Another Trip Around the Sun

 

My month in the apartment was coming to an end.  Time is passing by so quickly it’s astonishing.

Since I couldn’t get into the pink palace, I considered visiting another city while in Portugal. But first, I once again checked for lodging in Funchal and … yeah.  The prices have gone nuclear.  Most places wanted $900-$1000 for a week’s stay.  These are the same 1-bedrooms I usually book, not entire houses or anything fancy.  Are you kidding? I was looking to pay that much for a month of lodging, not a single week.

So, I remain on the mainland.  Hey, it’s still Portugal.  I still love it here so … moving on.

I then considered other cities in the Algarve but then remembered that I’m cheap and also still comfortable in Portimão.  Leaving here would require taxis or shuttles to get to nearby cities and the thought of doing that so soon was too much for me to handle.

The company that owns both apartments I’ve stayed in owns other properties in the area.  I chose one that is a short walking distance away and made the transition.

I knew this place wouldn’t be as nice as the others. And I was correct.  But I’ve come to trust this rental company so I knew it would be a clean, decent place to stay for a few weeks.

One thing I didn’t count on was my upstairs neighbors. That apartment has children that sound like they’re playing hockey on a nightly basis.  Running back and forth, dropping stuff, scraping the wooden chairs on the tiled floors, and of course, the crying.  For hours.

I am so glad I don’t have kids!  I don’t even like to be around those things!

I got well acquainted with the noise because Portimão keeps doing a will-I-or-won’t-I thing with rain.  The mornings will usually be bright and sunny.  Then sometime around noon when I’m ready to go out for a walk, it will start to get dark and rumbly.   I’ve risked it a couple of times and ended up soaked, even with my umbrella. 

With all the unexpected time spent in the apartment, I’ve still managed to keep up with my haircare.  I decided to do an amla treatment (a mud mask made from Indian herbs). Mixing it up caused the powders to get into my nose and throat.  Applying the paste triggered a burning sensation on my skin.  Rinsing it out, I got some of it in my eyes that led to even more burning.

I think one of the powders was either expired or had gone through too many airport security scans. The result of all this was a persistently itchy scalp, congestion, and some seriously red and irritated eyes for several days.  Had me looking like Quasimodo just in time for my 54th birthday photo. 

Ahh … good times.

(Photo not included because again – Quasimodo.  My hair was the only thing that looked good in that shot.)

I did treat myself to a spa visit on my birthday.  It was a unique one to say the least.  I’d been to the spa before when I was in Portimão last year, but this massage was different.  Targeted for sleep and relaxation, the treatment involved an extensive face and belly massage in addition to the usual routine.  Lots of essential herbs and good smells.  And yes, it did make me sleepy.

The spa is located near the beach so, of course, I walked along the water.  It was a sunny warm day which brought out the crowds.  There were also a couple of setups for volleyball which attracted a bunch more people.  There’s always something going on at that beach.

A few days later, I was sitting at the dining room table on my computer when I heard a tapping sound behind me.  From the balcony.  I’m on the 8^th floor.

With trepidation, I turned around and found this guy standing at the sliding glass door.  When I tried to approach to get a picture, he flew onto the railing.

I’m used to attracting stray cats (even while pet-free, I’m still a crazy cat lady). I guess now I’ll start attracting birds as well.  Is that my birthday gift from the universe for turning 54?

No offense, but I’d rather have a steady source of income and a visa.