Feb.4th,2023

Just down the end of my driveway I turn right go on the lane and cross the main road and into the path of the Rota Vincentina and the views are unbelievable.
My intention today is to start teaching myself to do watercolour. Most of you know that my paintings are done in oil & cold wax or encaustic, with a brush the size of a house painting brush, and as you know, I’m also a long time photographer. All that equipment one needs, was too much to think of bringing with me because of the weight, so watercolours and little watercolour pads are what I have.
The views nearby ….beautiful!

Oh I just saw another view that’s probably the next path up. I’m going to have to go back and look at that, as I said, the views are amazing every which way you turn -it’s a spectacular landscape.

OK, starting watercolour today. Any of you experts, please could you send me tips, not that I’ll be able to master anything. My skill level here is limited-I can’t even get the fire started obviously.
Today, I am eating in the Restaurant Odesus ( https://restaurante-odesos.negocio.site/) It’s next to the grocery store where I am going next. And then on to the Farmacia for some sunscreen! The sun is hot here!🤪

️ The restaurant owner’s son started chatting about where I was from in Canada. I said Ontario and he mentioned that a lot of people come through from Quebec. I asked, did they say they’re from Quebec or do they say they’re from Canada? That conversation refers to my long walk in France and Spain 10 years ago when I would arrive at a hostel, and there were many many Quebecers, and when I asked where they from Canada they would say no, Quebec, as if Quebec is not part of Canada. I would always respond to that question, that I was from Canada!
As the conversation went on, he mentioned the number of Indian immigrants in Portugal. I did notice that on my arrival in Lisbon and especially at the bus station. Initially those immigrants learned Portuguese but now there are so many, they can talk to each other and, they don’t have to learn the country’s language. It’s much like in Markham, Ontario today, where even the street names have both English and Chinese not English and French. French is our second language.
In asking this young lad about art supply stores, I mentioned that I needed to get more watercolours. I didn’t check my set before I left, and some colours were missing- the important ones that I would use. The blues are actually nonexistent so I do need something. I could go along to a Chinese store,he said, on the other side of town and they would have them. After my meal I wandered over there but I wasn’t successful. They didn’t have anything in the way of watercolours. They did have brushes and they had a set of oils, not the type I would ever use.

I headed back to the grocery store and then to the pharmacy to get my sunscreen and home.

It’s now an establised routine that as the sun goes down, I close all the windows, close the doors, bring the wood in for the set up of the fire and then I can relax.

I tried to start the fire. No luck so I decided to sit down and have a glass of wine instead. Much more pleasurable.

Finally I did get the fire started. It wasn’t the rip-roaring blaze that Luis managed, but it was a fire! I think I’ll go to bed early. It’s warm under the covers and tomorrow is another day.For all you Ontario residents, it’s only going to be 18 Celsius again tomorrow.

Actually my fire is quite good tonight!