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.
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.
Streets become an artistic canvas with black and white stone mosaic patterns. Their visual effects enhance and connect the structures they support.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
I am now the slower of two surfers. Feeling crushed transitions to feeling defeated. Lunch gives me time to rethink. It’s not about what I can’t do but what I can do. With Kaby’s infectious laugh and positive energy it isn’t hard to keep a positive mental attitude. I begin improving. My stance is upright allowing me to shift my weight from toes to heel for control. I am by no means consistent but better. Learning to surf is a progression of peaks and valleys. It’s what you do when you are in the valley that is important. Life isn’t much different.
9:00am class: Video critiquing of yesterday’s surfing shows amazing progress from my group with two exceptions. Yeap, me and another surfer. Group division…“the have” and “have not” and I am a “have not.” A bit crushing. The silver lining is I will be receiving semiprivate lessons from Kaby.
Linda Scandore 