As we close out our time in Portugal, a few observations:

1. Everyone we’ve met has been extremely friendly. Whether born in Portugal or moved here to work, people have been genuinely wonderful, kind and polite. 
2. Portugal is clean. We don’t see a lot of large trash or recycling receptacles and yet with the 2M tourists a year, there isn’t trash everywhere. From small sidewalk cleaners to a steady crew of sanitation workers, it’s impressive. 
3. Both Lisbon and Porto were colder than expected. Hot during the day in Lisbon, but super windy and almost chilly at night. Porto was comfortable during the day and at night by the water, it was a refreshing. 
4. We’ve seen countless designs of tiles adorning exteriors of buildings. Some tile patterns stretch from ground level up several flights, whereas other exteriors have the tiles just on the lowest level. Most primarily colors, a lot of blue, and it’s easy to become accustomed to seeing buildings so adorned. 

I always like to end these trips reflecting on what we enjoyed most and what a low-lite:

• Miss M and I weren’t the biggest fans of the food. We could always find something on the menu to eat, but typically it was an appetizer. Fruits are no where to be found and salads on a menu were a rarity. After our last dinner; we went to the hotel bar and asked if they could give us a plate of strawberries as we’re craving whole foods. Paul could have cod or pork at every meal so not so much an issue for him. 
• Miss M liked seeing a new country and experiencing two cities in the same country for a bit of different perspective. She liked the tiles and mosaics at the Porto Cathedral, and the boat rides in Lisbon and Porto. 
• Paul loved the food, the tiles, the boat ride in Lisbon and the overall vibe of Porto.
• For me, I was just happy to spend quality time with Miss M and Paul — it’s rare that the three of us are together like this. The flip side of that was we’re missing D and look forward to seeing him soon.