20 Comments
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Juli Robertson's avatar

Feliz Natal! Thanks for sharing all your lovely stories throughout the year!

Jeanne's avatar

Feliz Natal. Thank you for your wonderful posts!

Kirke Curtis's avatar

Feliz Natal! The next time you feel like venturing up north during the holidays, may I humbly suggest a visit to Vigo, Spain. Their Christmas lights are next level and the town is charming. Check 'em out on YouTube to get a flavor. Living in Porto, it's a relatively quick train ride for us, but obviously a bit more of a time investment for you, if you ever decide to check it out. Thanks for all the posts/stories!

Cindi Brashear's avatar

Thanks for this lovely post! Feliz Natal!

Joe Nelson's avatar

Boas Festas!

Perhaps you might want to share your learning experiences from trying to wrestle the portuguese language. It adds so much to the understanding and acceptance of the country and the people around you. All the good and all the added pleasures that you might miss out on if you do not make the effort .

Chiao e boa noite.

Helen Rodda's avatar

Thank you for your interesting posts, wishing you both a Happy Christmas & a wonderful 2026 🥂🔆🥂

Nancy Wagner's avatar

A beautiful post, thank you very much! Merry Christmas to you and Denise!

Francisco Z.'s avatar

Feliz Natal! We have finally arrived in Portugal and will be having the simplest Christmas of our lives— as I write this I’m waiting for our gas to be turned on and for the Vodafone technician to install our internet/telephone/TV service. As of now, we don’t as yet have a working stove or refrigerator, so we’re not going to be cooking a big holiday meal, and pretty much all the local restaurants will be closed. Christmas dinner will be sandwiches.

Still, we are living in Fátima, so it’s only the secular side of Christmas will be skipped over. We’ll go to Midnight Mass at the Basilica on Christmas Eve, and go again on Christmas Day.

Tom the Guacfarmer's avatar

Them 5 years sure went by quick. We had a quick chat on the phone just before you left, seems like last week. it's nice to see you in one of the pics 😆

Nancy Whiteman's avatar

Thanks Tom..feliz navidad

Darmel L Hudson's avatar

Thank you for sharing your recap with us! What a great way to wrap up 2025 and all of your Christmas holidays the last five years. I really enjoyed this one AND enjoyed the video of the Christmas displays in VRSA, as well. Happy Holidays to you and yours!

Sandi R.'s avatar

Thank for your words, impressions, photos and sharing with those less fortunate.

Two random women here in the US started a "gift box for national park rangers" I sent off my box earlier in December. Stuff people need for those I haven't met, and experiences for those I love. The world doesn't need more stuff. ❤️

C Saunders's avatar

Feliz Natal

diane reynolds's avatar

A wonderful thing you are doing for the children. That is truly Christmas in my book. Have a beautiful holiday!

Jan Dent's avatar

Lovely ! Happy Christmas from Mermaid Beach Australia

Carolyn Johnsen's avatar

Merry Christmas Nans from a snowless Sweden

Eloise Smith's avatar

Hi Nancy, I always love reading your posts and seeing what things might feel like down the line as we've been here (in Sintra) for a year and a half. I would really love to put something together to give gifts to local children in need like you all did but I'm not sure how to find the children and a way to do this. Can you let me know how you did that? You also have my email address if it's easier. Thank you!

Nancy Whiteman's avatar

Contact the ReFood in your community or a nearby one. They gave us the request letters feom the children with ages and gender.

Eloise Smith's avatar

Amazing, thank you!