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Published: March 24th 2013
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3 Months Growth
We enjoyed spending time seeing the changes that 3 months make when so young in both Everett and Gabriel. Well, we are now back in Lagos, Portugal after a much longer than planned trip from the US. Our travels started on Thursday, March 14
thwith a road trip to JFK to return the rental car and catch an American Airlines flight that evening to London. The original plan was to have one hour in Heathrow Airport and catch a flight to Lisbon which would get us there about 10:30AM, transfer to the bus station and be back at the boat at 4:30PM at the latest. Instead, when we got to London we were greeted by an American Airline representative that stated that they had already transferred us to a later British Airways flight as the original connection was too tight due to leaving JFK late. No problem we said and set off to terminal 1 where we were to get the boarding pass from British Airways. We got there to find out that they said we were too late to catch the 8:15AM flight, but they could get us on a later flight leaving at 1:20PM on TAP (Portugal airline). Still no problems – this will give us time to get some lunch and possibly take a nap on the lovely
Sharing Space with Us
Even though Sailor is gone, we had LB and Sweetie to keep us company in the house while back in the US. and comfortable benches provided at airports. Unfortunately the gate number would not be provided until about 45 minutes before flight time so we found an empty bench and settled in. Finally found that the flight was delayed but that the gate was starting to board. Only problem was that the signboard did not provide a gate number yet. Finally about 30 minutes before the flight was to leave we got our gate number and we started to move again. We got to the gate to find that there was another delay until 2PM. No problem, but then we thought about the bus schedule from Lisbon to Lagos in Portugal. Fortunately we found out that there was one leaving at 6:30 and 8:30PM. The TAP flight to Lisbon got us in at 4:30PM only to find that one of our bags didn’t make it. They were very efficient and found out that they knew where our bag was, just that it would be on a later flight. They assured us they would have it delivered to the marina the next day. The paperwork completed, we grabbed a taxi and asked to go to the bus station. Rush hour traffic in Lisbon
A Treat
We received a sweet treat from Joanne when we arrived. Thanks! as well as some detours made it a little nerve racking, but the driver got us to the bus station at 6:15PM. We ran to the station to get in a long line to buy tickets. By 6:25PM we had the tickets in hand and were running to the bus. Fortunately we had been to this station before so it was familiar to us and we knew where the bus was going to be located. Four hours later we were getting off the bus in Lagos at 10:30PM for the walk to the marina. It was a very long two days of traveling, but we are now safely back home on Tsamaya.
So, what filled our time in the US? We seemed to be busy all the time enjoying time with family and friends. We also both had some time to get some medical appointments taken care of and we had numerous appointments with physical and occupational therapist. Thankfully they got both of us back in shape to come back to the boat able to move around easily. Major thanks go to both Beth and Lara for their hard work getting us feeling better and sending us off with
A Small Sampling of Family Visits
We spent lots of great times with family while home as well. These are only a small section of the many we enjoyed time with. the means to continue our physical improvement. We got to see our grand nephews; Gabriel and Everett grow over the 3 months. This was fun as we have never been around little ones for that length of time, how quickly they change.
As you read in our last blog we got to see many friends and family during our 3 week road trip, but we also had time to spend with siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and Mom.
Mom and Janice went through numerous old photos reminiscing over old times and talking about some of the trips we have gone on together. The last week we were there Mom decided we didn’t have enough excitement so wound up getting Janice’s sisters all together at the emergency room of the local hospital. Mom fell one morning and got a cut over her eye – fortunately for all there were no broken bones and she was out of the hospital in 6 hours. Next time Mom – just call us all over to your place for a visit!
We got to spend Christmas with family, be there for Everett’s christening, help babysit when needed, take in a couple
Thanks for the Help!
It seems every time I go back to the US I wind up spending time with Lara doing therapy – this time it was my shoulder. Hopefully next time I’ll only stop by to visit. Thanks for all the help! of movies, try out a few of the local restaurants, do some shopping for things to bring back to the boat, get caught up on necessary paperwork, get our income taxes done, spend time with siblings and even got a chance to do some reading for pleasure.
We want to thank everyone that opened their home to us while we were back in the US. This cruising lifestyle has definitely made us into nomads. We appreciate everyone’s willingness to have us as houseguests. Special thanks to Sue and Jamie for shared their home with us. You guys are great!
It was definitely great to have a chance to spend time with everyone, but we are getting back into a routine now that we are back home on Tsamaya. Jet lag really caught us this time; we are still not back to our “normal” hours. The last few nights we have not gone to bed until 3 or 4 AM and wake up between 10AM and noon. We are hoping each day gets better and we will get back to regular hours. Since we have been back we have been taking in some fun activities. Monday nights at a
Thanks for Sharing Your Home
Thanks Jamie and Sue for opening your home to us while we were back in the US. local hotel the New Orleans Jazz Band played which is a group of retired musicians currently living in Portugal. Nothing like coming to Portugal to hear some great jazz! Tuesday we took advantage of a trip that the marina organized to a local organic winery. It was nice to hear about a small local family owned business and how they are making a success of it. Wednesday we joined the Lagos Strollers for a 14.8 km. (9 mile) hike near the coast. This is another way to see some of the area as well as get some great walking. Fortunately we didn’t feel any ill effects the next day. Friday night we bought tickets to attend a concert which is to benefit the local fire department. It was very enjoyable and included a wide variety of music. We even lucked out and won 2 of the raffle prizes that evening. Next Friday we have signed up for dinner with other cruisers at a local Portuguese restaurant. Fortunately most of these activities are at night so we can work on crossing things off our “to do” list. Next week we will concentrate on getting things that need to be done before
Remains from World's Fair
Passed by the site where the World’s Fair had been in NY years ago – still have the world there!
we pull the boat out of the water on April 2
nd. Then the fun will begin with taking the bottom paint off the boat and preparing it for a new type of bottom paint that is supposed to last 10 years – it will be worth it in the end, just lots of work right now.
It is now Sunday, March 24
th and we seem to have gotten into a routine here. On dry days we get some hand washing hung out to dry, we walk to the grocery store for shopping, go to the fresh veggie market and touch base with other cruisers to get pointers on where to sail next. We are wearing shorts and T-shirts during the day, but change into blue jeans and fleeces in the evenings. Raincoats are needed usually for at least part of the day, but the rest of the time we have sunshine and quite a bit of wind. We enjoy seeing the flowering trees and everything green from the rain – it is definitely getting us excited and hopeful that spring is right around the corner. We are hoping that for everyone else as well!
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Lynn
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That's quite a trip back to the boat. Nothing like sleeping in your own bed after a day like that. Glad it all turned out well.