Viva Portimonense!

A couple of weeks ago, our local soccer team started their 100th season. Sunday, we were able to attend their second home game of the season. The stadium is right down the street from us, nearly within eye-sight of our apartment building. Somehow we got mistaken as visitors and had to sit on the unshaded side of the field (with people cheering for the opposing team)! It's quite the cultural experience. Although, we've been told it is nothing compared to a "real" soccer game in one of the bigger cities. We plan to do that in upcoming months. For right now, this is sufficient for us! We are in the black and white...

There wasn't a 7th-inning stretch or games involving members of the crowd during time-outs, but like all other sports played in front of a large audience, the spectacle provided plenty of opportunity for good old-fashioned people-watching!

The Land of Harry Potter

Last Sunday we had the opportunity to tour around a beautiful city in northern Portugal called Porto. The story is that JK Rowling worked in the city and got a lot of inspiration from it for the Harry Potter series. After touring around and seeing the old feel of the city (not to mention the heavy fog which lended itself toward a magical feeling) we can definitely see where she got it! Enjoy the pictures, and a special shout out to our friend Carla who served as an amazing tour guide!

Porto is the home of Port wine. They use these boats to go into the wine cellars and retrieve the barrels of aged wine.