I have run for some time now. I love what running does to me. It can be difficult to drag myself out of bed some mornings. Especially now as the mornings are a little bit darker, but it is always worth it. I have been especially lucky in having beautiful spots to run. Sydney was just spectacular. Auckland was lovely. And now Portugal is a treat. There is something about the scenery here that is just good for the soul. Running is a gift I give myself. I love my kids and the time we get to spend together, but I also love the time I get to myself when I run. My music or podcast comes on and I am alone in my thoughts. Well, until friends or family drive by with a smile and a wave. I love that too. Here I will take you on the run I do most often. Enjoy.

To start I have to first leave my house. After three steps the smile appears. I’m off.

After running just a short way down the road I turn right. This allows me to extend my run just a bit.

Below is a picture of a  typical farm. Those couves (cabbages) for human consumption at first, but as they get older and tougher they are fed to pigs as well as chickens. The corn grown here is not the sweet corn variety, so it is fed to the pigs. It would probably be safe to say everyone here has some ‘horta’. That is a garden. People grow all sorts of vegetables as well as fruit  for their consumption, but many times also for their livestock. Feed is expensive and when you are raising a pig and the average/minimum monthly income here 500euros you need to concern yourself with how much it costs to feed your livestock. Growing ones own feed is a great option.

This stretch comes just after I start my first looonnggg hill. But that’s okay. It’s pretty. And if I’m hungry I suppose I could pick an apple. Well, actually you can’t. Living here you learn that the fruit is sprayed and you must always ask before you eat.

Here is a look down back towards our village. Pretty, isn’t it?

 This is a typical older house. I think it is charming on it’s own, but that purple plant adds something spectacular.

 I love this house. I have no idea who owns it. It is in my mother’s village and I must ask my dad when he arrives. Even though it is an older home it is quite obvious the care they take to make it as nice as they can. Out front their garden has a bamboo fence around it. They have not only some vegetables but some flowers growing as well. And the fresh paint. That costs of fortune here and yet there is a nice new coat on the house.

I’ll call this photo ‘Apples so red they pop my eyes open”. Yes, I was able to run by without picking one, but it wasn’t easy.

Back in my village…This run that takes me about 50 minutes has me going through 4 villages. So rounding that last corner let’s me know my workout is almost done and I have arrived because even though I am not yet at our house this village is my home.

If you come and visit me we can run this together:)