tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post3271580768204493796..comments2023-10-11T04:09:53.564-07:00Comments on materfamilias writes: Portuguese lessonsmaterfamiliashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-52175664564340608922008-07-16T16:56:00.000-07:002008-07-16T16:56:00.000-07:00Patricia: With that background, you'll really find...Patricia: With that background, you'll really find Wilson's book interesting! (and, since our children will be caring lovingly for us in our old age, not to mention sending cheques home regularly -- ha! -- there's no squander involved at all)<BR/>Cybill: It is a beautiful place -- and yes, a sailing father, one degree of separation, that surely counts as well ;-)materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-37238041389059632682008-07-16T12:55:00.000-07:002008-07-16T12:55:00.000-07:00It all looks so beautiful, that to me it almost se...It all looks so beautiful, that to me it almost seems unreal that this is an actual place and not just pictures. I've never been to Portugal, but my father sailed there once - is that good enough?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-52222161734332270912008-07-16T07:42:00.000-07:002008-07-16T07:42:00.000-07:00Thanks for the book recommendation - I've looked i...Thanks for the book recommendation - I've looked it up and it sounds interesting. My degree is in Contemporary European Studies and German, so I'm very interested in WWII , the Cold War, anything like that. <BR/><BR/>Now me, I'm squandering my middle age on child-rearing! ;0) PatriciaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-10921261160580628162008-07-16T06:45:00.000-07:002008-07-16T06:45:00.000-07:00Patricia: I've never read Deighton's novel, but I ...Patricia: I've never read Deighton's novel, but I very much enjoyed Robert Wilson's A Small Death in Lisbon which spans the decades from WWII through to the present. I'd like to sympathize with you having too many places to vacation for your two years, but, well, all those vacations . . .<BR/>Pseu: We have similar itineraries!<BR/>Alison: Despite what I just said to Pseu, I do think we're all wise to look around and see how much we can enjoy closer to home, given the fuel situation. I still hope to see more of Europe before I'm done traveling (having squandered my youth on child-rearing ;-)!), but like you, I could also be happy in my own beautiful surroundings.<BR/>I have to say, though, that Portugal is stunningly inexpensive, at least in the rural areas.materfamiliashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16062766947897513369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-26515592333688824862008-07-16T02:36:00.000-07:002008-07-16T02:36:00.000-07:00Although it does look lovely, until the Euro calms...Although it does look lovely, until the Euro calms down, anywhere in Europe is now a no no. I am becoming increasingly happy to stay in Britain, It is an amazingly beautiful country, I think too many of us take for granted.indigo16https://www.blogger.com/profile/16982477144454205765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-5815567589031765932008-07-15T19:03:00.000-07:002008-07-15T19:03:00.000-07:00Oh, that looks so pleasant and peaceful. Spain an...Oh, that looks so pleasant and peaceful. Spain and Portugal are also on our travel list, probably after Italy.Susan Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16005855250089328310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4904021173466473381.post-55495699957655445042008-07-15T13:50:00.000-07:002008-07-15T13:50:00.000-07:00No, I've never been to Portugal, but one of my fav...No, I've never been to Portugal, but one of my favourite spy novels, Horse Under Water by Len Deighton, is set there, albeit in the early sixties. I re-read it often, because it has the Michael Caine character from Ipcress File in it and has a lot of humorous touches. As for going there, it sounds lovely, but I don't think it's in the cards for us - only two more years to go, so little vacation time and so many places to visit!! PatriciaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com