Portugal 1985
We went to Portugal in 1985. I arrived in Portugal from Spain and Morocco with my friend Dave Bodaly from Edmonton. We were supposed to go to the wedding of my cousin Alcides Candido, but unfortunately we got delayed at the train station in Morocco. When we arrived my cousins were gone to the Hotel of Bussaco, but there was still plenty of food at my uncle Julio Candido in Labrengos. We still had some leitao and other delicious, traditional foods.
We visited many places in the country, but we stayed pretty close to my village of Serredade. We went to Coimbra and we stuck with my home beach of Praia de Mira.
Like always when we go to Portugal, we always get invited to many functions and family suppers. It was always a treat to see my parents and grand-parents and my cat Faisca who followed me everywhere especially when I went to help my dad in his lands.
In Canada, I went to a sober church and we were in Portugal we did not drink, people could not believe that somebody would take a sip of wine or a glass of beer. It was hard to go to all those parties and have to explain myself. Not everybody accepted my new faith in Christ. It was both rewarding and tough to share my faith in Christ in a country rooted in Catholicism and religiosity. I visited a Church in Coimbra.
Me and Dave we did not rent a car, we mainly used my dad's motorcycle. Dave seemed sometimes uncomfortable with two riders on the bike. He was reluctant to lean in the curves making it difficult to control the bike.
Dave seemed to adapt well to life in Portugal. He got along really well with my family. He ate everything even the weird stuff.
Dave had to leave early for Canada. Later my friends the Videiras came to visit and we took a couple of trips together. Reinaldo got to know the Videiras and they became friends. Many of my friends had moved away to other countries so it was not the same.
Dave finally went home I gave him some travelling checks to spend a couple of days in England while he waited for his flight. Unfortunately he could not cash them. He spent a couple of tough days in England without little food.
I had to leave and like always, it's always a heart breaking experience.
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Rent my condo, N604 Sonoran Spa, Puerto Penasco Mexico
Man in a special wheel-chair bike in Serredade
One of my first cat, Faisca in Serredade
Houses in Camarneira
My dad's village, Camarneira near Cantanhede
Outdoor market in Cantanhede
Cantanhede
A lot of goods were sold at the market in Cantanhede
My friends Fernando, Suzie and Manuel Videira
The Lagoon of Mira
Enjoying the bumper cars in the Praia de Mira
From the University, view of Coimbra
The famous azulejos (blue tiles) of Portugal, Coimbra
Old cathedral in Coimbra
There is a lot to buy in the city
Coimbra is built on a hill, a lot of steps to climb
Narrow houses, narrow streets in the city
Selling lottery tickets
Section of Coimbra
Suburb of Coimbra???
Fernando Videira playing the professor at the Uiversity of Coimbra
Fooling around, being hanged
Quinta das Lagrimas, Coimbra
Corn being stored the Portuguese way in Serredade
Cut eucalyptus in Serredade, ready for shipment
Febres square in the late seventies
My cousin Nelson Santos playing malha with his dad
My uncle Aleixo Santos
Joke, somebody wrote bathroom
The road that leads to Praia de Mira
Road that leads to Praia de Mira, near the beach
Old Fisherman houses in Mira called palheiros.
Lady in black at the beach in Mira
Old chapel at the beach
Looking north, Praia de Mira
Beautiful, colorful parasols in Mira
Praia de mIra one of the great beaches of Portugal
Airplanes dropped small parachutes for publicity purposes
Small streets going uphill, typical of Coimbra
Girls relaxing by the Mondego River in Coimbra
Newsstand in Coimbra
Suzie Videira trying some shoes store in Coimbra
The models Manuel, Suzie and Fernando Videira
Forget the garbage can, The Videiras
Our guide Reinaldo showing us Coimbra
Having fun with the Videiras and Reinaldo
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