Porthole

Seventh week of the New Year.

M2

Restless sleep. Very dry mouth and coughing. Uncomfortable all night and then I got up late. At least room was quiet and dark.

Must make decisions today.

Met 77 year old woman from Wales. She's been to over 200 countries.

Decided to stay in Faro 2 extra nights. Too tired and worn out for a trip. Found out I can change my flight back. Should do that a.s.a.p. Tried to work out an itinerary for Norway, but that's a nightmare that I can't figure out.

Ate a great bifana. Bought chocolate soy milk and chicken.

M3

Didn't sleep well as I was coughing all night. Phlegm and snot. Finally opened the window a crack. The strong fragrance coming from a deodorizer was overwhelming so I unplugged it. If I could've slept on the terrace...

Now drinking tea. It's 10 a.m.

11:04 ... check-in at Tilia isn't until 3 but I'll go early and leave my luggage.

Success.

Thunder and lightning in the evening.

However, sick all night. I rested on the couch in the common area between coughing up phlegm and blowing my nose. The night person, Raquel, looked after me. Kindness matters.

M4

Feeling a tad better but doing nothing to upset my body. Did take a shower.

Wordle in 2 tries. Got lucky.

Finished watching Thai TV rom-com: "Siew Sum Noi". A bit silly but much of it took place in Isaan which is the area I want to visit. I now have a better idea what the musical genre "mo lam": ໝໍ ລຳ (Lao), หมอลำ (Thai) is all about.

Got money, walked a bit, took some photos, exhausted. Trying to not cough.

M5

Off to Silves, an old city with a castle and a Roman bridge. $70/4 nights in a 6 bed room I may have to myself... It's not high season yet.

7 a.m. and the demolition crew is outside the main door banging away. Although I did better last night I could've used a peaceful morning.

Got to Silves. Train left late; they don't announce stops. Tiresome 1.6 km walk to hostel. They have a Lidl here so I'll drown my sorrows with German cheesecake.

I have entire room to myself.

M6

Dark and quiet. Now light and quiet. Up by 7?

I slept okay. I'm still struggling with snot and greenish phlegm.

Breakfast: banana, flan, cold coffee.

Lunch: fish sticks and cheesecake (German-style).

A very warm 27°C at noon.

Mailed a letter to Angie in Missoula. Walked up to the castle and the church. Too lateso I'll go tomorrow.

Nice chat with Andreas from Zurich, Schweiz.

Wish I could say I'm feeling good. I'm not.

M7

Warm. Pressure and pain in my chest. Green phlegm. Too much snot. I'm calm at the moment. It's 10:22. It was a difficult night.

My mother's 100 birthday. She died March 15th.

Very little response to my fb/wdc posts yesterday. I should've expected that. High drama sells. Anything less is a yawn.

I went into the old church.

I did sit in the entry to the castle but didn't go in.

Ate a fried dough at the market.

M8

Clothes dry while I lie in bed. I feel okay. The medication I took last night at sunset calmed down the symptons and I slept better.

A bit of a shock on-line today. It derailed my change-of-flight plans. That said... I made a list and must decide because where I go tomorrow may be affected.

A bit better today. Also a bit cooler. I went to the Silves castle and took pictures. High walls without rails unnerve me though. Red sandstone built by the Moors on an ancient site.

I think there are only two of us here tonight.

Changed my flight. I return from Lisbon on the 17th instead of Oslo on the 23rd. I also will fly Delta Premium Select. I'll report on how that goes.

5757