A Little New Year’s Baraka

2013 Year In Review Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, France, Scotland, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Andorra, Morocco Ever since we boarded the ferry from Algeciras, Spain to Tangier, Morocco back in November,  Ryan and I have been batting around the notion of posting some form of seasonal salutation. The earliest manifestation was, of course, a Christmas card,… Continue reading A Little New Year’s Baraka

Roads Less Traveled In the Algarve: Portugal’s Forgotten Costa Vicentina (PHOTO ESSAY)

July 13 – 22, 2013 Southwestern Algarve, Portugal The Algarve is Portugal’s infamous bastion of summer tourism.  Young Germans and Brits come in droves to places like Albufeira and Portimao to prop up the country’s stagnating economy with countless euros spent on over-priced one-star hotels, beachfront caipirinha shacks and rental sun loungers.  As we hurried… Continue reading Roads Less Traveled In the Algarve: Portugal’s Forgotten Costa Vicentina (PHOTO ESSAY)

Now, How On Earth Did I End Up With A Six-Year-Old? (Love, Your Mother)

August 2 Tabuaço, Portugal For what it’s worth, today I still have a little boy.  I still have a little boy who tells me not to go too far when it’s time to put out the lights, even though I’ve been sleeping in a bed right next to him for months.  I still have a… Continue reading Now, How On Earth Did I End Up With A Six-Year-Old? (Love, Your Mother)

Happy 6th Birthday, Oliver: Love, Daddy

August 2 Tabuaço, Portugal Oliver, I still remember the day that Mommy called to tell me the good news that you were growing inside of her. There is no question that from that very first call, you changed everything in my life for the better. I am quite certain that you helped to save me,… Continue reading Happy 6th Birthday, Oliver: Love, Daddy

Bedtime Stories: A Boy and a Girl With Reddish Hair

July 26 Marvaõ, Alto Alentejo, Portugal Late last night as we tucked the kids away to bed in the little room we are all sharing in an old quinta in the high granite hills of the Upper Alentejo, Oliver asked my husband to tell him a story.  Ryan closed his eyes for a minute before… Continue reading Bedtime Stories: A Boy and a Girl With Reddish Hair

Out on the Tiles: Living Lisbon’s Summertime

June 25 – July 7 Lisbon, Portugal It’s been a while since my last post, but I can admit to having a pretty qualified excuse.  For the past two weeks, we’ve made our home the ancient and decadently crumbling neighborhood of Alfama; Lisbon’s historic and, in many ways, cultural heart. In an attempt to align… Continue reading Out on the Tiles: Living Lisbon’s Summertime