Yesterday I traveled with Dan's team to Caldas, (call-dish) at 9:00 AM for a 5:00 PM match (Dan's team won easily in three games!). It was a lot of traveling, but some ridiculously funny situations. The bus made pitstops along the 2 1/2 hour journey for smoking, cafe and bathroom breaks. When we arrived, we went to a very cute restaurant. I had the privilege, if you would like to call it, to sit with the team president, his wife, the father of one of the coaches, and the bus driver. One person at my table was able to speak broken English... just enough to where I was pretty sure he did not know what he was saying. For example, he kept telling me about the Caldas' city emblem... "dolls with breests and boy dolls with pissa's (portuguese word for male part)" and he just kept laughing because I just kept saying, "excuse me? I don't understand" I ended up asking one of Dan's teammates what this man was talking about and he said it was true... they sell many things with private parts on them (ie: coffee mugs, dolls... you know, the usual..)
Lunch was delicious.. I had some vegetable soup, bread, two whole little tiny fishes, vegetables, and red wine. It took me about 5 minutes to perform the autopsy on one fish... take off the skin, bones, etc. It was fine with me but apparently the man next to me was not okay with it. He asked if he could prepare it for me. I tried to tell him "no thank you, I would like to learn" but he told me "no patience" and continued to take my knife and fork from me and told me to watch as he literally cut up my fish for me. Perfect timing for Dan to look over from his team's table and ask what was going on?! After this feast, I was pretty full. Then the president gestured for me to try some sort of codfish casserole; after politely declining and saying I was full, he literally rolled his eyes and did some angry hand gesture, and I was pretty sure he was angry with me. One person was able to tell me that he did not think I ate enough. So after I tried the codfish, it was time for dessert. I was able to get away with just ordering fruit. The same debacle continued at dinner.. same restaurant after the game. This time they ordered me duck and rice, wine, bread, cheese, and fruit. Again, I could barely breathe. But no, I did not want to offend the president so I tried some of his wife's dish (some extreme garlic soaked meat) and ordered real dessert and tried more cheese and marmalade. Don't get me wrong, the food was all very delicious and then I just slept most of the way home on the bus.
It is a definite challenge for me to ever carry on a conversation about politics. Now, try to put yourself at my table with my four lunch and dinner partners, one person speaking broken English as translator, and discuss views on Obama so much, George Bush, etc. Then they wanted to know how many people talk about European politics in America... and what leaders we talk about... I just laughed and tapped Dan on the shoulder to come rescue me. Finally, they couldn't resist the temptation to talk about fat Americans and fast food (they weren't too slim themselves). And lastly, one man told me if I keep eating like this I will be fat in a few months, yet they force food down my throat.... so much confusion.
We continue to hang out with Rui and Lia as much as possible. After a game a couple weeks ago, they wanted to know if we wanted to go to lunch. I told them they must have meant dinner since it was 7:00 PM. Dan and I agreed as we were both very hungry. We ended up at some pastry shop/cafe. I was so confused as they ordered sweet pastries and coffee. I asked why they weren't ordering dinner? The said it is lunch time. Dinner is not until 9:00 or 10:00 PM so this is time for lunch. Finally, it was clear that the order of meals in Portugal are: breakfast, lunch, lunch, dinner. Oh the things we learn....
This picture is of Dan and I in front of a "castle/fort" that was built for defense of incoming ships during the war days. It is in Povoa de Varzim, the city about 2 miles north of us. On many corners, people are cooking with coal this Portuguese fruit called "castanha" that is only available this time of year. You must remove the hard outside shell (looks like a large walnut) and the inside part is edible with a texture similar to potato but a lot more sweet. Dan is holding the newspaper funnel (difficult to see in the picture) they serve them in on a street in Povoa de Varzim. Oh and one last thought... personal space does not exist here. Not only is a woman greeted by a woman or man with a kiss to each cheek, with even strangers, but people talk very close to you. Sidewalks are very narrow and two people will be talking in the middle of the sidewalk and make no acknowledgement of you needing to get around them (I have learned to just walk in the street past people), and when I go for a jog, bikers will ride past me coming within 2 inches. It's amazing.. so close to being plowed, but it hasn't happened!
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