What the @!!*^%$%^%*#?? from the Wandering Berkmans!
Well well well... we are in interesting times indeed.
First of all and most importantly, we hope this finds everyone healthy, well and safe and that everyone is washing their hands often and for 20 seconds at a time. Let's face it, probably as often and as long as we should have been washing our hands all along but whatever.
So, as you may remember, we had plans to leave Lisbon and go to Ireland and visit friends in Scotland for the month of April. As things started changing all through Europe and with airports in the US clogged with returning Americans, we decided best to hang tight, minimize exposure through travel and, let's face it, enjoy these sunny Lisbon temps of 65 degrees. We're fortunately able to stay in our current apartment so we've become just another pair of Lisbon-ites (Lisbonians?) weathering this "storm".
We see the signs of change here-- schools have closed, playgrounds empty, many stores closed and most restaurants are take-out only. Some little cafes are open and have widely spaced tables. Futbol's EuroCup canceled. Cristiano Ronaldo went home to take care of his mom-- enough said.
Speaking of lines, any stores that are open are restricting the number of customers at a time. People are patiently waiting outside in long lines to get their food and meds. And toilet paper (it's something of a mania here too). Here's the line, with proper social distancing, outside of our local grocery store, the Pingo Doce.
We were very sad to see closed one of our favorite parks that features a great view of the city. Here is Don looking extremely put out. There was a cute cafe there, too!
Even Mass is canceled at the church down the street. Almost as big as futbol being canceled.
We're safe and healthy, fortunately, but we limit our outside time to walks that almost always involve trips to the little markets around us (seems we need something everyday...really??) . All this while we still can-- our neighbors to the East in Spain are in complete lockdown for 2 weeks. We don't know if that'll be our fate soon. The current Portugal numbers-- 785 infected, 3 deaths.
(Update-- as of today, we are officially in a State of Emergency, meaning no unnecessary trips outside the house. More details to come, according to our Airbnb host, who have been terrifically supportive and helpful to us.)
So we keep ourselves busy. We bought this 1000 piece puzzle today--
See that blue area, the sky? That's the part that's going to have us coming at each other with knives by week 2.
And we've thoroughly exhausted the Snapchat filters--
We do feel fortunate, though, to have had 6 weeks here to have enjoyed so much of the city and to have hosted 3 guests, who always bring us out of our little world and have us explore things we might not have explored. At the same time, we're so bummed we couldn't bring Julia over (flights canceled but we all agreed best if Julia not go through 3 airports and a 3 hour bus ride). We'll get you out here one day soon, Jules! <3
Our last guest, Christine, is a friend from college living in Spain. We had a 30 year college reunion where we almost became roommates again indefinitely. As Christine sagely noted (loose quote here and said with the utmost of affection)-"I never thought at the end of the world I would end up with you two." She cut her trip short by one day as Spain started tightening the reins for entry and she is now in total lockdown for 2 weeks. Fortunately, we managed to squeeze in some good times and laughs while she was here. We're thinking about you, Christine!
Ok, off to cook some lentil soup (to offset all the prosciutto) and to break open the puzzle. We'll sign off with this guy-
Back when we were still eating in cafes (when was that, a week ago? who even remembers), this big galoot, Chuy, ambled past our table but not before he gave me a slobbery kiss and stole some bacalhau off of the table next to us. Perfect.
We wish everyone well-- we'll get through this!
Thanks for following along!
Don and Monica
Well well well... we are in interesting times indeed.
First of all and most importantly, we hope this finds everyone healthy, well and safe and that everyone is washing their hands often and for 20 seconds at a time. Let's face it, probably as often and as long as we should have been washing our hands all along but whatever.
So, as you may remember, we had plans to leave Lisbon and go to Ireland and visit friends in Scotland for the month of April. As things started changing all through Europe and with airports in the US clogged with returning Americans, we decided best to hang tight, minimize exposure through travel and, let's face it, enjoy these sunny Lisbon temps of 65 degrees. We're fortunately able to stay in our current apartment so we've become just another pair of Lisbon-ites (Lisbonians?) weathering this "storm".
We see the signs of change here-- schools have closed, playgrounds empty, many stores closed and most restaurants are take-out only. Some little cafes are open and have widely spaced tables. Futbol's EuroCup canceled. Cristiano Ronaldo went home to take care of his mom-- enough said.
Speaking of lines, any stores that are open are restricting the number of customers at a time. People are patiently waiting outside in long lines to get their food and meds. And toilet paper (it's something of a mania here too). Here's the line, with proper social distancing, outside of our local grocery store, the Pingo Doce.
We were very sad to see closed one of our favorite parks that features a great view of the city. Here is Don looking extremely put out. There was a cute cafe there, too!
Even Mass is canceled at the church down the street. Almost as big as futbol being canceled.
We're safe and healthy, fortunately, but we limit our outside time to walks that almost always involve trips to the little markets around us (seems we need something everyday...really??) . All this while we still can-- our neighbors to the East in Spain are in complete lockdown for 2 weeks. We don't know if that'll be our fate soon. The current Portugal numbers-- 785 infected, 3 deaths.
(Update-- as of today, we are officially in a State of Emergency, meaning no unnecessary trips outside the house. More details to come, according to our Airbnb host, who have been terrifically supportive and helpful to us.)
So we keep ourselves busy. We bought this 1000 piece puzzle today--
See that blue area, the sky? That's the part that's going to have us coming at each other with knives by week 2.
And we've thoroughly exhausted the Snapchat filters--
We do feel fortunate, though, to have had 6 weeks here to have enjoyed so much of the city and to have hosted 3 guests, who always bring us out of our little world and have us explore things we might not have explored. At the same time, we're so bummed we couldn't bring Julia over (flights canceled but we all agreed best if Julia not go through 3 airports and a 3 hour bus ride). We'll get you out here one day soon, Jules! <3
Our last guest, Christine, is a friend from college living in Spain. We had a 30 year college reunion where we almost became roommates again indefinitely. As Christine sagely noted (loose quote here and said with the utmost of affection)-"I never thought at the end of the world I would end up with you two." She cut her trip short by one day as Spain started tightening the reins for entry and she is now in total lockdown for 2 weeks. Fortunately, we managed to squeeze in some good times and laughs while she was here. We're thinking about you, Christine!
Ok, off to cook some lentil soup (to offset all the prosciutto) and to break open the puzzle. We'll sign off with this guy-
Back when we were still eating in cafes (when was that, a week ago? who even remembers), this big galoot, Chuy, ambled past our table but not before he gave me a slobbery kiss and stole some bacalhau off of the table next to us. Perfect.
We wish everyone well-- we'll get through this!
Thanks for following along!
Don and Monica
portugal
Glad to hear you're hanging in! We're practicing social distancing here in Bergen County, NJ, the epicenter for New Jersey, as it turns out. We're all healthy and mostly happy, working from home while the kids are doing online learning. It's crazy times but we'll get through it. Love to you guys! <3
ReplyDeleteyes, you all are the epicenter indeed! stay well! xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update, WBs! Good to see you continue to make proverbial lemonade out of lemons. Nothing new here in NJ. Just hanging out in quarantine and trying to use my newfound radioactivity to light up bulbs “uncle fester” style.
ReplyDelete-David
and we're sure you light those bulbs with style and panache. Be well!
DeleteA high school friend who is now living in Spain, took a daily stroll to the pharmacy with an excuse that she needed something. After day 4, the pharmacist yelled at her and said she couldn't come in every day. Good idea quashed. California was issued a stay at home alert this morning and a bunch of senators(including Diane Feinstein) were discovered to have sold off massive amounts of stock before things really blew up. Our wartime president continues to be blameless as he now reports that the problem has been created by the states governors and the media. I imagine your AirBnB host is thrilled to have you stay. At least he has an income coming in. I've begun to do phone sessions, though a couple of clients prefer not to. Portugal, I'm sure is lovely, but as long as the two of you are together, you will find ways to play. Love to you and may we all remain well.
ReplyDeletethanks Page <3
ReplyDeleteAre you thanking pages 1 and 2 above?
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