Before we decided to check out the transmission, we spent a few days in a city called Oieras. It’s rich and thriving. Not much an actual town close to the marina, but the marina itself is an attraction being part of a rather extensive promenade along a beautiful beach close to the mouth of the Tejo River.  There are lots f runners, walkers, bicyclists, outside yoga people, beach goers and strollers along this promenade. It has a manicured boulevard up a hill along one side, and beach all along the other.  One day I set out for my morning run, along with throngs of others, and  I spotted a gorgeous grey tabby cat walking around on the rocks, on the beach side.  Similar to our beloved and very missed Chris Craft.   Of course,  I stopped to try to meet the cat.   A guy walking by started to talk to me in Portuguese.   I said (in Portuguese) that I don’t speak Portuguese (ironic?) and he continued in English that this seemed to be a very good cat. I agreed. He told me he has 2 cats at home. And that he really enjoys cats, and this particular grey one seemed quite nice.  After a few more mall talk words, he went along his way, and then I continued my run. I got close to petting this cat, but he got spooked. I suspected he was feral.

So as I was on my return route, back along the promenade, I saw the same fellow. And he said, in English, within plenty of earshot of hoards of people, “You have a Tiger waiting!” I burst into a 1000 watt grin! I knew what he was talking about!!!!  And later in the day Robert and I met many cats that live around the marina. Including my awaiting Tiger.  who did let us pet him. 

 

Later that week, we went into Tagus Yacht Center, where we still are, awaiting out transmission repair. Along with the dinghy parts that are being shipped here, and some electrical upgrading work so we can tap into some of this European electricity.  On day one we met a white shephard like dog, well dirty white with some bottom paint on is back.  He was loose in the boatyard. I asked the dog his name, looked up and saw a boat called Boudawyn, so we started to call him Boudawyn. He seemed to like us.   We have seen him all over town. He gets around, and when he sees us, he comes over and joins us like he wants to escort us. One morning I was coming back from a run and he saw me and ran up to me. I knelt down and hugged him. I don’t have a dog, but I could tell by his body language that he rarely if ever gets hugged!  He “hugged” back, leaning into me, pushing his head into me. as if he suddenly gained 50 pounds!   We asked around around and it turns out he has an owner.  Rumor is the owner is abusive. And once in a while we see Boudawyn collared and chained to a shed, in the shipyard (next to this boatyard) with a heavy leather collar and lock.  This is not my business, but I intend to keep asking around to make sure my new dog friend isn’t really being abused. The workers at the shipyard office put out food for him every day , and good food.  So I will continue to snoop around to make sure he is OK. But for now, it’s such a nice feeling to have him run up to me and “hug” me.

The city of Amora, where Tagus is located , is a working class suburb of Lisbon. Not like Oieras. No beach or vacationers here. It’s a real city with working people and no tourists. There is live Fado music at a little hole in the wall restaurant a few blocks away. Real people singing real Fado. Not designed for tourists, the real thing!!. One of the guys here at Tagus is Theo. He sailed here from Holland and was hauled out 4 years ago and HE’S STILL HERE!!!! Living on his boat still out of the water!  He is a singer, and took up singing  Fado. He goes into Lisbon nearly every night to sing in Fado houses. He’s gotten a bit famous here. He’s been on Lisbon TV.  He went with us one night to the Amora Fado restaurant, and I felt like I was with a celebrity!!!! Theo says he’ll be ready to sail off in the Spring, but I see him staying here!!!  He walks down a street in Lisbon ( a huge city) and people know him!!!!!

Besides Theo and live Fado, We have 2 grocery stores within a walking distance. The bigger nicer store is a longer walk, but a pretty walk along the river front. along cafes and a really nice bike/running trail. And being on a boat with no car, I find that going to the store has become part of a normal  day.  I’ve gotten to love the walk. In fact, if you go the the Art Between the Creeks show in November, you will see some paintings I’ve done of the scenes to and from this grocery store.  Best light is late in the day.

On the way to this store, we pass a school for girls that has a donkey as sort of a mascot.  He stands by the fence and seems to enjoy people stopping by and petting him. And what a donkey! Not just a big hairy mule, this guy  is soft, grey, clean, and has the softest plushest ears I’ve seen on an animal. And his eyes are gigantic, dark and shiny with long beautiful eye lashes. Like something out of a Disney Movie!!!

One day while Robert and I were having our daily Donkey petting session, a guy walked by, must have pegged us as outsiders, and said “Jimento!!!” which is the Portuguese word for donkey.  So I said “Jemendo?” and the man said “JhiMENTzu”  (with a big smile.) So the next day, there I was again, walking down the street after petting my new donkey friend, practicing my pronunciation, saying out loud, “jhiMENTzu,  jhiMENTzu, jhiMENTzu..” over and over.  And the same guy walked by, heard me and smiled. Now imagine you see someone in Annapolis walking along the  street saying LABrodor, LABrodor, LABrodor....wouldn’t you think he is a bit “off”?  So maybe I’ve become the new redhead in town that is a bit on the  ” other side of the ocean”, if you know what I mean.

That’s OK. We won’t be here that long. Unless I take up Fado singing