Reflections on the First Few Days

The trip is on!

VOL. 3 ... No. 102. May 7, 2025.

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Bom dia, Humpers!

That’s “good morning” in Portuguese. I like saying it. It has a musicality that befits a warm sunny morning and a hot cup of coffee.

I’m saying “humpers” in this audio, and not “fuckers” in case you’re wondering.

After months of planning and watching videos, we are finally here in Tavira, Portugal! So much thanks to all the friends who helped make this happen. Our next-door neighbors, Ann and Andy, are taking care of the house and plants back home. Jayne is caring for and loving our dog, Cady, and has shared adorable photos and stories. Barbara and Craig gave us shelter in Atlanta for a few days prior to departure — plus an unexpected birthday dinner for Stu, a larger suitcase, and transportation to the airport. Don and Angie treated us to a send-off lunch at a great Ethiopian restaurant and will be picking us up at the airport when we return.

When you have good friends — you have everything.

So . . . let’s talk airline travel, shall we? Look at this happy couple standing in front of Atlanta airport about to embark on the adventure of a lifetime. They look rested and excited, don’t they?

They’ve chosen loose comfortable clothing, and they feel prepared with eye drops, sleep masks, neck supports, cough drops, iPhones, books, laptop, and masks — which they won’t wear for long since breathing is still a requirement for sustaining life.

Do you know how hard it is to keep up with all that stuff and locate what you need when it is crammed under the seat in front of you and you cannot move your body more than a few inches in any direction?

It’s a LONG way to Portugal.

The first leg of the journey was an overnight flight to Amsterdam which took about seven hours, but who’s counting? We left around 10:30 pm. The flight was smooth. No jarring bumps or storms. We had a pleasant, professional flight crew. I felt safe in their hands, and I am grateful for their skills and the good weather.

The flight attendants fed us cheesy vegetarian lasagne around midnight and a thick cheesy baked doughy roll a few hours later. I’m still waiting for my bowels to move.

I understand the need to fly with a full passenger load. With fuel costs, environmental considerations, and so many people traveling, airlines have decided to cram as many people as possible on each plane. If you’re of the generation that remembers large seats with room behind you to recline without jamming the dinner tray into the others person’s gut — if you remember the days when you could squeeze past the flight attendant AND her dinner cart on the way to the bathroom — those days are gone, baby. We were in the economy section, but it didn’t look much better up front.

Think grown-ups with wide butts trying to sleep while squeezed into a first-grader’s school desk, and you’ve got the picture.

See that blue jacket on the other side of me. That young man slept the whole way. I should have asked him what drug he had taken. I’ve never used this neck support before. I’m mixed on it, but the sleep mask is a winner.

After a welcomed four-hour layover in Amsterdam, we took a smallish plane to Faro where we connected to our ground transportation for a short ride to Tavira. This flight was an adventure! Does anyone “test-sit” airline seats? At some point, I said to Stu, “I’ve never been so uncomfortable in my life.”

Might have been delirium kicking in.

Add to that, some poor soul nearby was suffering from digestive disturbances and releasing foul emissions. Fortunately, this lasted for only three hours.

This is me on that flight.

I think airline travel has become like pregnancy and giving birth. I’ve been told that you forget the pain and the smells when you behold the baby.

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And what a baby Tavira is!

Ancient, quaint, charming — modern too — with ruins interspersed among rehabbed buildings, Tavira has been occupied by various cultures over the centuries. The architecture reflects that with elements of Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque styles. The city is intersected by a picturesque tidal river. Folks from all over the world linger over drinks and meals in outdoor settings. All ages stroll together over the pedestrian bridges. I’ve enjoyed trying to guess the languages I’ve been hearing on the streets.

Our new friends, Eliza, Paul, and Mary, have been so kind to us, sharing their favorite places, sharing meals, and offering rides and connections to people we might contact here. We’re just getting started.

Here are a few scenes from “the baby.” I’ll have more to tell next week.

A 70th birthday toast to Stu. We released the captured woman in his wine glass.

We are thinking of becoming street performers in Tavira. This seating area on the Roman bridge would be a perfect place to busk. We would call ourselves the “Portu-geezers.”

What do you think?

We’re staying outside of town in a small and unpretentious resort near the beach. These friendly little beings spend their days sunning, grooming, and getting strokes from children.

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Until next time, my friends . . . Obrigada por lerem a Gazeta do Dia da Hump! (Thank you for reading The Hump Day Gazette!)

I love my new hat.

Janna

Quote Of The Week:

Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow. ― Anita Desai