Gatherings in Portugal Summer of 2014

[The Madame X]

Herr Wulfsunus, Lady Sequanna, Von Spookiness and I are planing on hosting a few in-person gatherings this Summer in Portugal.
One in Portimão on the week of July 6th.
One in Lisbon on the week of August 24th.
Details are forthcoming.
Please join us!

[The Madame X]

I would like to post a little recap of our informal gathering in Portimão that took place Saturday July 5th - Tuesday the 8th. Thank you Lady Sequanna and Queen for trekking all the way south. Our gathering began at the bus stop with warm embraces and looming rain and ended at the train station with misty eyes and too much sun, I'm afraid.
We delighted in a variety of home cooked meals, Indian delicacies, ice cream and sangria as well as in deep conversation and relaxing quiet moments with friends and family along the river's edge and on the cliffs by the shore. Friendships rekindled, dreams interwoven, new memories weaved. Were your ears burning? that's because we were no doubt speaking of you. Members and Dedicants will find (or may have already found) postcards in the mail. How we wished you could have been there to share our lazy afternoons and conversation. Besides catching up we discussed future plans for possible meet ups as well as the impending growth of our Family both in the US and here in Europe. Von Spookiness and Ookami, your presence was missed, but perhaps we can schedule a second gathering in Portimao in August when Herr Wulfsunus can also join in perhaps the 2nd or 3rd weekend of August? Perhaps we can visit the Medieval Fair at the Castle in Silves? Maybe take a small boat up river? I think we would all enjoy that. Let me know so that we can plan ahead.

Meanwhile, we are already looking forward to our gathering on Saturday the 23rd of August in Lisbon
Please consult FB events. I can't wait!

[The Madame X]

We did have a second Gathering in Algarve and did go to the Medieval Faire in Silves. Good company, food and laughter. It was good to meet Luis and we're sorry Queen and him didn't make it to the Faire. It was a very different fair than usual as it combined a very strong Arab presence, since the castle was indeed a Morish fortress. We delighted and purchased all sorts of edibles and trinkets well into the night, namely a pair of ceramic horns filled with sangria. The performance under the stars at the castle was just radiant with Fire jugglers and belly dancers. Thank you Lady Sequanna for being such a trooper on our wild and crazy escapade lol

The Lisbon Gathering was a calm respite. Wulfsunus and I were so late because we were stuck in traffic for hours...who knew Lisbon was so popular on a saturday night... but we finally arrived. Around our long table were Lady Sequanna, Ookami, Queen, Edu, Ricardo, Wulfsunus and I. We enjoyed a nice meal with lively sangria and perhaps too much fries lol and while the conversation was hot and just starting, the restaurant was closing and the evening air a bit too cool. So we retreated to a quaint little tea house/tavern called O Arco da Velha, a bohemian environment laced with curiosities and antiques. It was the perfect environment for our eclectic discussions on such varied topics as the significance of culture on language and the dragon within. eventually we also got thrown out of that place and several of us opted to sit/stand in a nearby park discussing what was still left unsaid. Queen, Edu, Lady Sequanna, Wulfunus and I still met a few more times during the next few days to explore the town and meet the bats. But our Lisbon gathering was much too short and if your ears were hot its because we were talking about you wishing you too could be there sharing the Lisbon Air.

I would like to express my appreciation for the love, dedication and will of everyone involved in our Europe Gatherings as they found the time to travel, managed the necessary finances, placed dayside aside to just share of yourselves with us. Its not easy and it will not be forgotten. Wulfsunus, Lady Sequanna, Queen, Ookami, Kate, Filipe, Rosette, Karla, Edu, Ricardo... and all of those who joinned in on the fun, made flyers like Von, helped us find rentals, escorted us, babysat, pet n house sat like Gavin and facilitated our gatherings and extended stay. Also a special note of appreciation to Miss LaRue for the beautiful care package that was waiting for us upon our return. Thank you All of You.
I feel so blessed...