Thursday, December 3, 2009

Updates

So, the last weeks were a bit hectic - we flew to Portugal. The hotel was so-so (for a self-proclaimed 6 Star hotel the small details were just not right - as in plaster off the walls, chairs fixed with duct-tape and faucets that weren't installed properly, to name just a few), I was sick as a puppy (stupid cold hit the night before boarding the plane) but we enjoyed the time a lot. We had rented a car, got stopped by the police and were then let go cause we didn't speak enough Portuguese to understand his mumbled questions, and they weren't capable of speaking any language we knew...so - it was a rather funny moment when they stopped us, asked something, we gave them ALL the documents we had, they shook their heads, we looked confused, they asked again, then said: vacation? we said: SI!!!! SI!!!! and then they laughed, talked to each other, and let us go...very friendly people indeed.
The Douro Valley is very beautiful, especially now in the fall with all the leaves changing colour and the vineyards not too full of tourists. It seems anyways like the area is more of a secret getaway for Portuguese people than tourists from all over the world. I definitely want to go back, ideally without being sick like a puppy, and staying in one of the charming vineyards. Pacheca was adorable - the owners so very charming and the port tasted delicious. We got the full download of the different ways of making wine, tasting wine, old wine, young wine, very old bottled Port....Vintage port etc etc.

Anyways, the weekend was lovely. Some quality time for ze boyfriend and me. Yes, the being sick was annoying, but hey. We had an amazing view over the river, had some nice dinners (apart from the VERY smelly waitress, it was yummi) and it was almost all for free. What more can one ask for? The weater was lovely and we enjoyed the time. A lot. So, thanks again @zerotwonine.

Since then, I've been busy working, working, working, and other than that, sleeping and being generally lazy on my days off.

Tonight we're going to the Al Jareau Concert here in Den Haag- I'm excited. I saw him two years ago in Berlin and loved the concert - from beginning to end. Apart from the three totally wasted Russian mafia guys next to me who decided to play with their phones and rummage through their plastic bags, while commenting on it loudly - at some stage the husband of a woman behind us decided to slap them on the back of the head to shut them up. Fun times ;)
Let's hope they won't sit next to me again tonight.

1 comment:

  1. hi vlariane,
    how can i send you a personal message? can i please have your mail address?
    thanks a lot
    Stefan

    ReplyDelete