Casal Pardo

Hello everybody! Yes, I am still alive and yes, I am well.
I guess I have proven that I will never become a good blogger :-) 
So many times I have thought ‘This afternoon I’m gonna write a new blog’ and at the end of the day, in the evening, I’d realise I hadn’t done it. Sorry guys….

Well, my workaway days are over. Since 1,5 week I am renting a small house near Sao Martinho do Porto, after having spend one week in the house of friends in this area. During that week I discovered I love it here! Although the Penela region is beautiful and I have seen some wonderful scenery and views, I found it just a little too far away, too isolated, to spend a longer period there. 
I have not regretted my decision to move to this area for a second. It’s wonderful to be only 10 minutes drive from the beach. Moos loves it...he goes crazy and runs like a maniac over the sand and through the water haha. 

The area is more lively than the Penela region. It is more populated and there are some interesting places to visit within a short distance drive, like Alcobaca, Nazare, Caldas da Rainha, Obidos….. I have met some really nice and friendly people and I am very grateful for that. If I had not met them I’m sure I would have felt lonely and lost a lot of times. 

Once or twice a week I go to a Tai Chi class. On one hand to learn Tai Chi and experience it’s calming, balancing impact. On the other hand to socialise with other woman living in this area (Dutch, Belgium, South African, Portugese).
Last week I did some voluntary work at a dog shelter in Caldas da Rainha. I plan to keep doing that for one morning a week while I am here.
Since my hip feels ok I thought I may as well get back into a slighty higher intensity training style, so I went along to a TRX training last Monday with 2 Dutch and 1 Belgium men. It was fun! Very tiring, but also very satisfying :-). Tomorrow I’m going to join the Total Fit class. No idea what to expect, but for sure it will be hard work!

The people, the pace of life, the climate, nature, the culture….I am happy here :-) 

Ps. Will download some photo’s later!