Two Weeks of Ups and Downs

My landlord and his 20-year old Andalusian horse, Zara

It's been fully two weeks since my last blog post, and for that I am sorry. Unfortunately, I've been under the weather and haven't had many adventures to report. But don't worry, I'm back and ready to fill you in on everything that's been happening.

The main reason for my absence is that I haven't been feeling my best and in addition, I've been receiving Amazon deliveries so I haven't been going anywhere except to buy groceries and out for a coffee here and there. In Portugal, there is no chance that porch pirates will steal my packages because I must be here to receive them. When deliveries arrive, the van pulls up and honks outside my cottage and I must run out and sign for it, as they're always in a tearing hurry. I didn't realize that when I ordered some things I needed to make living here more comfortable. In addition, I've been waiting for confirmation of my upcoming D-7 visa appointment and working on needed documentation for the interview. Originally scheduled for February 2nd in New York City, I've been on tenterhooks not knowing if I should buy a flight and book lodging. Finally, I received news yesterday that the appointment had been moved and confirmed for Washington, DC on March 22nd. Talk about a change of plans! With this new development, I have had to make the decision to return to the USA five days earlier than expected in order to submit my application, but that's a good thing.

While waiting for that decision, I've been keeping myself busy. One of my tasks has been helping my landlord with cleaning out the back garden. It's been quite a project, but it's been great to get some fresh air and exercise. Plus, it's been a wonderful opportunity to bond with my landlords and learn more about the local flora. I can already walk out back and pick cabbages, oranges, and tangerines. The roses and other flowers here are already beginning to bloom. We had a week of almost continuous clouds and rain, but this last week has been glorious: sunny skies and highs in the upper 60's.

During this time, I've also had the chance to meet some of my landlady's cousins as well as her daughter and granddaughter. She has so many cousins! One of them was very curious about why I wanted to live here. She says it is boring, and it's true there's not much to do here in this little village. She was astounded by the fact that Dirty Don is able to run for President again and that so many people support him. I told her that most of us do not want him in office again. It's amazing how quickly connections can be made, even with people you've just met.

In between all the visa preparations and socializing, I've been enjoying bike rides in and around the village. So far I've put about 40 kilometers on my e-bike. There's something freeing about pedaling through the streets, feeling the wind against my face, and I found a beautiful waterfall. It's a great way to explore the area and discover hidden gems that I might have missed otherwise.

Now, for the ongoing saga of my Portuguese bank account. It has been quite the challenge, but I'm happy to report that I've made some progress. I actually have a Mult iBanco Card, which is the way almost all purchases are made in Portugal, unless you have cash. Slowly but surely, I've been working through the bureaucratic maze and getting closer to having a fully functional bank account, though I still can't make payments. It's taken some patience and perseverance, but I'm determined to have everything in order before my visa appointment.

So, that's been my life for the past two weeks. It's been a rollercoaster of emotions, from feeling under the weather to the excitement of visa updates. But through it all, I've managed to find moments of joy and progress. I am planning a trip on Tuesday to Coimbra and maybe the coast. Stay tuned for more updates as I continue this journey. I hope to have much more to share!