Experiencing Portugal

How QUICKLY time is flying. It is now November and we were blessed with another week off.  
(Yes, I was Fully aware of the teaching calendar before signing the contract) ;) 
There are less teaching days than NY, but I work a longer school day. 

Moroccan Flags

Every year Morocco celebrates its Independence Day, the Eid Al Istiqulal, on November 18 to honor the return of their King Mohammed to Morocco.

No fireworks or hot dogs. But flags were seen everywhere!

The king had been on exile to Madagascar when Morocco was a French protector. On this day the king proclaimed the freedom of Morocco from France and Spain who colonized the country for 44 years.

The Independence Day is a national holiday in Morocco. A grand reception is held at the imperial palace; colorful parades, and street vendors selling traditional food mark the Independence Day celebrations. Unfortunately I did not stay in the country. When I heard a week off, I knew that meant another stamp in the passport! A few of us had already discussed going to Portugal….uhh…who wouldn't? 

Where to go? Lisbon for sure, and so many people recommended Sintra and Cascais. 

The trip would include myself, Liz, Annie A, and Lexi G. During the week 3 other colleagues would meet up with us. Let the good times roll….

I’m on the plane as I write this and feeling SUPER excited to see, and experience yet another country. I’m traveling with 3 ladies that I have grown close with. We all seem to have the same sense of humor, and are always ready for an adventure. These girls make me laugh until my sides ache, and sometimes can’t breathe. Those are the kind of laughs that come far and few between in a sometimes-chaotic world of working and perhaps taking life too seriously. I don’t know about you, but laughing until you are wiping your tears, and begging the person to stop talking because you can’t catch your breath are welcomed any day of the week!

Sometimes a trip to the local market becomes an unexpected escapade. We meet people along the way in the streets and end up going somewhere else.  It’s just that way in Marrakech. We look at each other and say “one more day of peanut butter and jelly for lunch won’t kill us.” lol

More than that, it seems we are able to support each other with the ups and downs of life abroad. Missing our families, daily routines, driving our own cars when we feel like escaping, and a feeling of loss of control in a city so eccentric has been a struggle for some, if not most of us.

****Talk about expecting the unexpected…. As I ended writing the previous paragraph on the plane, I was told by the steward to put my laptop away for descent. I was trying to finish up, and I see the steward walking toward me again; thinking he is going to repeat himself about putting away all electronics. The words that came out of his mouth next, I will NEVER forget.

“Excuse Miss, the captain wanted me to ask you if you would like to ride cockpit for the landing into Portugal?”  “Ummmm, excuse me?”….”Is this a joke? …Am I on candid camera?....Who me?.....What did you just say?” “Why me?” “Are you for real?” 

Truth both told I don’t know exactly what I said, I was SO darn nervous, shocked, and EXCITED! ME?! They picked me!!!? I never get this lucky. But why?

I later found out that as we were waiting to board the small aircraft from the runway, the captains saw me outside the plane taking pictures. Funny thing is…the reason we were taking pictures in the first place was because all the people boarding were pushing us. I said to my friend “I don’t care about being first; we will all get there at the same time.” (Similar to what I tell my 9 and 10 year students both in NY and here in Morocco who constantly want to be first in line) It is just a pet peeve of mine.

Actually, I almost prefer boarding last. Who wants to sit on a stuffy plane any longer than necessary?  Not I.

So maybe the universe was rewarding my efforts in patience? Lord knows traveling can be fun, but very stressful. Dealing with pushy tourists and people in general can be trying at times.

It was an experience like no other! I did not talk too much or take pictures with flash as I thought this might be distracting to them…come to find out from them this plane can basically land itself! The whole experience was overwhelming and so much was going through my head. I was torn taking pictures…I felt like I just wanted to SEE this with my own eyes. Soak up all I was feeling and not be behind a lense. Something I feel changes when you are behind the camera…it sometimes takes away the emotions involved in viewing something. You get concerned with framing it properly, trying out varying exposures, etc. Maybe for me its been all those years as a professional photographer. Who knows. I just know, that I did a little of both as well as take video. I’m fully aware that this was a once in a lifetime experience that I will treasure forever. And I felt like the luckiest lady. 

Cockpit….I was 2 inches from all these buttons and the 2 pilots!

Hands of a Pilot

Looking through the glass as we approach Portugal!!!

That's the Runway straight ahead!!!

….Closer….closer...

On solid ground!
What a welcome to Portugal!

I think I was high on adrenaline the rest of the day…..make that the week! 

Statue outside our hotel. Forget the name. 

First night and ready for a Portuguese meal!

As usual…we are early and it's 9pm! People don't eat until very late. 

Potatoes, clams, brown sauce and Pork!! = Yum!

Around Lisbon….heading towards to subway. 

Enjoying a nice lunch and drinking the local beer.

This guy was real! Lots of performance artists. 

 Ummm…yes, this dog was real too! Just look at him with that blanket and making him ask for change!  I was a sucker…I Had too!

I love eating all the traditional foods. This is Portuguese cabbage soup. 

Dinner with entertainment. This is a Fado performance. Absolutely beautiful although it won't load my video so I will attach a utube sample.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAgIoG3A7U4

 Walking around Lisbon, checking out the sites.

Liz was our map girl! 

Perfect place to stop and eat….sunset was amazing! The place even had blankets on the chairs. 

Lisbon at Night

Some of us took a day trip to Sintra and Cascais. These are 2 other cities that both pilots recommended as well as getting feedback from different people. The cities were about 30 minutes away so one day we got a personal tour in a car and another day we took the subway. It's so different trying to explore on your own, but also fun and freeing. The weather was great and the food was phenomenal!

Ooh, the shopping! 

 Making our way up to Pena Palace

Took a trolley to get up there

 This palace was the most beautiful I have ever been too…and I have been to quite a few around the world. I could not stop taking pictures.

 See the castle on the hill? The castle protects the palace.

 Potato chips! Of course I had to taste them.

 I ate one of these darn pastries everyday! They are famous to eat in Portugal.

 Hanging out in a coffee shop….This is a step up from Starbucks.

 Oh look, there's that pastry again….

 I can't even talk about these meals…..the girls and I were in Heaven!!!! Seriously.

 Liz decided to get her upper lobe pierced.

Seagulls remind me of my sister Julie and my Nana who past away. When this one stopped and stared at me, I felt both of them with me. <3

 Leaving Portugal. I had an amazing time and will go back for sure some day.

 Crossing the desert, and arriving back in Marrakech. I had mixed feelings. While I do love it, it is Not Europe and sometimes can be difficult for many reasons. I keep reminding myself though, through changes and challenges is when we grow the most…..so I still have growing to do.

And lots more adventures ahead. :)