Here we are in Portugal at last.To get here we passed through Salamanca, Spain, the town where Courtenay went to university and we wondered why she came back to NZ. We were lucky enough to go out for dinner last night to hear the Fado, which is the Portuguese version of the Blues. Robert was here many years ago and has been really surprised by the wealth and organisation of the current Portugal compared to when he visited. Lots of EU loans. The wine and shoes are very cheap. Real estate is astronomical in Lisbon. I have been watching for links to my two great great Portuguese grandfathers and wasnt surprised to see my brother Lukes double in Coimbra followed by my aunties Tui and Angeline. I dont stand out as much as I did in Italy. I can also imagine Courtenay and Nellie being quite at home here as well.