For the past couple of years (2016 until 2018) we have been living mainly in Portugal apart from a four month trip to California and visits to the UK in between. One UK trip was just Lorna when she walked the 191 mile Wainwright Coast to Coast trail with friends.

The Portugese people are probably the most friendly people in Europe.

The language is a Romance language. That could account for why Pat finds it easy to learn and Lorna finds it incomprehensible and impossible. No worries though because most Portugese speak English. Sign language and Google translate nornally deal with the rest.

The bread and confectionery are outstanding but other Portuguese dishes can vary. The traditional salted cod called Bacalhau is variable but the sardines are good.

Coastlines are wonderful and the old towns and villages fascinating with a mixture of Roman and Moors architecture.

The Anglo-Portuguese Treaty of 1373 was signed on 16 June 1373 between King Edward III of England and King Ferdinand and Queen Eleanor of Portugal. It established a treaty of “perpetual friendships, unions [and] alliances” between the two seafaring nations. It is the oldest active treaty in the world. It was confirmed “with my usual flourish” by John de Banketre, Clerk