Casa da Eira Velha

Portugal seems to fulfill every Iberian dream I could have had. Having never seen this part of Europe, palm trees, minarets, and corn-husking houses represent exactly that picture I had in my mind. The trip was so sweet, after landing around 1 am at the Faro airport, we were greeted by one of Matt's oldest friends, Benny, his lovely girlfriend, Laura, and Laura's brother, Roman. All Germans, all great at English. We, on the other hand, sounded quite like 4 year olds speaking in "German."

We stayed with Laura and Roman's family at their perennial vacation home, the Casa de Eira Velha, which I believe means something along the lines of the old house. Every morning we were greeted with fresh coffee and a spread of rolls, jams, cheeses, and meats (for those of the other persuasion). We dined outside each morning and evening, which was always delightful, despite the bees that would come dine with us.

On our last day, we took a stroll through the nearby town of Tavira, known for being the most charming tourist attraction in the area. We toured the castle there and sat for a drink on the harbor before we left for the airport. Indeed, I saw some very adorable sights.

I was, however, able to impart a small lesson of Jewish tradition by serving apples and honey on the new year and, let's say, "simply" explaining the prayers in German. Matt and I have been invited to stay with Benny and Laura again this Christmas, an offer we gladly accepted as we are looking forward to spending the holidays with families that make us feel at home.

(our gracious hosts.)