Our personal and collective stories are important. They give shape and meaning to our lives. These stories, however, always involve as much forgetting as they do remembering. Read more…
Early morning, along a deserted country dirt road. This might be the very best place to find your self. Here nature reveals herself in song and with a light show. Here, as well, others secret away simple acts of kindness that stun and amaze. Read more…
A trip to Seville to celebrate a friend’s milestone 75th birthday triggers many thoughts. It is a city of rich history built on many disparate cultures. It is a city where memory can clash with reality. Read more…
The Portuguese are an odd mix of gloomy self-deprecation and happy-go-lucky, come-what-may optimism. It is this unique perspective on themselves and on the world around them that make the Portuguese so darn nice. Read more…
Just in case you were wondering does Portugal have something like the USA’s Independence Day or France’s Bastille Day? Well yes it does! Read some more about it in this short, special edition post. Read more…
Tavira has a lot of churches. At one time, long ago, these places served lots of purposes, secular as well as religious. One purpose they served was as gathering places where common problems were solved and the future was imagined. We no longer have these kinds of places, but we have no less need for them. Read more…
With the language of courtesy you can “get by” in Portuguese. And, believe it or not, you already know a slew of Portuguese words that you don’t even know you know. This is because English is heavily influenced by French, Greek and Latin. So, in terms of vocabulary, Portuguese and English overlap by more than one-third. This, perhaps, will give you more confidence to take the leap into speaking Portuguese on your next trip. Read more…
There are no ifs, ands or buts about it, Portuguese is a tough language. Even the Portuguese think their language too bothersome for visitors and guests, and so have turned themselves into consummate polyglots. Nonetheless, you can quickly, easily learn enough Portuguese to “get by” on your next visit. Portuguese has a simplified sub-language of courtesy, which is all you will need. Read more…
Living in Portugal has given me the opportunity to discover that I have another long lost dream: I have always wanted to make art. So I have given in to this dream too. Art has become another lens through which I understand this incredible place. It is also Portugal’s lens into my soul. Place and person become entwined, which is the essence of Portugalizar. You will see a lot of my art going forward. I wanted to warn you ahead of time. Read more…
