_5204.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mkMkP2q6dP6ygYSPl8UABb36RzAtmIh6UttQhSL1mPKA7wOMS614lMDP1uJhO8NKkzbHhP5Ga51iY3gPtNCWO8WkDmSe1KiyhkEJe4U6-KjHLdjqEGXNVsouYVg0opQydA27Jq3ElPg/s1600/IMG_5329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mkMkP2q6dP6ygYSPl8UABb36RzAtmIh6UttQhSL1mPKA7wOMS614lMDP1uJhO8NKkzbHhP5Ga51iY3gPtNCWO8WkDmSe1KiyhkEJe4U6-KjHLdjqEGXNVsouYVg0opQydA27Jq3ElPg/s400/IMG_5329.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-q4ozEVJMt2j9QDJ3GEZva_E_zh5S2rob9XoYeN8ohEtESfB8YFWBt2gkUq_G8_AmXRXAbZPDKKCp3nXekGUu812vYNhbcqa4j0rBmpm4IjN3hygexlLGlEJqCegWJiQGdEohHvC1V8/s1600/IMG_5247.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-q4ozEVJMt2j9QDJ3GEZva_E_zh5S2rob9XoYeN8ohEtESfB8YFWBt2gkUq_G8_AmXRXAbZPDKKCp3nXekGUu812vYNhbcqa4j0rBmpm4IjN3hygexlLGlEJqCegWJiQGdEohHvC1V8/s400/IMG_5247.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFoxIuqfBk3WpR2U6yH9AyL-ZA74QV1NSeEmNbUWP2yXdnRDNxzDipK47ykcMiUv2vlbzG-cMrmwZokswbkFe_swmhaD8FdKofyNG79h4bCIxrZ_eqeVv0xksdG7qNRCqWg2rAVP21uo/s1600/IMG_5295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFoxIuqfBk3WpR2U6yH9AyL-ZA74QV1NSeEmNbUWP2yXdnRDNxzDipK47ykcMiUv2vlbzG-cMrmwZokswbkFe_swmhaD8FdKofyNG79h4bCIxrZ_eqeVv0xksdG7qNRCqWg2rAVP21uo/s400/IMG_5295.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O-_TWt23Y6Pypixd0FgpOZUvPYxDeEpEY5mb0-jtWGm81LRPYFMCGbC8sx4oDJnL_wUImxj7G9pqjW7mIOHWv4lk6vO2zQzulLRTr6J5XdVmRrhmtD5_hytIeasQcKmP35i2cZSh_DQ/s1600/IMG_5382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8O-_TWt23Y6Pypixd0FgpOZUvPYxDeEpEY5mb0-jtWGm81LRPYFMCGbC8sx4oDJnL_wUImxj7G9pqjW7mIOHWv4lk6vO2zQzulLRTr6J5XdVmRrhmtD5_hytIeasQcKmP35i2cZSh_DQ/s400/IMG_5382.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb6b-LMi50gYrLCm60XStKJAMtg3oz0NNjSuwaKSJiFBuBRZmvmSDZjkP8DqPw10f0vHOy_TS6fmrYPdxFEG6FF6hIKVDDAkB0gUqeblPvcSZUrzpd5b25G2A32qQKC2hIiXn6YkIfmE/s1600/IMG_5492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1190" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwb6b-LMi50gYrLCm60XStKJAMtg3oz0NNjSuwaKSJiFBuBRZmvmSDZjkP8DqPw10f0vHOy_TS6fmrYPdxFEG6FF6hIKVDDAkB0gUqeblPvcSZUrzpd5b25G2A32qQKC2hIiXn6YkIfmE/s400/IMG_5492.JPG" width="396" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWDHj23m91mV-SnarRyALysxg6EW8SiJX0KLso-AMzlvufSwXj0p6AcJX5cIMuv4TsecB-my-crEDdLP-dWMRqAjKvWUQx8Teq7uS_d2CvuaENFkJDD1VA5hVbvnqWiboUTOXjDuBLC4/s1600/IMG_5552+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWDHj23m91mV-SnarRyALysxg6EW8SiJX0KLso-AMzlvufSwXj0p6AcJX5cIMuv4TsecB-my-crEDdLP-dWMRqAjKvWUQx8Teq7uS_d2CvuaENFkJDD1VA5hVbvnqWiboUTOXjDuBLC4/s400/IMG_5552+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlZ7LNz74wILWU_kUp_WT0WWl_Ykkg_pS3C65c54vNO7AtG5S8xOQMUN1v5CrlkyQhs0qGpCb5XoDC95L8ixuryD_MlATrLq9VBWhAFbk2F4SngUGXQ7MeoQ2_S9EwEf_RpDGsvmsk7Q/s1600/IMG_5664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitlZ7LNz74wILWU_kUp_WT0WWl_Ykkg_pS3C65c54vNO7AtG5S8xOQMUN1v5CrlkyQhs0qGpCb5XoDC95L8ixuryD_MlATrLq9VBWhAFbk2F4SngUGXQ7MeoQ2_S9EwEf_RpDGsvmsk7Q/s400/IMG_5664.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5YlbRQ3XQ6JvRFqK1tcvVXh7BVgMPdv-e_KM6dJMHIcgfNXtKm1BP_zCgmtH2LjZNoQLYKM7E0X44SIrTYQClp70aj3weKa54IRedxF_m5YcU-JJE0GfJ5C4k_kXUu2KAm-8Ad7MRy0/s1600/IMG_5743.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5YlbRQ3XQ6JvRFqK1tcvVXh7BVgMPdv-e_KM6dJMHIcgfNXtKm1BP_zCgmtH2LjZNoQLYKM7E0X44SIrTYQClp70aj3weKa54IRedxF_m5YcU-JJE0GfJ5C4k_kXUu2KAm-8Ad7MRy0/s400/IMG_5743.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhND_dB7hPl9Q82dk4dGTTHoTR86CldtuX_M_HNCgZR5_AkWkAIR7sJL5WHbDFiZoLsQoftuNXDLaThJIXpakzx9HTEq_ore0mp4RzBlnB3cJ3w2YZOrONz-VkwMKGKXIMFCzjmHq4QWdI/s1600/IMG_5815+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhND_dB7hPl9Q82dk4dGTTHoTR86CldtuX_M_HNCgZR5_AkWkAIR7sJL5WHbDFiZoLsQoftuNXDLaThJIXpakzx9HTEq_ore0mp4RzBlnB3cJ3w2YZOrONz-VkwMKGKXIMFCzjmHq4QWdI/s400/IMG_5815+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXcuMBxMvcRAvPK4Y86ouLMNRskd-y7-2Oqi1-Ne9K8d0BemSnnt6cUQUeNf3bZNgg8M2ws9Xo2ioRBrzYzxS7GU97x7_KWy4JjzjPDfVDHOhA5ibe3JdijREvjAqu47preX-h-H7-b0/s1600/IMG_5843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbXcuMBxMvcRAvPK4Y86ouLMNRskd-y7-2Oqi1-Ne9K8d0BemSnnt6cUQUeNf3bZNgg8M2ws9Xo2ioRBrzYzxS7GU97x7_KWy4JjzjPDfVDHOhA5ibe3JdijREvjAqu47preX-h-H7-b0/s400/IMG_5843.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViCPQmtDzjeMzehRVT3fvuAgNxn534P_p-ckIByGNglZzfNQwqGq2uT7FMEljJAYqEtWBJqDDzHZpt-lk0p-FnIURFiuIRy2_zJhlh-6WDM3xbPBxpZg9ZylxsPHSapDCmbuQnyb4wpA/s1600/IMG_5903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViCPQmtDzjeMzehRVT3fvuAgNxn534P_p-ckIByGNglZzfNQwqGq2uT7FMEljJAYqEtWBJqDDzHZpt-lk0p-FnIURFiuIRy2_zJhlh-6WDM3xbPBxpZg9ZylxsPHSapDCmbuQnyb4wpA/s400/IMG_5903.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1tfKx3AtwgqFN2sfR5MIuuSbfntDg0usBu8l3_eu8q0S_N8uKyavKPyk4x-X1ycqtSEziAMg_awB2vqXeB4dfOCc8KdV_wHM4EInB5Rjkaz3kf2mG4q4qZjrSDIlyOb4ELQjyMTT40M/s1600/IMG_5950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1tfKx3AtwgqFN2sfR5MIuuSbfntDg0usBu8l3_eu8q0S_N8uKyavKPyk4x-X1ycqtSEziAMg_awB2vqXeB4dfOCc8KdV_wHM4EInB5Rjkaz3kf2mG4q4qZjrSDIlyOb4ELQjyMTT40M/s400/IMG_5950.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpxzPRBIypfx9ybKqoyghWLLFb5egGYXsgjyiiSkxzPAbKBXFP7mGRTIXLrFu-ysVi1YBlIapAplxm_oFALK_8f9HHRFKUn0Z-0taPxh-_HCRbW5P2bNSRzwxh6XRdC2c_1DC5rj42YI/s1600/IMG_5999.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpxzPRBIypfx9ybKqoyghWLLFb5egGYXsgjyiiSkxzPAbKBXFP7mGRTIXLrFu-ysVi1YBlIapAplxm_oFALK_8f9HHRFKUn0Z-0taPxh-_HCRbW5P2bNSRzwxh6XRdC2c_1DC5rj42YI/s400/IMG_5999.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
A few months back we confirmed a house sit in Mtwapa, Kenya for a little over one month. For many years I have wanted to do a safari and game drive in Africa and now it was finally going to happen. We booked a 5 day safari with a private guide for the coolest adventure of a lifetime. In Kenya we would explore the parks of Tsalvo (savo) East, Taita Hills Wildlife Reserve and Amboseli National Park. Each day began with a safari in an open-topped van where we could stand up to get the best wild life viewing. How amazing it was to see elephants, lions, buffalo, wildebeest, antelope, zebras, giraffes and more roaming freely, in their natural habitat. Wow!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTIH3JaJYawxXV1Hr8ppRMn661vTUqnQFuXoUrx1IPmHkb1ScZiqATttjMKp8rRSOcYKVGwhNBkafti5WCF3ZPR_8e6NZbhyphenhyphenaoXsWLPhpk0XYyUA6XpK-aBEyfuCehUpDRz6CorWpBC4/s1600/IMG_6062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzTIH3JaJYawxXV1Hr8ppRMn661vTUqnQFuXoUrx1IPmHkb1ScZiqATttjMKp8rRSOcYKVGwhNBkafti5WCF3ZPR_8e6NZbhyphenhyphenaoXsWLPhpk0XYyUA6XpK-aBEyfuCehUpDRz6CorWpBC4/s320/IMG_6062.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWC_uK-TGzssn6Ppe8PzYmgsA013fU5Vtj3qp5Gvaplx3tlCrswyiBT0d-SwFA11rKV1r8MKqPY9_cDhzNh6Vh6t59rfsR-xIyZpLV1LwsyonoBwoq5eagyTVdsdODlye7DSVMT1Kt_Us/s1600/IMG_6174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWC_uK-TGzssn6Ppe8PzYmgsA013fU5Vtj3qp5Gvaplx3tlCrswyiBT0d-SwFA11rKV1r8MKqPY9_cDhzNh6Vh6t59rfsR-xIyZpLV1LwsyonoBwoq5eagyTVdsdODlye7DSVMT1Kt_Us/s400/IMG_6174.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSANYT3QAqaDF_PNv-Y72_Se3hEPj2E5evy9ebqYsp_JAFCaWMuw20tEFD7l_Jn7cO5hW3HgGHjIaG-hOl-LjPeBgBqa8QSzWQEDI7ROSA4uPIqhdmxqBq9zDJTHGp3cRSbhIlB84E-CM/s1600/IMG_6178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSANYT3QAqaDF_PNv-Y72_Se3hEPj2E5evy9ebqYsp_JAFCaWMuw20tEFD7l_Jn7cO5hW3HgGHjIaG-hOl-LjPeBgBqa8QSzWQEDI7ROSA4uPIqhdmxqBq9zDJTHGp3cRSbhIlB84E-CM/s400/IMG_6178.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe_YQN1NemOVU9wLqsFtuk3GIl8NVxcDedGiOV3l-Nb6RDxY6cVksPt4H4fFAMdSCkRYjmSf-wwdMYMOgbj6eGh-Q8Dwv10QdUoo3uSVXAEzMZnDWMJfJoorb0OjxK0LJ9mZGFRHRSFM/s1600/IMG_6264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwe_YQN1NemOVU9wLqsFtuk3GIl8NVxcDedGiOV3l-Nb6RDxY6cVksPt4H4fFAMdSCkRYjmSf-wwdMYMOgbj6eGh-Q8Dwv10QdUoo3uSVXAEzMZnDWMJfJoorb0OjxK0LJ9mZGFRHRSFM/s400/IMG_6264.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh19khfM1dWbuhdTIMHLeS_DemmLWak8aRnC0qGOmV5Bx89sItaeWlZa1M6pdvd9fEv8dkDlejvvnWWOOptlL4yPhu4GOk89NMPcTY0qSYIgkqYbHSQkmPGSEWMQj7p9mphZ-r45EQS-o/s1600/IMG_6266.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh19khfM1dWbuhdTIMHLeS_DemmLWak8aRnC0qGOmV5Bx89sItaeWlZa1M6pdvd9fEv8dkDlejvvnWWOOptlL4yPhu4GOk89NMPcTY0qSYIgkqYbHSQkmPGSEWMQj7p9mphZ-r45EQS-o/s400/IMG_6266.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnsztYJMyF56Jtw4lGj0HJ4QOPVUSiAZqnDOy2puLAoICw7FXkvSplVPbK6Ky3PDHvY3HbGcLmAYjCPtuIEXQLyBpwZS5atnzy7Xas-Ev8r_l_goiwrF-7zDP6ZJWxMtA1KKrACTehTI/s1600/IMG_6290.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKnsztYJMyF56Jtw4lGj0HJ4QOPVUSiAZqnDOy2puLAoICw7FXkvSplVPbK6Ky3PDHvY3HbGcLmAYjCPtuIEXQLyBpwZS5atnzy7Xas-Ev8r_l_goiwrF-7zDP6ZJWxMtA1KKrACTehTI/s400/IMG_6290.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY8nB0lUwisycH9CPHsxrd8Cur0iN9t5gTYccJFQYhPrV_8bFbXN__3uG-LDkEi4HeBY7i-SZzcgLZkN7qqNrfL7lQ4qohx0c_-F1lyFy1LA3p-pgYoY87LzB6pXKinQQ5o6Pla4OobE/s1600/IMG_6297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbY8nB0lUwisycH9CPHsxrd8Cur0iN9t5gTYccJFQYhPrV_8bFbXN__3uG-LDkEi4HeBY7i-SZzcgLZkN7qqNrfL7lQ4qohx0c_-F1lyFy1LA3p-pgYoY87LzB6pXKinQQ5o6Pla4OobE/s400/IMG_6297.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXtZ-ub1ZFByJ7cppQGHHS2rwrBaNbCfTAlrLI-FuTrZ0f_keFnrM6NgaaNbZ9NxmuBNj40p6_XJHSG-h4XfwrvohwsEN7RuFhIE5vTgf7Znawxm81JtCsT7LBL5VdW0fJIr7QcyHE_M/s1600/IMG_6329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXtZ-ub1ZFByJ7cppQGHHS2rwrBaNbCfTAlrLI-FuTrZ0f_keFnrM6NgaaNbZ9NxmuBNj40p6_XJHSG-h4XfwrvohwsEN7RuFhIE5vTgf7Znawxm81JtCsT7LBL5VdW0fJIr7QcyHE_M/s400/IMG_6329.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UMUlaDU8MZL2giLmsB7Z-clugosts5-GOLl_ZtsNbUxpA2MEg8h7SdycoLXUNmisIuN_u_nZeIj5YfxrxNBVo2VMQ6qMRSpFUlPoaT4L9jh2m3y4Mq87sV-aeBml_hh4m0zIevMve_g/s1600/IMG_6377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7UMUlaDU8MZL2giLmsB7Z-clugosts5-GOLl_ZtsNbUxpA2MEg8h7SdycoLXUNmisIuN_u_nZeIj5YfxrxNBVo2VMQ6qMRSpFUlPoaT4L9jh2m3y4Mq87sV-aeBml_hh4m0zIevMve_g/s400/IMG_6377.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UM2NvYtM-w5urLl68pvPoNKZ8o9jhHjgOEbQJOwbGl5GaomsuNA_90GzMB3QDyhnCMIHKHa6Yav6MctODzwQ_VIqnDFcebCYgRC_MJIx-qxZy6KVzIy-gZ9UZmXvRpTBpDjFhQVySNQ/s1600/IMG_6394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3UM2NvYtM-w5urLl68pvPoNKZ8o9jhHjgOEbQJOwbGl5GaomsuNA_90GzMB3QDyhnCMIHKHa6Yav6MctODzwQ_VIqnDFcebCYgRC_MJIx-qxZy6KVzIy-gZ9UZmXvRpTBpDjFhQVySNQ/s400/IMG_6394.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-UX8D8sUQ5mtJEuVHysvKOmpBlU6VzFOzxoQdMWlxZsbTG2f7RKRoOuNd1ajwntVVX7tmll6A7fUpLh6DSDyLeuvIgVfKd6fsh_Z1Dfmn32sDhmGEQH0hYEQ_pnxa2SfWtp4nMoL4kk/s1600/IMG_6408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-UX8D8sUQ5mtJEuVHysvKOmpBlU6VzFOzxoQdMWlxZsbTG2f7RKRoOuNd1ajwntVVX7tmll6A7fUpLh6DSDyLeuvIgVfKd6fsh_Z1Dfmn32sDhmGEQH0hYEQ_pnxa2SfWtp4nMoL4kk/s400/IMG_6408.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsheBVtRQSiprlzZ_SUh3RgdvdJXIfEbnXt3x18xR3UUKrdMprPYWk1o4Vcb0Rw8pUCSXoy8-GrAYUnRPsVyrd38LqLsj0edCSwMZ6AQRHHVZK8Es765S1zsA8RABEW_H5rresBhmaSE/s1600/IMG_6410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlsheBVtRQSiprlzZ_SUh3RgdvdJXIfEbnXt3x18xR3UUKrdMprPYWk1o4Vcb0Rw8pUCSXoy8-GrAYUnRPsVyrd38LqLsj0edCSwMZ6AQRHHVZK8Es765S1zsA8RABEW_H5rresBhmaSE/s400/IMG_6410.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxOJSLfUNe7Dt1rQui4_KaXbIi26jnD4BPSTOkDn-EusFidalKtmLZStobZrmjQsTVrsNKsdeFOu27DI2AmgBif8ZD0WWMwoRIIjkv_SFKyevwQk47faSJoNPEluTVGFXJPwSZEwJfDo/s1600/IMG_6522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxOJSLfUNe7Dt1rQui4_KaXbIi26jnD4BPSTOkDn-EusFidalKtmLZStobZrmjQsTVrsNKsdeFOu27DI2AmgBif8ZD0WWMwoRIIjkv_SFKyevwQk47faSJoNPEluTVGFXJPwSZEwJfDo/s400/IMG_6522.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStUIzT9eSnHTH1aO4rxIvavDHEEWo1rit3wNjmhkh8tDMoP4hCZ3APZIe6V6ZHOrVWUmKTdmyDVrXZopzA7CQy61LztrU6FC9k2DQpd7CBR4HIHmStpTVwGjvqmYCJmPNpgsw8BWDT4g/s1600/IMG_6527.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStUIzT9eSnHTH1aO4rxIvavDHEEWo1rit3wNjmhkh8tDMoP4hCZ3APZIe6V6ZHOrVWUmKTdmyDVrXZopzA7CQy61LztrU6FC9k2DQpd7CBR4HIHmStpTVwGjvqmYCJmPNpgsw8BWDT4g/s400/IMG_6527.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGenY_o4uwiMOfLMc8CU9g7HxGqpGprgCn-xLiq7laty1ZxPY8LmIMXfUUfOaHY8VLj5p_uTMKRypuvgKgNXbFEIZdVnxxQYl_imvzQ0u9k6dm1ACxG75q1QkuuxOeRU9ZDjjMX9uUtQM/s1600/IMG_6532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGenY_o4uwiMOfLMc8CU9g7HxGqpGprgCn-xLiq7laty1ZxPY8LmIMXfUUfOaHY8VLj5p_uTMKRypuvgKgNXbFEIZdVnxxQYl_imvzQ0u9k6dm1ACxG75q1QkuuxOeRU9ZDjjMX9uUtQM/s400/IMG_6532.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydB9ie2XPUL3KOEZ-80blXhofcS4ERKtBF7oN6QrLtrGtRnoTNqcLX01CwqBDaCuFs2AJRZ4B7H5YBdaLzzobuJ5GkgMVmMVhmCjBN8qLplKK3Fp0GO9x6zdmEZ1VNK0jUoKvoxkkGTk/s1600/IMG_6553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgydB9ie2XPUL3KOEZ-80blXhofcS4ERKtBF7oN6QrLtrGtRnoTNqcLX01CwqBDaCuFs2AJRZ4B7H5YBdaLzzobuJ5GkgMVmMVhmCjBN8qLplKK3Fp0GO9x6zdmEZ1VNK0jUoKvoxkkGTk/s400/IMG_6553.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Following the safari we spent the next month living for free in a large home with a swimming pool, overlooking Mtwapa creek. The Kenyan people were warm and welcoming, and living there was truly an adventure that will not be forgotten.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASSITFEx8HUygUWU0V01fkmgkxP6pXbQsvpJ4PKkhTbnFfSkNPQ5gEhCYDHJizGlHv69vb-BjyPi0Y2vkl2B1kjkZ5sG8bHH8AwQuHN7A_q-0sVz9gowUeW2huFCcim3Eli8DaeJvdl0/s1600/monkey+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASSITFEx8HUygUWU0V01fkmgkxP6pXbQsvpJ4PKkhTbnFfSkNPQ5gEhCYDHJizGlHv69vb-BjyPi0Y2vkl2B1kjkZ5sG8bHH8AwQuHN7A_q-0sVz9gowUeW2huFCcim3Eli8DaeJvdl0/s400/monkey+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0Mm2FAqhlT5eT4Dl5gqF2lJkIS5w1T2HCTsXGsZDaYSzEGqyHgIEhKeAONroxhpr-A1WZM1jsyigwMO3E4o9DQdjqh8_flBZWaSLrl9n2BqV1qILuidYGar5JZE5OYETRBONPPwOc4k/s1600/monkey+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI0Mm2FAqhlT5eT4Dl5gqF2lJkIS5w1T2HCTsXGsZDaYSzEGqyHgIEhKeAONroxhpr-A1WZM1jsyigwMO3E4o9DQdjqh8_flBZWaSLrl9n2BqV1qILuidYGar5JZE5OYETRBONPPwOc4k/s400/monkey+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_GwL6n1ezqbsixp6gJl6uaHNgvY6IMdQNUhplX5mk7sxZ5XRchlmp18NbwWe_fIB8DYnhEpf75R-r2IU-lPUo_-LjYxWi3FNjIxfoOXqzj8eTzasrF4XvtJB7DClvSefnqI3_6RGP60/s1600/monkey+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif_GwL6n1ezqbsixp6gJl6uaHNgvY6IMdQNUhplX5mk7sxZ5XRchlmp18NbwWe_fIB8DYnhEpf75R-r2IU-lPUo_-LjYxWi3FNjIxfoOXqzj8eTzasrF4XvtJB7DClvSefnqI3_6RGP60/s400/monkey+12.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFRhgI_vKHG4FXa4zZUvqFitS7RWlguTLYD0MuMsZdZkbyBwYOhgtXiC8nS9yoFDEiEf9vbhBGipoPahxA2K8rAP0Ghyphenhyphen6ZrqypNygN2aPN6BsvhgcFHHGPGhC7deUZ_HttjdXfKWvANE/s1600/20180521_171012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPFRhgI_vKHG4FXa4zZUvqFitS7RWlguTLYD0MuMsZdZkbyBwYOhgtXiC8nS9yoFDEiEf9vbhBGipoPahxA2K8rAP0Ghyphenhyphen6ZrqypNygN2aPN6BsvhgcFHHGPGhC7deUZ_HttjdXfKWvANE/s400/20180521_171012.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We are celebrating our two-year, full time, travel anniversary doing a repeat sit in El Gouna, Egypt. A large home with a pool, two desert dogs and one cat to care for, in a resort town near the Red Sea.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Although we have been traveling full-time for the past two years, we had traveled extensively the last year we lived in Panama. It was during that year that we started house sitting and visited many countries in Latin America and Europe, which prepared us for our further adventures abroad. For the full story please refer to earlier posts in this blog.<br />
<br />
Here's to many more years of travel, adventures and living abroad as house sitters, travelers, and explorers around the globe.....along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-12027241641355061982018-06-17T01:47:00.001-07:002018-07-27T08:39:44.333-07:00Memories Of Kenya, A Life Changing Journey<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
While I have not blogged in about a month, I wanted to jot down some memories of our Kenyan adventures, while they were still fresh in my mind. We began our journey in April with a five day safari and game drive that was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. With out trusty guide we explored Tsalvo (savo) East and Amboseli National Parks along with Taita Hills Game Reserve. Our days began early with morning safari's, followed by lunch in our lodges and afternoon game drives at sunset.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGAFx8vTEZisvFxuPXRdkZocxu_V2hBHb05KeXJOieazdquG1zZv2knwn-AcE-rZQD8XassnuOZh5Z8TQmoKS3EBtnyvsPkI1m4gQ7ev_m0ESJLItLp4RG8ziN9PrvoWAIuq0IQAoNZg/s1600/20180428_091712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGAFx8vTEZisvFxuPXRdkZocxu_V2hBHb05KeXJOieazdquG1zZv2knwn-AcE-rZQD8XassnuOZh5Z8TQmoKS3EBtnyvsPkI1m4gQ7ev_m0ESJLItLp4RG8ziN9PrvoWAIuq0IQAoNZg/s400/20180428_091712.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Going On Safari</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHWrqHWhq1BlPxjqVmGX8aXUcLtITfEEgv-le9webq2r21TIOH_NyXdvY1xiyoCrsGCkqZHMMvkAXo18wUqb054Wu7qL_871CcEuRoMfbdEO2ePzxNZ7-1wnSpXqAaYB83L2M7d-Sdx0/s1600/20180427_162847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYHWrqHWhq1BlPxjqVmGX8aXUcLtITfEEgv-le9webq2r21TIOH_NyXdvY1xiyoCrsGCkqZHMMvkAXo18wUqb054Wu7qL_871CcEuRoMfbdEO2ePzxNZ7-1wnSpXqAaYB83L2M7d-Sdx0/s400/20180427_162847.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>A Great Company That We Highly Recommend</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlzZNdpqYlkD_6Y1pYB0uSM0sKivhl5RWBDKkAMxNIJAZs_t9398YfqhvpXYD0_i7i0hrFYSivkUoMXCxNM4gZTWdo5QSwFk0z5tnnUZddP4QipUj-5YwYkOO463i9aRL-z5yXNOFpjs/s1600/20180428_083741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlzZNdpqYlkD_6Y1pYB0uSM0sKivhl5RWBDKkAMxNIJAZs_t9398YfqhvpXYD0_i7i0hrFYSivkUoMXCxNM4gZTWdo5QSwFk0z5tnnUZddP4QipUj-5YwYkOO463i9aRL-z5yXNOFpjs/s400/20180428_083741.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>A Private Safari, So We Had The Whole Van To Ourselves Plus Our Guide</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vq5DwaeMBBCiFqXTNeSioDgrpH4xuUkjNl9dVcn8GDQydrtVAxqKIJ3JPw7qptgKwNOL6JnyyaNLXfFuzhzpm2W7-fWohUJciySy1yrskGXDDJXDFAssS00ALYS1ee6G1j2xYIurbFQ/s1600/IMG_6043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vq5DwaeMBBCiFqXTNeSioDgrpH4xuUkjNl9dVcn8GDQydrtVAxqKIJ3JPw7qptgKwNOL6JnyyaNLXfFuzhzpm2W7-fWohUJciySy1yrskGXDDJXDFAssS00ALYS1ee6G1j2xYIurbFQ/s400/IMG_6043.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Let The Adventure Begin!</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIzK48twKfRifRsOXIrYM7rkVBR2H-2ff9sGh2cN0CMs8uvY7tuIHBEG0fiNg2RkbmTX-zr_Xay5Ha1yb3YIJHT0Oh0Uj1gWKmyi1ccMBbvBY64ziOUgAkA7ZOJZTCLe7qvoEW57qWbs/s1600/IMG_6059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZIzK48twKfRifRsOXIrYM7rkVBR2H-2ff9sGh2cN0CMs8uvY7tuIHBEG0fiNg2RkbmTX-zr_Xay5Ha1yb3YIJHT0Oh0Uj1gWKmyi1ccMBbvBY64ziOUgAkA7ZOJZTCLe7qvoEW57qWbs/s400/IMG_6059.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc308Eq9E7ODDORerMSPkO2Uw-BXBKR4d79nL-JU2JQM4sVttDt6hG_hVwT-GXVZSc1hkrKXnzdswwP0NsK33LmktBsBNRfaunZbiOBy1SWOhUR1O7jsh2iw6fc9CI7akatSVWU0V9bg/s1600/IMG_6069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmc308Eq9E7ODDORerMSPkO2Uw-BXBKR4d79nL-JU2JQM4sVttDt6hG_hVwT-GXVZSc1hkrKXnzdswwP0NsK33LmktBsBNRfaunZbiOBy1SWOhUR1O7jsh2iw6fc9CI7akatSVWU0V9bg/s400/IMG_6069.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiL4yweWtS0eygqiSKBg2atV2Sc0BEIWCIXLtZ-m1wktlXUyIggcobA0m96yDxW-Iy2pI3zuSMUCZGYCK77xVCX_wB7Wlqyaja-WtcIC4LShzPegu8TzjSldFF5j6WeXch27wNuIT-FE/s1600/IMG_6082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiL4yweWtS0eygqiSKBg2atV2Sc0BEIWCIXLtZ-m1wktlXUyIggcobA0m96yDxW-Iy2pI3zuSMUCZGYCK77xVCX_wB7Wlqyaja-WtcIC4LShzPegu8TzjSldFF5j6WeXch27wNuIT-FE/s400/IMG_6082.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwD2OBYR14k6iW2DA4nLX7bm2gUfjEo-GeHzavtz8RRKXPxOJmbHD0NQ9EhF7Cd_zOt1nWizT25bx7Q7wK8m_NyYSLc1wXsatDVvdX2esrOxGKFLc-wOCQQeTLBrUNJpaL0hlrlJR37A/s1600/IMG_6100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKwD2OBYR14k6iW2DA4nLX7bm2gUfjEo-GeHzavtz8RRKXPxOJmbHD0NQ9EhF7Cd_zOt1nWizT25bx7Q7wK8m_NyYSLc1wXsatDVvdX2esrOxGKFLc-wOCQQeTLBrUNJpaL0hlrlJR37A/s400/IMG_6100.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m6zJNsaAViP681iaw9XZ57J_J99MfxEqWSL83EpPhZS4CKcYIKyQnI2lz_MYTHLsmfTTkJydxtQbdrT9WLs7qZDa6lN5mWt-GwObX3aeE-qTJuug4wQikW-ahG5V43LUuSHcuS-2Yzc/s1600/IMG_6110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-m6zJNsaAViP681iaw9XZ57J_J99MfxEqWSL83EpPhZS4CKcYIKyQnI2lz_MYTHLsmfTTkJydxtQbdrT9WLs7qZDa6lN5mWt-GwObX3aeE-qTJuug4wQikW-ahG5V43LUuSHcuS-2Yzc/s400/IMG_6110.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWADbmTD5cMnUC4CTOXNbzbv1ShVcZYxJ0XEO3SVmuK7rnH_iVRLOIr69Q-BKEcL99_9hiNT-nWuma4FCkt-fOHtt4kXZ29kJ08suLhVS0EVVvNzDMM3SwoIgvV21KwpZ26hBDRTfE950/s1600/IMG_6127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWADbmTD5cMnUC4CTOXNbzbv1ShVcZYxJ0XEO3SVmuK7rnH_iVRLOIr69Q-BKEcL99_9hiNT-nWuma4FCkt-fOHtt4kXZ29kJ08suLhVS0EVVvNzDMM3SwoIgvV21KwpZ26hBDRTfE950/s400/IMG_6127.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aDShkU8J1q0HVHFIwmEC0ikcQV99fePW6EC6nP93toBfXczBLj8AsEaLiKI_y9tU-4HFQVvgVN-FfMqt3ebEyB-KCayLH5lAxz07bqJMBtZDe0VTArFrQk5elzXatNy0UXgKYLCqtmM/s1600/IMG_6150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aDShkU8J1q0HVHFIwmEC0ikcQV99fePW6EC6nP93toBfXczBLj8AsEaLiKI_y9tU-4HFQVvgVN-FfMqt3ebEyB-KCayLH5lAxz07bqJMBtZDe0VTArFrQk5elzXatNy0UXgKYLCqtmM/s400/IMG_6150.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDWPSSYPSD9xFTqDJYwpf6w7jOiBnWyjuEYmz5Mdfof0T91w0Kkg3FPedBhP6Rf-Z8iOfhU-w4ztwycqCYs1L4T9HbAgkIW_D-Aee2R4xNdbu1bD22XpzTBlgx_8jethB9w8IQSDzs1A/s1600/IMG_6166.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzDWPSSYPSD9xFTqDJYwpf6w7jOiBnWyjuEYmz5Mdfof0T91w0Kkg3FPedBhP6Rf-Z8iOfhU-w4ztwycqCYs1L4T9HbAgkIW_D-Aee2R4xNdbu1bD22XpzTBlgx_8jethB9w8IQSDzs1A/s400/IMG_6166.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipTu8HLF56xjbkyAjnIfho5fo3CSwICLh5UXf3ssiHj9duztgxLDbLJQPt1je8VcZKe4FMeHCzKmK3nj4_uAoG4C43pI1hmo8H_oTFjLr8XjJDtc_P6w-O9tPszfzAEBspn9mrXpCveI/s1600/IMG_6168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipTu8HLF56xjbkyAjnIfho5fo3CSwICLh5UXf3ssiHj9duztgxLDbLJQPt1je8VcZKe4FMeHCzKmK3nj4_uAoG4C43pI1hmo8H_oTFjLr8XjJDtc_P6w-O9tPszfzAEBspn9mrXpCveI/s400/IMG_6168.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewsfpJI1oQyJWu34mSjBFRpAEEbGvaXBD5jWCFZXAUYSCpnw96y8-MWlTpkhF7YYJEsLj8eTvWnUNuljaRazOVlkX4u5vTMtyIohJxQdHH8s9zerYkcewKnRnLSDRnFMSVKRzC-QvsSc/s1600/IMG_6195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewsfpJI1oQyJWu34mSjBFRpAEEbGvaXBD5jWCFZXAUYSCpnw96y8-MWlTpkhF7YYJEsLj8eTvWnUNuljaRazOVlkX4u5vTMtyIohJxQdHH8s9zerYkcewKnRnLSDRnFMSVKRzC-QvsSc/s400/IMG_6195.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCOHSoppSFEpHhLpRlKBhxtgrws8QL8tQjgMBZ2ydGw1durSg4fwwZm0r6ZNnCkKZwSGDy2u4g8qYp0jm4-KuE5zGKad2DS6IdDsAF7jygLy-cJfuHw7kqEAjLlMAPZJCB_37hcP7GP4/s1600/IMG_6242.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCOHSoppSFEpHhLpRlKBhxtgrws8QL8tQjgMBZ2ydGw1durSg4fwwZm0r6ZNnCkKZwSGDy2u4g8qYp0jm4-KuE5zGKad2DS6IdDsAF7jygLy-cJfuHw7kqEAjLlMAPZJCB_37hcP7GP4/s400/IMG_6242.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDrJFm-IT7zWOTy6RXYBy3KcxQsXFjidGSW5DlWkd_q0d5cDOyKoeOO1oMzaR0TcOLliArWQ1KgdCEKsQ1hlNZM-RQzm637p-Y1viIfgwYO1LLk5WJdct_GK95cxIlzTH9fDMYdNM17w/s1600/IMG_6263.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinDrJFm-IT7zWOTy6RXYBy3KcxQsXFjidGSW5DlWkd_q0d5cDOyKoeOO1oMzaR0TcOLliArWQ1KgdCEKsQ1hlNZM-RQzm637p-Y1viIfgwYO1LLk5WJdct_GK95cxIlzTH9fDMYdNM17w/s400/IMG_6263.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwjcg6QN287eyOTs7w67a6xQ2dQSccmn68Q0b6Zqr3uGqnDETnHpGIdrykaeQYYQ3mRZi2aY7P_S1cma2jNhjlVWW_51jb35Z1aW5heTW_Nm8YMTJ-jojtPG3eQfASeuRLtnFIkZX1AA/s1600/IMG_6266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwjcg6QN287eyOTs7w67a6xQ2dQSccmn68Q0b6Zqr3uGqnDETnHpGIdrykaeQYYQ3mRZi2aY7P_S1cma2jNhjlVWW_51jb35Z1aW5heTW_Nm8YMTJ-jojtPG3eQfASeuRLtnFIkZX1AA/s400/IMG_6266.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVKp5hi_CuhUgcxqhO3nAk_uxY8BtfintX3iV7MMOssOVyRx56dAHxl378HwXPu1WjaSo8nSj0Szk0v3EErZLAZsJRM3GQ7lVa_AO2DZKedxIQJr2KCht0tk2DLk_8hVTQibj-p7zz8k/s1600/IMG_6269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVKp5hi_CuhUgcxqhO3nAk_uxY8BtfintX3iV7MMOssOVyRx56dAHxl378HwXPu1WjaSo8nSj0Szk0v3EErZLAZsJRM3GQ7lVa_AO2DZKedxIQJr2KCht0tk2DLk_8hVTQibj-p7zz8k/s400/IMG_6269.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uwdGg1NUJ5mNhZSJ18rDlBdr2Apt7bvEEH1Vjspxo3egSu6DtCBdFSV-Ksuda46J7YzxNC50DFDHulkO_Cvawc0z-6Aw5lyRimVEufkzL6Ve-tc45zWgTP74EXk1cau6xJ62Yq4OVi0/s1600/IMG_6286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1uwdGg1NUJ5mNhZSJ18rDlBdr2Apt7bvEEH1Vjspxo3egSu6DtCBdFSV-Ksuda46J7YzxNC50DFDHulkO_Cvawc0z-6Aw5lyRimVEufkzL6Ve-tc45zWgTP74EXk1cau6xJ62Yq4OVi0/s400/IMG_6286.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4x_dWTRuTBokJigMBoTGrwbCK5NGsGajch_vn-h7ikEtj25PL52d_JwKEk5f3G3hQ-F4qicZqokZgEIwvqIsjc4zE4BQAvLK1gCkqUC-I8vzvHIVW-yIrpO8HKr_05Wsk-LTW6h04QE/s1600/IMG_6293.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA4x_dWTRuTBokJigMBoTGrwbCK5NGsGajch_vn-h7ikEtj25PL52d_JwKEk5f3G3hQ-F4qicZqokZgEIwvqIsjc4zE4BQAvLK1gCkqUC-I8vzvHIVW-yIrpO8HKr_05Wsk-LTW6h04QE/s400/IMG_6293.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDsW5xwY7rGgBLOqXGSZzdg6S7hGXKjYsUgG5eWbU-M1_KC1SM3BQ9-zVNiom1yCQ0RIIc8ZF0MP8chyphenhyphenczxghQjP4wQ5v_3v3M9RfI2ei7qbr7LotFiaDbnmvqFPKcoLCuxW-jjmYNg8/s1600/IMG_6322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDsW5xwY7rGgBLOqXGSZzdg6S7hGXKjYsUgG5eWbU-M1_KC1SM3BQ9-zVNiom1yCQ0RIIc8ZF0MP8chyphenhyphenczxghQjP4wQ5v_3v3M9RfI2ei7qbr7LotFiaDbnmvqFPKcoLCuxW-jjmYNg8/s400/IMG_6322.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_O_-g3yGl4CBm2llQzYlogYUcSEYdqWbqLuL-Pi_hNNtDnIFvQbzFL9Ndy20WQYRoxhIGPTwlf2ls-wPv_kR243VKLovvoIuQ4xRRgAwysXWYCReUF9x2wf6P84WnAjQAnU4oFeISds/s1600/IMG_6338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV_O_-g3yGl4CBm2llQzYlogYUcSEYdqWbqLuL-Pi_hNNtDnIFvQbzFL9Ndy20WQYRoxhIGPTwlf2ls-wPv_kR243VKLovvoIuQ4xRRgAwysXWYCReUF9x2wf6P84WnAjQAnU4oFeISds/s400/IMG_6338.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGrgS6EaQ6oabvcWRJ6kY7v0gUN_eXM_iC5McAuEitY5FGlVE46_Z7TS5PXwrzo6m23IBJpaD4NpxDViwib7dUdRqLkzI4DE0VW37Iet4y5IRiD1aHPJFOVgLKSD_6mtCiWaWGRL_JjU/s1600/IMG_6364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNGrgS6EaQ6oabvcWRJ6kY7v0gUN_eXM_iC5McAuEitY5FGlVE46_Z7TS5PXwrzo6m23IBJpaD4NpxDViwib7dUdRqLkzI4DE0VW37Iet4y5IRiD1aHPJFOVgLKSD_6mtCiWaWGRL_JjU/s400/IMG_6364.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90qou5Gy54s3zaJT16M72W30V2xp97emyoQKYgH_G2125Vxxzb50ijpO-zMl0C5YSAl_iuES78ftEpJDy4wCi_kS9hQ3JoNhNi8WoVnCYyx9cdATOWnqipRdDKlCN0U3w3KFKqIb5XpM/s1600/IMG_6378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90qou5Gy54s3zaJT16M72W30V2xp97emyoQKYgH_G2125Vxxzb50ijpO-zMl0C5YSAl_iuES78ftEpJDy4wCi_kS9hQ3JoNhNi8WoVnCYyx9cdATOWnqipRdDKlCN0U3w3KFKqIb5XpM/s320/IMG_6378.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtn_LJ40mO5BaUjaLZuF22Qi2lktIWnE5Di5yqETLyoP8itWzTdGWsx5_s9goRhQKghGZ8nDOCCXvH9Y9wLoThpTb31nRJW2ARl-7XSp9zMOBwRy39kWuqmNyx7OUYk7rvfy2h__PxO4/s1600/IMG_6381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAtn_LJ40mO5BaUjaLZuF22Qi2lktIWnE5Di5yqETLyoP8itWzTdGWsx5_s9goRhQKghGZ8nDOCCXvH9Y9wLoThpTb31nRJW2ARl-7XSp9zMOBwRy39kWuqmNyx7OUYk7rvfy2h__PxO4/s400/IMG_6381.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkq51YgLp7TRXXxJQnQr5comQHq8wfXIy9Ap-IoTBqj82BSb32M8PTdZyGo7vZnKRWWarVyaj57HzfkoMitqCiNFZxhEtL7Pq0LueQQIMncHF1DBog4BenJRqw54l0fS9-S07jAWsnkFM/s1600/IMG_6407+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkq51YgLp7TRXXxJQnQr5comQHq8wfXIy9Ap-IoTBqj82BSb32M8PTdZyGo7vZnKRWWarVyaj57HzfkoMitqCiNFZxhEtL7Pq0LueQQIMncHF1DBog4BenJRqw54l0fS9-S07jAWsnkFM/s400/IMG_6407+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTORNABR3UhAipR9R0S0Oue91f_fPOvROeuATu6tWfR2aQ5tWiVD5Mmk_U2zYQlFo0P_fr6ms8pUf_aB4rhsMM2xeCUA1i5e-nG1rMEIIeFf3cROGZuUy9TBkz1medmXxU9e0DQIc_5wg/s1600/IMG_6450+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTORNABR3UhAipR9R0S0Oue91f_fPOvROeuATu6tWfR2aQ5tWiVD5Mmk_U2zYQlFo0P_fr6ms8pUf_aB4rhsMM2xeCUA1i5e-nG1rMEIIeFf3cROGZuUy9TBkz1medmXxU9e0DQIc_5wg/s400/IMG_6450+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNpFtsd0yGAO_Ym7_HYqqSKZqJ7hEsf5DGu0MOLc9ro3Xy23QYp5-YIAXyxnz4P8uDmUGhxBPsPd_ahkMtxW-EKsuTkJ7eQT9haifOF_crPw0OsUG0oQ3xVAHVJ92d3CLEt4GGoVjKMo/s1600/20180428_073105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicNpFtsd0yGAO_Ym7_HYqqSKZqJ7hEsf5DGu0MOLc9ro3Xy23QYp5-YIAXyxnz4P8uDmUGhxBPsPd_ahkMtxW-EKsuTkJ7eQT9haifOF_crPw0OsUG0oQ3xVAHVJ92d3CLEt4GGoVjKMo/s400/20180428_073105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5r2_8y-XMUPXbEsFRpvbcre-GajRCvLDB5ZUesS7o34Ee-A3Hm_5hxSSd1QNMHe4UwlR-WAxaxnGiVRfyfM6Cd-sCf69mPwy4zLNAao_LMDkqTwecQxtHCa6sgcs3dgsrH7Nln0V44w8/s1600/20180428_084320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="778" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5r2_8y-XMUPXbEsFRpvbcre-GajRCvLDB5ZUesS7o34Ee-A3Hm_5hxSSd1QNMHe4UwlR-WAxaxnGiVRfyfM6Cd-sCf69mPwy4zLNAao_LMDkqTwecQxtHCa6sgcs3dgsrH7Nln0V44w8/s400/20180428_084320.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRteKpb2H7DFzlOlOQxTUcQphThLvl1iE57CKGRsn3M2NNTSydiwaIx_BynwY-mhSIJEsFlkUxM6dq71ckMg09OHIEDm5G9NvrVsZjhLbGuiSh0fVqA6jzC-x5FRusLvDquzUr7NVy6s/s1600/elephant+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLRteKpb2H7DFzlOlOQxTUcQphThLvl1iE57CKGRsn3M2NNTSydiwaIx_BynwY-mhSIJEsFlkUxM6dq71ckMg09OHIEDm5G9NvrVsZjhLbGuiSh0fVqA6jzC-x5FRusLvDquzUr7NVy6s/s400/elephant+picture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7vMaunfKBsYSgSYDmVOWXKSKqLdUNKcC7HkuE39-A4BKv1W4UZLvGfvy8oS7lwR9WK4PpNC9GcRmMSLT7z9UFxUpw4WboC-SBDLGHnBPsJo_jVoEvQwb68KWPc3JUa1XUE9zlg4dlEo/s1600/IMG_6561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7vMaunfKBsYSgSYDmVOWXKSKqLdUNKcC7HkuE39-A4BKv1W4UZLvGfvy8oS7lwR9WK4PpNC9GcRmMSLT7z9UFxUpw4WboC-SBDLGHnBPsJo_jVoEvQwb68KWPc3JUa1XUE9zlg4dlEo/s400/IMG_6561.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPJeKUTLm69y_Sz3P2yDkYNYEMtsalittxu5q6jOp8or5GlmRRHJmsungSiGrb0d7Ao40vRhPzfcWzJwZEUhzUt4ZBEzjeoz31BHabvtdEo_ZOHPY9jg8gwTOql7dz_UVw7QdgW3oEzI/s1600/20180427_180030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitPJeKUTLm69y_Sz3P2yDkYNYEMtsalittxu5q6jOp8or5GlmRRHJmsungSiGrb0d7Ao40vRhPzfcWzJwZEUhzUt4ZBEzjeoz31BHabvtdEo_ZOHPY9jg8gwTOql7dz_UVw7QdgW3oEzI/s400/20180427_180030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
Here is a Video that we did</h2>
<h2 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
After our trip to Kenya</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b></b><br /><iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/kUyBXarPr74/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kUyBXarPr74?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
During our stay at Zuwani Voyager Tented Hotel we were given the opportunity to do a safari on foot with the protection of a Masaai Warrior. I was a bit uneasy as there was a lake filled with 66 dangerous hippos on the property. Chameleon, the warrior assured us that before the hippos would attack they would give subtle hints that he understood, so we need not worry while under his care. He introduced us to the "brush tree" that Kenyans use as a natural toothbrush along with other medicinal plants used by the locals.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizEAyQhXlawMyCQmdFEOrSiKTnwLterNLIbZFBeIiQ82amT3kt0lhoUj1JkScRf8E3A0O3idPLE0LDfh7th0nQ4NsbwUUwrt3ba0OkbvYyA4TOYV3jPPGvGgxWueTtfOQ0pF7z8F8WKw/s1600/20180426_143201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizEAyQhXlawMyCQmdFEOrSiKTnwLterNLIbZFBeIiQ82amT3kt0lhoUj1JkScRf8E3A0O3idPLE0LDfh7th0nQ4NsbwUUwrt3ba0OkbvYyA4TOYV3jPPGvGgxWueTtfOQ0pF7z8F8WKw/s400/20180426_143201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A Tented Hotel, Our Room For The Night</b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<u><span style="color: #000120;"></span></u><br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBxRmvKiYPGORmducYSsT3Buhyphenhyphenrrsl3hzRBF5V7w-bXYSkRZdsc-pO6Z5ap-1Nu3PAKnLuneWZhQWacq7Cmvi07jFA1LWtgEXVYqyi9XMv90gJlHITcFbEvJ53wAk6a3mf6Bf2mzY8gY/s1600/20180426_164004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBxRmvKiYPGORmducYSsT3Buhyphenhyphenrrsl3hzRBF5V7w-bXYSkRZdsc-pO6Z5ap-1Nu3PAKnLuneWZhQWacq7Cmvi07jFA1LWtgEXVYqyi9XMv90gJlHITcFbEvJ53wAk6a3mf6Bf2mzY8gY/s400/20180426_164004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>A Walking Safari With A Masaai Warrior</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Looking At Crocodiles </b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In order for a Masaai man to become a warrior, he must undergo several rituals to prove to the tribe that he can endure pain. Since Chameleon was the first born son in his family, he wanted to do his family proud by achieving warrior status. During adolescence he had to endure a circumcision without the use of ANY anesthesia in order to prove himself. If he so much as flinched, he would have caused disgrace to his family and become an outcast. He also endured burns, had several of his bottom teeth pulled out, again with no pain medication, had a hole in his ear that he stuck a thorn through, just to name a few feats of valor.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJUO3lVaBABxyxicRUCgVTFeU0zPkfTN2WJl8Un-lOsp8fDWI8ASQO5mf60_Pr-uGERdWca8UWyXerJw5wqv6_tKmuq33tKV33qjApffPlWoPz97kWLXS8bJa5by1SLFmbT4zCB27t9w/s1600/IMG_6532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJUO3lVaBABxyxicRUCgVTFeU0zPkfTN2WJl8Un-lOsp8fDWI8ASQO5mf60_Pr-uGERdWca8UWyXerJw5wqv6_tKmuq33tKV33qjApffPlWoPz97kWLXS8bJa5by1SLFmbT4zCB27t9w/s320/IMG_6532.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Thorn Through His Ear</div>
<br />
Masaai warriors are striking tall men, dressed in traditional garb, with layers of red fabric draped over them, and some wear beads and other accessories. Masaai men are allowed to have as many wives as they can feed, so I asked Chameleon how many wives he had? He explained that he was a poor man with only one wife, because she was expensive. Jokingly I added that I was expensive too. Then he asked Clyde, "so how many cows did you have to trade to get her?" Cows are used like money in Masaai villages in exchange for goods and even women.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_Yas9PVm1PtKs9WbBA_aTbho4wNmB2JZb2A2XESD0kifhalOKHnDQtVCBaD4tCMnd4k2FySX5Up4DNLA3cwqYWhAocYZow0qz0p10jYFc3WZFawmHlVxY4eOKrg3HVPHGT7GKK9bTkY/s1600/IMG_6553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ_Yas9PVm1PtKs9WbBA_aTbho4wNmB2JZb2A2XESD0kifhalOKHnDQtVCBaD4tCMnd4k2FySX5Up4DNLA3cwqYWhAocYZow0qz0p10jYFc3WZFawmHlVxY4eOKrg3HVPHGT7GKK9bTkY/s400/IMG_6553.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Terry and Chameleon </b><br />
<b>They Really Dress Like This All The Time </b><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
A few days later we had the chance to tour a Massai village having NO idea how much this would effect us. We were welcomed into the village by our guide, a young Massai man who would show us around. We followed him through fields of mud mixed with cow poop, since animals are very much a way of life to the Masaai people. Most of the tribe were barefoot, as they performed traditional songs and dances for our entertainment. Next a few men demonstrated how they make fire from rubbing sticks together, and so far all was good.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGYv_C2FSQneLidnt2qjm8N0hpVRnzl9f0i21K3ejyKbxYWMdkPSO8GdUlf1b4_o2ZyGsl_gkvz8AcsewDT0JMzemiuA68cf7hGZ_310r86OF2xZsalprrgA07obSL48zOB4kcVetXbE/s1600/20180428_093622.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGYv_C2FSQneLidnt2qjm8N0hpVRnzl9f0i21K3ejyKbxYWMdkPSO8GdUlf1b4_o2ZyGsl_gkvz8AcsewDT0JMzemiuA68cf7hGZ_310r86OF2xZsalprrgA07obSL48zOB4kcVetXbE/s400/20180428_093622.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Our Massai Village Visit</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAaoMEb2Jj7Mwd6q4BdB6tKsqcV_FNshk7FtmFw-j-4l5bbdC1eQF8h8ZH3o3ebqDnWoGhC6Iif3EyDE42WyA3hvAq-OE-at9S6CJZ8f-0FCIdndtYGs-fFAVwLsUEoKCxouh5naJ5ZM/s1600/20180428_093534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAaoMEb2Jj7Mwd6q4BdB6tKsqcV_FNshk7FtmFw-j-4l5bbdC1eQF8h8ZH3o3ebqDnWoGhC6Iif3EyDE42WyA3hvAq-OE-at9S6CJZ8f-0FCIdndtYGs-fFAVwLsUEoKCxouh5naJ5ZM/s400/20180428_093534.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TLJZ4NajffbgrBkSLGznfS4Ufxp-FO6eFNj72fT2HPR4nrMnu2uBGB0UtBRpNWLXyL_IAf08kuvoY4LcelVQRUXHkXedwARlzaxI5Wueh_GW6HgZHBIKuNHU-vS84RcFk_vnM-HvRq4/s1600/20180428_092929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5TLJZ4NajffbgrBkSLGznfS4Ufxp-FO6eFNj72fT2HPR4nrMnu2uBGB0UtBRpNWLXyL_IAf08kuvoY4LcelVQRUXHkXedwARlzaxI5Wueh_GW6HgZHBIKuNHU-vS84RcFk_vnM-HvRq4/s400/20180428_092929.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYWVesTfVEO7y7yNPc6b9vYhvt4VtPzyHG19d6eJiEj-LkTjCtcxBZtbdJ1cy_0oLRVJe9cxAmnzKWRYLaVfFVaAtXebiIVxFMXsUSR3E1gkeI01kuv547H5VNjTE0_r7c2pjcodSF0Y/s1600/20180428_092937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvYWVesTfVEO7y7yNPc6b9vYhvt4VtPzyHG19d6eJiEj-LkTjCtcxBZtbdJ1cy_0oLRVJe9cxAmnzKWRYLaVfFVaAtXebiIVxFMXsUSR3E1gkeI01kuv547H5VNjTE0_r7c2pjcodSF0Y/s400/20180428_092937.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Then we followed a teacher who welcomed us into his house, for a memorable peek into their life. The small huts were built by the women of the tribe who layered sticks and cow dung together to form a dome shape. Once finished the hut was allowed to dry for a certain period of time for the bricks to harden and lose their smell.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A48dlGiiz85Z62H_ZKKkDZ1IK0YPY3DBcGazg-6fLmK1GXzB4m5LTfO3GCWLRMMP41Ais-hOw8CAHjb9TMNQ33aO2k-6YNiBpVLHhbSByIXF0i3D2-L6I6_jZx3-TWlVCJWcKBB7S3g/s1600/20180428_094532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1A48dlGiiz85Z62H_ZKKkDZ1IK0YPY3DBcGazg-6fLmK1GXzB4m5LTfO3GCWLRMMP41Ais-hOw8CAHjb9TMNQ33aO2k-6YNiBpVLHhbSByIXF0i3D2-L6I6_jZx3-TWlVCJWcKBB7S3g/s400/20180428_094532.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ8Mf7STEa5ciw0oo9MbSceN0NV2n362H9L32-QgVDd6AtQOCRX721WBau6a0_9zZDAMwceEuPpbruckgBGLveyFXHZA4cW18kJn5K5drbGudBVTO61KmHB-zBiK_F2JZM8S59miCMUk/s1600/20180428_094545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJ8Mf7STEa5ciw0oo9MbSceN0NV2n362H9L32-QgVDd6AtQOCRX721WBau6a0_9zZDAMwceEuPpbruckgBGLveyFXHZA4cW18kJn5K5drbGudBVTO61KmHB-zBiK_F2JZM8S59miCMUk/s400/20180428_094545.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Making Fire From Sticks Rubbing Together</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sJHZCFVIyUC6aQF1RxjYERNHvpisi1V-6h85kHBxiC0ctaT6FfZo5A1QwAymo_XsPBCrDHHU0Vhyphenhyphen5fyAQ2Xfn61bikbtSiPw2UwQ0CZD57V1ZsOCoPSeNNWI4c1KhgLwRF6YTrhtN34/s1600/20180428_094943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sJHZCFVIyUC6aQF1RxjYERNHvpisi1V-6h85kHBxiC0ctaT6FfZo5A1QwAymo_XsPBCrDHHU0Vhyphenhyphen5fyAQ2Xfn61bikbtSiPw2UwQ0CZD57V1ZsOCoPSeNNWI4c1KhgLwRF6YTrhtN34/s400/20180428_094943.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KQ5tVi0ZRPCkTaD-ZFzA7tCLTC6b68mCtWxTR09vXuHjmhdzqjRITpTiq1EA6tYHT6nb4T6ZMGR7oLSTPWCQTszOvT3ftqqY7c4n8OwqdA9pWnp8mwK_ao8vDsWc8dMtl1aMOld5snY/s1600/20180428_094954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KQ5tVi0ZRPCkTaD-ZFzA7tCLTC6b68mCtWxTR09vXuHjmhdzqjRITpTiq1EA6tYHT6nb4T6ZMGR7oLSTPWCQTszOvT3ftqqY7c4n8OwqdA9pWnp8mwK_ao8vDsWc8dMtl1aMOld5snY/s400/20180428_094954.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Laundry Drying On The Bushes</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
The door into the house was so narrow I had to squeeze in and crouch over since even I couldn't not stand up in the house. Inside were two rooms, each had a cow hide stretched out as a bed. Nearby the children's bed was a pile of rocks and sticks that were used as a stove for cooking. There were NO windows inside the dark, little house except for one tiny one above the fire pit. The Masaai believe that the smoke staying in the house is medicinal, and they embrace it. I was told to sit on the hard, cow hide bed while Clyde sat on top of an overturned plastic bucket. There was NOTHING else inside the house other than the plastic buckets and the beds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbYE1KKUs-e3h0y9BRSdcdxRL0L3kvmi7EbZ7ZZlXAWjrWjtygUTaVFGKGyaQ-f9uo3Tx9FXok6WcWEabY1XtHc8D9X2VIlK8j7C_u0DtL12FN6VlS6GKEODjygtOa7g7bs_kzGBcRaQ/s1600/20180428_095012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbYE1KKUs-e3h0y9BRSdcdxRL0L3kvmi7EbZ7ZZlXAWjrWjtygUTaVFGKGyaQ-f9uo3Tx9FXok6WcWEabY1XtHc8D9X2VIlK8j7C_u0DtL12FN6VlS6GKEODjygtOa7g7bs_kzGBcRaQ/s400/20180428_095012.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Homes Of The Massai</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoLoDrCW7oeP5U-9RNctcJPef4irCAMQkdcd0mMTbvFNWFG1-fpNDsc6xwKNSfJZhsdwXETdKBgNALfcG4VzsUGy5_Fw9t43TIQ3S0dkPNJkqmfd-LEGGEH4BOdQBqPEFhr939BFQU_A/s1600/20180428_095028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwoLoDrCW7oeP5U-9RNctcJPef4irCAMQkdcd0mMTbvFNWFG1-fpNDsc6xwKNSfJZhsdwXETdKBgNALfcG4VzsUGy5_Fw9t43TIQ3S0dkPNJkqmfd-LEGGEH4BOdQBqPEFhr939BFQU_A/s400/20180428_095028.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYjNzm6HZUQl6ZwhsTOTlD5BcVJzoQ58l_1ywGZocHGQQZK5Rn_3k0ByZ0vD3RiBErGgKqxyP_9CuQk7xToJ85A_-LfQDMFrOJlWDTjgm85NTE21NPFttQZkf3aBrlw7ZRJcVwH6hyOE/s1600/20180428_095214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYjNzm6HZUQl6ZwhsTOTlD5BcVJzoQ58l_1ywGZocHGQQZK5Rn_3k0ByZ0vD3RiBErGgKqxyP_9CuQk7xToJ85A_-LfQDMFrOJlWDTjgm85NTE21NPFttQZkf3aBrlw7ZRJcVwH6hyOE/s400/20180428_095214.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b> Inside A Hut</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6ur2hIwsb7_ei2iiD1X8lWKpHKgCcjB-ALePaU23K8tfPvhMB_xVUTBd05w3ZgYv8hpLm3Uc2e-wUXWNA3BSpSpImPlDZmHsCuLfYFsbQRRmiWeIyP3JlMBY5V06KjWYsnVWLhAL2BQ/s1600/20180428_095236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6ur2hIwsb7_ei2iiD1X8lWKpHKgCcjB-ALePaU23K8tfPvhMB_xVUTBd05w3ZgYv8hpLm3Uc2e-wUXWNA3BSpSpImPlDZmHsCuLfYFsbQRRmiWeIyP3JlMBY5V06KjWYsnVWLhAL2BQ/s400/20180428_095236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAUk2AYR6TJ6tW281pfWw0BuDVFsyunPNcYCXb-zL55C1NJq9xcR6jkmxOxlxAgkl3eVw_QmORF3jeBPgtj-JEAAHKZT2Ka7ksdBLfAS0bwYFsTB9RVgphHT_vCXm4x4rUyUO8j5liCY/s1600/20180428_095325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAUk2AYR6TJ6tW281pfWw0BuDVFsyunPNcYCXb-zL55C1NJq9xcR6jkmxOxlxAgkl3eVw_QmORF3jeBPgtj-JEAAHKZT2Ka7ksdBLfAS0bwYFsTB9RVgphHT_vCXm4x4rUyUO8j5liCY/s400/20180428_095325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ6Js_rpdvP2st8lBQcIPuq9rLflZYUN9Xci7SQrUnIfohJQpXSZiVjvod8O_hvjMQLUePenajfBUiXL7kfHLQg7MoyZHaFPOxq6CbayLbhCnJOTUx_MMD0pBXCkO7Yt4W66S2qZQNF4/s1600/20180428_095708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQ6Js_rpdvP2st8lBQcIPuq9rLflZYUN9Xci7SQrUnIfohJQpXSZiVjvod8O_hvjMQLUePenajfBUiXL7kfHLQg7MoyZHaFPOxq6CbayLbhCnJOTUx_MMD0pBXCkO7Yt4W66S2qZQNF4/s400/20180428_095708.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Finally we followed the teacher into the school house, that he proudly raved about having as a new addition to the village. The tiny wooden building was filled with 20 or 30 boys ONLY.....no girls The ages of the boys ranged from maybe 2 years old and up. A toddler walked out into the middle of the room wearing a tiny shirt and NO pants. He grabbed at his tiny pee pee, playing with it like boys do and I really expected that he was going to pee right there. Our guide mentioned that it was his son and I asked, "so where are his pants?"<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrP6sYyanHYBhKdhXTqCfwwUKSSf96PFWXtG1zGKp1oScy5dKE144dJvoaSjRpanzXRRFUeFBWqdK3chzfQEfCjeTpv8cniMVzKh_w6oegXjX2uERSVf5PX9mtRhfS8PVZZVqu-y6ewpQ/s1600/20180428_100212+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrP6sYyanHYBhKdhXTqCfwwUKSSf96PFWXtG1zGKp1oScy5dKE144dJvoaSjRpanzXRRFUeFBWqdK3chzfQEfCjeTpv8cniMVzKh_w6oegXjX2uERSVf5PX9mtRhfS8PVZZVqu-y6ewpQ/s400/20180428_100212+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A Toddler At School With NO Pants</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The teacher instructed the boys to sing the A,B,C's in English to impress us. The whole experience in the school house for me was <i><u><b>disturbing.</b></u></i> Did they not realize the germs they were spreading from one boy to another as the toddlers crawled up into the laps of the older boys wearing no pants? The urine and fecal matter, cow poop all over their feet, dirt and more?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoGM8w__FLsR4NUpUI5pUk6i8bf5e4Qb81Ic1cEAQ-EWZf9h1eh3wz60YdzExn5PjOysUXpwW3cGchDgOud7R4PPGuDILKNX358RQuR1nbKheSJxa7Nne58iIkWudadlrg0XDGyChReQ/s1600/20180428_100112+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoGM8w__FLsR4NUpUI5pUk6i8bf5e4Qb81Ic1cEAQ-EWZf9h1eh3wz60YdzExn5PjOysUXpwW3cGchDgOud7R4PPGuDILKNX358RQuR1nbKheSJxa7Nne58iIkWudadlrg0XDGyChReQ/s400/20180428_100112+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b> Inside The School</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihimVjijQW4v0gXR8fyifgxWXWK2j8oSqb7mm2ljU5eNQF-_tIC_d-BOYJdvRosMI-gc3i98iQCLgrdwPvAoy8Z1TC9D9Y1D0HHiEH3QLhP_M_huOmLtF6yMOXyN3ekJGdNnxxYFxTMh8/s1600/20180428_100117+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihimVjijQW4v0gXR8fyifgxWXWK2j8oSqb7mm2ljU5eNQF-_tIC_d-BOYJdvRosMI-gc3i98iQCLgrdwPvAoy8Z1TC9D9Y1D0HHiEH3QLhP_M_huOmLtF6yMOXyN3ekJGdNnxxYFxTMh8/s400/20180428_100117+-+Copy+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The Masaai people are nomads, living in one place for up to five years before moving on. They live with their animals, having no fear even from dangerous animals like hippos, buffalo and lions. They sleep out in the bush with the animals. Since they are poor their babies have NO diapers and therefore run around pant-less, even in school.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkBJMHKqnTiw4CiAJpBsWU6TeRjf1GGA5OwdOXNt6Ms9TviXW00-877yIbFCM-mvq1B3_b0pBnOV0aaNE6ontg2EGiLHFNUUUl7sAYUnAVISvPrYA0yKTaNNf2i5AXbUK3GdZN5UI_KU/s1600/20180428_100419+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTkBJMHKqnTiw4CiAJpBsWU6TeRjf1GGA5OwdOXNt6Ms9TviXW00-877yIbFCM-mvq1B3_b0pBnOV0aaNE6ontg2EGiLHFNUUUl7sAYUnAVISvPrYA0yKTaNNf2i5AXbUK3GdZN5UI_KU/s400/20180428_100419+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Our Warrior Guide In The Village</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
By the time we climbed back into our safari van Clyde and I both felt numb, and disturbed from our experience in the Masaai village. My sneakers were covered in mud and cow poop and I literally wanted to take them off and burn them. I could NOT sit in these shoes for the ride to our next stop as I would have spread crap over the inside of the van. Clyde was gracious enough to take my shoes outside and clean them off in tall grass, before I washed them with disinfecting wipes that I carried in my purse. Then he cleaned his own shoes and we were able to continue on our way.<br />
<br />
We found it hard to believe that in today's modern world there are still people that <u><i><b>choose</b></i></u> to live the primitive way of the Masaai. For many decades the Kenyan government has tried to get them to change their ways, but they flatly refuse. Although Clyde and I are well traveled and have seen other indigenous tribes in other countries, this experience effected us like no other. We cannot un-see what we saw in the village that day, as much as we might hope to.<br />
<br />
Soon after that another traveling friend mentioned on social media that she read a book called, "The White Masaai," about a Swiss woman who married a Masaai warrior. Immediately I downloaded the book and read it from cover to cover. It was exactly the same thing that we witnessed in the village that day. Hard to imagine a love so strong that a modern woman would want to live such a primitive existence. An amazing story of love, adventure and willingness to adapt, as long as she could take it.<br />
<br />
Next we headed to more modern Kenya, as we landed at our house sit home in the town of Mtwapa. <br />
The town itself is poor, with dusty, dirt roads, tiny shacks, motorcycle and tuk tuk taxi's and public buses. The house was massive and sat overlooking the large creek below. Once inside the acre plot of land it was a different world from the outside. Tall palm trees and tropical plants and flowers framed the spacious swimming pool. The house was once a bed and breakfast and boasted some six bedrooms, a full sized apartment in additional to the other living spaces and plenty of outdoor terraces to relax on. Unfortunately the once majestic, grand old house had been let go and was run down. My biggest disappointment is that even though we were in Kenya, Africa where mosquitoes carry deadly diseases, there were absolutely NO screens in the house. Even the windows that were there did not seal and many were even missing the glass. There was NO protection against the mosquitoes and other bugs outside.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCrE6GpNtSJQfaDQNUg3Zyn9PSCzxNaWlUtsRVfGj-FhZ3__HL4s0o8D29sicNX3xprZ04tSJ5Ue5eGaXGjGEuMi-sodHoKPHVqoWD02vXmnX00E8YCvmvqi3EbBQMeTxwTfKxMvy97M/s1600/20180525_110034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdCrE6GpNtSJQfaDQNUg3Zyn9PSCzxNaWlUtsRVfGj-FhZ3__HL4s0o8D29sicNX3xprZ04tSJ5Ue5eGaXGjGEuMi-sodHoKPHVqoWD02vXmnX00E8YCvmvqi3EbBQMeTxwTfKxMvy97M/s400/20180525_110034.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<b>Across From Our House Sit Home</b><br />
<b> In Mtwapa, Kenya</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xX67bGTw94MsKHPF3uFIMNYaepVfqIAFjUWjE5feZsTKywR7NhtsUCx8NBEYPppFnQ5lPwcXpl9cfcVg3AC4P2AtwCHeT0zOwRk2kylQYjXdzmYQMJLvdS4b3RdaqgaGj71jZlLgFBE/s1600/20180525_110038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5xX67bGTw94MsKHPF3uFIMNYaepVfqIAFjUWjE5feZsTKywR7NhtsUCx8NBEYPppFnQ5lPwcXpl9cfcVg3AC4P2AtwCHeT0zOwRk2kylQYjXdzmYQMJLvdS4b3RdaqgaGj71jZlLgFBE/s400/20180525_110038.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<b>Colorfully Dressed Ladies Balance Things On Their Heads</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryDvQ5HiPrOMnaafG_G-RBpFO-Cisfff3vuPwTU56qmYFrsIeDAN8wc-BQr7KiGgirx3urLQPiYPp65ZXSs5QOesYcgC-FeFEDM_NqbJieu10l-NdAMQ7pzuAG_mnAp4jaI89CN1mVHg/s1600/20180525_110239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgryDvQ5HiPrOMnaafG_G-RBpFO-Cisfff3vuPwTU56qmYFrsIeDAN8wc-BQr7KiGgirx3urLQPiYPp65ZXSs5QOesYcgC-FeFEDM_NqbJieu10l-NdAMQ7pzuAG_mnAp4jaI89CN1mVHg/s400/20180525_110239.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Water Delivery For The Locals</b><br />
<b>We Bought Bottled Water</b></div>
<br />
House sitting is a gamble and we never really know what we are walking into. When I asked the European homeowner about screens she said, "why do you need screens? You have mosquito netting on the bed and if that is not enough, use insect repellent."<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivi1uPrXEpV6i_Qp5AJspzDbsvsQ3BQGJTdYjlenoKiwogLr2nbJb6cahMEl6wX8sZuog-ek9b4otGgz2Ccof74xr84ofxEz7iXWoH1sa1FucaEDMhycL13_jNnlxdFNu5O7VTNM8uS0g/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivi1uPrXEpV6i_Qp5AJspzDbsvsQ3BQGJTdYjlenoKiwogLr2nbJb6cahMEl6wX8sZuog-ek9b4otGgz2Ccof74xr84ofxEz7iXWoH1sa1FucaEDMhycL13_jNnlxdFNu5O7VTNM8uS0g/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Our Neighbors, Packs Of 50 Or More Monkeys Stopped By Several Times A Day</b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<br />
For the next month our days were spent lounging around outside, watching the huge packs of monkeys entertain us. I enjoyed exercising and swimming in the large pool, while Clyde kept it clean. A gardener came by on a regular basis to keep the garden trimmed and tidy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkZSgssQwGlHSxWL8ERTzA3FFEax88NmEzTpNlASZJqPTMZV9-2D5U8LzrRj374CqJNj4les5lfT3mOtRpKnaboA_ZLdmBm0dtGk9lJJDUZqa6dRxwvRqIJPkO2YlVoL4cJjF6F01Yj0/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNkZSgssQwGlHSxWL8ERTzA3FFEax88NmEzTpNlASZJqPTMZV9-2D5U8LzrRj374CqJNj4les5lfT3mOtRpKnaboA_ZLdmBm0dtGk9lJJDUZqa6dRxwvRqIJPkO2YlVoL4cJjF6F01Yj0/s400/9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b> Our House Sit Home Overlooking Mtwapa Creek</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8szJaz9M22Xxv-BUPvp9wVFZy4x7OXUIik4GW6s6IGG3tPnZYbH1AGIH28mxpHIXI24baXU3ji5LeZQtDVNww6-jxoxSeFKn4m0i0elHyCBIQpjo4ksqIqzo0k5Ka2tvXYlm3_k1Hww/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8szJaz9M22Xxv-BUPvp9wVFZy4x7OXUIik4GW6s6IGG3tPnZYbH1AGIH28mxpHIXI24baXU3ji5LeZQtDVNww6-jxoxSeFKn4m0i0elHyCBIQpjo4ksqIqzo0k5Ka2tvXYlm3_k1Hww/s400/11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>The Lovely Garden And Pool</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LzP7in9V15ds94Bn-gZE7DUBZxZ66ZsYh5A3IhW-1PQWkYmdTUyauvzEaOvuut5sBTMGLhmKz6fCpkHPyCbRxko-DUSXpa9V9tbcGQz_VaWeKuLcccbd6Q1gOBWKfbeU9ce5u4Wi4GM/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-LzP7in9V15ds94Bn-gZE7DUBZxZ66ZsYh5A3IhW-1PQWkYmdTUyauvzEaOvuut5sBTMGLhmKz6fCpkHPyCbRxko-DUSXpa9V9tbcGQz_VaWeKuLcccbd6Q1gOBWKfbeU9ce5u4Wi4GM/s400/3.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yI6jKblHBbRbizDytWbVhhnrDiCLFCTiIWZGb9RY2-SqotOowg4-6TCKZzzVBrVU9vpE_K1NqhHRn3PbViYIADNIFIwcn60_gnQsBnnpEfVTHcD518yM3_Eq5-DdeSIXRwaGDiUtl2U/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4yI6jKblHBbRbizDytWbVhhnrDiCLFCTiIWZGb9RY2-SqotOowg4-6TCKZzzVBrVU9vpE_K1NqhHRn3PbViYIADNIFIwcn60_gnQsBnnpEfVTHcD518yM3_Eq5-DdeSIXRwaGDiUtl2U/s400/4.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIFKUUzrxe5qbdbexLTpb4k9TujJcEsyYmby3jIbuno989Y3W6LZEjiAn5K1SWjIqsenAcR-JajwzX9Ehf-JhB8ijbqKcHVFhk2c27Fub8JAlTgO-MjjafqG54ZIu0lkCXM4J0CNcSng/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIFKUUzrxe5qbdbexLTpb4k9TujJcEsyYmby3jIbuno989Y3W6LZEjiAn5K1SWjIqsenAcR-JajwzX9Ehf-JhB8ijbqKcHVFhk2c27Fub8JAlTgO-MjjafqG54ZIu0lkCXM4J0CNcSng/s400/6.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The house had plenty of quirks and before the homeowner left she casually mentioned having installed an alarm system that was connected to a security company. She added that she had this installed to help house sitters feel safe staying there. There was a switch in the kitchen that triggered the alarm and another behind the headboard of the bed that we were sleeping in. The switch looked exactly like ALL of the other light switches in the house, except for a tiny picture of a bell on it.<br />
<br />
One night I went upstairs to get ready for bed before Clyde while he closed up the house and turned off the lights. Around midnight I awoke to see Clyde standing at the window talking to someone outside. "Why are you on this property,?" I heard Clyde ask. A male voice responded but I could not make out what he said. Next I heard Clyde ask him to shine a flashlight on himself so he could see who he was. Clyde told me that it was the security company since apparently someone in the house had set off the alarm. The man said they had been walking around the property for a while, did not see anything unusual, so they called the police. But because they had to climb over the gate to get onto the one-acre plot of land, they needed Clyde to open to the gate to let them out.<br />
<br />
Clyde left the bedroom to go outside to let this man out. Suddenly horrible thoughts went through my head. Who was out there? Was this really the security company or someone else? Would they hurt Clyde? Was someone going to come into the house to kill or harm me? After all we were in Kenya staying in some strangers house, with no legal documentation that we were allowed to be there.<br />
<br />
I was relieved a few minutes later when Clyde came back into the house and told me the rest of the story. There were three, uniformed security guards outside along with a police car outside of the gate. We figured that when Clyde was turning off the lights the night before, apparently he flipped the switch in the kitchen that called the security company. Thankfully all ended well, but it really made us realize that from now on when we house sit, we really need to have the homeowners sign something that says we have a right to be in their house.<br />
<br />
The large house seemed to have a vibe of its own that included trying to kill dear Clyde. One day while he was lounging in an easy chair reading a book, a large picture, framed in glass fell off of the wall. Instinctively, he reached up just in time and managed to catch it by the corner, preventing it from hitting him on the head. He detoured the picture just enough so that it missed him but knocked over a glass nearby that was filled with water that he was drinking. The water spilled over onto the modem which shorted it out, knocking out the WIFI throughout the house. After cleaning up the mess he sent an email to the homeowner, assuming that she would never believe what happened. We needed to get her account number in order to call the internet company to fix the issue. The internet was still not on over a week later when homeowner returned, despite the fact that someone came out to the house to check out the problem. Fortunately for us, we did buy sim cards for our phones so at least had someway to communicate with the outside world.<br />
<br />
A few weeks later Clyde was outside cleaning the pool as this was part of our responsibility as house sitters, since there were NO pets at this sit. When he was finished he came into he house and was chilling out reading a book when all of a sudden we heard a loud crash outside. I was upstairs and looked outside, thinking that a large palm frond had fallen. Was I ever shocked to see that a massive palm tree had fallen down and landed across the pool. Had this happened ten minutes earlier it may have fallen on Clyde and probably would have killed him. Amazingly enough, there was no damage done to the pool either.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT2fQXP3nqWbHZSuWIO5sRv7-34TeJXMu7Ro1_jPVk2odCPCIB_MZO7PWiH-LyrtVkLMCrzMT2sgPtzovbxI3zuGHYpGkuXUf8z_vXE8Y_hqs8wKwxtISStS78Ovo8fzz6RgMNfxwmfM/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJT2fQXP3nqWbHZSuWIO5sRv7-34TeJXMu7Ro1_jPVk2odCPCIB_MZO7PWiH-LyrtVkLMCrzMT2sgPtzovbxI3zuGHYpGkuXUf8z_vXE8Y_hqs8wKwxtISStS78Ovo8fzz6RgMNfxwmfM/s400/5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Fallen Palm Tree</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMerXfajcaaUDQ-FkxMgehArjsqhzjCdiX5yl2GDIGmzDfkD4y7nk8BM_YalkGMggXDQtNtL0bcn1OI-WUVdHuomQDeEgHmphZLMRtb31iiazppZdLTxAOhSLSTi7KpARQQnjdANafqGs/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMerXfajcaaUDQ-FkxMgehArjsqhzjCdiX5yl2GDIGmzDfkD4y7nk8BM_YalkGMggXDQtNtL0bcn1OI-WUVdHuomQDeEgHmphZLMRtb31iiazppZdLTxAOhSLSTi7KpARQQnjdANafqGs/s400/16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Kenya is the first country we have ever been to that has a ban on ALL plastic bags! What does this mean? It was mentioned a few times while we were flying into the country. We were told that plastic bags were not allowed into Kenya. I still did not understand? How could an entire country survive without the use of plastic? Even the homeowner mentioned this in an email prior to the sit, but still I didn't get it.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiob4_0l7xHZoiX7Bmy5yVP00ct1-7W3ooRuxhQtB3KY98AKja1P5xVe0kcyJBwoh7xuu28umbpOJa03eX9srb5bABf0ncy8CxsGycXtZM377TQOlUKOniLX1uUavZsHSV2_Xu50kI8d9c/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiob4_0l7xHZoiX7Bmy5yVP00ct1-7W3ooRuxhQtB3KY98AKja1P5xVe0kcyJBwoh7xuu28umbpOJa03eX9srb5bABf0ncy8CxsGycXtZM377TQOlUKOniLX1uUavZsHSV2_Xu50kI8d9c/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Sights Around Mtwapa And Mombasa, Kenya</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPM4qxqS0PGtNFylEARVT6GmD0EohRpLE03Bp83aJ53jK4fRJPkP7ezIwPJc_DOKrhBuOniHlqfsTXgR-PikF11j44lsuobmuStE1IfCTHciJVZQDQLq7kw332T6zvanSjjbCt0NvfagI/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPM4qxqS0PGtNFylEARVT6GmD0EohRpLE03Bp83aJ53jK4fRJPkP7ezIwPJc_DOKrhBuOniHlqfsTXgR-PikF11j44lsuobmuStE1IfCTHciJVZQDQLq7kw332T6zvanSjjbCt0NvfagI/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEHkdD_NQTriRoevM2XXdZyMzXV93otxZPZamWtj3sbTRkXqUbcVoGwc6EV-B5rPIduQX6PC_YkODTX9kp6eNUN_RJJWTHGCs6Ot3_IMQXImyFMhk5UhULz8Yu6WWtvS1AVhet0jAPZA/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdEHkdD_NQTriRoevM2XXdZyMzXV93otxZPZamWtj3sbTRkXqUbcVoGwc6EV-B5rPIduQX6PC_YkODTX9kp6eNUN_RJJWTHGCs6Ot3_IMQXImyFMhk5UhULz8Yu6WWtvS1AVhet0jAPZA/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfvPUZ_ptVFAbTR15kSuJv_LAlyPk9JMKK-XYV1z-o14lfD6_FS2_3EUDtHnKYvSZVxNWkTLa01LiFRv6oVhMzSJmcJY-HjZbPeMqAS58Zk0V_oBJguaGGGXR5ZjSezc-UomGuDXLlpI/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfvPUZ_ptVFAbTR15kSuJv_LAlyPk9JMKK-XYV1z-o14lfD6_FS2_3EUDtHnKYvSZVxNWkTLa01LiFRv6oVhMzSJmcJY-HjZbPeMqAS58Zk0V_oBJguaGGGXR5ZjSezc-UomGuDXLlpI/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Plastic bags are a MUST for me as a traveler and I might have 100 of them in my suitcases. Liquids are all put into plastic bags. Anything that needs to be kept clean is in plastic. I began to panic! What will happen IF they find the bags in our luggage? Will they take them, fine us or arrest us? I even discussed this with our safari guide who said they are imposing fines up to $18,000 for people still using plastic bags. Yikes! I lost sleep at night over this issue.<br />
<br />
I was anxious to get inside of a grocery store to see what they used IF there was no plastic bags in use? Kenya still does use plastic for wrapping up meats, and plastic is still used for products. What they do not use are grocery bags or bags to put produce in. Produce is put into stretchy, mesh bags or lightweight fabric bags. While we are very used to stores NOT using grocery bags, and we have become accustomed to bringing our own reusable bags, this ban on plastic confused me until I began to understand. Trash bags are not permitted for garbage either, and waste is just thrown into plastic cans and picked up curbside.<br />
<br />
In our 3 years of travel we had never bothered to get any vaccinations against any diseases. But knowing that Kenya was a poor, dirty country I began doing research. I was surprised to discover that Egypt required travelers to show proof of having had a yellow fever vaccine IF they were coming from Kenya. During our time in Belgium, prior to going to Kenya, we found a travel clinic and were vaccinated against yellow fever, typhoid and polio. And during the check in process out of Kenya we were asked to show our yellow fever card, and thankfully we had it.<br />
<br />
Malaria is still an issue in Kenya and when we discussed this with the homeowner prior to the sit she admitted to having contracted malaria two times in the 30 years that she's lived there. She said, "malaria is no big deal, I have had it twice now. You just get some medication from the pharmacy here, stay in bed for a few days and it's just like having the flu." We opted to practice anti-malaria protocol by taking Doxycycline prior to arrival in Kenya, during our stay and for an entire month after we left.<br />
<br />
There were a few modern malls in nearby Mombasa that were great for shopping. We used cheap<br />
tuk tuk's or Uber taxi's to get us around for just a few dollars. Food was cheap but basic in the stores and after a few weeks we longed for Mexican food so much, that we began making tortillas from scratch. Then one day we stopped in a mall restaurant for lunch and were delighted to find a section of Tex-Mex specialties on the menu. They were cheap and tasty! <br />
<br />
<br />
Because Kenya sits on the equator days were short and darkness fell by 6:30pm every night. To avoid the mosquito bites we snuggled up in our king sized bed under the mosquito netting every night and watched movies on our laptop.<br />
<br />
They say that travel takes away one's prejudice and this was never more evident that with our time in Kenya. Literally we really did NOT see the Kenyan people as black in color, but instead we were welcomed by warm, friendly people that all spoke decent English. Despite Kenya being a poor country where the basic salary is $150 per month, Kenyan children are taught English at a young age, along with their native tribal language and Swahili.<br />
<br />
The one word we heard the most while in Kenya was, "Jambo," which means, "hello." Everyone we met or just passed by on the streets shouted a jovial, "jambo" to us with a wave. Later I discovered a song that was created when the band members saw tourists struggling to learn Swahili. It was cute and features a catchy tune that I sang to keep myself entertained while there. Here's the song done by a group called, "Them Mushrooms." <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/vUrVeRGo5IM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vUrVeRGo5IM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<br />
<br />
Kenya is the most poor, dirty country we have been to and our time there was really quite the experience. Most of the roads are dirt making them impassable during monsoon rains. And when its dry the roads are dusty, full of potholes, and trash. Walking into town from the house we passed buildings that appeared abandoned, yet people were living inside. The streets were cluttered with trash that packs of goats nibbled on. Walking was dangerous avoiding the holes, goat droppings, trash, street dogs, people and traffic. You can't imagine the smells that permeated our nostrils as we walked through the streets, and these will stay with us forever.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuoIp9JFuBXqZ9wP7zJ1SyzDWcqqL_a9hVsdoDUPY_IXxU4w9mEKpr_7FOWbp11trCjP8qv9GKrbK3nKQmRzWZBnE8ERUSoRx_UStL58cuYLAI-0Zb0JLLcK4aR8ekDw15SbDpdXkLts/s1600/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwuoIp9JFuBXqZ9wP7zJ1SyzDWcqqL_a9hVsdoDUPY_IXxU4w9mEKpr_7FOWbp11trCjP8qv9GKrbK3nKQmRzWZBnE8ERUSoRx_UStL58cuYLAI-0Zb0JLLcK4aR8ekDw15SbDpdXkLts/s400/17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Plenty Of Trash Everywhere, Yet They Say It Has Improved After The Plastic Bag Ban</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Our time in Kenya came to an end with a few days relaxing at an all inclusive resort on Mombasa's Indian Ocean. There we watched as more aggressive monkeys snatched food from other guests that sat poolside.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAZXyR8v2gyorzMGatEYXo_EU3t5o0NDARURTS1EWqlRN5lK9eaCTq_mQaSYzkvraAoTGdlT5CE2aDYsS6Vexn2RySV_7T19msTfvt88p0W9AKdUMJRuWMO6Ujh7DTaaMQwwSlgjtpTg/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="608" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsAZXyR8v2gyorzMGatEYXo_EU3t5o0NDARURTS1EWqlRN5lK9eaCTq_mQaSYzkvraAoTGdlT5CE2aDYsS6Vexn2RySV_7T19msTfvt88p0W9AKdUMJRuWMO6Ujh7DTaaMQwwSlgjtpTg/s400/1.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>A Monkey Poses Next To The Do Not Feed The Animals Sign At A Resort</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Checkout time was around noon but our flight out of Kenya was not until 11pm later that evening. The resort was helpful by providing luggage storage for the full day, and allowed us to hang out by the pool and keep our all inclusive status for food and drinks. When it came time to leave we were provided with a full-sized hotel room in which to shower and change clothes before heading out to the airport.<br />
<br />
A long night of travel was in our future with a short flight from Mombasa to Nairobi followed by a five hour overnight stay in the airport. We splurged on an airport lounge and paid $35 per person for a nice place to catch a few winks. But a few young ladies talked loudly all night long making it impossible to sleep, even with earplugs and noise cancelling headphones in use.<br />
<br />
Our next flight was from Nairobi to Cairo, Egypt where we caught out last short flight to the city of Hurghada, Egypt near the Red Sea. We were supposed to retrieve our luggage in Cairo and send it through to be rechecked to our final destination. My two bags however, were NOT there! Since we are nomads EVERYTHING that I own was in those TWO suitcases. Fortunately for me before leaving the resort in Mombasa the last thing I took off was my bathing suit, wrap and flip flops which I put into my backpack that I kept with me. At least upon arrival at a resort in Hurghada I had a swim suit, flip flops and coverup to wear but nothing else. <br />
<br />
It took Egypt Airlines one week to locate my one suitcase which contained my basic summer wardrobe. The larger suitcase was returned 20 days later. It contained our extra stock of medication and supplements, my expensive, packable, down jacket and rain gear, my contact lens solution that is not available here since I wear rigid gas permeable lens, and other expensive winter items. Egypt Airlines was totally unresponsive to our emails or phone calls, and the whole ordeal was horrible for me. I had to keep reminding myself that it is only stuff, and we do have our health and each other.<br />
<br />
We have since filed a claim with the airline, trying to recover some of the money we had to spend buying me basic clothing to wear. It's been 2 months so far and while we have heard from the airline, the claim is still in processing.<br />
<br />
It was fun to see the luggage tags on my first bag that we dropped off in Kenya, and later took a detour to Saudi Arabia, Guyana, and Colombia, before coming back to Cairo. The second bag showed only one luggage tag indicating that it had been sitting in Cairo Airport for the whole time. Flying is NOT the fun part of travel but something necessary that we all need to endure to get from point A to point B.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlzxUofrXCF03Mgo73VmZF-4b4BHA70qQPkUmtPJdMGLjpr4sOpg3Bd4Whw0-I6Qn-IjUpkNnQj-GME3_j_BNcf7umWWdeMHQW5aqD2DVgQmOURRTlmcrWKBDKApPFjMN5iWLuMgN454/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="608" data-original-width="1080" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnlzxUofrXCF03Mgo73VmZF-4b4BHA70qQPkUmtPJdMGLjpr4sOpg3Bd4Whw0-I6Qn-IjUpkNnQj-GME3_j_BNcf7umWWdeMHQW5aqD2DVgQmOURRTlmcrWKBDKApPFjMN5iWLuMgN454/s400/7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Beautiful Sunsets Over Mtwapa Creek</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsz2emvpinrN6SZxDr469bUY3N0Ptcg5bHNMp4uJ1DcfgvFik3i4sZlQTO1V3c2u6dje4PtqL7a1BL6akNkDIBLVvWeh_Jppc6MG9oeDaFS0rh0t5r36-W4FaO89DKvulbsA-Jw2dVK0E/s1600/20180525_104441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsz2emvpinrN6SZxDr469bUY3N0Ptcg5bHNMp4uJ1DcfgvFik3i4sZlQTO1V3c2u6dje4PtqL7a1BL6akNkDIBLVvWeh_Jppc6MG9oeDaFS0rh0t5r36-W4FaO89DKvulbsA-Jw2dVK0E/s400/20180525_104441.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Local Fisherman Working Hard</b></div>
<br />
At least we still have our sense of adventure, desire to travel and willingness to put ourselves out there to the world.....along the gringo trail.</div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-26753129004682826092018-05-05T07:25:00.001-07:002018-05-05T07:25:41.787-07:00A Show Of A Million Legs, Police, Monkeys And More....In Kenya<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Our adventure of house sitting in Mtwapa, Kenya continues and it seems like there is never a dull moment here.<br />
<br />
A few nights ago I was rudely awakened when I saw Clyde standing near the open window talking to someone outside. Strange, since the house we are caring for sits on a one acre piece of jungle, and is fully fenced, so there should be nobody out there. After taking out my earplugs and waking up fully I heard Clyde ask the stranger outside, "what are you doing on this property?" The male voice replied in English, "we have been looking around for while and have not seen any intruders on the property, so we called the police." WHAT? Police! Then I hear the man ask Clyde, "where is Mama?" Kenyans refer to ALL females as Mama and ALL males as Papa. Those are even the signs on the toilets here to differentiate between the two rooms.<br />
<br />
Assuming that he's asking about the homeowner Clyde explains that we are friends with Ingrid and are taking care of her home while she is away on vacation. To this he adds, "my wife is sleeping here in bed."<br />
<br />
The voice then says that they had to climb over the fence to get inside the property, and could Clyde come outside to open the gate? Clyde says it's dark and I cannot see you, please shine the light onto yourself so I can see who you are. The man does as asked and Clyde sees the figures of three, uniformed security guards standing outside in the pouring rain, and next to them was a police officer. Clyde then says ok and puts on a pair of shorts in order to go outside. <br />
<br />
At this point I crawl out of the mosquito netting that is covering the king-sized bed like a huge tent, put on some clothes and begin to access the situation. Panic comes over me and I begin to think, "is this a setup?" "Who is really outside and what will they do with Clyde?' "Are they here to harm him, me or both of us?" Plenty of horrible scenarios go through my mind, since after all we ARE in Kenya, Africa.....in someone else's house, with only a verbal agreement that we are allowed to be here.<br />
<br />
Clyde returns a few minutes later unharmed, just a bit moist from the midnight rain and I ask for a full explanation of what that was all about? Before the homeowner left she casually mentioned that there IS an alarm on the house that is wired to the security company. She said that she put it in for house sitters and casually pointed out a switch on the wall in the dining room. The switch looked exactly like ALL the other light switches in the entire house, and there are way too many. Some of the switches turn on lights in other parts of the large home, or outside, and seem to have no rhyme or reason at all. Apparently, when Clyde was turning off the lights before we went upstairs to bed, he hit the switch for the alarm, unbeknownst to him. Two hours later the security guards were standing outside yelling, "hello, hello," up to our window. There is another switch for the alarm in the bedroom, tucked safely behind the bed where we are not likely to touch it. The one in the dining room now has a pillow case hanging over it to signal to us, NOT to touch it!!!<br />
<br />
<br />
Having lived in Panama we are used to power outages that were common but only lasted at most a few hours. Usually whenever the lights went out Clyde would call the electric company and tell them, making sure the problem was something that they knew about and not something that was just in our house.<br />
<br />
The homeowner did warn us that the power does go out here, but assured us that it was never for THAT long. So a few days ago the electricity went out around 6am we think but never came back on until about 4am the following morning. Not sure if this was due to heavy rain storms in the area or was this a scheduled maintenance outage? <br />
<br />
Just googled power outages in Mtwapa and came upon the Kenya Power website with scheduled outages needed for updating equipment and maintenance to the system. Interesting, now we have a future date to put on our calendar of an all day outage next week.<br />
<br />
Ever wonder what happens when a thick, gooey, millipede is put through a wash cycle? Not much actually, other than breaking apart and freaking out the washer woman. There are plenty of these thick, black and orange millipedes here and one made its way into the washing machine today.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnVOTOO7hIovtzXsCOCIytbZOQQMlmNz2-ATYtIkRMMZM3SmqMDj-Gii3K108WPnyJdgW4nXI9RyTM28Lg7FeDPDe-UpA-imkJLSG5fcA4n5JFtHjb5m1TG4U8zae9E4T9izI3oA-9TA/s1600/bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="178" data-original-width="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdnVOTOO7hIovtzXsCOCIytbZOQQMlmNz2-ATYtIkRMMZM3SmqMDj-Gii3K108WPnyJdgW4nXI9RyTM28Lg7FeDPDe-UpA-imkJLSG5fcA4n5JFtHjb5m1TG4U8zae9E4T9izI3oA-9TA/s1600/bug.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
Laundry by the way, in this environment with 100% humidity much of the time takes days to dry, if ever. Everything constantly feels damp and nasty. We only thought Panama was humid but here during the rainy season it is much worse!<br />
<br />
And we know we are in Kenya when we wake up, look outside the window and see monkeys running amok and even one happy couple making babies. Yes, right there on the railing of our terrace were a family of three with baby in tow, while Mama and Papa were having some alone time, just them, lots of monkeys and two silly humans looking on. But the whole mating act was over so fast that we didn't even have time to pick up our cameras to snap a photo. Here are some of them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WHUf3CQSrGPAYI658X-cPeMbDovM5HzyGSBwJjdUxzohMH997k1rKMkYHPydLRXG3bqfW0p4groGl2v-los0oWyv69JtWPq4-eATb07itvYJAIHVa_YwJFoe9tsXHFlIZcZ0uE0JIpg/s1600/monkey+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7WHUf3CQSrGPAYI658X-cPeMbDovM5HzyGSBwJjdUxzohMH997k1rKMkYHPydLRXG3bqfW0p4groGl2v-los0oWyv69JtWPq4-eATb07itvYJAIHVa_YwJFoe9tsXHFlIZcZ0uE0JIpg/s400/monkey+10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK88q9z_K2A3CeDlOng_B4KN7Haj123WZWiRRnHNKBXr9lBk5pTmER08Rtc36k8WiXcAgT6ZrOOJ1cSSnzAAkKNPkYGWbXXbV_dgp40_QlBS3H5Y7JD05LHbTblbH765K9EzK19s4VHk/s1600/monkey+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK88q9z_K2A3CeDlOng_B4KN7Haj123WZWiRRnHNKBXr9lBk5pTmER08Rtc36k8WiXcAgT6ZrOOJ1cSSnzAAkKNPkYGWbXXbV_dgp40_QlBS3H5Y7JD05LHbTblbH765K9EzK19s4VHk/s400/monkey+11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxVKqIMvu4zClQxSMf2_5LWawxIn_-RKHhy0i3zuvBxUMQSFMBvMtAwKXxrXp3hw42Wk6PtpACU4cTBVzQo0-hCRFx1rno94O9mI28beywbMADfz7kuHO6MqIu0CJabSMv4n_A6cQDR0/s1600/monkey+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="525" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFxVKqIMvu4zClQxSMf2_5LWawxIn_-RKHhy0i3zuvBxUMQSFMBvMtAwKXxrXp3hw42Wk6PtpACU4cTBVzQo0-hCRFx1rno94O9mI28beywbMADfz7kuHO6MqIu0CJabSMv4n_A6cQDR0/s400/monkey+12.jpg" width="193" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Darkness, police, bugs and monkey porn all brought to you today from Mtwapa, Kenya.....along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-75112271575320836622018-05-02T06:54:00.000-07:002018-05-02T06:54:11.419-07:00Ramblings From Kenya.....Our Eye-Opening Adventure Continues......<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The tropical rains splashed outside our bedroom window in a melodic tune against the backdrop of strange animal sounds in the distance. It was around 7am as I made my way out of the large bedroom suite of our temporary home and headed down the stairs. Just then I heard a tapping type of sound coming from an upper part of the large home, almost as if someone else was in the house besides my sleeping husband and myself. As I opened the door and headed upstairs to the third level of the home I saw tiny little heads peeking at me from outside. A large pack of monkeys was scurrying about on the deck of the house, while others were peeking inside the opened windows that had no screens to keep them or anything else from coming inside.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfk3Oouf_5bXxoI9BHW8NV7NCAz4B2nLT9PfH5OeNiqQSwFC8qGCUZsZroMvQILWci7Pkdf7OZWEdAwJexG9pkmykuCeYkT7FAjwQSZfaSCtb62IhL5PZrZROqDyTIGMJJ20eQUb-_4c/s1600/monkey+1+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfk3Oouf_5bXxoI9BHW8NV7NCAz4B2nLT9PfH5OeNiqQSwFC8qGCUZsZroMvQILWci7Pkdf7OZWEdAwJexG9pkmykuCeYkT7FAjwQSZfaSCtb62IhL5PZrZROqDyTIGMJJ20eQUb-_4c/s400/monkey+1+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
We are in Kenya, Africa in the town of Mtwapa, for a one month house sit. The house is large, spreading out over three levels that include five spacious bedroom suites, a lovely living room, kitchen dining area and plenty of outdoor balcony space overlooking Mtwapa Creek. On the other side is a huge swimming pool and plenty of garden space with tropical plants and trees. Despite the fact that this is surely a luxury home by Kenyan standards since the owner is from Europe, there are NO screens in the windows. And when I asked about the drinking water she assured us that it would be fine for us to drink the local tap water, although she does not since she thinks it tastes bad. <br />
<br />
Here we sit in the middle of a tropical rain forest with mosquitoes that carry dengue and yellow fever, malaria and other deadly diseases, yet this homeowner feels no need to have screens for protection against them. She has lived here happily for 30 years now, and is still alive and well and has not contracted any of these diseases, so perhaps us Americans worry too much?<br />
<br />
When I mentioned that we would be taking antibiotics for anti-malaria protocol she said, "don't worry about malaria, I have had it two times and it's not any worse than having the flu. You just get some medication here at the pharmacy, stay in bed for a few days and it goes away. No problem."<br />
<br />
In the nightstand near our bed are some old insect repellent plug in's left over from previous house sitters, so apparently other sitters had an issue with the lack of mosquito protection too. We have become accustomed to sleeping under mosquito netting and have used several different types since we have been in Kenya.<br />
<br />
And now there is one more mosquito plug-in that we bought, thinking that anything might help? Actually the mosquitoes have not been too bad and we have only seen a few here and there, but we still want to avoid any bites.<br />
<br />
When we were preparing for our trip to Kenya we decided that just maybe we should finally, after two years of full time travel look into some vaccinations like the one for yellow fever. The homeowner assured us that there is NO yellow fever here, but further research added another concern. After leaving Kenya in June we are headed to Egypt once again to repeat the same sit that we did last year in El Gouna. Apparently, the Egyptian government DOES think there is a risk of travelers coming into Egypt from Kenya, and Egypt requires that we show proof of having had a yellow fever vaccine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0-Djt85b0I3jL47YCr763gdRE8M5zDY-tKiAgCV3ZAAw6quC36kB0sKgX8kkPmC4Ngru3yBl_sfBOqxyS6lFzNvxPl8IRFrjj6INsWWB51VWUI3rwoO-akdvVLS4cLI0LV8NI7sk8dI/s1600/should-you-get-vaccinated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0-Djt85b0I3jL47YCr763gdRE8M5zDY-tKiAgCV3ZAAw6quC36kB0sKgX8kkPmC4Ngru3yBl_sfBOqxyS6lFzNvxPl8IRFrjj6INsWWB51VWUI3rwoO-akdvVLS4cLI0LV8NI7sk8dI/s400/should-you-get-vaccinated.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
When we were house sitting in Belgium, with the help of the homeowners daughter who called a few clinics to see where we could be vaccinated, we took care of this matter. One day we woke up early and headed into Brussels to find a travel clinic inside of a hospital. There we met with a doctor, discussed our travel plans and at his suggestion we were vaccinated against yellow fever, typhoid and polio, along with a tetanus booster. He did agree that taking Doxycycline was a good preventative for malaria also. He did mention that the vaccine for typhoid will protect us only 60%, but that's better than nothing. Typhoid is contracted from eating or drinking contaminated water and food which we are trying hard to avoid. The only other thing the doctor at the clinic mentioned is that there is rabies here in Kenya, and said should we get bitten by a monkey or dog go directly to a hospital immediately.<br />
<br />
Clyde and I feel that it is necessary for us to come out of our comfort zone in order to experience the things that we do when we travel. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDQGnBXp8N6UbKNJAHpmwcC5NgytE5exMwAeAugGSqEyn1nE_1M-gdNvmokbgDH_BKZOSpcu2Yb8WahBISg_38QR9ZIzbuXjYYJg37u8m8fuCaOrRxKNLaYp5DSIccr8R_p9lxtnL2OE/s1600/monkey+2+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDQGnBXp8N6UbKNJAHpmwcC5NgytE5exMwAeAugGSqEyn1nE_1M-gdNvmokbgDH_BKZOSpcu2Yb8WahBISg_38QR9ZIzbuXjYYJg37u8m8fuCaOrRxKNLaYp5DSIccr8R_p9lxtnL2OE/s400/monkey+2+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>No Screens On Those Windows So Monkeys CAN Get In, If They Choose To</b><br />
<b>During Our Safari The Lodges ALL Instructed Us To Close The Windows At Night Because The Baboons Would Come Into The Rooms And Make A Mess</b><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
The homeowners attitude, along with others we met in lodges that we used on our safari, is use insect repellent, sleep under mosquito netting and everything will be alright. In other words, "Hakuna Matata," or "no worries." The locals use an inexpensive brand of ALL natural insect repellent called, "Ballet," that is manufactured in nearby Nairobi. It serves a dual purpose of preventing bites and aiding in sting relief should it be necessary.<br />
<br />
This whole experience in Kenya has been quite an eye opener thus far, with so much more to come. While the Kenyan people are wonderfully friendly, helpful, and a delight to be around, they still are poor compared to North American standards. A typical minimum wage worker here, according to our safari driver, makes about 1800 shillings per month, which translates to about $180 US per month.<br />
<br />
Although we have traveled extensively to many poor countries, Kenya to us is the poorest and dirtiest of them all. Most of the streets here are not paved, even the main roads are just a mess of mud when wet or dusty when dry.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HMrex2oFVTJJahFK0K8lAcr3f0ltdV_ayaGX0RAn7VTSFr6NaLkmlMY4_Ib59ZA55rQ-El7P21w3ubiuONFb0qMBLeT1wVUx2DnLLElG1Fj5jXLvvo9cPD8zuzNgzoxPWc8LIrGePK4/s1600/line_break.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="1600" height="30" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_HMrex2oFVTJJahFK0K8lAcr3f0ltdV_ayaGX0RAn7VTSFr6NaLkmlMY4_Ib59ZA55rQ-El7P21w3ubiuONFb0qMBLeT1wVUx2DnLLElG1Fj5jXLvvo9cPD8zuzNgzoxPWc8LIrGePK4/s320/line_break.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<i><b>"Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in ones little corner of the earth all one's lifetime." Mark Twain, The Innocents Abroad </b></i><br />
<br />
A few months back we were talking to an old friend about our travels through Muslim countries. I made the comment that Muslims go to the mosque up to five times a day to pray and that I don't know ANY Christians that do that. His replay back was, "well those same Muslims after they pray five times go out and kill people." Does he really think that? It is people like him that need to get out and see the world and its people to rid himself of those prejudices and narrow-mindedness.<br />
<br />
Travel has opened our minds and hearts to many types of people, with various colors of skin, different religions, different lifestyles and incomes. Perhaps I never realized just how much until we came to Kenya. Throughout my life I have met open-minded people that claim that they do not see a persons color, but instead just the person. I have to say that I never understood that concept until NOW. Really, I can honestly say that I do not see the Kenyan people as BLACK, just as wonderful people trying to get by and enjoy life. That for me has been a real eye opener. Growing up in metropolitan New Jersey, surrounded by many colors of skin, including blacks, I saw much prejudice back in those days that I never bought into. Perhaps, that has made me the open minded traveler that I am today?<br />
<br />
Mtwapa is said to be the city that never sleeps, since the partying in the bars, restaurants and clubs goes on all night long. A few nights ago before the homeowner left she suggested a nearby restaurant for dinner. The open-air, second level tiny restaurant known for its German food featured a band playing soft rock and oldies that was really enjoyable. For dinner, Clyde and I both choose the same item of fish covered in a white sauce served with potatoes, for the low price of around $6. There really was enough to bring home and make another meal out of since the portions were so huge. A few days earlier we had varying fish dishes, mine was cooked in a creamy, white wine sauce while Clyde's was grilled with garlic and butter. Both meals were served with pan fried potatoes with onions, vegetables and cole slaw also for around $6. Very good food is served here for little money!<br />
<br />
Our house sits on Mtwapa Creek, which to us looks more like a lazy river because of it's size. It feeds into the Indian Ocean for deep sea expeditions that begin here. Our gracious host even left a fishing pole for Clyde to use right outside our door since fishing from the jetty is also good she claims.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosNIWJjHinFyXxR175B2aJ2qJUTl8a89IPPiGXswPupJOPmnsfsTA6CBAkTkjh09Tuo8cYueHDPkhosVOYxcZTdrdS8YqNNJL6kGydaU7CX32gPVy8ulRaGrIvZPOYWjuv3axAiyJigA/s1600/view+of+creek+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="525" data-original-width="1080" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosNIWJjHinFyXxR175B2aJ2qJUTl8a89IPPiGXswPupJOPmnsfsTA6CBAkTkjh09Tuo8cYueHDPkhosVOYxcZTdrdS8YqNNJL6kGydaU7CX32gPVy8ulRaGrIvZPOYWjuv3axAiyJigA/s400/view+of+creek+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>View Of Mtwapa Creek From One Of The Homes Balconies</b><br />
</div>
<br />
Kenya is a multilingual country with more than 60 languages spoken here and English is one of them. It has been so refreshing to be able to chat with the locals in English and ask questions about their culture and country.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXOLAGk1uAnvIAbOOX0-pDgPnLNoRPYUZcNRWiRYGJ0ep2dfGfWo8dGy7G8QZ0m_7QQ5xufz-6b4y3dcCggCfDycOmeUYVdNW5doHegxB8FoGuxtOLXoFjkQPPD9JBegRdFAAdwJDg_w/s1600/IMG_6467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXOLAGk1uAnvIAbOOX0-pDgPnLNoRPYUZcNRWiRYGJ0ep2dfGfWo8dGy7G8QZ0m_7QQ5xufz-6b4y3dcCggCfDycOmeUYVdNW5doHegxB8FoGuxtOLXoFjkQPPD9JBegRdFAAdwJDg_w/s400/IMG_6467.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVigF4nTjoCQ_YOl7hmprXfn9d47LHxVDEP3iPFdKQl33EqfbuHxmSLuOlnimvnjbZCh4atddFm8UT8k5OaDCj1EMQ9V3EeacrwYbyAn0o9IHGMO5SkGVvynpcf1QascPOp6YagJVOmE/s1600/IMG_6468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrVigF4nTjoCQ_YOl7hmprXfn9d47LHxVDEP3iPFdKQl33EqfbuHxmSLuOlnimvnjbZCh4atddFm8UT8k5OaDCj1EMQ9V3EeacrwYbyAn0o9IHGMO5SkGVvynpcf1QascPOp6YagJVOmE/s400/IMG_6468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyNAkiLWypT4xWfd8dH8ellywFxhBnjH4a58uXyl_6nDbEDvNjl02wUVGJQka7IqIYZiEdlvWlNAIeWPQjq_LvAwiHe-NW1Vxutsd1uSuCSm-iQBvs1U9XJSGbe-GitlbQQEUaRTr5Zk/s1600/IMG_6472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWyNAkiLWypT4xWfd8dH8ellywFxhBnjH4a58uXyl_6nDbEDvNjl02wUVGJQka7IqIYZiEdlvWlNAIeWPQjq_LvAwiHe-NW1Vxutsd1uSuCSm-iQBvs1U9XJSGbe-GitlbQQEUaRTr5Zk/s400/IMG_6472.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfl-nJFf9zUSqOqlRbBhXFmnZctfOAsDcunwtRa2wZuqMgsmseLO5JOM7mV9osemGNY4JKUs5sy7XPQq7nI4BXF9rg2hoM1f4CL9R2Na6g0btULWSiSeg9sVaJnp53rxoksbLsbj3K1W8/s1600/IMG_6485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfl-nJFf9zUSqOqlRbBhXFmnZctfOAsDcunwtRa2wZuqMgsmseLO5JOM7mV9osemGNY4JKUs5sy7XPQq7nI4BXF9rg2hoM1f4CL9R2Na6g0btULWSiSeg9sVaJnp53rxoksbLsbj3K1W8/s400/IMG_6485.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Like many poor countries, Kenya has its share of trash on the streets blowing around. To alleviate some of this the government banned the use of all plastic bags. That's right....NO plastic bags are allowed into Kenya.....period! They mentioned this on the plane a few times but I just did NOT understand HOW a country could survive without plastic? The ban has only been in effect for about six months so far, and while grocery bags are NOT permitted there is still some plastic in use here, but they are trying to get rid of it all. Stiff fines of up to $30,000 can be imposed on violators along with time in prison, for carrying plastic bags into the country. So if you suddenly don't hear from us you might want to post bail.<br />
<br />
Outside of our oasis that surrounds this home are the real streets of Mtwapa that are dusty, muddy from the heavy rains, and full of poverty. Flushing toilets are NOT the norm for the locals here, as they have outhouses or community bathhouses in the towns. Whenever we stopped to pee with our safari driver I was always greeted with a "squat toilet," that many women I know from the US would NOT ever use. There was NO other choice but to use the hole in the ground, or to use my handy dandy directional device, similar to a funnel that allows women to pee standing upright. I did become very thankful for it!<br />
<br />
I asked our guide Toya when we were on safari if he has had tourists refuse to use these? He smiled and said, "yes, and it's usually the American women that refuse." He explained that he would take people like that to bathrooms in tourist shops, instead of petrol stations, since they were nicer as they were designed for tourists. So of course I asked, "so why didn't you take us to places like that with real toilets?" He laughed and said, "well you are well traveled so I knew it would be alright." <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAGFFCz3q9yh1xpnGplCy-1hcbNxfujgOvx-TeBV3Gm8VuKBXfLcueh9SWLiqsAKsu_5z0x1YYS0sBJtDohlukYbDxIf-j8wVqyRgikiyVg7r99TN-MVpHLZ_eCTyVRlGb39TjBeHLYQ/s1600/squat-toilet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAGFFCz3q9yh1xpnGplCy-1hcbNxfujgOvx-TeBV3Gm8VuKBXfLcueh9SWLiqsAKsu_5z0x1YYS0sBJtDohlukYbDxIf-j8wVqyRgikiyVg7r99TN-MVpHLZ_eCTyVRlGb39TjBeHLYQ/s400/squat-toilet.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Yes, The Struggle Is Real Ladies.....Squat Toilets Everywhere</b><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
Thankfully, we had great weather during our safari but since we have been at the house sit, it has not been so good. The rains have been heavy, and tropical making this extremely humid environment even wetter. But here we have no dogs to walk or any pets to look after, just a gardener who comes twice a week to oversee. Well, Clyde is outside guiding the young man as he works around the house, doing a variety of odd jobs while I am here sitting on my butt telling you about it. The monsoon like rains are beating down heavily and Clyde is covered in a plastic raincoat while I am inside dry and warm. But, like they say in Kenya, "Hakuna Matata," or no worries for me.....along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7518744119022487844.post-6842650510782355752018-04-30T03:30:00.002-07:002018-04-30T03:30:44.733-07:00The Masai People.....A Peek Inside Their World.....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After our safari had finished we were offered a chance to take a tour of a traditional Masai Village. For the cost of $20 per person, we were greeted by our guide who would take us through a tour of his village. As we followed this young man through the muddy, reddish soil I tried to avoid stepping in cow poop that was everywhere. But I soon realized that the poop was mixed in with the soil, making it impossible to avoid getting it onto our shoes. Some of the Masai were barefoot while others wore tiny sandals, allowing the poop to squish between their toes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJeBj9TNOsxHyJWhvA2bHRyTP-Tpsq48SXNeOlkWAbfup4fGk2UTeTEo_lp0VcRO3W4xZbxN_Orar3Fo_cLtJmXclPSjaZcJQ3zjqhTuS0AFi7KVi0q75tFU8VmMuf5iXaneJKTC9dj8/s1600/20180428_092935.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJeBj9TNOsxHyJWhvA2bHRyTP-Tpsq48SXNeOlkWAbfup4fGk2UTeTEo_lp0VcRO3W4xZbxN_Orar3Fo_cLtJmXclPSjaZcJQ3zjqhTuS0AFi7KVi0q75tFU8VmMuf5iXaneJKTC9dj8/s400/20180428_092935.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Greeted By These Guys</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz4BsmBsRWSVvZvSe3ffZ3mehZjof40FeX7LblpOrey733yLplHHv8VR-EW9qPrxBMATR02_NvENIa0U6Ydney8EQacOsTxIdffDaac-Ec_Z3jkfSvvP7AzPfbJsLx_dC20omyeqjBCs/s1600/20180428_092937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPz4BsmBsRWSVvZvSe3ffZ3mehZjof40FeX7LblpOrey733yLplHHv8VR-EW9qPrxBMATR02_NvENIa0U6Ydney8EQacOsTxIdffDaac-Ec_Z3jkfSvvP7AzPfbJsLx_dC20omyeqjBCs/s400/20180428_092937.jpg" width="400" /></a></b></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAI2mhlBNLsRXknOHVKLmeylBHUR64nSDIrNgvKssXQOPb7xxqjJhapLkC7jHh5ppIS6GuF0_9STyLph_gC9tQdN2bKMa7_01oZtwz0qqaLZ7wnVByHwAgGvVYHZIYnREEY2UDVvteLQ/s1600/20180428_093001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJAI2mhlBNLsRXknOHVKLmeylBHUR64nSDIrNgvKssXQOPb7xxqjJhapLkC7jHh5ppIS6GuF0_9STyLph_gC9tQdN2bKMa7_01oZtwz0qqaLZ7wnVByHwAgGvVYHZIYnREEY2UDVvteLQ/s400/20180428_093001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Cows, Mud And Poop Everywhere</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtGyrKpdxZYCJoqhcE6Y3yG_nzPaNifHg32arnz4hldmNf_adVE14D_YcGMUSojYK-ZE6Kf3Yobj8as6yMdwGyMPF786P-M_5t0j8VrLaC6nw_K8L6W-Am13h_hbIwlfvSx1RNKF3xAI/s1600/20180428_093004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFtGyrKpdxZYCJoqhcE6Y3yG_nzPaNifHg32arnz4hldmNf_adVE14D_YcGMUSojYK-ZE6Kf3Yobj8as6yMdwGyMPF786P-M_5t0j8VrLaC6nw_K8L6W-Am13h_hbIwlfvSx1RNKF3xAI/s400/20180428_093004.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
The Masai people are nomadic, laying down roots for only five years before moving on to another location. Their world revolves around their cows which they use for food and trade, just like money. Trading cows is used to buy wives, other animals, or to solve issues between friends. They live in tiny homes made from cow dung, sticks and the roofs are made from elephant grass. The women are the only ones that can build these houses, using up to 20 women to build each one. The women keep their heads shaved since they find dealing with puffy hair too difficult in a hot climate.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KlIoQ9Jola2GzcUPwZrK453fvaizGFXK_RvtY04vijEsCK5_k6g5NC8s9P9rI9c8gqK_6_TV-PikA2e3W32CJw2wWRsNVd9zNkQC0n14Va_WhFKRK0aura81uutSISt18GMMYS01xxo/s1600/20180428_093316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6KlIoQ9Jola2GzcUPwZrK453fvaizGFXK_RvtY04vijEsCK5_k6g5NC8s9P9rI9c8gqK_6_TV-PikA2e3W32CJw2wWRsNVd9zNkQC0n14Va_WhFKRK0aura81uutSISt18GMMYS01xxo/s400/20180428_093316.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVabDUEzdniYO8CamVGR_n1K36gror9UVZt8txKRlQXjaiFslZPZb0OBIvJOyIdnGYNC_Gbg5tVJhDC4scZeeDoIWsdN_2ZxSWgm2Gso0TGdLqiVeISNgzu1eHxcqDm6Qwt8NST_uc08s/s1600/20180428_093537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1600" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVabDUEzdniYO8CamVGR_n1K36gror9UVZt8txKRlQXjaiFslZPZb0OBIvJOyIdnGYNC_Gbg5tVJhDC4scZeeDoIWsdN_2ZxSWgm2Gso0TGdLqiVeISNgzu1eHxcqDm6Qwt8NST_uc08s/s400/20180428_093537.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Entertaining Us By Dancing</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0w2Ntd5Bx5sio1FHaf9oXpW4plprVMLJ7ylo6S_FmgZ_PLNkjOy1LHH3sTtYUQtppAieNw7r5gq1T_SiFKRXdx6p1muIcjnHrUPYyB0FtFcadiUlTgSg8iNgc-dvY8R6jIbyzxsQe5Y/s1600/20180428_093441+-+Copy+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0w2Ntd5Bx5sio1FHaf9oXpW4plprVMLJ7ylo6S_FmgZ_PLNkjOy1LHH3sTtYUQtppAieNw7r5gq1T_SiFKRXdx6p1muIcjnHrUPYyB0FtFcadiUlTgSg8iNgc-dvY8R6jIbyzxsQe5Y/s320/20180428_093441+-+Copy+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKVsTXiX2dDs8cwM1h9G_HnCSIBH6Ri1IzNG_IxCPOb1huK_xDwVJ_ZCox-2RNjn21CAnJaqsj4e7hXao7EiPNsW05xKi_qpgzET2aNCDnNdamBmEOZR1tZEnsD0ikZoVYFGRZdgs_Tg/s1600/20180428_093445+-+Copy+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKVsTXiX2dDs8cwM1h9G_HnCSIBH6Ri1IzNG_IxCPOb1huK_xDwVJ_ZCox-2RNjn21CAnJaqsj4e7hXao7EiPNsW05xKi_qpgzET2aNCDnNdamBmEOZR1tZEnsD0ikZoVYFGRZdgs_Tg/s320/20180428_093445+-+Copy+-+Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
To welcome us some of the villagers danced and sang for us using a variety of yelling, chanting and jumping motions which were strange but interesting. Next they squatted down asking us to do the same, or just to bow our heads in prayer. Their prayer was for us that we should have a good safari and safe travels.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1sOFqwTLW3t36ZeCyJXDr9HLeod0gHIoYP4tVqx3GB1OLmsE7jj7VOFlgzQzDXLOubrCca_g-jhvYBVOEzclGrd7L6pU5cJ1cSr02lugoF5aIVOCaCp9wlpFDxq3H9llNxeYlBNu7LE/s1600/20180428_093608.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1sOFqwTLW3t36ZeCyJXDr9HLeod0gHIoYP4tVqx3GB1OLmsE7jj7VOFlgzQzDXLOubrCca_g-jhvYBVOEzclGrd7L6pU5cJ1cSr02lugoF5aIVOCaCp9wlpFDxq3H9llNxeYlBNu7LE/s400/20180428_093608.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Continuing through the village we watched as five young men demonstrated how they could make fire from rubbing a stick to a piece of wood.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwoGLf-XsfnpiLFibAZONTRhGd85sdwm1V1uK0DVP6OV_AE6bn7s9QrBxIxasnP2mdP9vC12y1qOmAy5BRFEDIDtFXnBQ3MuWq00zcOGRZ8uqjuNr9DaIJ89zuUVZbYsu0knOZiwTxFs/s1600/20180428_094549+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwoGLf-XsfnpiLFibAZONTRhGd85sdwm1V1uK0DVP6OV_AE6bn7s9QrBxIxasnP2mdP9vC12y1qOmAy5BRFEDIDtFXnBQ3MuWq00zcOGRZ8uqjuNr9DaIJ89zuUVZbYsu0knOZiwTxFs/s400/20180428_094549+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5nILvAFjIT-2eD7s98JLd00DYqmiP6IHcoKF70AnQMUKDCbgdbSF1EClm5jIIAF6XW3oG49Z1tjw1A4HfFVH5Brl6_UzWdvO7370PtyEREWuaOLcqVdLZuk5Sl_-8Jnpbq2Va3Ux3y0/s1600/20180428_094545+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5nILvAFjIT-2eD7s98JLd00DYqmiP6IHcoKF70AnQMUKDCbgdbSF1EClm5jIIAF6XW3oG49Z1tjw1A4HfFVH5Brl6_UzWdvO7370PtyEREWuaOLcqVdLZuk5Sl_-8Jnpbq2Va3Ux3y0/s400/20180428_094545+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Showing Us How They Make Fire</b></div>
<br />
Next, we met with a medicine man or tribe doctor who taught us about the medicinal trees that were used by the Masai. There were some to treat malaria, headaches and even to increase male potency, since the Masai men can have up to ten wives.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZBiFj9RbYiHgLjj54xdlw_IaOejKnPBJVg1v0DroZ71gsKYsIHZdkO7pj6PhsXzDtykmaPO-RJnyrWzRM2q95tmijBzNT8LFMyPpDFiCYvayuv1GRhma31upIp7-lh2jN2RcV3D29Cc/s1600/20180428_094226.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ZBiFj9RbYiHgLjj54xdlw_IaOejKnPBJVg1v0DroZ71gsKYsIHZdkO7pj6PhsXzDtykmaPO-RJnyrWzRM2q95tmijBzNT8LFMyPpDFiCYvayuv1GRhma31upIp7-lh2jN2RcV3D29Cc/s400/20180428_094226.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>The Medicine Man</b></div>
<br />
After that we were invited into the home of the community teacher, a tiny hut that he shares with his wife and two daughters. Wearing my purse over my waist I was barely able to squeeze through the narrow door that was made totally of dung. It was totally dark with no light except what came through a tiny window on one side. When my eyes adjusted to the darkness I was offered a hard seat on a cow hide that was used as a bed for two girls to share. Clyde sat on a plastic bucket that apparently served as a chair. Next to the girls bed was a cooking area made up of sticks, under the tiny window which was put in place so that the smoke could go out. He went onto explain that they believed the smoke from the fire to be medicinal for them, so it was a good thing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruOzW5tKQlAQMV-wbVEaqVy0_78ZGI0UImUoSYyIrf1P9VT0Su6mPRkqdnr_vHwfsD_0xGah9vGcgYMIpitL3TuMCrz-vcSi8rXhO3l_uPVo9khiy6DduMIXzrXW3YtSwQowoMNuzhSs/s1600/20180428_095028+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruOzW5tKQlAQMV-wbVEaqVy0_78ZGI0UImUoSYyIrf1P9VT0Su6mPRkqdnr_vHwfsD_0xGah9vGcgYMIpitL3TuMCrz-vcSi8rXhO3l_uPVo9khiy6DduMIXzrXW3YtSwQowoMNuzhSs/s400/20180428_095028+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b> Now We Are Invited Into One Of The Homes</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbME3r8ks2zSbKbjnnOmK2FhWhLGIxdsISrVg8O5V_NZrt59_R3rby45JtDw6fPSSG1t-ShS0wv6OFYJO-_pM4ZsPhd5WMyeH2KCHNgtjkcRh_tZFFSK89emyKwZoE3I1cIXmGobQyFJE/s1600/20180428_095214+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbME3r8ks2zSbKbjnnOmK2FhWhLGIxdsISrVg8O5V_NZrt59_R3rby45JtDw6fPSSG1t-ShS0wv6OFYJO-_pM4ZsPhd5WMyeH2KCHNgtjkcRh_tZFFSK89emyKwZoE3I1cIXmGobQyFJE/s400/20180428_095214+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b> Cooking Area Next To The Bed Where I Am Sitting</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVZpiACzLpy6Paj8FktCN8RDvwwhSqdaffbhWn7YSq5x-qsKcIjSnDP2jULGEpv_Rss2vS361KzHeTY1wecRgJVle5H-0AqPXt-7rNWFP0RsmsfGlhdWTfsgpfA6steVNDSMY474hbnk/s1600/20180428_095236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVZpiACzLpy6Paj8FktCN8RDvwwhSqdaffbhWn7YSq5x-qsKcIjSnDP2jULGEpv_Rss2vS361KzHeTY1wecRgJVle5H-0AqPXt-7rNWFP0RsmsfGlhdWTfsgpfA6steVNDSMY474hbnk/s400/20180428_095236.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Buckets For Furniture</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincZVYa_CrhEMoIhwyyCJFdmVOOhecv-_XR3GKUNOxxcK5U_LBwUiYOtPeEmUnq7r6i50JLdm6YXzxwFdEvUGuPMI9cUAjwe30mWdm2AE_JH6ACAk-hQF1zgvZQkK_DKKxb9NZelIa8xU/s1600/20180428_095254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEincZVYa_CrhEMoIhwyyCJFdmVOOhecv-_XR3GKUNOxxcK5U_LBwUiYOtPeEmUnq7r6i50JLdm6YXzxwFdEvUGuPMI9cUAjwe30mWdm2AE_JH6ACAk-hQF1zgvZQkK_DKKxb9NZelIa8xU/s400/20180428_095254.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Bed Made From A Cowhide....Hard And Cold</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCuQlJa1Gq3EERBOLwH42upUOigczCPk0vfG2aLq90iTq_ubze19j7-wlfHPDJKP5brqKDAmM8W3yB-oEJJqXR4Itg0m6YfqBK67vKkcBx5spt3d99w1SFA2PLBBBwhtB0TRRXSnfhFI/s1600/20180428_095303.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCuQlJa1Gq3EERBOLwH42upUOigczCPk0vfG2aLq90iTq_ubze19j7-wlfHPDJKP5brqKDAmM8W3yB-oEJJqXR4Itg0m6YfqBK67vKkcBx5spt3d99w1SFA2PLBBBwhtB0TRRXSnfhFI/s400/20180428_095303.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi767K6oPNgJmWEBMemSAjPhX92IiF5j0U-Q_qNeuzuXRc1T-5JELfy7i7tNmiDN9GzEtLYtFVNYr9cpDnhUPnhpHdPHD82iMOe8VXSnfGjgtdzk6uE5h4AqskDk3YmuP9sil3Jj5gRkTo/s1600/20180428_095325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi767K6oPNgJmWEBMemSAjPhX92IiF5j0U-Q_qNeuzuXRc1T-5JELfy7i7tNmiDN9GzEtLYtFVNYr9cpDnhUPnhpHdPHD82iMOe8VXSnfGjgtdzk6uE5h4AqskDk3YmuP9sil3Jj5gRkTo/s400/20180428_095325.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ5eJOdsYQ7WJQjdIOv68-ijTtvE5JzO9rWqnaZd8XApRPGZT4VqBtT-9eg4LIy5ur-KCIS5lQqWeST9gCEJcd_Td8q6uIOKBvx0gp3NokdtJRGpkImLc4OJfFbDWJE_sspyXmaL2o1s/s1600/20180428_095344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJ5eJOdsYQ7WJQjdIOv68-ijTtvE5JzO9rWqnaZd8XApRPGZT4VqBtT-9eg4LIy5ur-KCIS5lQqWeST9gCEJcd_Td8q6uIOKBvx0gp3NokdtJRGpkImLc4OJfFbDWJE_sspyXmaL2o1s/s400/20180428_095344.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Get Me Out Of Here</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIC_hXmjk3YCb5FUes-A8AYo4Icybon2lFPgJNH-egThSuxEW98JgMTPpDVCKu8QAwU_1_FVcNBvBinsnPxYkU6DAFvJtilfXaeJY4VQpbTUbE4ijXklX0jZAy5Czu8nOp-dJJa27XP5g/s1600/20180428_095549.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIC_hXmjk3YCb5FUes-A8AYo4Icybon2lFPgJNH-egThSuxEW98JgMTPpDVCKu8QAwU_1_FVcNBvBinsnPxYkU6DAFvJtilfXaeJY4VQpbTUbE4ijXklX0jZAy5Czu8nOp-dJJa27XP5g/s400/20180428_095549.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Houses Made From Cow Dung</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG67Rf7ejiMqDoe8LDH27o9Zfoh7GF7lnKYOqdBsDQvKwByC2FStpDjfW7oQX156dYuZSNyjJT72SvWFOqplE4j_97zL8yYqKp02lK0JqXXvI7HmSbd-UBkj7fMyYVdmKp9FcvPBohF0/s1600/20180428_095704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDG67Rf7ejiMqDoe8LDH27o9Zfoh7GF7lnKYOqdBsDQvKwByC2FStpDjfW7oQX156dYuZSNyjJT72SvWFOqplE4j_97zL8yYqKp02lK0JqXXvI7HmSbd-UBkj7fMyYVdmKp9FcvPBohF0/s400/20180428_095704.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Eventually we were invited into the school house which was really a disturbing experience. We were greeted with boys singing us a song and later singing the alphabet in English. Then a toddler, perhaps a one or two year old, walked into the middle of the room and I realized he was wearing NO pants and No shoes. His hand was near his penis that he kept touching, making me think he was about to pee in the middle of the room. The age range in the room was from toddler up to maybe eight or nine?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GjiT2i7N677RGAVyMguy4F5ZaYwehuMoI_p94K1H_la33TdQxhD8Qzjhwpb2ptvZSafXaYis1cf0Yu658fEeLK8RqsXX7aC0vDWDkcsF_hKBJpuFDCHmYv6gK6dd-DpISRnCNNCIrF8/s1600/20180428_100112+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2GjiT2i7N677RGAVyMguy4F5ZaYwehuMoI_p94K1H_la33TdQxhD8Qzjhwpb2ptvZSafXaYis1cf0Yu658fEeLK8RqsXX7aC0vDWDkcsF_hKBJpuFDCHmYv6gK6dd-DpISRnCNNCIrF8/s400/20180428_100112+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b> Village School For Boys</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1o-5uBZfuPazN4juxhJHqVNa4M9tSnnpxy3sjw51FUe2AR6tg1YNjgC8TvsrHR4XEUtEQntCUNEyAzG65eSBsaupmKo56n58mBZNEs8KOScnNkUMVQ9u7NyOGZ_zbQXoW-vrhyhZph0/s1600/20180428_100117+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1o-5uBZfuPazN4juxhJHqVNa4M9tSnnpxy3sjw51FUe2AR6tg1YNjgC8TvsrHR4XEUtEQntCUNEyAzG65eSBsaupmKo56n58mBZNEs8KOScnNkUMVQ9u7NyOGZ_zbQXoW-vrhyhZph0/s400/20180428_100117+-+Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIG5xWo8I0DzKzVALYhHnRb0wnAfHWOJbWYTlHtwBJ4X5lLypR4NgWpkCAOcRBHpXNRSPwru5xfwpPw4VhK-nd8eXpXcdWt6KyPvBdrXlGfhEK1WD0NWHVF7wUETTQIyfiFQeN6u4PCU/s1600/20180428_100212.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIG5xWo8I0DzKzVALYhHnRb0wnAfHWOJbWYTlHtwBJ4X5lLypR4NgWpkCAOcRBHpXNRSPwru5xfwpPw4VhK-nd8eXpXcdWt6KyPvBdrXlGfhEK1WD0NWHVF7wUETTQIyfiFQeN6u4PCU/s400/20180428_100212.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>One Of The Boys With No Pants</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
All that I could think about was these little boys with no pants, spreading germs to the other boys whose laps they were sitting on. These kids walk in cow poop all day long, many of them wearing no shoes, no pants and probably peeing freely wherever they want.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLi6SsOK67pwA9aX7bAyKp7queTn7liyp27x2eBLGNChXGLbtZo9VABJ8Z1z0RcEDw_unSWfyaXP0BRd6FGoVO7bxItCLaMzZbvt-Oj1AimqBKcN6hE0xZYTm8-xbHIRnEYZcyPW3tCs/s1600/20180428_100412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLi6SsOK67pwA9aX7bAyKp7queTn7liyp27x2eBLGNChXGLbtZo9VABJ8Z1z0RcEDw_unSWfyaXP0BRd6FGoVO7bxItCLaMzZbvt-Oj1AimqBKcN6hE0xZYTm8-xbHIRnEYZcyPW3tCs/s400/20180428_100412.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Can We Get Out Of Here Now.....So I Can Burn My Shoes?</b></div>
<br />
Clyde and I left there shocked, almost in a daze after seeing how they live. The best word to describe it for me was disturbing or disgusting. As we climbed back into our van I felt dirty and literally wanted to take off my shoes and burn them, because they were covered with poop. I asked our driver to stop somewhere so we could clean off our shoes, but Clyde had a better solution. We stopped on the side of the road and my dear husband Clyde stepped out of the car and cleaned off each of my shoes in the grass. Then I pulled out some sanitizing wipes and cleaned them off even further.<br />
<br />
It was as if I needed to wash the experience out of my head and try to forget or unsee what was in my brain. Somethings are better left unseen, and perhaps this was one of them? Yes, this was a life changing experience that we hope to forget as we continue our adventures in Kenya......along the gringo trail.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Clyde and Terry Coleshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02918476102444907230noreply@blogger.com0