festival!

I use festival in small caps because it's not "The Festival" which is Mardi Gras. But each town has a festival.

( Although there are so many festivals on this island I can't keep up.) This week is our town's, Porto Martins festival. One week with firecrackers going off all the time.

On island, they use firecrackers to inform. A boom goes off when it's time for a bullfight. A boom goes off when its time for a dance. A boom goes off when church is over and it's time for a parade. Lots of booms throughout the day when its festival. Lots of information. The booms must be in Portuguese, because I never get it.

I'm almost in the loop. Our neighbors give us a lot of info we wouldn't normally have, but it's 9:43 pm and I have no idea what that last boom just meant.

The town festival means the last bullfights are here, and ours are this week. We have two in the town proper and one on our street. There is also lots of music at night and one day they will have a field with baby vacas (cows) for the kids. How kids play with baby cows I'm interested to see.

Last night our neighbors had us over for a traditional Portuguese meal to celebrate "festival". I was thankful Edwarda knows my kids and made some french fries and fried chicken to appease them. Albertina made two kinds of Alcaltra (island dish), fish and meat. The fish was eel (Sr. Fernando explained to Randy how after the eel is caught is must be clubbed to death) and the meat came from Ruben parents (they have a dairy farm). All the food was wonderful.

You can't beat the conversation though:

"What did she say?"

"Abrigado?" I think.

Lots of questions, but also lots of smiles.

Next week is the bullfight on our street. I'm excited!

SUMMER TRAVEL

Mas Desculpe! Many pardons!

Our blog title is "traveling stumlers", and at a time when we traveled the most, I wrote the least.

Our summer was so jam packed:

Arrived by plane in Norfolk Virginia, the day after school let out.

Spent one evening by the bay before hopping a train to D.C.

D.C. to Chicago was on a sleeper Amtrak (which was sooo cool).

Spent the entire afternoon in Chicago.

We went up the Sears Tower.

Walked through Millennium Park.

Did the ferris wheel in Navy Pier.

Ended up in Indianapolis late at night for one more hotel before Pat and Irvin picked us all up with two vans. We had over fourteen pieces of luggage, and everyone made it back.

Our home away from home was a little cramped in Floyds Knobs. But we made it work with three couches being slept upon and two bedrooms occupied. Close quarters!

Pat and Irvin had a cookout right away to celebrate missed birthdays, and Father's Day weekend. Nathan and my brother's came, along with special friends (you know who you are).

We had a great return with family and friends. Too many late nights singing and carrying on.

Of course this was only the beginning.

We went to Michigan for a week then drove to Batesville to drop the kids off with my Mom.

From Indianapolis, Randy and I flew to Houston. A 4 day cruise to Cozumel Mexico began our trip and a weeklong seminar for Randy ended it.

The cruise was fun with two other couples, one of which were from our island. Glen and Suzie do this cruise every year, and didn't have much trouble talking us into it.

The weather when we returned to Houston was sooo hot, I spent the whole time in the hotel room. But the time alone was enjoyable and needed.

After returning to Indianapolis we drove back up to Michigan for a few days before getting back for Fruedenfest in Oldenburg.

Then on back to Floyds Knobs (only a two hour drive) for a few days to return to Batesville on the weekend for the Volgelsang golf scramble.

Can you guess?

Back up to Michigan. We really enjoyed the lake house this year. But almost not enough.

It was just so here there and everywhere! Always coming and going. I'm looking back on my calendar thinking "What the hell?"

Randy had bought Cubs tickets way back in May so that us and his parents could go together. It ended up Gran wasn't doing so well and Pat and Irv. didn't get to go. Our neighbor Rich was the lucky participant, with two tickets being sold because Sarahjane opted out. (She's un-American!) Sarah had spent the week with her friends and went to Warped tour in Cincinnati instead.

The Cubs game was incredible! We were in the second row behind home plate and Henry has his own souvenir to boast. (A broken bat splinter!) Randy saw himself on t.v. the next day on highlights, but it went so fast, I couldn't tell.

Good times. Gran did recover to a point, but not as good as before.

When we returned again, (Floyds Knobs, are you keeping up?) the renters in our house moved out and it was time to clean and purge. Because we already had new renters, and a moving company was collecting another shipment to be sent overseas, we were in a hurry to get the house in order. Lots of cleaning, and lots of trips to Goodwill. (What were we thinking? I kept that lampshade for who?)

The last bit of excitement came back up north. Pat and Irvin went to the lake and stayed with the kids while Randy and I went to Chicago for Lallapalooza. Pat, Irv and the kids all had a great time. That trip ended with a little ditch digging and concrete filling. (Whenever we would play too hard, there was always some form of work awaiting.)

From Michigan we spent one last week in Batesville soaking up as much family as we could. Oscar and Randy did the first Colts game together, then back to Floyds Knobs for a final pack-up, and many short goodbyes.

What's so sad is I'm already thinking about how to get more people seen into next summer. I promise to plan better.

Thank you for a wonderful summer! See ya next year!

Karen

Terciera Bullfighting

This is what's special about our island. 

 Bullfighting in the streets.

Not exactly what most people think of "bullfighting", but that's what they call it.  

The tradition began from one of the many times

the island was under siege.  This particular time,

the Spanish were coming in from the southeastern side.

It would have been another defeat for Portugal,

were it not for a young woman's idea.

(Don't quote me on the young lady)

This woman let all the bulls out of their pens

to run down the hill towards the port of attack.

The bulls scared off the Spanish, marking one

of a few victories for the Azoreans.

The morning before a bullfight, the buyers, and any interested folk gather in the center of the island in one of four bullrings.  Here the bulls strut their stuff, and usually four bulls are chosen for each fiesta.  After the choices are made, they let some of the younger bulls out to test their charge factor. 

 Play with them.

Create their hate for people in general.

On the evening of the bullfight, people start to 

gather about an hour before hand.  The food and beer 

venders sell their ware, and the voyeurs get their spots.

 Controlling your spot is essential for a fun bullfight.

It needs to be close to the street, but high behind a

sturdy fence or stone wall.  It's amazing and scary to see

how high these massive animals can jump. 

In many of the larger stores, they play videos of past bullfights.  Of course only the most exciting ones make it in, but it makes you think very hard about where to plant your rear. 

The young men see the bullfights as a rite of passage.  It's something every young man needs to do at least once. 

There is a mute gentleman who goes to many bullfights and gets very close to the bulls face.  I've seen him at the bullfights myself, and witnessed him on many videos from past years.  

Makes you wonder his motivation.

This fall when we return, the bull crates will be in our driveway.  It was fun last year from Edwarda's front yard. 

 I can see it being even better this year.

Under the Island

We did some underground exploring.  Our neighbors' adopted son is studying to be a tour director and wanted to practice his English.

(side note)  They teach proper English in the Portuguese schools.

 It's easier to talk with the ignorant 

rather than the trained. 

Going into the volcano was a welcome change to the weather.  The wind had been coming from all directions and very cold.

After we entered the cave, the rain fell from the hole but the wind was kept at bay.  We could see the different types of lava on the sides of the cave and imagined the heat that created these textures.  The lush hole in the ground at one time spewed white hot magma.  Now it was creating a beautiful image in my lens.

TRAVELING ANOTHER ISLAND

This was one of the perks.  Job overseas to see the world.  The not knowing if we could get on the plane was aggravating.  We sign up,  pack, arrive at the airport an hour ahead, wait in line, then we find out if there is room on the flight.  I was prepared not to go.  Set for disappointment made the wait less stressful.  With our large family, this is the way we will travel.  Lots of question marks and fingers crossed.  But we made it off the rock!

Well we went from one island to another.  But what an island!

Crete is very beautiful.   There is a lot of graffiti and trash, but I think because its vacation, it was still pretty.  The graffiti looks smart because its in Greek and I didn't have a clue.  I'll just pretend it was all about global warming and going green.

 

The third day, we went for a drive in the mountains in our 9 passenger Fiat with Pat and Sam Hood also from Lajes.  We made it through the mountains to see the gorge (largest in Europe) and after a stop for snacks, got a flat tire on the way down.  The edges of the roads were cliffs without guard rails.  If there had been any drama with it, I would have thrown-up.  

We were way up in the air.  The goats were jumping from cliff to cliff.   But Randy found a flat area without any problem and Sam changed the flat in record time for us to continue on our adventure.

They bury their dead above ground with personal memorabilia showing.  This one must have been fond of doing dishes in life.

One stand out view is the water.  The ocean is bright tourquiose along the shore.  Gorgeous!

On the last day the sun was shining so bright we tried out a beach.  The sand was soft and covered with tiny shells, but the water was ice.  Only the crazy got in.  And we all know who that wasn't (the photographer, duh).

Our spring break was fantastic!  I can't wait for our next adventure.

Neighborhood of Porto Martins

One tree was very interesting.  it seemed to be melting from the branches, and the flowers were cacti like.  Speaking of cacti, they are everywhere.  We even have a few in our yard.

We also have many farm animals surrounding us.  On both sides the neighbors have goats and chickens.  Yesterday, we had a big red hen in our yard.  Randy sneakily told Sarahjane it was a present to her (she wanted a chicken when we got here).

Margharida and John have 9 cows in their yard, including 2 babies.  Oscar tried to make friends with Bessie.  It scared Edwarda.  She thought he might hurt the cow.

  

 He probably couldn't have even if he tried.  I was amazed at his bravery, that cow is huge!

Our new house has better windows luckily, or the roosters would wake me up at 4 am everyday.  We are surrounded!

Everyone really likes living life on a farm without the work involved.  The occasional stray chicken is fun to watch up close.  And all these cows are really starting to grow on me.  

I'm feeling a song coming on.  "Green Acres is the place to be, (bom, bom, bom) farm living is the life for me, ........" .

Or NOT!  I think I'll just enjoy the posh life for now.

Chow.

Moving Day

I have returned to the land of the living.  

It wasn't as painful as I predicted.

IT'S NICE BEING WRONG.

The transfer of phone/cable/computer was only a week.

The movers really didn't charge that much considering three

floors down.  The cat didn't run away or freak out. 

LIFE IS GOOD! 

Eddie and Edwarda have been so helpful in getting things just right.  I can tell this is just the beginning of a great friendship.  Eddie's parents own the cafe across the street and Edwarda works there.  Her mother-in-law doesn't speak a lot of English, but she's very nice and tries very hard to include me.  She brought me an empty Dove's package and in her broken English asked for me to buy five for her chocolate cravings.  She's so cute!

Our new home is actually two apartments that we've made into one.

Six bedrooms, four baths, two kitchens, and two views!

We've made the upstairs our 

kitchen/living room, 

and downstairs is our play room.

The view is spectacular!

Behind the house is a group of trees hiding trails of volcanic rock

and a deserted grape vineyard.  The boys have enjoyed exploring

the grounds. 

 I'm still sidestepping cow paddies from Bessie the brown-speckled, terribly fast and large cow.  

While driving down my well-worn trek, to and from the base, I stuck my camera out the window and took some pics.  Not trying to get the "best" picture, just point and shoot through the windshield.  Some of them turned out pretty darned good if I do say so myself.

And of course the obligatory cow picture.

I think the cows must like the rain, but it always makes me sad to see them.

Especially when there is only one chained in a remote location.

Poor wet cows.

Wet cows don't smell very good either.

That was a beautiful day.  It had rained buckets the day before and everyone was outside, soaking up the sun and drying out.  We spent the day at the park.  I forced the girls the play for a few hours because it was forecasted to rain the next day.

Fun in the rain

It is impossible to predict the weather.  Sometimes I can catch the Portuguese news, but unless he has pictures, I'm clueless.  There are nine islands.

 And the air-force radio seems to always be wrong.  Go figure, something government run being wrong.

So there is no planning.  I just have to be prepared.  

We have an umbrella and boots at the door and they go into the car when traveling.  A jacket or sweatshirt along with it, which always get left somewhere or other.

It rains every other day, but the sun will shine in between downpours or during.  I have never seen so many rainbows.   And most of the time they cover the whole sky.  Its very inspiring. 

 One rainy day activity is bowling.  Oscar is on a youth league and has improved quite a bit.  Our friend Justin is also on a league, so the competition is on when we go together.

Here is Oscar, 

Mark,3 (hidden),

 and Taylor,2 years. 

 Oscar likes to be the teacher.

Mary had to be pretty competitive.

We always have a good time with the Walkers. 

Now I'm back to the underlining problem.  HELP!!!

The death of BELOR!

My nemesis.  It's a constant battle in most homes.  I even have a Portuguese housekeeper come twice a week and still...

... IT LIVES. 

 Mold. 

 Belor in Portuguese. 

 The weather is so unforgiving right now, I can't fight and expect victory.

Some of our windows aren't very secure and the rain seeps in.  Because there is no heat, hot showers are a must.  Most days lately, the wind has been too strong and cold to open the windows.  

Moisture, cool temperatures, and no moving ventilation;  all needed for Belor to flourish.  

So most days of my cleaning are spent seeking out Belor and killing it!

Poor Sarahjane, when she chose her room in the summer, it was because of the window facing the beautiful grape vineyard.  Now her nights are hell, and my days busy. 

 The last renter kept his dog in her room.  "Jack"  had learned to open the window with his paws, evidently breaking the seal.

  On high wind days it screams in pain, and on rainy days it cries. 

 I keep moving her bed further and further away from that wall, but the room is not very big.

  And belor knows no boundaries.

I know part of my haste in moving is the misery in our quarters. 

 A new home!  At least there I will have a fighting chance.  The odds will be better although still not guaranteed.   I will prepare myself with the tools of extermination. 

 My garlic will be "dehumidifiers", my crosses "damp-rid", all placed strategically throughout the house.  With a bottle of Clorox bleach holstered on my hip at the ready.....

.... I will fight a good fight.  Nao esconderes Belor!

LAJES MILITARY BASE

It occurred to me that I haven't explained our military existence in detail.  And I'm in the mood to write.

 Lajes air force base was created after WWII with special permission from the Portuguese government.  In other words, this base is not American.  It is a Portuguese base that Americans are allowed to be a part of.  The gates are manned by Portuguese military.  The MP's are Portuguese and American together.  The BX,(K-mart without tax) which normally is only for American military, also allows for Portuguese with ID.   

All the buildings are brandished with a letter T for "temporary".

 We have to be on our best behavior or daddy will take away the second largest runway in the world.  

That's right kids, Lajes is where the Space Shuttle is to crash land if they develop any problems while flying over the Atlantic.

Over the last Shuttle flight, everyone was on stand-by, just "in case".  Not that I stayed up, but if the sky is clear, we can watch the orbit with the naked eye.

The school and base housing is actually outside the base perimeter.  So there is a walking gate with a Portuguese plainclothes (not sure of his status) to look at ID's.  Its funny listening to some of the stories of kids and adults holding up something to pass by.  Depending on the person, most anyone can pass through the gate.  Hopefully I won't cause a national incident, but someone went through after holding up their shoe. 

 But on the main gate, there are some uniformed that practically twang after a salute.  And they are saluting all day long.

We live about 15 minutes away from the base.  Some days Mary and I hang out in Porto Martins, but others are spent being saluted over and again. 

 Bonnie likes to salute back.

 Sometimes the base has a lot to offer.  We had a movie theater, it's being re-vamped.  There are a few playgrounds, but they are usually wet. 

 The library is small but well stocked.  Somehow they got all new, hardback books.  I've not seen any paperbacks as of yet.  But the video selection, not so hot.  A lot of discarded vhs tapes, of the Barney and Rugrats variety.

  Bowling alley, craft center, thrift shop, and in the summer there is a pool.  Supposedly there used to be a Burger King, and many Portuguese civilians would pay for the yearly ID fee just for that use.  But now the only fast food is Subway (if that even counts as fast food).  The largest island Sao Miguel is home to Taco Bell and McDonalds.  That unfortunately is a two hour flight.  

I am simply rambling, so I will end on the subject of me being stupid.

It makes me feel pretty stupid when practically every Portuguese I've met is bi-lingual and I don't feel comfortable saying "Bom Dia"(good morning).  Not only can they speak English, they speak so fluently, you wonder their nationality.  Most Europeans are bi-lingual which makes me wonder if the English language itself is a block in learning other languages.  Is it harder to learn other languages when English is the native tongue?  That's my hypothesis.  It's thrown out, I can't take it back.

The language is a cross between Spanish and French.  If you know Spanish (as I've learned), then its easy to pick up on the written language.  But if you know French (which I do Not), I think the sounds may be easier to pick up on.  Like French there are many letters that are not heard.  And others that sound completely different that you would imagine.  

Yes, for example is Sim.  It's pronounced "sing".

No, is Nao, with the squiggly over the a.  Its a nasal "now".

Sarahjane and I are taking a class.  When I write down notes without looking at the board, just listening, I'm screwed.  It just doesn't sound anything like it looks.  When watching TV, everything ends with 00 or sh.  There is a lot of shushing going on here.

And evidently, we live in hillbilly Portugal and have the added bonus of a peculiar accent.  

I'm done.

"Mooving story"

It's pretty bad when your exotic surroundings start to get ho hum.

We live in the most beautiful setting.  You've seen the pictures.  Rolling hills, terra-cotta roofs, pounding surf.  It's absolutely heaven.  And yet I run the same route practically everyday. 

 Heaven is becoming routine.  Same round-a-bouts, with the occasional yield.  No traffic to speak of.

 Bumpidy, bump cobble stone streets making me worry about the tires.

Same blank stares of locals from the cafe at the top of the street.  (All Portuguese seem to stare.  But as soon as you smile, they smile back and look away.  If you don't smile they just go on staring.  It's a little creepy.  I Haven't been to that cafe yet.)

 That's why the once in a while cow jam is welcomed. 

 Cows really are interesting creatures.

Cows are becoming exciting.  My life is so sad.

I'm sure I've said the person/cow ratio is very close.  There is new construction going on all over the island.  We thought they were building new roads with overpasses, but no.

Millions of dollars are being spent on cow bridges.  

Our neighbor talked about at their daughters 15th birthday when they rented calves for the kids to play with.  At the time I had a hard time not laughing openly.  Now it doesn't sound like a bad idea.  If you take away the smell, they are very cute animals.  And these cows are smart.  Imagine moving twenty cows together, anywhere!  One farmer can guide his whole herd down the middle of the street without any problems. 

There is the occasional accident though.  (Hence the cow bridges)  About a month ago the kids came home with a horror story:  Police with the road blocked.  Kids looking out the bus window, witnesses to a crime.  The street covered with blood and milk.  The victim still alive, but missing one horn.  The bus driver spoke in hushed tones, to sooth the younger ones watching.  Tears being choked back, the windows fogging.

  (I'm sure it was dramatized a little.)

And the story goes if you kill a cow, you have to pay the owner not only for his face value but for all the milk  he would have created had he lived a full life.  Not only poor cow, but poor motorist.

 I am really sad.  My real life drama centers around cows.  

This island is much too small.

Christmas Vacation

Yea!  Disney World was disneyrific! 

Years ago at a Riverbats game, Buddy Bat came near to where we were seated.  Mary took off in one direction, to go home with Buddy Bat, and Bonnie bolted.  It was funny and scary at the same time.  From that time we have avoided all characters and clowns.

Things have changed, but only a little.

Bonnie hid away from Minnie.  

Sweet, shy demure, give you kisses, Minnie

But Stitch, that was different.  

She still wasn't 

getting too close.

We stayed in the park for three days and had a magical time.

For all the magic that is Disney, the fun continued after we left.

On Christmas Eve we were picked up by a world class limo service on route to Ft. Meyers Beach.  Both sets of grandparents had to meet us because of all the luggage. ( We can't go many places in one car.)  

Christmas was "diffrn't but goood!"

The sun was warm,  

The sand was soft,

and the water was delightful. 

Maw maw, Paw paw, Mee maw, and Grampy,

swimming, shopping, and sunbathing.

It just doesn't get much better than this.

But wait there's more!

Included in this deluxe vacation package you also get snow!

A blizzard had hit right before our plane landed in Boston.

Then on the way back they got 8 more inches!

It was so beautiful and our sleeping quarters couldn't have been 

any nicer.  We stayed with Randy's cuz Christopher and his wife

Anne Marie.  They not only put us up, they fed us and taxied us around.

The only sad part of this saga is poor little Ethel.  Instead of being stuck in a crate for 5 hours in the cold, and adjusting to a strange world, she had to stay back in Florida with Pat and Irvin.

 At Lake Okeechobee, in the sun, with Pat cooking her whole turkeys, and Irvin feeding her twinkees.

  As long as she isn't attacked by a fast alligator, she's going to be a happy pup.

Maybe in my next blog I'll figure out how not to underline.