Please help, esp. Portuguese friends... I think it's obvious I love and revel in Portuguse culture. It's not the 'country', definitely not the government, but something of a soul-to-soul connection that I am beginning to understand more, the longer I live here. In ths picture there are four quadrants. Three of them might easily be: 1. Authenticity 2. Tradition (or heritage) 3. Pride But 4? What is it that is the sense of joy, but isn't joy; is fulfilment, but that's the wrong word; the quality that describes the understated Portuguese lust for life and celebration of community? I know it and love it, but I don't know the word for it! Do yu know what I am talking about, and if so, what is the single word for it? Maybe it's a Portuguese word?

Visitors coming in early October will spend a few days with us in Tavira. We then intend to drive north of Lisbon for explorations. I am seeking a hub city from which we can spend about five days going to villages/towns for historical, cultural, cuisine and hiking/aquatic adventures before flying out of Porto. One thought is staying near Coimbra and making trips to Tomar, Castelo Branco, Aveiro, Leiria and Viseu. Seeking your input for a hub an spokes sited north of Porto. Thanks in advance for your input.

"Olá bom dia ALEGRIA! Tudo bem?" Today's Portuguese marvel or curiosity: Portugal's oldest start-up? What is it, and how old are they? Make your guess below... This morning's guests are Veronica in VRSA, Algarve and @Carl Hyde, join us backstage with your questions about living and buying in Portugal. Expect expat blowback today. Weather-wise, we're off to Vila Real today, with the IPMA weather forecast, and a low of 20°C/70°F and a high of 35°C/100°F, with a 40% chance of rain. Started the day with a thunderstorm here! Hear it here. As I write, a US$ will buy you 0.87 Euros; a UK£ will buy you 1.17 Euros, unchanged on yesterday, according to www.spartanfx.co.uk rates. Sunset tonight in Lisbon: 21:04, as we head towards the Summer Solstice (and our party in SMDP on Saturday night). PS See also the Portuguese way to offer forgiveness. It's beautiful! Or is it?! PPS Great chat with @Gary Coulton last night about our respective views on meditation/mindfulness

Olá bom dia ALEGRIA! Tudo bem? It was a busy weekend in Portugal, where Sunday's general election saw the centre right AD alliance return to power, Sporting become the football league champs, 'bicampeões' in fact, on Saturday, and we in São Martinho had a great time, singing, dancing and partying on Saturday night, along with all Sporting fans. (Do you recognise the Sporting fan, pictured, herewith?) Sadly Portugal's Eurovision entry - NAPA - only managed 21st out of the 26 entries. In the election, (third in three years), 'far right' party CHEGA made further parliamentary gains, challenging the bi-party status quo, and reducing the incumbent domination, in an election few really wanted. Expect enforced collaboration, 'horse-trading' for power, or just intransigence in the coming months. In the studio, to start the week this morning, is @Vitor Costa, revolutionary leader of change in the real estate world. Join us at 8.40am. Today's IPMA weather shows a 0% chance of rain in the district of Setúbal, the next leg on our district tour, where you can experience a low of 13°C/56°F and a high of 24°C/78°F Today's www.spartanfx.co.uk rates: A US$ will buy you 0.89 Euros, unchanged; a UK£ will buy you 1.19 Euros, unchanged from last week. Boa semana (-: Sunset tonight: 20:46 Quick question for you: what does 'bicampeões' mean?

Olá bom dia ALEGRIA! Tudo bem? Starting today with grateful thanks to and for @António Ferreira, who quietly and diligently works away on our Portuguese Sayings and Portuguese Crime Report posts, with 500+ and 300+ updates respectively. Both are insights, in their own way, into Portuguese culture! Thanks António 🙏 How did the full moon treat you?! The world seems turbulent anyway, so it was hard to tell if there was added lunacy! If you are seeking some divine calm, please join me and @Mamabear McGowan this morning as we get spiritual on this morning's recording. Join us in the studio here. I have also written about the G-word in my Portugal Resident column this week - there's no place we're afraid to go. On the matter of cosmic energy, it was great to talk with good egg and new member here - @Jeremy Colledge - by his own admission a 'Qigong fanatic' (among MANY other things). Check out our fascinating conversation here. Today's weather report from IPMA shows a 51% chance of rain in the district of LISBON, the next leg on our nationwide tour, where you can experience a low of 13°C/56°F and a high of 20°C/70°F - definite improvement, and continued signs of SPRING! Sunset tonight is at 20:40 in the capital. Although it's just started to rain here 😋 A US$ will buy you 0.90 Euros (a slow upward trend?); a UK£ will, like yesterday, buy you 1.18 Euros (more at www.spartanfx.co.uk where you can check the rates on most major currencies and open a free trading account). Please join us and spread the word about our monthly karaoke and disco party this coming Saturday 17th May at the Casa Do Leme cocktail bar (join the 'Good Times' WhatsApp group and flyer attached, below).