Some Doors and Knob Pictures

                                 Various doors and doorknobs.  I love the wonderful variety.

              Below is one of the first pictures that I took in Portugal...the mission home doorknobs.

Door knobs from the Estoi palace hallway.

From a home in Lagos.

I have more of these kinds of pictures, but I won't bore you.

Cork

Portugal, Spain and north Africa are the only places on earth where cork is produced.  Cork trees are a normal part of the landscape here.  We see hundreds as we drive the main highway between Olhao and Lisbon.  

Cork bark is harvested only every 10 years.  Each tree is numbered and records are kept so as to not destroy the tree with premature harvesting.

American Rhythm Folk Dancers

The American Rythmn Folk Dancers from Rexburg, Idaho toured Portugal this summer.  We were so happy that they danced in Faro, our neighboring town.  They had many shows all over the city and they even did one for us.  The Faro Branch served the bar-b-que and the Americans danced.  So much fun!

  These are the directors, Gary and Mindy Larsen.  He teaches dance at BYUI.  They knew Lark from her BYU folk dance days.  The branch loved the show.

This venue is the motorcycle club of Faro.  They did a small show here for the members of the club who rolled in on their Harleys, Hondas and other wheels.  This club was a sponsor/donor organization for the Faro Folk Dance Festival.  Other countries were represented at Faro this week.  The American dancers were the favorite because of the great variety of dances they performed.  Everything from the Virginia Reel to the Swing.  The music made me homesick.

Estoi, Portugal

We have been reading about Estoi which is a very small town just off the main freeway about 20k from our town.  We have been checking out places to take people when they come and   I think that we found a winner in Estoi. 

This palace has been turned into a hotel.  This room serves as a lounge for guests.  

The Palace at Estoi, grand room.

Ceiling details

Original mirrors and furniture imported from Italy.  This palace dates from the late 18 century, but is made to look roccoco.

Beyond the columns is a view of the ocean.

Whitewash in Tavira

Evidently, there is a word for both missionaries in a ward or branch being transferred at the same time...it is called whitewash.  Our branch has been whitewashed.  Both Elder O'Malley and Elder Martins left.  We hardy got to know Elder Martins because he was only here for one transfer.  

                           So long and good luck..

When one door closes, another one opens. We are looking forward to getting to know Elder Da Veiga from Cabo Verde and Elder Harris from Utah.

42 Years

For our 42nd anniversary we went to Sagres and points north along the coast.  We love the beach and always seem to end up there to explore and enjoy.

Beautiful coastal village and crescent-shaped beach.

Lunch.  Better view than food.

Nice example of traditional painted blue and white tiles.

 This beach was so fun because from the parking lot you had to wade through a shallow river to get to the sand of the beach.   Those legs haven't seen the light of day in months.

We followed the river getting closer and closer to the actual surf.

Something was funny.   Great day!

Zone Conference July 2013

A fun part of zone conferences are the birthday tributes.  Anyone who has had a birthday since the last conference gets complimented by his or her companion.  Sr. Fluckiger's Birthday was in June so her husband paid lovely compliments.    

My birthday was in July so my comp for life said some very nice things about me.

Lunch is always a big hit because we get pizza from Pizza Hut.  Sometimes American food tastes so good.

These are some of our sisters from the Algarve:  l to r,  Sr. Warburton, Radvansky, Hill and Sandholdst.

President's assistant with one of our excellent 6 week missionaries, second row:  Elders Martins and O'Malley and
 Elder Rodrigues in the back.

Always excellent instruction from the Sr. and  President Fluckiger and  his assistants, and always a lot of fun.