Skylar's quick comments about Portugal

(Questions posed by his grandfather in an email - answered by Skylar)

What was the biggest difference in how buildings looked? 

 Well, Lisbon has a lot of white buildings and that's the same about Dakar.  But, the sidewalks are all cobblestone - like I mean you can't find a sidewalk in Portugal without cobble stone.

How was the food different?  

So, they had a lot a lot of pastries.  

Did anyone - that you met - speak French?  

Hardly anybody.  They mostly spoke English and Portuguese.

Anything else interesting to tell about Lisbon and Portugal? 

Hmmm, let me see.  Well, there was a giant palace and there were two Moorish castles.  Well, on the trip, um, there was like these little tiny playgrounds that were scattered everywhere that weren't that much fun.  Something exciting was when we went to the palace, there were secret tunnels built into the mountain and you could open up a rusty gate and go into the water pipes and there you are!

(Editor's note: Skylar actually had a great time on the playgrounds.  Lately, he has summarized many experiences, including whole trips and weekends were he laughed a lot, as "not fun.")

Returning from Portugal - Ah, Africa!

We just got from Portugal at like 3am this morning.  Fun trip and nice to be back in a more predictable culture with sidewalks, clean water and less pushy sales people.  We also found it much more relaxing flying in the second time to Africa.  I think all our stereotypes were on full alert the first time we flew int - plus the immigration system had just been overhauled so it was a disaster.  Still, even with customs going smoothly, we found it very African that when we got to the airport.

Everything inside went very smoothly except the company that we were paying $60 to meet us just after passport inspection wasn't there to help with bags and getting out of the airport.  Several of the people inside, when we asked if they were "BCD" travel (the company) they said, "Oui.  Ou est tu habit?"  Well, clearly, they weren't the company but were happy to give us a ride for the money.  So we said no thank you and collected our bags and did the final "gun" check (they x-ray your bags on the way out also) ourselves.

Then, we walk outside and start looking for a taxi.  One guy popped out of the crowd and we starting chatting.  Oh yes, he could drive us.  You have local currency?  Ok, it would only be $50.  (25,000 CFA)  Well, we know a local taxi only costs $12 so we said no.  "Ok, I give you a good price.  Only $30."  So we went back and forth.  "My car is just over there," and he points and I see that he has a van and it looks in reasonable condition.  "Do you have seatbelts?" I ask him.  "Yes!" he says.  "Ok,. we will pay you $16"  "That is not enough, but I could drive you for $20"  Julienne, clearly wanting to get home and into bed, adds, "Let's just pay $18 and be done with it."

The guy agrees and we walk to his car.  Just then, a man walks up.  "Marc and Julienne?"  Well, the BCD travel guy finally found us.  So, now we need to decide if we're going to pay our new friend whose car is right there $18 for a ride home or pay this other guy, who had given us a ride to the airport, $60.  Wanna guess?

The other African thing is that during the whole negotiation, there were like 5 other guys hanging around.  Once we started loading luggage, there were at least 3 people, not the driver, helping putting bags into the car.  Some other guy opened the door for me.  When the BCD guy showed up, there were maybe as many as 8 guys standing around us, interested to see what happens.  In Africa, there are always a lot of people with nothing to do, just hanging around.  Er, I should say guys.  There are almost never women hanging around.