Our first apartment in Lisbon, Portugal was a telling indication of the country we have been exploring for the past 5 days. It was small, quirky, somewhat randomly put together, and personable. We don’t speak Portuguese, but that doesn’t stop the locals from being kind and hospitable to us. Lisbon was an interesting mix of city squares with statues of Portuguese heroes and narrow winding streets dotted with tiny wine bars. We are now in Porto which straddles the Douro river with world class Porto wineries on one side and sightseeing on the other. Today has been a wonderfully unique Christmas for us both, watching a Portuguese woman in a Santa costume ride a jet ski up and down the Douro river as we drink Portuguese cervejas with Natalie’s extended family. Happy 50th anniversary to Natalie’s grandparents. And Merry Christmas from Portugal!