Epilogue: Snow Angels Who Love Fish

A year ago, we were in t-shirts, walking barefoot in the warm sand of our "backyard", staring out at the sparkling blue ocean, soaking up the sun's radiant goodness.

Today we are all bundled up, walking on the soft snow, staring up at the beautiful flakes falling lightly all around, soaking up goodness from our glittery snow angels and the kids' laughter as they dodge each other's snowballs. This is awesome too!

My oldest l'il angel

We have been back in Canada for four months. Our Sesimbra dream seems just that: a wonderful, special memory that makes us all smile. It's our own little secret that the 5 of us will forever fondly reminisce over. It is part of who we are now.

Fortunately, life here is good too! We have adjusted seamlessly to things back on this side of the pond.

Thanksgiving at our cousins' cottage

Our acrobat!

A winner of our gymnastics club's pumpkin carving contest

It's not the ocean, but swimming the Otonabee River works too

We went trick-or-treating this Halloween; our candy quarantined 72 hours

The highlights:

School: For the first time ever, all 3 kids are at the same school (parents do a happy dance). The older two are excited to be back with old friends and their beloved school staff. During the first few months, they spoke a unique (and adorable) Portuguese version of French. No one was concerned, and they are back on track. Catarina is loving Junior Kindergarten. It is a strange year: no carpet time, no shared toys, no singing. But luckily, she doesn't know any differently. She loves her L-L-Letters and N-N-Numbers, and speaks fondly of her classmates and teachers. 

Grade 2, JK, and Grade 5: school is fun!

We love the school bus.

Extra-curriculars: Peterborough has been lucky so far with a low COVID case count, so our kids can still enjoy in-person activities. 

Jonty is a self-motivated piano student, and can often be heard tinkling away on the keys. Lessons are next door: sweet commute! He is also in trampoline (ALL fun, he tells us) and in boys advanced gymnastics (more work than trampoline, apparently). He is a social, approachable kid, a welcome addition to the classroom and his circle of buddies (I have been told this by many). If he could, he would play video games with friends all the time!

For Jonty's 10th birthday, Mark souped up the treehouse for an afternoon of gaming.

Livin' the dream. Double digits is awesome.

Gabi is a diligent piano student, and a patient big sister, allowing her sister to sit beside her on the bench and sing along. She loves gymnastics and can often be found swinging upside down on our trapeze. Brownies is her jam: this year it is all outdoors (and virtual on bad weather days); she loves seeing her friends and leaders every week, and counts down the minutes until the meeting starts.

Want to attend my performance?

Catarina, like her siblings, is an agile and talented gymnast and races out the door Saturday mornings for class. She has been invited to move up a level, but we'll wait until she can handle an activity after a long day of school. She loves to color and make crafts, and is THE sweetest cuddle-er!

Our l'il artist

Work: Mark is back to full-time and I am working my usual four days a week. Working in Public Health during a pandemic means I have been very busy, but I love what I do and who I work with, so it has not been a difficult transition. Mark and I are both working from home. I go into the office one day a week--it's a nice change to get out of yoga pants, do my hair and actually interact LIVE with people.

Workday lunch date! Grilled octopus. That's my water glass, boss, honest.

Food: With so much time at home, we have been able to maintain our high gastronomic standards. Mark has mastered the fresh cheese recipe I had every day on my Portuguese balcony.  I have a few fresh bread recipes up my sleeve. Good thing as our kids don't love store bought bread: their palate got used to warm and fresh. We have also learned that Sobey's in town has a decent fish section, with fresh fish with heads, mussels and clams, beautiful frozen octopus, salted cod bits, and even frozen sardines (from Portugal)! It's not the same as buying in a busy market, where our fish monger was up at 5am to meet the fisherman right at the docks...but it will do! ;)

Bacalhau a Bras (cod fish dish): still our family favourite

Last Friday's lunch, sardines.
BBQing in the snow is NOT the same as on our sunny balcony with ocean view

We are staying put for Christmas this year--no epic Winnipeg family extravaganza. We are managing our disappointment by trying new things. For the first time ever, we partook in the Canadian tradition of walking into a field, picking a Christmas tree, and chopping it down ourselves. Another first: it will just be the 5 of us on Christmas morning. We are in deep discussions about how to make it special. Luckily, Mark's brother and sister live in Peterborough, so we won't be lonely!

We did it: a real Christmas tree!

Santa: we're in Peterborough this year

Gabi's nightly Christmas wish is for snow for the holidays. Let's hope it comes true so that we can enjoy tobogganing, skiing, skating and snow fort building! 

Snow really is magical.

Come on snow, arrive (and stay!) in time for Christmas

So, as we say good-bye to 2020, we recall all the good times this year, acknowledge that we have so much to be thankful for, and hope that in 2021 we can actually hang out with all of you! 

Our family and friends make our life brighter--thanks for being you.

FELIZ NATAL!

A Surprise Ending

Gabi: "We're going to do this again in 4 years, right?"
Me: "Oh, do you want to?"
Gabi: "Of course! Let's go somewhere hot, but where there's snow".

Me, to myself: "Isn't that Canada?!"

A whole year without a S'more...

Me: "In ten years time, when you think about this trip, will you be annoyed we dragged you along?"
Jonty: "No: I think I'll be like Woah, that was really cool.".

Jonty built the fire--he may one day take over dad's title as "Fire King"

Me: "Do you want to come back to Portugal one day?"
Catarina: "Yes. Maybe tomorrow.  I have a treehouse in Canada."

Catarina did not remember our house at all. The first 3 days she just played and played, and kept saying "I love Canada!"

So, year-long family adventure in Portugal for the WIN!

We're back home now, living out our 2 week quarantine. Our year-long adventure fit into 5 suitcases at max weight, 4 personal items and 5 carry-ons (yes--we were those people who resorted to grocery bags as hand luggage!). We arrived to a stocked fridge, fresh beds, a house well-cared for by the tenants (whew!), and so many warm welcome home messages. We feel very loved--thank-you! 

Turns out, air travel during COVID19 is painless. No lines, anywhere. The plane was a small one, and maybe half full. Wearing a face mask the whole time was very manageable. When we deplaned at 11pm (4am Portuguese time), we walked right up and through customs. Easy. (When I came through 2 years ago, with a screaming baby Catarina, it took 1.5 hours).

Lisbon International Airport--echo, echo, echo...

Toronto Pearson International Airport--hello, is anybody there?
After passing all the airport staff, Jonty noted, "It's so weird to hear English again!".

Quarantine, however, is a total anti-climax after a year abroad: while the kids feel like it's Christmas (their reunion with their toys, books and backyard has been heart-warming), Mark and I are taking a little longer to adjust. What might help is a source for fresh fish daily, wine at lunch and dinner, no anticipated winter, and a sound machine set to the sound of waves.  Sigh, we'll manage.

With nowhere else to be, we are staying busy with lots of house projects and unpacking. I've had some time to contemplate the year's outcome.

I kind of expected to have a life-altering epiphany, after almost a year abroad, off work, full-time parenting, and living through a global crisis. That didn't quite happen. But a major surprise has been how connected I feel to Portugal and the Portuguese. I owe that wonderful feeling to my parents and relatives, who fostered my Portuguese identity over my lifetime. Thank-you mom and dad for not only being huge cheerleaders throughout this adventure, but for also sharing your culture and language, and fostering relationships with my relatives, continents away! Thanks to my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, who over 4 summers of my childhood, picked me up at the Lisbon airport and treated me to months of travel and fun.  (I was 8 years old on my first 3-month adventure without my parents. Is anyone so brave and generous these days?!)

I miss speaking Portuguese. This week I got stuck on 3 words that I knew in Portuguese, but couldn't recall in English. The kids are already speaking less, which I knew would happen, but is still hard to swallow. 

Another unexpected revelation: living abroad gave me a different perspective about the Canada I know and love. I am proud of our true north, strong and free, but noticed things that we can improve on. Some examples: We like big houses to keep more stuff. We throw out so much. We like space, physical and social, between us and our neighbours. And what is this resistance to mask-wearing, if it can help others at a small inconvenience to us?

What am I going to do about it? I need time to figure that out.

So, now what?!
I've always wanted to live in Europe: we did it, and it was everything we hoped. We've had this goal on the docket for the last 5 years. What the heck will we do next?!  I'm open to suggestions.

Cheers to my partner in crime--we did it!

One Last Holiday on our Holiday

European vacation with l'il kids? Yup, we be crazy.

"Manos para sempre" - siblings forever!

1,550km of highway, 16 hours in the car, 25 tourist destinations, 8 pools & beaches, 7 hotels/vilas/airB&Bs: our family took on Portugal from south to north!

Aside from being masked at all indoor venues, COVID didn't stop us. In fact, with so few tourists in Portugal this summer, there was no traffic, no line-ups, no problems with finding a place to park or sleep. Silver lining my friends.

Jonty's take on our month-long trek:
"Um...we ate in restaurants which always took too long, looked at giant piles of old rocks, heard you say "Oh look! Isn't it beautiful?!" about 30 times a day, walked a million miles, and ate ice cream."

Mom and dad's take on the holiday:
"We experienced delicious, unique gastronomy from each region; saw castles, buildings, and cities oozing in history and culture; were constantly inspired with different scenery, architecture, landscaping and art; and slept well every night after an active day."

LOL!  The kids were smiling and happy most of the time, and we saw and did lots of memorable things. Sure, there were moments when Mark and I thought: "This would be different without kids." (would have been nice to take more than 5 minutes to sample Port wine).

But, with help from my mom, cousin and aunt (obrigada!), we planned and executed a great adventure, fun for all: boat, gondola and train rides, kid-friendly venues, ice cream & swimming coupled with evening strolls through majestic cities, many restaurant sittings, and lots of historic places. We'd do it all again. If I could plan it on a week that wasn't the hottest of the year, I would do that.

We will be back--so much still to see!

At 42C, a hot day for a boat ride to the only Portuguese castle on an island.

Portugal for Kids: elements of the country's main monuments and 35 typical houses
from across the land built in miniature for the kids to explore. The kids LOVED it.

Conimbriga: the best preserved Roman ruins in Portugal.
Those Romans knew how to live!

Lello Bookshop in Porto - some say it inspired Hogwart's library in Harry Potter.
It was crazy cool.

At the train station in Porto.
It's hard not to be amazed at how much effort went into making cities and public spaces beautiful.
Will we ever get back to that? It fills the soul.

We climbed the 200 steps of the Clerigos Tower. What a fabulous 360 view!

A definite highlight: visiting a Magalhaes family seigneurial home built in 1580.
My great grandfather was the Count of Alpendurada, close by.
The kids explored the mansion, chapel and gardens all afternoon!

In Guimaraes, the birthplace of Portugal, where the first king was born.
Jonty took Portuguese history this year, so all these stops were familiar to both of us.
I loved it. He rolled his eyes at me a lot...

In the midst of a forest with over 700 species of trees, shrubs and flowers, on the top of a mountain, ta-dah!
The Bussaco Palace and a random train that made the kids happy.

Gabi taking the place of mule while we made an old well come to life.
In the Algarve.

Watching the sunset over Coimbra, sitting at one of Europe's oldest university, built in 1290.
My dad did one year of schooling here. So much tradition.

"Let them swim", while we drink Port Tonics and wine in the famous Douro Region. 

Port wine tasting--a very quick, but tasty experience.

Relaxing at a vila in Luso. This is the life! 

Soaking up family time at a quaint sea-side village I went to as a child.
Sao Pedro de Moel

Holidays are always better with friends!
Hanging out in Nazare, home to the biggest wave ever surfed.

Climbing an olive tree at our resort near Tavira, Algarve.

This ceremonial well in Sintra, features a spiral staircase into a tunnel system.
The huge garden and estate is full of secret passages, towers, paths, statues, fountains...
Mark and I kept asking each other which incredible features we can add to our yard!

Riding a typical Merchant boat through the canals of Aveiro

(also known as the Venice of Portugal).

Bye Sesimbra: As Saudades Serão Muitas

"Saudade": one of those great words that doesn't quite translate into English. The closest I think is a feeling of longing for a person, a place, or an experience that comes from parting. I will forever have "saudades" of the time we've had here in this little fishing village of Sesimbra.

It's not that we won't be back to visit. I know we will.  But it won't ever be the same.

My kids won't be little again. Walking through town, we won't bump into familiar faces from school and social activities and chat with people in their currently fluent Portuguese. The bakery won't know my bread and pastry order by heart. Mark's fish guy will no longer hold onto the best catch for him. We won't see the street cleaner's happy, toothless smile when my girls say "Bom Dia!" on our way to school.  Catarina's unique-to-Portugual blonde hair and blue eyes won't capture the attention of every senior as she skips through the park smelling every flower. "Our" spot on the beach where our friend's know to find us in the late afternoon will become someone else's. We won't hear the church bells ringing, telling us on the 8th chime "It's time to go in for supper". Ultimately, we'll no longer be part of this community anymore, and that makes me sad.

This year was unforgettable. I lived my dream: I stole a year with just my kids and husband, and together, the 5 of us experienced something new and exciting in a picturesque European village. I met great people, whose stories gave me perspective and whose friendship made the year sparkle. We enjoyed a lifestyle impressively void from stress in a place where our whole life could be lived within 500m. We benefited from interacting with the ocean everyday, and soaking up this glorious sun. Sigh, we are going to miss this place.

But, we are good at living in the moment, and quickly remember that our life in Canada is awesome too, and that a lifetime of adventure awaits us there.

So, we'll say "Ate logo, Sesimbra" and drive off on our month-long road trip through Portugal.

Here's hoping COVID19 stays in check and doesn't mess it up! 

And way to go Peterborough--2 weeks with no new cases. Just in time for our return. Don't worry, we'll be quarantining!

Surrounded by friendly dolphins when we were out on a friend's boat.

Jonty says "you're a different color now, mom".
Ah, sun year round is a glorious thing!

Oh, the color of the water...you'd think we're in the Caribbean!
Paddleboarding is harder than I thought.

199 corks were collected during the 10 months in our apartment.
We are going to miss how affordable wine is here.

Taking our baby to her last day of school.
This girl has changed so much. JK, get ready for her!

Oh this market. We will miss our chatty vendors and their super fresh food.

Happy 153 years Canada! We held a birthday party and invited friends.
Forever proud to be Canadian!

How we've loved walking the beach on warm nights.

Living above Ribamar restaurant was something else.
Oh, the amazing smells that came from their grill!

One last stop at our favourite candy shop: O Coelhinho Doce

We felt so much a part of this community; true "Sesimbrenses"

Thinking of making this our 2020 Christmas card.
One picture can say so much!

We all leave with mixed emotions:
sad to leave this behind, excited for what lies ahead.
Everyone is reacting differently: steep learning curve for parenting this week.

Our "last supper".
Yes, burgers--had to clear out the freezer!
We all adored our daily ocean-view seating.