Have T@b will travel: Marvao Portugal… We have arrived!

We have arrived safely in Lisbon Portugal! With only one hiccup! Mango was temporarily lost after landing!! Why? Let me tell you, I was near tears waiting at the over sized baggage area! Out came golf clubs, baby strollers, baby seats, everything…. but our precious cargo!!! Finally I spotted a fellow passenger who had also brought their dog and informed us that Mango had just whizzed by on a cart…… Off I went like a mad woman! I eventually found her parked outside the Lost and Found! What the heck!!?? Two hours later we drove into Portalegre to return the rental car and anxiously awaited for our rendezvous with Werni, Christa, Tanja, and Noel, to begin our house sit assignment! The last 3 days have been a whirl wind of activity! Learning the lay of the land (about 3 hectares), becoming familiar with the 300 plus year old home, and touring the nearby towns that surround this beautiful property! The family is more than we could have hoped for! They have been welcoming, generous, and kind, not to mention multilingual! Their patience with our minimal knowledge of the Portuguese, Spanish, Swiss, French, and Italian languages went above and beyond! We have been very fortunate! Today they set off back to Switzerland. Spring break is over and it is time for Tanja (16) and Noel (12) to return to school. As they drove away we felt a mix of emotions. Sad to see our new friends leave, and excited to begin the next chapter of "Have T@b will Travel"…… minus the T@b!

How sweet was this!

In the far distance is Marvao. A small village that dates back to the early 1200! The white home in the foreground is our new home for the next 2 and 1/2 months! "Quinta da Torre"!