Author: Linda

Leaving on a Jet Plane –  March 10, 2025

  • Charlottesville > NYC > Chicago 
  • Weather:  60’s°, blue skie

In the 1970’s I flew into Charlottesville Airport for the first time and found my Samsonite luggage abandoned on the floor of the one room airport.  No luggage carousel, no attendant checking baggage claim tickets…no wait. CHO now boasts of a two floor building complete with luggage carousel and the TSA gauntlet.  Albeit passengers walk across the tarmac and mount portable stairs to board planes. I make the walk with pack on back. If it’s not in my backpack, it’s not coming.  I leave the luggage carousel for those traveling with Samsonite. 

CHO and the Blue Ridge Mountains. An easy place for which to return.
If only I’m this lucky to have the row to myself on the flight Chicago to Tokyo.
Uniquely NYC. A puddle jump to Chi-town.

Rambling – June 22, 2024

  • Lisbon 3024
  • Weather: 60-85°/ blue skies with white clouds

I feel no guilt not revisiting Lisbon’s famous landmarks. Rambling suits my exploration. It is best way to soak up the local color. As Portugal is playing Turkey in the European Football Championship, everywhere people are glued to screens. With simple hand gestures, I keep up with the score and with Portugal’s ultimate victory. The streets are filled with national pride.

Yellow shopping bag in front of the Station.
Yellow Praça do Comércio.
Yellow house.
Yellow streetcar.
Yellow bag.

Manteigaria – June 22, 2024

  • Peniche – Lisbon 2024
  • Weather: 60-85°/ blue skies with white clouds

Manteigaria is by far the best shop for the regional Portuguese custard pie. Rambling by memory took me within a block of this hilltop location. Then all I needed to do was follow a trail of people with custard pies in hand to find the shop.

A sheet of thin buttered dough it rolled creating extra flaky crust.
Rolls are sliced.
Slices of dough are pressed into tart pans with dampened thumbs.
Custard filled tarts hot from the oven.
A large brass bell mounted under the counter is rung when custard tarts are hot from the oven.

Toast – June 21, 2024

  • Peniche – Baleal Surf Camp Day #5
  • Weather: 60-75°/ blue skies with white clouds

I felt compelled to recognize Bruno with a toast at our closing dinner. “Thomas Jefferson the third American President said to his daughter Martha, ‘No person will have the occasion to complain of want of time who never looses any. It is wonders how much can be done if we are always doing.’ Always doing is what we have been doing at Baleal Surf School…surf lessons, skate boarding, visiting a Medieval town, touring a custom surfboard factory. Safety and fun always being foremost. Thomas Jefferson wrote to his brother Randolph, ‘No society is so precious as that of one’s own family.’ Baleal Surf School is 45 people…instructors, receptionists, booking agents, equipment supervisors, cooks, servers, and housekeepers who come together as family to ensure we have the best experience regardless of our talent or age. Guests have come here as families…three Australian children and parents, one Swiss teenager and parents, two American brothers, four Italians and five French who are a family of friends plus many solo travelers like Rosie from England, Zi from Singapore, and Hugo from China. Under the magic Bruno has created, we have become one Baleal Surf School family. Let’s raise a glass and toast Bruno.”

Bruno, the founder of Baleal Surf School.
Succulent outside Reception.
Gustavo and his daughter. He spent the afternoon with his daughter’s class talking about being a surf instructor. Family valued.
As the day comes to a close, so does Surf Camp.

Unthinkable – June 21, 2024

  • Peniche – Baleal Surf Camp Day #5
  • Weather: 60-75°/ blue skies with white clouds

Afternoon class: The unthinkable…calm water in Peniche. There isn’t energy in the waves. Waves deflate under our boards. Standing we sink upright into the water as if riding an elevator to the sandy bottom. Being more skilled, other surfers find the random good wave and zigzag to shore. I have a few longish ride always to the cheer of my surf mates. “Linda, Linda!” I am humbled by their support and attention.

Front and center!
Thomas, Zi, Noa, Rosie, Pierre, Ambroise, Diago, Marie
Dorien last year’s teacher and Kaby this year’s teacher. (Yeap, turquoise sun block has me looking ghoulish.)
Me…lower right.
Me…lower right.

Break Out – June 21, 2024

  • Peniche – Baleal Surf Camp Day #5
  • Weather: 60-75°/ blue skies with white clouds

Morning: We break out of Peniche and tour Óbidos, a medieval town complete with city walls and a fountain fed by a Roman aqueduct. Next we tour Fatum a custom surfboard factory. It wasn’t a VISA moment for our surfers.

Őbidos city walls. Square towers date back to the Moors and circular towers from Christian rule.
Arianna loving life.
Gustavo. Arianna, Thomas (kneeling), Edoardo, Linda, Elena (kneeling), Georgia, Pietro, Edward, Mitchell.
Óbidos.

2?’s – June 20, 2024

  • Peniche – Baleal Surf Camp Day #4
  • Weather: 60-70°/ blue skies with white clouds

Dinner: A gentleman from Liechtenstein asks, “Do you speak English?” Yes. “Were you surfing today?” Yes. “You are amazing! I was watching you surf.” I am dumbstruck. It is my teachers who are amazing.

Gentleman from Liechtenstein.
Dorien my 2023 teacher. Kaby my 2024 teacher. (FYI my waterproof sun block is turquoise.)
Peniche.
Peniche.

2 to 1 – June 20, 2024

  • Peniche – Baleal Surf Camp Day #4
  • Weather: 60-70°/ blue skies with white clouds

2:00pm class: Two becomes one as my teammate moves to an advanced group. I remind myself Georgia’s achievement doesn’t diminish from my progress. Private lessons with Kaby is a golden opportunity. At times I ride the wave so far to shore I cannot see Kaby in the distance. Kaby’s laughter is the compass that guides me back to him.

1 on 1. One teacher. One student.
The French.
The Italians.
Just 40 miles north of Peniche is Nazare home of 100 foot waves.