Casa da Azenha Velha Figueira da Foz

... backed by dunes and pine trees. We loved watching the huge waves breaking on the sand, but of course the water was still far too cold for swimming. The campsite was actually at Gala, just south of the estuary of the Mondego, so to get to Figueira da Foz it was a short drive across an impressive bridge. Fig Foz is both a working port and a popular holiday resort, with a long promenade lined with hotels ...

We had our longest journey -should have been 7 hrs but turned out to be 10 after the highway was closed. We had lunch in Salamanca and I want to go back. Superb architecture and one of the oldest universities in Europe with signs of enlightened learning on every corner. We shared an amazing dinner of local fare ...

... And boy, we are glad we did not miss it. The Igreja da Santissima Trindade (Church of the Holy Trinity) here could easily be compared to the Vatican in Rome. It was simply awesome with huge grounds in the front & was lit up well. There was some Christmas ceremony going on inside.

Finally, we drove to Hotel Oslo in the University town of Coimbra. More than half ...

Following my parent's path, I decided to choose Portugal for my scholarship. I applied to the famous in Portugal University of Coimbra and after four weeks of submitting my application, I was a happy winner of the Socrates Erasmus scholarship. Even though it's been long years since this experience, I still miss this worry-free time of my life. I have to admit I was lucky. I arrived to Coimbra in October, after ...

... huge black capes, part of their school uniforms. Looked like a bunch of drunk extras from a really bad vampire movie! I didnt stay out that long but a guy from the hostel and I had a couple capirihnas (my first time) and saw some live music, twas fun. So I sadly had to pry myself from Coimbra, said my very sad goodbyes to my friends from the hostel and hopped a bus to Lisboa. Chiao Coimbra!

... and returned home in time to watch the first soccer match of the Euro Cup between Portugal and Turkey on TV (Portugal won 3-0). At night, we watched our wedding video with everyone and retired. Day 2, Sunday in Fig, we drove to Kaka´s hotel in Fig and had gelato at Emanha, a popular spot for gelato and coffee. Kaka's hotel is a nice bed and breakfast and he plans to re-open the ...

16 km kaugusel Coimbrast asuvad Conímbriga varemed, mis on vanimad nii hästi säilinud Rooma varemed Portugalis, ühtlasi nimetatakse seda ka National Monument. Varemete kohta saab ajaloo ja piltidega tutvuda ka muuseumis, kuid me saabusime sinna suhteliselt hilja ja jõudsime napilt ainult varemetes luusida. Kuigi Conímbrigat teatakse eekõige roomlaste tõttu, on tegelikult olemas ka andmeid, et seal tegutseti ...

... maailmas! Ülikool on jagatud 8 teaduskonnaks, kus õpib ca 22 000 tudengit. Tudengi tunneb ära selle järgi, et nad kannavad riiete peal musta ürpi/keepi, mille peale tavaliselt õmmeldakse erinevaid embleeme (nt teaduskonna oma), mille järgi saab õpilase kohta nii mõndagi teada, ilma, et oleks temaga vestelnud.

Ülikoolil on mitmeid erinevaid hooneid ja need kõik asuvad mäe otsas, kust saab imetleda vaateid linnale. Kõige tuntum ja ühtlasi ka traditsionaalsem koht on ...

... his chest. I thought about stopping to help but he was the last line of defense so i ran around him and scored in an open goal. After this game the serious soccer players came down. We ended up siding with 4 13 year old local kids who needed help to field a team. So me,Morton and Jamie played Adam decided to sit the games out. Then it was game time we where playing a team of French guys all about 25 to 30 and pretty big fellas. They where fairly rough on the young fellas so we had ...

... a friend, and on the bus we met two nursing students who live there. They were very friendly, took us to their house, fed us dinner, and gave us a place to sleep.

Now I'm in Coimbra, and I came here to see a forest. I should actually be going now to catch my bus. If this internet connection weren't so slow this letter would be longer. It took me a whole hour to read the 15 letters I had (50 minutes waiting, 10 minutes reading). More later