The experience of attending Easter Mass at the Lisbon Cathedral was an experience I will never forget.  There was the Cardinal, 3 Bishops, about 6 priests, numerous deacons, lots of seminarian students, and of course all of us in the congregation.  Such pageantry! Catholics really know how to put on a show.  I know the mass well enough to understand what was being said, even though it was in Porteguese.  I have an app on the big guys phone, that let me read the readings in English.  The music and singing was so beautiful.  The bells outside and inside the church were rung when the Gloria was sung.  It was repeated again after Mass ended.  The big doors were opened to let all of them possess out. And right before the Cardinal stepped outside, thousands of rose petals fell from above.  All of them stood outside and greeted us.  So, I was blessed by him 3 times, and we shook hands.   So, so, fortunate and blessed.  Then we went and had Sangria!  Easter blessings, indeed.

What can I say about the wine country of Portugal? It is truly a magical place.  Pictures just doesn’t give it justice, and it really is hard to describe.  We stayed at a beautiful country house and winery called Herdade Do Sobroso.  It was unbelievable! The food, the wines, the scenery! But what made it the best was the staff.  Anything we asked for was answered with, “of course.” We took a boat tour around the various lakes and rivers.  The yellow flowers, and the white flowers of the trees known as “flowers of the wind” made everything so serene.  Yesterday we took a safari tour of the property.  They have 6,000 acres, and only a little of it is being used for grapes.  Best of all was taking a wine tour, and sampling their wines…..which we did a lot of.  Sophia and Felipe our gracious hosts could not have treated us any better.  She referred to us as The Americans.  The kitchen staff created some very savory dishes, and I ate things I never thought I would.   Saying goodbye to everyone was a little sad, but we assured her we would be back.  And of course we are having some of their wines shipped to Cardiff.  Again, 2 broke kids.

It’s amazing the places that I have been, and the new ones I am going to experience.  The big guy and myself looked at each other and said: Did you ever think we would be in Lisbon Portugal?”  No, I never did.  Again 2 broke kids.  What a beautiful place this is.  We went out to the various beaches yesterday.  Part of what they call the Portuguese Rivera.  The Atlantic looked crystal clear, and everyone was enjoying the water.  We went to a local restaurant, where the waiter assured us the food was the best. And he was right, it was.  The salmon was so fresh.  The champagne Sangria was a great addition.  The people here are so friendly and so willing to help.  Today we head out the wine area to sample their wines.