History, Strength and Survival

Obrigado - Thank You - for coming along on this journey with us. To share in what we learn about the history of Portugal and the Poesia da Vida Portuguesa.

It's been a couple of busy weeks driving between Gafanha da Boa Hora and Torres Vedras to visit and work with family. The highways are full of tolls, so we decided to take the scenic route (below). To break up our drive on the way to Torres Vedras, famous for the 100 year old Carnaval, we made a stop in Óbidos, an example of "ancient" living in modern days. The hilltop town is encircled and fortified by hard stone castle walls. Among it's 3,100 residents are tourist shops and cafés but visiting in winter, crowds are few and the streets are quiet. 

Transported back to the time of Kings and Queens, we were exhilarated to climb up steep stairs to the top of the castle walls. They are walkable all the way around town but no bannisters make very courageous tourists step carefully over crumbly rock and brick. Adventurous and brave we witnessed amazing views of the surrounding lands and the Aqueductos do Óbidos, that carry drinking water to the town from a spring in the mountains 3km away.

In October, we might have to return during the international literary festival - the Fólio (Festival Literário Internacional de Óbidos), to enjoy one of our favourite travel pass times, finding special libraries and historical bookshops. The Livraria do Mercado Biológico, sells...suprise...fish and books!

I can only imagine how many tourists knock on the doors of the residents & shop owners just for the fun of it... like our son opening gates & playing nicky nine doors while we're not looking. Traveling with an 8 year old, and a mind like his, is (mostly) fun! As we walk and explore, he talks continuously, making up stories of soldiers and robbers and men with guns.

In contrast, we witness really old imaginings and impossible buildings that men & women have created with stone and fibre since the beginning of time. Only with exceptional awareness and supernatural forethought could these amazing structures have gone from plan to full execution. Finished but not really. There is no end, there is only maintenance and repair and better ideas.

Styles change but there is something so universal about masonry, soft colours and clay.

Inevitably, walls crumble & best laid plans fall short. Even castles built with gold and riches fall apart. Similarly, human nature intervenes and God's favour seems to stop short when our free will and poor choices collide. How can we be so sure of where we are headed when not even concrete can stand the test of time.

As we continue to come up against the notions of strength and survival, almost one month and three hurricanes have past. Nature and weather are constantly awe inspiring and never stop for anything other than the Creator of all - the one who tames the storm & calms our fears.

On our drive home back to the Gafanha da Boa Hora, we wanted to stop in Nazaré to see the biggest waves in the world. We thought 200km winds a few days before would warrant a spectacular view. Well, our trip was delayed by passing through all of the towns that Hurricane Kristin hit hard. When we arrived at the Praia do Norte (North Beach) in Nazaré it was just after dark and pouring rain. But in true Portugal style, the weather changes quickly. The clouds parted for just a moment to witness a dusky wash of white and black and the silhouette of the Fort of São Miguel Arcanjo sitting atop the end of a jetty (below). The immensity not lost through the roaring sounds of the Atlantic Ocean.

Traveling North from Figueira da Foz to Leiria was impossible as downed trees and power lines covered the roads, Traffic signs of every size were literally torn in two by the strong winds and rain. Town upon town was dark, no power and no water. Crews were out in numbers just trying to allow safe passage. We saw many people filling up water buckets at wells and fountains where they could. Gas stations that remained open were lined up for hours and cars were either left crunched under trees or left on the side of the road, presumably run out of gasolina. We were turned around more than once to find the main highway and get on with the toll stops. Thankfully our little Toyota's tank was full and motoring along without issue.

The major city close to our destination is Aveiro, with similar reports coming in on the news. So as we traveled, we prayed for our small town on the side of the Ocean. I looked up what the name of this village means. And it is so cute and (hopefully) full of truth, Gafanha da Boa Hora = Grasshopper of Good Fortune. A quick call to Avó to confirm good fortune indeed. With no damage to our family's or neighbours homes, our area was safe and relatively unscathed. In Portugal, most windows are covered in roll-up hurricane shutters - now we know why!

The beauty in the ashes is the community working together to clean up the mess, fix the damage and help each other survive another day. Materials and possessions only go so far. Love for each other and close connection bring us home.

Presently, the political climate is calm (tranquilo), though it's heating up with the latest presidential election being called a tie. Now, many unlikely voters will turn out to change the outcome depending on their candidato preferencial. A successful goal this week was to secure Pedro's address and tax information, and with a tie-breaker on the way, he's even registered to vote.

This journey continues to remind us that the answers we seek are not written in stone but are changeable like the wind and the waves. The access to truth is through prayer and mediating on the One we can build our life on.

The realization this week came from a quote on a road sign, something you've probably heard before. That the journey is actually more important than the destination. The lessons learned along the way. Adding gratitude to every circumstance.

The crumbling infrastructure paired with the power of nature, the contrast between a child’s imagination and the very real turning points in a nation's history teach us that nothing we build—plans, castles, or even certainties—is permanent. What endures is movement: the drive onward, the stories we tell, the care we take with one another, and the quiet trust that guides us home.

Sending love com amor to all.

Coming up Next on the Poesia da Vida Portuguesa: Portugal through Zion's eyes - An 8 year old with a love for soccer, the garden, his Avo's house and Portuguese food!

New curly-do by Eric at Underboss Barbershop, Torres Vedras