Hey Guys!

I"m back from Portugal.  I've been back since Friday night.  My body is still on Portugal time a little bit.   Meaning - I'm going to bed at 9:30 and waking up at 6 (something I NEVER do). 

The trip was great.  I had a blast.  I wish I could go back.  Maybe next year.  Instead of giving you the paragraph version, I'm going to post some pictures because after all, a picture is worth 1000 words (or so they say). 

This is me and some of Porto (the city we were based around.  2nd largest in Portugal.  Right on the ocean (hence the name PORTo). 

Fun with grapes.  Don't ask.  Missions trips make you crazy at meal time. 

More fun with grapes. 

A scary rodent. 

Luggage

Work - while we were there, we painted (hence the scraping of the ceiling), did a lot of landscaping, tore up a playground and instituted a volleyball court, did an irrigation system, and put cement insulation on the walls. 

Fun at the beach.  The water, although beautiful, was deathly cold.  We found out later that the reason behind the freezing water was the fact that it all came down from the arctic ocean.  COLD.  But still fun . 

Fun with go karts.  Ben found these old go karts in the shed and so after work one day we had a tournament.  Arlene and I came in 3rd.  We should have won.  If Christian hadn't stepped on our wheel.  I'm still bitter about that. 

On our tourist day, we visited a place called Fatima.  It is one of the 3 biggest Catholic shrines.  Supposedly, Mary appeared to three kids at this tree (shown in the background) and so the village went ballistic and they built an entire facility (much like the vatican to those who have been there) around the tree.  It was kind of sad, because are tons of people that go there thinking that God (and Mary) will bless them, but it is so dead. 

Me at the beach. 

Me and Hannah at the beach.  Awww... 

Another beach picture.

Soccer.  With the World Cup going on, soccer was a main passtime.  We had fun watching the Portugal games there.  After Portugal won each time, everyone would go nuts.  Honking, shouting, screaming, fireworks, you name it.  I wish I could be there when they win the world cup '

Meal time.  The food was really good.  The only seriously gross food I had to eat was these sardines. 

Ok.  I was going to post some more pictures but alas, I have exceeded the limit.  Maybe next week I'll delete all of these and then post new ones.  There are some other good ones.  Sorry for all of you with dial up, this post may kill your computer. 

Last word - World Cup.  Portugal will win.  GO PORTUGAL!!!!!!!!!! 

Until next time, Lydia