I realize it’s only been a few days since my last blog posting but I thought it would be good idea to update you on our latest little misfortune. Check out the Road Ramble below.

As for the travel update… After leaving our campground in Albufeira, Portugal we headed west to Sagres which is as far west as one can go on the European continent without falling off. Very beautiful and rugged area much like the Oregon coast with its giant waves, fantastic cliffs, and miles of deserted sandy beaches. We spent the night at an impressive “4 star” campground resort just outside the cool little harbour town of Lagos on the south coast. As we drove north towards Lisbon we passed numerous other idyllic surfer style beaches along the way but what caught my attention in this area was the abundance of wild “cork” trees. I’ve never seen a cork tree before and I just had to stop and get a closer look. In the pictures you’ll notice how they harvest the cork (bark) from only one half of the tree trunk at a time because If they remove more than that it will kill the tree. Growing cork is not a fast process as it will take a tree at least ten years to replace what has been harvested. All over Portugal we have found a fantastic assortment of cool cork related products such as hand bags, wallets, hats, and even shoes.
The final drive into Lisbon was a bit crazy and it was not made any easier by the heavy rain and darkness. When we finally located our huge campground inside a large city area park we found ourselves parking the motorhome during the biggest downpour we have seen so far but, for some reason, nasty weather like this always makes our confined space feel that much more cozy. Lisbon is a very interesting city with tons of history as well. Without a doubt you can see the strains of the recent financial pressure on the Lisbon infrastructure but it’s still a great place to visit and we never sensed a depressed feeling at all, we only experienced pleasant and up-beat people. The impressive Castle S. Jorge proudly overlooks the old walled village next to it and the main city centre and harbour below. At night with all the feature lights on this view is even more splendid but if you plan on exploring Lisbon in the dark, beware of those dangerously deceptive shifting curbs.

Road Ramble: Ouch!

Even the lives of amateur explorers can be filled with excitement, danger and unexpected adventures. Margot decided to experiment with all three at once on Tuesday evening by running across a busy Lisbon Square bravely leaping over large puddles and tall curbs as she raced to catch our late night bus. Unfortunately a tall curb got the best of her and she went down hard with a badly twisted left ankle. With all the painful markings of a bad sprain Margot was understandably upset and we both agreed that this was not a fun way to end such a great day. As this happened right beside our bus stop we decided to carry on,”hop” aboard, and head for home. Unfortunately Kristen wasn’t around to practice her new nursing skills so I did my best and thankfully we had others there willing to help; this is where the story becomes a little more “upbeat”. You can really tell the true nature of a city and it’s people by the way you’re treated by total strangers when the going gets tough. When Margot fell, a young skateboarder dude instantly jumped into action to lend a hand while a nearby restaurant waitress scrambled for some ice. But, the most amazing gesture of all was from the bus driver who helped us onto the bus and then when we reached our stop got up and announced to everyone that he was going to make a slight detour… for us, and then proceeded to drive off his designated route to drop us right at the front gate of our campground. I don’t think we’ll ever forget the heart-warming image of that big bus pulling away with the bus driver and most of the people aboard waving goodby and wishing us well. Did I mention the lady on the bus that was so helpful. At the campground office we had a better chance to assess the damage and ultimately decided it prudent to check things out at the nearby hospital. The concerned campground staff also jumped into action and arranged for a taxi to take us to the hospital, then provided us with an extra big bag of ice to get through the night. When we arrived at the rather confusing emergency department we hadn’t even exited the taxi before a very nice fellow and his daughter surprisingly sprung into action there, running off to get a wheelchair and then helping us with Portuguese translation for our entire visit. The doctor and all the hospital staff were fantastic and when the X-rays confirmed it actually was a sprain, we were on our way back home again with instructions to take things really easy for a few days and after a couple of weeks things should be getting back to normal. We both agree, that for us, the most significant “upbeat” part of this unfortunate little story focuses around the wonderful people who came from nowhere to help total strangers and how that’s left us with such a positive impression of the Portuguese people in general. It’s amazing the impact that a few small gestures of random kindness can have on ones opinion of an entire country. Almost two days later and you’ll be happy to know that the swelling is now starting to subside and the patient is on the mend. Unfortunately, our freewheeling mobility has taken a sharp hit, but with lots left to see and do, rehabilitation will become our main focus over the next few weeks.