Monthly Archives: February 2018

Greetings From Portugal

Greetings from Portugal.

It is a very small world when you belong to a social justice church- The United Church of Canada. This morning I joined friend to attend a bible study at the International Church of the Algarve. There were 11 different nationalities who all bring a different way of thinking of the scriptures. So it is an interesting discussion.

Anyway, here is God speaking to me in a very special way. After the bible study discussion we stay for lunch at which time I start working the crowd to find out where people are from, etc. thus I met this couple.

In the 80's Joan , from England, was working at Brunswick Street Mission in the soup kitchen . She was a student and volunteered weekly in an effort to feed the homeless. John was homeless and suffered from mental illness. She cared for him and they fell in love. Now they live in England where they found work caring for others. They are visiting friends in Portugal and so came this morning to bible study. John is subject to mental illness and she is still his guardian angel.

When I told them I was from Nova Scotia, Canada they were quick to share their story and delighted to have their picture taken with someone who loves BRUNSWICK STREET MISSION.

Carnival in Portugal

Carnival in Portugal with Pam Harrison

To mark the beginning of Lent the CARNAVAL is a three day celebration. There were very large crowds, street decorations, decorated store fronts, children in costumes - just lots of fun! Enjoy the pictures.

Geocaching and Climbing Cliffs

This was a fun day when I joined new friends from Thunder Bay to go GEOCACHING. We found two sites in Estio and you can see we had to climb a fence and feel around on a rooftop to try to find the clue. At the second location we were at a church and found the clue in the courtyard behind the mailbox. New adventure for me but I think it will be fun to do at home. There are 336 site in Sackville, NB.

I was invited to join three friends from Ottawa to go "cliff climbing" and so up we go maybe 300 ft above sea level. The view was wonderful as you can see! However, there was lots of very small paths where my finger prints can still be found on the rocks. What a thrill. You get your money's worth because it is just as challenging coming down as going up.

Pam

Beautiful Portugal

A visit to the Palace of Estoi or the Pink Palace, built in the 18th century and restored over the past 5 yrs at a cost of approx €12 million. It is beautiful and the gardens are historic in nature.

My first adventure in Portugal was to join three friends to go cliff climbing. We managed to reach the top ( maybe 250 to 300 ft) of these beautiful cliffs. The climb was difficult but the view was worth it!

Pam Visits Iceland

Pam was on her way to Portugal, but her travel was altered, due to weather, with an unexpected visit to Iceland. 

She was able to have lovely Icelandic food, walk the streets of Reykjavik , and enjoy a few historic sites. She also attempted to see the northern lights.