Category Archives: Uncategorized

This morning I joined the Asian Rolling Backpack Coalition and moved my hurt butt to the airport. Yesterday, I did the arms good and walked from the Bus to the Metro and then up to Saldinha, where our hostel is.

I like walking around Saldinha, it’s familiar and comfortable because we stayed here for 4 days earlier this trip. On my way out of the Metro, a Portuguese woman came up to me and asked me something about McDonalds. I didn’t know what she meant, but I asked her if she wanted to eat there anyway, which she politely declined. I dined there anyway.

The Gulbenkian Museum was closed when I went, but the park was open. I took the time to do a sketch of the side opposite the ampitheater. Pen sketch, no watercolor.

Last night I wrote an essay on Jean Baptiste Sieur-le Moyene de Bienville. He had tattoos, which was odd for the 21-year-old founder and governor of New Orleans. He did them to signify his relations with local American Indian tribes, with whom he spoke in their native tongue.

Bienville fit the “libertine,” character, but his personality carried him into history.

All of the words I remember in Portuguese pertain to food. Obrigado, thank you. Formaccio, cheese. Caffe con leche, coffe with milk. Bom dia, good day. That’s about it. Last night I practiced my Spanish and Portuguese with some Brazilians– let’s just say they were more interested in speaking their native tongue.

I will include more pictures in the next post-I’m stirring to get in the airplane. Hoping to submit my essay.

Peace!

We’re on the bus back to Lisbon and I’m a little sad about traveling back home. I am savoring every minute here, which translated to me seeking alternative options to Lisbon, the train, but decided otherwise. Not wanting to leave, coupled with the anxiety of travelling, makes it difficult to be cool, calm and collected. For instance, I’m sure my bags on are the right bus, this bus, but you never really know.

Before leaving I stopped at the grocery store to stock up on baked goods and butter, pictured above. I also got some table salt, which said it was originated in Portugal, but I’m never quite sure.

There was a redhead in the line in front of me, she put her bags with mine. I followed my classmates to the bus side, then she cut in front of me. I hope my bags are on this bus.

While walking around yesterday, I was exposed to some colors I loved. The green hedge, yellow wall and grey posts are an amazing color combination. The pink walls and terra cotta tile was intense. The white door and classic blue/yellow tile is beautiful. The train tracks are grey and bland. I wonder if we could beautify the train tracks to make them popular. The bus is a very vibrant yellow, but is still a car in the highway. A train is much more efficient, is smoother, and is an alternative — which is important in and of itself.

I’m at the Tavira grocery story with the locals and Yuta, my Japanese classmate. He wonders why the menus are not translated into Japanese.

The salt here has to be good, to take home as souvenirs, and I’m going to try and get some here and now. Then, I’m hoping to get a train schedule to Lisbon. The bus was nice, but the train is so much better. I hope the price is not outrageous. The walk to the train is also closer to the Hostel than the bus station, and we don’t have to parade through Main Street like we did in the way in.

Yesterday was incredible. I visited a dune and coastal marsh with Josh in the am. Then, I spent the morning looking for watercolor paper–to no avail.

After walking through the marshes and walking through the streets. I found myself walking trough the Inglesia de Santa Maria, possibly to cool off my feet, which were smoking. I went to a cafe later that day. Health feet restored, I walked up the river valley and found a farm occupied by sheep, almond trees, carebs and a beautiful flood plain.