Announcements

Wow...how lazy and busy we have been in our travels. So much so, that we have about a million announcements to make about our recent past and near future. For bearing with us we will reward you all with a few pictures to boot.

First of all: WHERE THE HECK ARE WE?

Good question. Currently, we occupy the only free internet facility we have found in all of Portugal. As it turns out, internet is NOT that cheap in the EU and we have therefore been slacking in our contact.

Where exactly are we? Another interesting intrigue. Well, as it turns out, our friends from Spain in Salamanca, Caceres and Merida happen to live right next to the border with Portugal. It also turns out that Leigh is an ancient 25 years old. What does this all amount to?

CAR RENTAL. The lamest gift to turning 25, but a gift nonetheless. From romantic Lisbon in the south to the green vine covered hills of the very northern Melgaço we have set out along the wine routes of reds to tables to ports to vinos verdes of the famed Alvarinho grape. It's a dreamy little trip filled with people who give either the worst or best directions on the face of the planet.

This is just a small rendition of the countryside that we owe better photo skills to. All pending.

Ok. Number two. WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU GOING AND WHEN ARE YOU COMING HOME?

Another interesting question. One that has taken us about a month to answer. Oh that wide world that beckons us forth and those loving friends and family that simultaneously coax us back home. It has been a rollercoaster of decision-making lately. So, upon a snap decision spurred by Pance and his wonderful family, Curtis, and Rosalie we have up and bought tickets to Sofia, Bulgaria. We are delighted to go visit Pance's family and hope for a little R&R before our auspicious and long-awaited return to the good ole U S of A!!!

Number 3. USA HERE WE COME

Our country, despite the fact that the whole world thinks our gun-toting ways are TOTALLY AND ABSOLUTELY ridiculous, is one that we miss with palpatating hearts of nostalgia: BBQs, summer microbrews, a kickass Democratic Convention and men who cannot stare at us for an entire city block. We want it back. We want YOU back. To our friends and our family, especially those who have kept in contact (and commented on our blogs), we MISS YOU.

Number 4. AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Well, nothing really. It has been a long time but nothing has changed, perhaps less than nothing. Leigh preemtively announced her acceptance into NYU which she has recently discovered is an unfunded invitation to do what she loves for a price she cannot afford. (In short, NYU accepted 4 students last year, 3 with Masters degrees and herself; they procured scholarships for 3 which they offered to those with more education and fuller doctoral proposals; I am invited to again apply next year with a few foundation classes and the "understanding" that I have already been accepted once to this incredible program.) One more year in Colorado, a few classes in Anthropology Methods and another round of applications will be her final attempt to make a career out of what she loves: food and people.

Genna, is in the same boat, but for the first time. She comes home to search for grad schools in the lucrative combination of women studies and poetry. It is perhaps, for this reason, that she plans on taking some time in Loveland to hunt down both the perfect job and the perfect grad school (that and she is flat broke).

FINALE

THE BOOK!
We charge it upon you that for the next 6 months every interaction, every beer is an opportunity to incite us to write. After all, if we really want to be worldly we should travel; and if we really want to be writers we should write. Your support and ass kicking through this endeavor as well would be esteemed.

AS PROMISED

Turns out that some of the best preserved ancient Roman ruins are in Spain. Caceres and Mérida gave us an excellent tour of such things and made us just about as culturally fulfilled as we could handle at the moment. This one's for you Mom and Dad.

To get things back on track Genna and Leigh have a little aperatif before the Gastronomia Festival in Balhada where we tried the famous casserole dish chinfana (while of course watching fútbol on a big screen where the town gathers).
While it may not be clear here, see if you can spot our wheels among the mobile homes. That's right, there it is, the Suzuki Ibiza, or as we like to call it - home.
This is perhaps 1% as breathtaking as this famous convent in Balhada really is. Our photo skills are on the decline but this is the most beautiful edifice we have seen on our entire journey abroad.

We really failed on all the beautiful photos of Porto, but this is just a sample of the romantic beauty that exudes from this city. And that's before we started visted the infinite array of wine cellars.