Back in Tavira 2022

 Think I’m getting worse at this, not better, and strangely enough, one week seems much the same as the other, so finally I’m fully in Portugal mode. Weather report first…we now have had 3 to 4 beach walking days so things are warming up! But I also bought a hot pink puffer down jacket for 19 euros, both to keep me warm at night and so cars can see  me as we stumble errr walk home on the cobblestones. So  This week two of Jeanette’s friends,    Krys and Patricia arrived  from Toronto so a busy time and lots of laughs.  Last night was Patricia’s BD so we celebrated in style. I made Linda P’s maple chicken curry, we drank Prosecco and enjoyed the night with John, Sue and two friends Ab and Lia joining us as well.  As you may have already guessed, multiple stops in coffee shops is a way of life here. The Portuguese, like most Europeans drink their espressos in thimble size cups in one gulp. The glass of water that comes with it reserves your spot for...

  Recently,  we’ve been bemoaning the unusual weather in (usually) sunny Tavira.  Apparently a year ago the average temperature was in the low 20’s and brilliant sunshine everyday.  Last ‘week the temperature was about 16- 18 and dampish. But the strange part was around March 15th the murky sky seemed like we were surrounded by forest fires without the sparks or smell. When I looked at the forecast I discovered we were in the midst of a rare sand storm blowing across from the Sahara desert in North Africa.  It was especially bad in southern Spain , where people with respiratory issues were urged to stay indoors. Other than the brownish grey sky, didn’t seem so bad here but when we got up in the morning, every car in Tavira was covered in a fine film of sand.  Guess what? It was wonderful to have a supply of face masks with us. The first two pics were taken around noon on day 2 of the sand storm. The 3rd pic is what Tavira typically looks like on a sunny day...

 This trip almost never happened several times as planning took a bumpy road through changing Covid rules not only in Canada, but especially in Portugal. I assumed once I was double dosed and had a booster shot, it would be just a matter of packing, buying a plane ticket …not so easy as Portugal refused to let Canadians in,  although all of Europe, USA, Britain, New Zealand and many other counties were welcomed with open arms. First we pushed our direct flight on TAP out 2 weeks, hoping all would be ok. But when the entry rules remained unchanged, we rebooked our flights on AC to enter via the UK. I was on a 4:15 pm flight from Halifax to Toronto on March 6, and our flight Via London and then Lisbon was scheduled for 8:30 pm. Obviously not much time but the only change I could make to that portion of my ticket was to 5 am, unless I was willing to pay another $ 1000 ( don’t ask but it had to do with an multi stop international ticket, even though it was sold as no fee changeabl...