Portugal + Jesus Statues = A good time

I waited too long to write about this trip, but I suppose it saves the long winded entry that would follow had I written it earlier, so perhaps it is better this way.

I spent my Christmas and New Year in Porto, Portugal with my friend Pedro and his family. It was wonderful. The winter in Finland was snowless and warm, and therefore terribly dark. The roads were covered in gravel and people were depressed and trudging around, lost in this bizarre twilight. I held up well for a time, but started feeling a little faint in December. Portugal was the perfect escape.

It was ridiculously sunny there, both in literal terms and in regards to personalities and human warmth. Of course, we spent much time driving and on the road people are far from sunny in Portugal, but I wasnt deterred. I felt like a load had been lifted from my chest.

We didn't go bungee jumping or skydiving or anything, but I was excited to be folded into the fabric of this family’s life to whatever degree. They were most gracious and kind-hearted and made me feel very much at home. I got to experience Portugal from a lucky, inside perspective, seeing local sights, eating a variety of dishes, tasting old port wine, hanging out with a group of friends in their usual settings. It is really thrilling to crash into another world like this and fill up on it and then leave. It is strange and beautiful.

Noteworthy as strange or different, was hanging out, drinking beer on a 10 to 15 foot (3 to 5 meters) Jesus statue at 2 am. There were two such identical statues, separated from each other by about 30 feet (10 meters), watching over the surrounding area, plastic and protective, and Jesus. That was cool. Otherwise, so much is mentionable, and so much I would love to describe in details that are now hazy and would perhaps not be of much interest to any but myself. I was really honored and lucky to spend the time I did, where I did in Portugal.