Hahahahahaha oh boy..........from the Wandering Berkmans!
As John Lennon sagely said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...." You have this grand plan....and then a global pandemic comes around. I wonder if he knew...
So just days after we canceled our next destination (Scotland and Ireland) and rebooked to stay here until May, we're changing our plans again.
After talking it over with the kids and between ourselves, we've decided where we need to be right now with all that's going on is closer to our kids and the family.
With that, we have a flight out this Saturday--- Lisbon to Miami on TAP Air Portugal, Miami to Seattle on American. (We had to work our path via one of the 13 mandated entry airports and there are no non-stops to Seattle.). Then we'll drive up to Bellingham WA. We found a nice Airbnb in the woods where we'll self-quarantine for 2 weeks.
Yes, Seattle is a hot-bed but we figure most of the crowds have left the airports and we're not going into the city proper (or Kirkland, where most of the virus activity is). We are equipped with masks, hand sanitizer, wipes, gloves-- everything that medical professionals in the US are needing themselves, sadly. (there is less of a shortage here than in the US, it seems.)
So we're sad to leave Lisbon but know this certainly won't be the last time we're here. This city has left an indelible impression on us, has widened our cuisine repertoire (Don!) and just feels right. And we owe Julia a visit!
Of course, it's a different city right now, to be sure. People, thankfully, are taking the restrictions seriously. For those who know this plaza, this is a stark site:
. 
One way we've been keeping busy in self quarantine is to make a point to call one person/group a day.
On yesterday's show, our special guests, all the way from NJ, Katy and Mark! We virtually clinked glasses to celebrate birthdays and an anniversary. And to get Katy's recipe for homemade pita chips. Girl can cook.
Anna and Mikael were our special guests over the weekend. They hail from our former hometown in NJ (via Denmark) and gave us the scoop on the latest town gossip. They have their finger on the pulse, I tell you.
Camera shy guests included Christine from Spain, our kids, and Mark from Citispot, our local coffeeshop and 2nd home when we lived in Clinton. He was just a tad surprised to get our call. Happy Birthday!
Speaking of birthdays, I celebrated one the other day (29 feels good all over again). Don pulled out all the stops within mandated limits and treated me to a wonderful dinner chez nous with this spectacular cake-- grilled sausage haha
We'll check back in when we land on the other side. Be well, stay healthy and hopefully soon we'll all be out in the sunshine again, giving each other big socially non-distant hugs. In the meantime, here are some soothing images of some of our favorite azulejos (tiles) in the city and the old tile factory.
As our little neighbor down the street said-- It's gonna be ok.
Thanks for following along!
Don and Monica
As John Lennon sagely said, "Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans...." You have this grand plan....and then a global pandemic comes around. I wonder if he knew...
So just days after we canceled our next destination (Scotland and Ireland) and rebooked to stay here until May, we're changing our plans again.
After talking it over with the kids and between ourselves, we've decided where we need to be right now with all that's going on is closer to our kids and the family.
With that, we have a flight out this Saturday--- Lisbon to Miami on TAP Air Portugal, Miami to Seattle on American. (We had to work our path via one of the 13 mandated entry airports and there are no non-stops to Seattle.). Then we'll drive up to Bellingham WA. We found a nice Airbnb in the woods where we'll self-quarantine for 2 weeks.
Yes, Seattle is a hot-bed but we figure most of the crowds have left the airports and we're not going into the city proper (or Kirkland, where most of the virus activity is). We are equipped with masks, hand sanitizer, wipes, gloves-- everything that medical professionals in the US are needing themselves, sadly. (there is less of a shortage here than in the US, it seems.)
So we're sad to leave Lisbon but know this certainly won't be the last time we're here. This city has left an indelible impression on us, has widened our cuisine repertoire (Don!) and just feels right. And we owe Julia a visit!
Of course, it's a different city right now, to be sure. People, thankfully, are taking the restrictions seriously. For those who know this plaza, this is a stark site:
. 
One way we've been keeping busy in self quarantine is to make a point to call one person/group a day.
On yesterday's show, our special guests, all the way from NJ, Katy and Mark! We virtually clinked glasses to celebrate birthdays and an anniversary. And to get Katy's recipe for homemade pita chips. Girl can cook.
Anna and Mikael were our special guests over the weekend. They hail from our former hometown in NJ (via Denmark) and gave us the scoop on the latest town gossip. They have their finger on the pulse, I tell you.
Camera shy guests included Christine from Spain, our kids, and Mark from Citispot, our local coffeeshop and 2nd home when we lived in Clinton. He was just a tad surprised to get our call. Happy Birthday!
Speaking of birthdays, I celebrated one the other day (29 feels good all over again). Don pulled out all the stops within mandated limits and treated me to a wonderful dinner chez nous with this spectacular cake-- grilled sausage haha
We'll check back in when we land on the other side. Be well, stay healthy and hopefully soon we'll all be out in the sunshine again, giving each other big socially non-distant hugs. In the meantime, here are some soothing images of some of our favorite azulejos (tiles) in the city and the old tile factory.
As our little neighbor down the street said-- It's gonna be ok.
Thanks for following along!
Don and Monica
portugal
Safe travels. Stay away from people and sit far away from Don on the plane. :)
ReplyDeletehahaha he wouldn't stay away!
DeleteI'm sad you have to leave, but know you've made a good decision given the circumstances. I'm also glad your airbnb is in the woods, i.e., away from crowds. Might be time to learn how to grow a few veggies! Check my Insta to see how well the lettuce I planted last fall is doing. :-)
ReplyDeleteyour lettuce is a-may-zing!
DeleteSeems like the right decision. That's what I'd do too. Have a safe flight and keep the posts coming. You can share your woodsy photos!
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate, but understandable, decision. Be careful on the trip back !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tiles. Bring art supplies to the woods. Make tiles! Or something. Be well.
ReplyDeleteSave travels guys, stay well and healthy!! 😘😘
ReplyDeletethank you! you too! xoxo
DeleteLife as we know it is gone. But better ways of living are around the corner. This poem was recently written by Kitty O'Meara, a Scottish poet:
ReplyDeleteAnd the people stayed home (except the Berkmans) . And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows, And the people began to think differently.
I hope your travels were easy and that you are well settled in Washington.
Page
And the people healed. And in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
a beautiful poem and sentiment, Page. Thanks for this perspective <3
ReplyDelete