Return to the Sun

In late September we decided we had missed the sun for too long (though last year was said to be the worst Irish summer in 200 years, this summer may have trumped it), and with Bruno being gone we decided a trip to see him in sunny Portugal was just the right remedy. It was a collective decision with a total of nine people seeking an increase in Vitamin D and a cure to Irish pasty white, almost transparency (its the first step toward invisibility, I'm told) boarded a plane bound for Lisbon.

And now a not from the weather gods (and a statement about our weather curse). At noon Bruno called and said it was "too hot." By the time we landed we were exiting the plane under a thin skin of clouds. It was still warm, but "too hot" was no longer a worry. No rain though...yet...

Dinner in Lisbon was amazing, outdoors on the landing of a huge stair (Lisbon is very hilly). After a quick look at Bruno's new apartment we headed on to his family's beach house at praia maçã (apple beach). A simple, but wonderful beach house with one little issue: no hot water (as if we don't get enough of that at home...but that's a different story).

Sleep.

The next morning there was nothing but cloud. Pure depression. That sun we had come to worship was no where to be found. I was up early, but I was the only one.

I stewed.

By the time everyone else had gotten out of bed, however, the sun was peeking through, and by the time we hit the beach all of the clouds had been whisked away (at least away from us).

We found bliss.

Sun.

All...day...long...

Or at least the important part of the day: the daylight part. Sun, ocean, sand, sun, friends. Brilliant!

Dinner and sleep.

Rinse repeat. Morning two was cloudy as well, but by noon it had cleared away. This second round was a bit chillier, a bit windier, but still sunny. Sun, wonderful sun. It rained that night while we ate, but it wasn't much.

It was perfect. In the end we got a good patch of luck inside the bad luck of weather. The rest of Portugal got rained on the whole weekend. We can be thankful for our piece of cancer causing joy.

See all of the pictures.