Roles reverse in Portugal

Our first morning waking up our tour guide is arriving at 9:30AM. So naturally the New Yorker says, "should we meet at breakfast at 8:30AM?" The Portuguese Grandmother says, "That is only an hour for breakfast! Let's meet at 7:30AM." The youngest one of the bunch says, "Maybe 7:45AM is best!" The calm middle child buddhist says, "Why don't we meet at 8:15AM." The New Yorker looks at the Grandmother with pleading eyes and finally the Grandmother agrees. After dinner is over and we are about to head to our beads the Grandmother says, "See you outside my door at 7:45AM!" The New Yorker, smiling to herself nods. No one disagrees with Grandma. The New Yorker says to the Grandma, "I will call the front desk and tell them to wake us up at 7:00AM sharp!" The Grandmother agrees and all go to bed.
The next morning there is a knock on the door at 6:45AM! The New Yorker falls out of bed spouting out interjections towards the door, but slowly makes her way there and opens the door a crack. The little one is at the door completely dressed and says in the sweetest voice, "It's 7:45AM!" The New Yorker, who doesn't even drink coffee, can only imagine that she could be functional with a cup in her hand right now says, "It's 6:45!" The little one looks at her puzzeled while the New Yorker shuts the door!
There is another knock on the door at 7:00AM. The Grandmother and the little one have returned at 7:00AM and say through giggles, "We are going to breakfast! We accidentally set our alarm an hour early!" Those two little mischeivious girls! The middle buddhist child says half dead at the door, "Oh, you look pretty!" As she stumbls to the bathroom. The two little girls, the little one and the grandmother laugh and slowly make there way to breakfast as the New Yorker shuts the door.

Three sisters a Grandma and Portugal!

We have finally made it! This has been a dream come true for all of us--to get the opportunity to share our beloved country of Portugal with our Grandmother. For years we have been trying to get her to go and she always insisted that she was too old. Well, now that she is 90 she told us one day that it was time to go. (no one says no to Grandma) So we packed up our bags, made reservations and off we went to Portugal! Oh Portugal, the home of our ancestors that came over in 1917 during WWI. It's truly mind boggling to think about. We hope to visit the small town where our great grandmother grew up and visit places like Fatima, Sintra and explore Lisbon. Surprisingly my 2 semesters of college Portuguese are coming back to me, but it sure helps to have a Grandmother that is fluent.
Right now we are all exhausted and taking naps in the hotel. I am looking out our window into the center square of Lisbon. The houses rise up onto the mountains and they all have the very typical red roofs. When I looked out the airplane window I saw a sea of red roofs. I can't believe we are in Europe! This city is so old and filled with so much history. I have to say, being here makes me very proud to be Portuguese! Que bom! :) Ate logo!