A is for apathy

ap·a·thy noun

1. lack of interest, enthusiasm, or concern.

I said I would not participate in the April A to Z Blogging Challenge, and I am committed to my intention. Why did I choose to share this title and the word’ apathy? It’s how I feel these days towards many things, except for my writing life. And when I say how I feel about many things, I should clarify. There has been some turmoil occurring within the NaNoWriMo organization and I have no interest in the drama. This is the universe saying, ‘Remember when you said you didn’t want to be part of any drama? Don’t get sucked in, the ego will trip you up.” I remember this very well. When I started reading Julia Cameron’s, The Artist’s Way, I was on the path of learning how to get off the drama train, and then stopped drama altogether in my life. There are times I can be perceived as not caring, but it’s my way of protecting my writing life and my energy. Drama is good on the page, not in life.

I will share this brief story with you because I watched myself not caring about what others had to say about the situation, and how I only wanted to share, ‘Isn’t this supposed about the writing?’

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

I have been a part of NaNoWriMo since 2012. I loved the idea of writing a novel in November, this challenge has helped me write more. I have flushed out my debut memoir and had fun with other projects over the years. I enjoy the challenge of writing 50,000 words in November that may or may not resemble a novel. The practice of writing every day and having that word count goal meant something to me, and it still does.

A few years ago, I took the plunge to become a co-municipal liaison in Fredericton. I became a co-ML and was happy to meet other writers in the area. Why? Because my goal is to help writers write. Also, to meet other writers in Fredericton. We just moved back to Atlantic Canada, and I was missing my life in BC, and I was missing my writing life more. I was use to being part of a writers’ group in Victoria, where we supported one another. I love getting together with other writers and writing. It keeps me accountable and I love to connect with like-minded people. It is that simple for me. Like-minded people get together doing what they love, creating, sharing, and being in the flow of the writing.

In 2023, there was some controversy and now the organization has been under the microscope and going through some restructuring. I had no interest in any of the drama, and the MLs in New Brunswick looped me in on certain details, but that information had no impact on me. I had and have zero interest in the organization’s drama. All I want to do is write and support writers. Yet, somewhere I let my guard down and the ego latched onto this feeling of apathy and sunk its talons into my shoulders and was not letting go. I don’t care about this writing organization any longer. I was sitting on the fence to see if anything may change with the new rules of being a volunteer (asking for a full criminal check, involving us scanning our IDs to the third-party criminal check company, yes, for a writing group). I wrote the new volunteer coordinator and even though I completed my volunteer renewal as a “maybe”. They removed me as an ML with no explanation. So, this helped the infused apathy ego to let go, because there is nothing for me to do. I can walk away from the volunteer portion of NaNoWriMo, but it has left me questioning. Will take part in the November writing challenge? There is such a sizeable community of writers who participate. It’s global and I’ve connected with other writers from all over the world. That is a positive about this organization. So, do I ping the morsels of indifference that linger around, and stay connected with the great people I’ve met, and let the organization figure their drama out? I think so. Because it comes down to the writing. Just writing, no politics, no boards, no drama, unless it’s in a story being written. Maybe someone will write about this little organization that got a little too big and lost their way for blimp in time and it has caused a lot of unnecessary grief for people who should be writing. With that, I am sharing my gratitude for the universe, sharing that I should just be writing, and not thinking or worrying about what is happening outside of my control.

Thank you for taking the time to stop and read my blog today. Have you experienced being part of a non-profit organization that has hit some turbulence and got caught up in the drama? Did it take you away from your writing? Did you walk away or stick it out? I would love to hear from you.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing

I Am Not Blogging My Way Through April

There is a great blogging challenge that can kick-start your daily writing practice. The April Blogging from A-to-Z Challenge. It started by Arlee Bird posted a blog in 2010 where he set forth a challenge to all bloggers for April. Can you post every day except Sundays during this month? And to up the bard, can you log thematically from A to Z? Using the premise, you would start on April 1 with a topic themed on something with the letter A, then on April 2 another topic with the letter B as the theme, and so on until you finish on April thirtieth with the theme-based ending with the letter Z.

Photo by Lisa Fotios on Pexels.com

Sounds easy enough, I said to myself in 2106, my first year as I sat in a hotel room in Seattle during a road trip with my hubby. My theme? Based on Julia Cameron’s, The Right to Write. At the time, I was all about sharing my gratitude for creativity and choosing me to work through, and I am still grateful for creativity whispering sweet themes of stories in my ears. I then started to plan my A-to-Z blogs months in advance as the years passed. I worked through my first debut memoir, Behind The Kitchen Doors ~ The Summers, and used this month-length challenge to do the same with my second memoir, Behind The Kitchen Doors ~ Resort Life. I thought about doing this challenge again this year, but I’m tired. This is the truth. I am tired of chasing challenges when I need to be writing and working on my work in progress. I can spend hours working on the blogging challenge and then question why I haven’t made progress with my second memoir?

            2024 is about getting the writing. Yes, the blogging challenge is about writing every day, but honestly, I would write six blogs on Sunday and schedule them to post that week. That time could have been spent on focusing on the novel. I know, I have said and I believe, everything happens for a reason. As I look back on my previous April challenge blog themes and posts, I was triggered to look at them a little closer. There are chunks of materials that I missed in my second memoir. I felt more comfortable sharing intimate details during the blog challenge than I had in the draft. I ask, why? I don’t have the answer right now. I could speculate that I “think” few people, if any are reading these blogs and I have nothing to be afraid of. But self-publishing the book, promoting it because I was to shout at the top of my lungs that I am a writer, and look, I’ve created something. Please read it. Yikes! Someone may read it and now what? I can’t take back what I wrote in the book because they have ordered a hard copy. Why would that stop me? Why am I hiding when you can’t hide in a memoir? This is why I am not doing the April blogging challenge. I have to pull up my socks and yes, they are literal socks because I live in a part of Atlantic Canada where it is still -10 overnight and I am wearing socks.

            I may enter the blogging challenge in 2025, to help me flush out my third memoir or another book I’m working on. Or just for fun because writing every day helps me work on my craft.

Are you participating in the 2024 April Blogging Challenge? What is your theme? Why? I would love to hear from you.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing…

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels.com

No Ordinary Aquarium; One Planet, One Ocean

Lisbon, like any major metropolitan city, offers a world of amenities. For example, the Lisbon Oceanarium.

I have to admit that I don’t do a lot of research when I’m traveling. I feel like I’m consumed by a day job and everything in between, and I don’t get into vacation mode until I’m on the plane. This is something I am working on. One place my other half shared with me was the aquarium. I looked it up and said we need to add it to our list of things to see.

Rossio Station Picture by Osvaldo Gago

The aquarium is a ten-minute train ride from the Rossio train station. I love we chose the Airbnb near the train stations. It made it easy to explore the city and parts of the country we may not have been able to if there was no train system.

The aquarium is an oceanarium and located in the Parque das Nacoes, the exhibition grounds of Expo ’98. It is also the largest indoor aquarium in Europe and approximately over one million people visit each year.

When we got off the train and walked through the exhibition grounds to explore the artwork. One piece that cannot be missed is the lberian lynx statue, standing over 30 feet tall, this stunning piece of work is made from trash. The artist, Bordalo II, created the statue to highlight overconsumption by humans and the endangered species it impacts. As I stood next to the statue, I looked up and saw the number of computer monitors, keyboards, hard hats, trash cans, and other materials that were tossed in the garbage, now converted into this breathing-taking work of art.

The exhibition grounds have several other pieces of art throughout the grounds, equally great art and well maintained and respected by everyone.

            We enjoyed a quick lunch at Arigato, a sushi restaurant, about a five-minute walk from the aquarium. We enjoyed fresh smoked tuna tattaki and vegetable gyozas, for under E20 for the both of us. Eating in Portugal is easy, especially when it is fresh and quality ingredients.

            Arriving at the aquarium there was a small line up but inside was full of visitors from all around the world. The admission ticket is e25 per person. A great price for the experience. We started in the forests underwater by Takashi Amano, featuring tropical forests inside a magnificent aquarium. It is the world’s largest nature aquarium. It is a u-shaped aquarium and when you walk in, you are surrounded by the smells and sounds of the forest. Watching the tropical forests sway in the aquarium for me was like meditating. Standing in the stillness of the pure awareness of nature was magical. I watched other people sitting and watching sections of the exhibit. They were smiling and just being in the moment. That made me smile.

            Then off to the main attraction the aquarium. This is no ordinary aquarium. It holds 5 million litres of seawater. It has four marine habitats that create the illusion of a single aquarium and a sole ocean. It features terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as the temperate, tropical waters of the earth’s oceans*

It feels like you are standing in a big fish bowl, the aquarium is wall-to-wall glass and you can see all the fishes and mammals. There are windows with benches where you can sit and stare into the aquarium as the sharks and schools of fish swim by. It is spectacular. I saw down to watch the sting rays play in their school of friends and was inspired to write, to work on my stories, to create. I could sit in this spot for the day and write. What a great artist’s date! I have to hold onto that feeling every day. To be inspired like I was at that moment in the aquarium. The Oceanario de Lisboa has a special place in my heart.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing…

*from the https://www.oceanario.pt/en/exhibitions/aquarium/

A few more pictures

Seahorse and sea dragon

Cascais ~ A Seaside Surprise

We are hopping on the train to Cascais today. It is about a forty-five-minute train ride from Lisbon, depending on the number of stops. Have I mentioned how easy it is to get around this wonderful country. The return ticket from Lisbon to Cascais is E4.80. You can get a one-way ticket for E2.40 but it is only valid for an hour. The return ticket is the way to go. It is one of the busiest routes in Portugal, with a departure every 20 minutes. In January, there may have been a hundred people on the train. I have done some research and locals have told us that in the height of the tourist season, there could be hundreds of people on the train with long waits to get on the train. I’m learning that I enjoy traveling off-season to have the luxury of being one of a handful of people on a train enjoying the experience.

            The route to Cascais is scenic as it passes through the Belem district, along the coastline with views of the Tejo estuary and beaches. Where to sit tip: sit on the left-hand side to take in the coastline views. The entire train ride, I was up against the window taking in the ocean views.

Cascais is a coastal resort town. It is known for its sandy beaches and busy marina. The beaches are beautiful. The old town is home to the medieval Nossa Senhora da Luz Fort and the Citadel Palace, a former royal retreat. We walked along the beaches and wandered around the marina, and this writer was in heaven with people watching. The marina hosts major events, such as the America’s Cup and the town of Estoril’s Casino, inspired one of James Bond’s novels, Casino Royale. I love learning about where writers gain their inspiration, and Cascais defiantly inspired me as we walked around the stunning seaside town.

The one place I fell in love with Citadel Art District, is the Fortress Nossa Senhora da Luz, a restored fortress dating to 1594. Now a place of art, where artists can host their work. There are art galleries and cafes throughout the fortress. I found myself saying, “amazing’ over and over as we stopped in galleries, soaked in the art and culture. I saw myself sitting in one of the open galleries and writing. The energy felt amazing.

            As we decided to head into the town to find a bit of lunch, the skies turned black and there was a flash rain storm. We ran into a restaurant at the bottom of a condo building and watched the rain bounce off the cobblestone sidewalk, so we stayed for lunch. Hifen restaurant offers a variety of Portuguese menu, fresh seafood, and vegetarian recipes. I can’t believe I didn’t take a picture of the fresh tuna sandwich with coriander mayonnaise. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were the only ones, then by twelve thirty the main room was full of people waiting. The server knew many of the people, which tells me locals support the restaurant. Amazing.

            After lunch, we wandered around the little town offering boutique shops and more art stores and galleries. We came across a commercial being filmed along the beach. So much to see and do in one afternoon. Love this!

I would go back to Cascais for a night or two to take in more of the art at the fortress and simply write and swim in the ocean. I see the Santa Marta Lighthouse by the marina in the back of my mind. Cascais has imprinted on this writer.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing…

A Little Wine Bar in Lisbon

As you know my hubby and I are all about food and wine. We planned on going to many restaurants and trying as many Portugal wines as possible. Our first night in Lagos, when we found the grocery store, there was a whole wine section. Immediately we were in front of the Portuguese wine section smiling ear to ear with the abundant choices. We had tried a few Portugal wines at home and knew the names of the regions. Few being Alentejo, Douro, Dao and Lisboa. My hubby found a nice Alentejo red, and I picked up a Portugal sparkling, bonus!

            Portugal is known for its rich winemaking and diverse range of grapes. When we were on the train to Lagos, we saw grape vines on many plots of land. When we lived in British Columbia and visited Kelowna’s wine country, we saw similar landscapes. It was beautiful.     

            One night in Lisbon, we found another gem on the Fork restaurant app. The Antiga Wine Bar. A ten-minute walk from our Airbnb on a side of a hilly cobblestone street, this wine bar will be right up with one of the best restaurant experiences of our trip. I can see the wall of wine and the glowing neon sign luminating the dark rainy night sky we had dinner that night.

The restaurant has 20 seats, a perfect amount for personalized service. They have a wine list, but I asked our server for a rose and his only question was sweet or dry. I said, dry, and he brought a lovely rose from the Dao region. This wine was floral with a hint of citrus with a toasty finish. It was delicious. My hubby had a more robust red from the Alentejo region, earthy and black current came to mind as I tasted the luscious wine.

The menu is all local ingredients and offers vegan, vegetarian and meats. We started with a seafood board with Portuguese clams, octopus, prawns, and codfish cakes. So fresh and simple ingredients, like garlic, lemon, salt and pepper, do wonders to any seafood. Then the portobello fakeburger, I wanted to pick up the plate and lick it clean. It was so flavourful with vegan mozzarella and herb mayonnaise, Dijon mustard and pickle cucumber with a red cabbage crisp. I am not sure I can replicate this, but I’m going to try.

The other guests of the restaurant were happy, laughing, talking, and enjoying their time. I watched bottles of wines being opened for each table and people cheering to whatever they were celebrating. The energy was light and full of love. What a treat to experience such a genuine moment.

If you are in Lisbon, I highly recommend you checking this special wine bar out. You have to make reservations and we used The Fork app to make the reservation. Easy and efficient.

Thank you for stopping by.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing…

Sintra ~ Castles in the Sky

While staying in Lisbon, it is easy to jump on a train to all the towns around the area. You can take the local train to Sintra. Train tickets are E2.60 and it is a 40-minute train ride. From the train station, you can get a taxi, tuk-tuk, or a bus. We walked because we wanted to find some coffee and check out the town. We walked through an enchanted display of artwork and sunken garden and it took us about 20 minutes to walk to Quinta Da Regaleria. We were going to go the Pena Palace, the castle in the sky, but it was foggy and when you looked up you couldn’t see the castle, so we decided on the Regaleria.

Sintra, a quaint town, is nestled in the foothills of the Sintra mountains. It’s a magical and fairy-tale town hosting the Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira, with lush gardens, a hidden cave network, and forested pathways that connect the ornamental lakes, chapel, and the Poco Iniciatico (The Initiation Well). The Quinta da Regaleria was said to have been built by an eccentric Free Mason. It houses the Initiation Well and filled with Pagan and occult symbols. The owner bought the land in 1892, construction began in 1904 and was mostly finished by 1910.

Travel tip; if you are visiting Sintra between May and October, expect two-hour waits to enter any of the palaces. We visited in January and there was no wait for any of the attractions in Quinta da Regaleria. I may have seen thirty other people in the gardens. Locals have told us that we are lucky to have had the experience of enjoying the stillness of the area. I prefer it quiet and wouldn’t mind returning in January or February again.

The tickets to Quinta da Regaleria are E25 per person. A deal for 3 hours of being emerged into another time and place.

You start your journey by following a garden pathway to towers and sunken gardens. We wanted to find the Initiation well first. The Initiation well is a mysterious, inverted tower constructed around a well. It descends by a spiral staircase to a Knights Templar Cross inscribed on the floor. Secretive religious ceremonies inspired its design, but possibly also hosted them. I did a little research and there is talk that the well was designed to represent the nine circles of Dante’s Inferno. Although it is only six stories deep, the experience of walking down the well makes it feel like it extends further. As we walked into the well, the surrounding sounds were muted. We walked slowly not to interrupt the serenity of the well. I felt like we were in an Indiana Jones movie. So much history and the energy was very calming to me.

The one ornate chapel, a beautiful gothic-style tower with an interior that features Knights Templar icons, and a secret passageway leading from the crypt to the Palacioda Regaleia. This pathway was closed to the public during our visit. The stained glass windows were breathtaking, and the altar had gold leaf throughout it, making the chapel seem golden because the sunlight hits the gold leaf.

The last stop was the Main Palace. It is slender gothic style reaches into the sky, and the surrounding greenery hid half of the stone walls. It is a magical castle in an enchanted forest. When we walked in, I felt like I was at home. It smelt like my grandparent’s farm in Ontario, that lingering not-so-musty smell, but it’s there, a memory that floats by every so often. The interior and the furnishings are well preserved and restored. The wooden walls are carved beautifully. The artists took great care in the details. I took a picture of a chair in the smoking room, exclusively for Monterio, other men of the house and their male friends. They would go to the smoking room to smoke and chat. I wonder what they would be chatting about?

            We wandered around the gardens a little more and then made our way back to town. We stopped at an art shop to find a poster we could take home to frame, a few other souvenirs to remind us of this magical place.

The walk back to the train was as beautiful, the sun was breaking the clouds and the sunken gardens were providing more colors of flowers emerging and glistening tree tops. There are times where I thought to myself, “I could live here.” We both said we would go back to spend a full day in Sintra. For now, we have our memories of the stunning palaces and charm of Sintra.

Thank you for stopping by. Next time, I will share a little more about Lisbon and Cascais.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing…

Living the Creative Life~Lisbon Part 1

Now that our feline friend, Micro, has returned and I can breathe again knowing he is okay, I am back to share more about our time in Portugal. We spent ten days in Lagos and soaked in as much sun and culture as we could. I felt like I was on vacation after about six days. It took some time to turn off the work part of my brain, but by the third happy hour and watching the sunset over the marina, I knew I would focus on the magical colors of the sunsets each night.

We got on the train back to Lisbon. The four-hour train ride was just as enjoyable as the trip to Lagos. I enjoy staring out the window and watching the rolling hills filled with Algarve orange trees and grapevines. The Algarve orange has a distinguished thin, shiny, and bright skin. It has a high juice content and sweetness. The Mediterranean climate is perfect for growing Algarve oranges and they are delicious, almost like a clementine. Just pop them in your mouth for a burst of flavor.

Arriving in Lisbon, we got into a cab to take us to our next Airbnb, in the heart of Lisbon. Another super host with lists of feedback about how amazing her apartment was. It was all about location. When the taxi driver dropped us off behind the Queen Maria National Theatre by the Rossio Square district, I knew we were somewhere special. I mean, the entire city is special, but I was amazed by the moment of the culture and the city lights that illuminated the buildings. Beautiful.

It takes a few minutes to get into the apartment. There was a trick to the key, but once we figured it out, we were inside the cozy (yes small), apartment overlooking the alleyway and two restaurants that opened for lunch service. We didn’t try the restaurants because we were up and out of the apartment by ten in the morning each day to get a train to another city and explore the area.

We arrived the first night around six o’clock in the evening and found a vegan restaurant, a whole three-minute walk from the apartment. I knew I was going to love Lisbon.

            Lisbon is Portugal’s capital city. Lisbon, known for its historic tram lines, vibrant culture, and contemporary life, offers attractions like the Tower of Belem. We made our way to Belem where there was so much architecture to see. My head was spinning with creativity. Belem tower was built in the 16th century to defend Lisbon from enemy ships. It also marked the beginning of voyages for sailors.

The Belem district lies along the banks of the Tejo Estuary to the west of Lisbon. About a ten-minute train ride from Lisbon, Belem is easy to get to. Belem also hosts other iconic attractions, including the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos and the Padrao dos Descobrimentos. We went to the Belem Tower and Padro dos Descobrimentos monument and walk around the monastery. There was a wait of about an hour to get in at 25 euros per person. We were happy to have seen the outside, and I was in heaven, people watching as they waited to get into the monastery.

            The Padro dos Descombriementos monument (Monument of the Discoveries) is more than impressive. It is on the northern bank of the Tagus River estuary in Belem. It is along the river where ships departed to explore and trade with India and the Orient. The monument celebrates the Portuguese, Age of Exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries.

            Our first full day in Lisbon and we couldn’t wait to try out the Taqueria restaurant we found on TheFork restaurant app, it is Europe’s leading restaurant booking platform, and the best thing about the app is it offers discounts when you make a reservation. Most restaurants participate, and we welcomed the extra 10% off the bill.

Taqueria do Chiado, a quaint and modern Mexican restaurant, serving tasty and fresh seafood tacos, regular and vegetarian tacos, along with quesadillas, and freshly made guacamole, salsa, and nacho chips. The service was great, and the food was delicious. We had the vegetarian and octopus tacos. They were favorable and filling. I wanted to go back one other night, but there are so many restaurants to try, so I will hold on to the memories of savory bean tacos until we get to go back.

Our first full day in Lisbon did not disappoint. I will be back next week to share more highlights of our Portugal adventures. Next up, Sinatra.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing…

Thank you, Lisbon Independent Guide and Wikipedia for some snippets of information shared here today.

The Tale of Our Missing Cat

In the quiet country where we live, our feline companion, a charming tuxedo cat named Micro, embarked on an unexpected adventure that left our household in distress. What started as a routine day turned into a heart-wrenching search for our beloved cat, leaving us with a mixture of worry and hope.

Micro, with his mesmerizing soft yellow eyes and tuxedo suit] has been a source of joy and comfort in our home for three years. His playful antics, chirping of his adventures in the greenhouses, and gentle purrs filled our lives with warmth and a sense of completion. However, nine nights ago, on a Thursday evening, his regular evening walk turned into a longer adventure than any of us expected.

Usually, when Micro goes outside, he either comes home within minutes or twenty to forty-eight hours. We have built up to three full days of him being outside, roaming, doing his job as the mouse killer. That’s why we got him, to keep the mice away from the greenhouses, and he does a great job. The pile of carcasses under the shed tells the story of their short-lived lives. This is during the summer, spring, and fall seasons when the temperatures are still warm and no snow. Micro also is not a fan of rain, so when it rains, he is at the front door calling out to be let in. In the winter, he hardly goes out. He is not a fan of the snow, but he likes to go outside to do his business and he has a little path from the house to the shed where he likes to hang out. We see his paw prints in the path and know exactly where he is.

This particular Thursday night was after a few days of warmer temperatures. The snow was melting, and the grass was poking through the snow. Micro wanted to be outside, and we were okay with this. When he didn’t come home on Friday night, I was worried because the overnight temperatures were getting below zero again. I know he can handle the cold weather, but as a fur mama, I worry. My hubby reminded me that Micro had been outside in the cold before and he was fine and would be okay now. I knew this was true and went about my day.

Saturday morning, and still no sign of Micro. When I opened the door, hoping to see him waiting to be let in, my heart sank as the crisp air tinged my cheeks. I was getting worried again that it was too cold for him. I called his name and whistled the tune I whistle when I’m looking for him, but no sign of him. I felt a wave of panic because we were leaving to spend the night in Moncton for an early birthday getaway for my hubby. What if he came home, and we were not there? How would he feel?

As a few more days passed by, the realization was that Micro might have ventured beyond his regular adventures. With a heavy heart, I reached out to our neighbors, posting on a community Facebook page and the Communities app, sharing his picture. The community quickly rallied together. They shared the news on their social media pages and shared positive notes of support.

I had read on a Google search about cats wandering away that some male cats (Micro is a male), often leave for longer periods when their humans return from a long vacation. We just got back from a three-week trip to Portugal, so this gave me hope, but days turned into night and our worry deepened as Micro remained elusive. Sleepless nights were spent listening for his distinctive meow at the door and the soft steps across the hardwood floors. The support from our community, however, serves as a lifeline, offering comforting words and sharing stories of lost pets returning home against the odds.

The emotional toll of Micro’s disappearance was palpable. Each passing day brought a mix of hope and despair with the fear that we might never hold him in our arms again. The routine that once revolved around his presence now felt incomplete as we longed for the familiar purrs that once echoed through the house.

On the ninth night of his being away, my hubby came home from the farmers’ markets and told me that our neigh stopped by to share that he saw white and black fur by their fire pit, but no other signs of struggle. My heart sank, then I said, it could be a skunk, but we realized we may need to take this as a sign that Micro was not coming home. I walked around the rest of the afternoon in a daze of despair and sadness. I knew we had to let him go.

That same night, I opened the door to put the recycling away and there was Micro at the door. I dropped the cans and called out his name, and he quickly came inside and purred as he wrapped himself around my ankles. I picked him up and held him close to me. He had lost a lot of weight, but was miraculously unharmed.

The reunion with Micro brought tears of joy and relief, marking the end of this harrowing chapter. We listened to his excited chatter to be home as we snuggled with him. The experience has deepened our appreciation for the unspoken bond we share with our pets and the unwavering support of our community that understands the pain of a missing feline friend. Micro’s disappearance taught us that amidst the uncertainties of life, hope can be found in the most unexpected places, just like our resilient and determined Micro.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing… (and snuggle with your pets)

A Portuguese Culinary Experience

One reason we travel is to enjoy the culinary delights of the place we visit. We knew Portugal was a Mecca of food experiences. We watched Somebody Feed Phil’s Lisbon episode several times to make notes of the places he visited, along with Anthony Bourdain’s, No Reservations, episode in Lisbon, where we learned about Ginjinha, a sweet cherry liqueur that packs a lot of flavors and if you’re not careful a quick buzz. We found the location that Anthony visited and I toasted to Anthony.

One chef that Anthony had dinner with was Jose Avillez. Jose is a Portuguese chef and restaurateur. He is one of the most renowned Portuguese chefs. In 2012, he opened and fully renovated Belcanto winning a Michelin star in the same year. In 2022 he opened Encanto, a Michelin-starred ode to the world of vegetables. Within its culinary realm, legumes, leaves, seeds, seaweed, mushrooms, flowers, fruits, eggs, and cheeses are masterfully prepared and presented. (Straight from their website and beautifully explained)

We had the pleasure of experiencing Encanto while in Lisbon. We knew it was a twelve-tasting menu, but did not know what to expect. The experience began with the pleasure of standing at the front door and pressing the doorbell to enter, where one server greeted us.

“Welcome to Encanto.”

We walked into the restaurant and I felt like I was stepping into a storybook story of old-world charm with hints of modern art.

Our server introduced himself, and for the life of me, I cannot remember his name. Sorry, the food swept us away. He explained how the evening would run and the food moments would come out in a timely manner. He knew I had a peanut allergy and asked if I was okay with soybeans and I said, yes, thank you.

After our drinks we delivered, the first food moment arrived.

Five small bites, from a pumpkin and mushroom tart to a satay peanut (mine made of soybean but looked like a peanut in its shell). Then the edible gold leaves wrapped hummus in the shape of an egg. The hummus was like butter and the gold leaf with the seasoning was out of this world delicious.

The rest of the menu can be found here, but I have to share one of my favourite food moments; The vegetable Alheira. Alheria is usually made with meats and bread. The vegetable version was with pumpkin and mushrooms and I swear I was eating a perfectly grilled filet mignon (as an ex-meat eater, I remember the textures and tastes of certain meats). The pea puree was a perfect pairing along with the Krispy kale. I can’t stop thinking about this moment and will try to make this Aleria as I get back into the kitchen.

The meal was exquisite, and the service team was in sync. Other tables had already started their experience, and some tables arrived after we did and that did not phase the service team. The service team presented the food promptly. When you are given a Michelin star, you have to be spot-on with everything, and they were. I say this because we had dinner at a Michelin gourmand (no star rating but still an esteemed rating recognizing good food and service) restaurant in Lagos, and the service was impeccable and the food amazing. We visited the Lagos restaurant first, so we had a taste of what the service would be like at Encanto.

            I am grateful to have been able to experience such service and delightful plant-based food at Encanto. I know my ‘When I’m not Writing, I’m cooking” has come from the pure love of cooking and learning to cook healthy and delicious plant-based meals, but when you have the chance to experience a master at their craft, I am in awe of the Chef’s creativity and pleasure of preparing and presenting beautiful food. What an experience and opportunity. Thank you, universe.

            Our overall food experience in Portugal was exceptional. We didn’t have one made meal. There is something about just being in the moment and letting go of all the stuff you cannot control. As I have said, experience the experience.

Thank you for stopping by. Next week, I will share a few more culinary experiences as I share our time in Portugal. I am still dreaming of being on the coast of Lagos, dipping my toes into the Ocean.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing…

Living the Creative Life ~ Lagos, Portugal

Day one in Lagos. We agreed before we left for our Portugal adventure that we would not be touring around right away and we would head to the closest beach to dip our toes in the Atlantic Ocean, just on the other side of the world for us.

The Airbnb we booked months in advance was from a Super host and apparently, their accommodations were rare to be available. I can see why; it is close to everything. A three-minute walk from the train station, four minutes from the main strip of bars and restaurants on the Marina side, and 10 minutes across the bridge to the city center. The best part was, it was less than 10 minutes to the beach and beautiful boardwalks.

We walked to the beach and immediately took our sneakers off, rolled up our jeans, and stepped into the ocean. I am instantly at peace. There is something about being close to the ocean and when I stand in the ocean, I feel connected to the earth, and myself. There is a totality feeling when I am standing in the grand ocean. This writer soaked in the experience and feeling of being free, meaning, I was right here and now, in the zone of being.

            For the next two hours, we walked along the beach, stopped and took pictures, and kept dipping our toes into the refreshing cool water. This is the art of doing nothing. Being in the now, experiencing the experience.

            The particular beach we found also had boardwalks. They are part of a project to rehabilitate the dune system. This area had five kilometers of boardwalk to enjoy the scenery and stop at various benches to read about the local landscape, animals, and flowers. As we reached the south side of the boardwalk, I noticed a small beach with beautiful limestone cliffs and arched rocks. We made a plan to explore the beach the next day.

That evening, we found a great Italian restaurant in that four-minute walk from the condo, Portofino’s, this made me smile because when we lived in Victoria, we lived close to an Italian Delicatessen called Portofino. Was the universe telling me something way back then?

The service was great, the food even better, and we took our time enjoying tapas and the inexpensive and delicious wine. Did I mention that almost everything in Portugal is inexpensive? Even with the conversion, we were enjoying three-dollar pints and five-dollar glasses of wine. I splurged when I ordered a glass of Prosecco for 6 dollars. I have to share the main reasons we travel, to explore a new place and enjoy the food and drink. We saved and planned on eating out most meals, and then we pleasantly discovered that many amenities were inexpensive.

When we got up to explore the next beach, we found the Ponta da Piedade boardwalks. The boardwalks follow the western side of the coastline. The cliffs of Ponta da Piedade are dramatic limestone coastlines that have formed sea pillars, fragile rock arches, and hidden grottos, all of which have been chiseled out by the savage winter storms. It was a warm day, around 16 to 18 degrees Celsius, the sun was shining and we walked to the Ponta da Piedade Lighthouse, about 10 kilometers round trip from the condo. We saw another boardwalk on the west side and noticed it was another boardwalk system to the town of Luz, about 6.5 km from the lighthouse. We decided to come back in a few days. We had 9 days in Lagos and had time to explore.

On the way back to Lagos city center we saw more beautiful architecture, and all around the scenery was all I needed to enjoy the moment. We stopped at a small pub with several people outside on the patio who seemed to know one another or they were simply happy to connect with one another. We ordered a pint of Super Bock (local beer) and enjoyed the sunshine and atmosphere.

There is so much to see and do in the Algarve region and now that we explored, we were ready to see more of the area. As we walked back to the condo for a late afternoon lunch, we came across a restaurant with the Michelin guide symbol. Immediately we stopped and read the menu and made a reservation for the next night. The restaurant did not have a Michelin star, but Michelin visited the establishment and provided an honorable mention. We knew we would be in for a treat.

Next time, I will share the dining experience at the lovely and elegant restaurant hidden in the city of Lagos.

Until Next Time, Keep on Typing…

Photo by Leah Kelley on Pexels.com