Well, we survived Thanksgiving (three-alarm hangover notwithstanding). What is it about the holidays that makes us think it’s ok to drink EVERYTHING in one night? (Oh yeah, friends and relatives.) The turkey was even good thanks to Marczyk’s Willie bird and a prosciutto and chili rub treatment. Thanks for an excellent meal, guys.
So, we’re going on eight weeks since our visa application and zero word from the Portuguese consulate. If we don’t hear something SOON, and we are stuck here through X-mas, I may have a complete meltdown. I’m not going to lie; the waiting is killing me. Not to mention paying for two places to live, one in Gaia that is vacant. I won’t even go into how much I hate “the holidays,” especially X-mas. After harping for dollars for ten years, if I never hear another X-mas tune again, it will be too soon.
I hear that X-mas is big in Portugal, and I can’t wait to try the freshly roasted chestnuts sold on street corners everywhere. Oh, and did I mention the Bananeiro festival in Braga? When I first started researching Portugal over a year ago, I came across the banana and Moscatel fest that happens on Christmas eve in Braga, which is about an hour north of Porto. Banana and Moscatel festival, you say? How wacky, let’s go! So, I started fantasizing about going to Portugal for X-mas last year already.
The tropical fruit and wine fest is the outcome of some mad marketing by a guy who owned a banana warehouse and wanted to attract customers. On Christmas eve a few decades ago, he offered a glass of sweet Moscatel wine to anyone who bought some bananas, and it became a thing, as they say. And now, every year thousands of folks descend upon the banana warehouse in Braga on Christmas eve. Just the thought of it makes me laugh, and, want to try it, banana and Moscatel, that is. It could be a great pairing.
Meanwhile, still in government limbo hell, I realize that it’s too late to be early. Even if our visa approval comes through this week, we are already in the middle of holiday travel season hell. Finding a decent one-way airfare will be nearly impossible. So, if anyone, anyone (of my three readers) knows someone with a private jet that can move us from N.Y to Lisbon once we get that pesky visa, I will throw in free accommodations with us in Portugal for life. Keep your ears open and let me know, will ya’? Thanks a bunch, and I will keep you posted of events as they occur. (Here’s to hoping that events will occur SOON. Hope with me, won’t you?) We need all the help we can get.
Jiver is all decked out and ready to go with his happy santa tail. (You can see Happy Santa Tail on You Tube or Instragram.)
theroadtoportugal.com 