In 1979 Eleanor rented an apartment on Marine Street in St. Augustine. A painter traveling from Mexico she found a place that fit her desires. An ancient, tropical enclave by the sea. A few months later she met Curt, a newly arrived woodenboat sailor who had traveled down the East Coast from the Outer Banks of North Carolina stopping and working along the way. He too had found a good reason to stay.

From that time, through their years together and the many places they have lived, they have documented their experiences through creative expression. Their story continues here...

Monday, July 9, 2012

Almaa

We stayed in a hostel outside of Sintra, Portugal to celebrate Eleanor's birthday. It is called Almaa (click here) and I had found it by chance before we left St. Augustine. It was a beautiful restoration of an ancient home, Quinta dos Lobos, in a world style that incorporated color, alternative design and furnishings made by Fourth Sector producers. The house, the oldest in the area, and the extensive adjoining gardens were a great place to rest and make new friends. If you are thinking about visiting Europe... this is great place to spend some time.


Almaa Hostel


Furnishings made from recycled materials 


Vegetable and flower garden



The gardener's chickens



Our friends Manuela and Kamala



Grotto with plates from an 18th century royal banquet



Manuela and Eleanor prepare dinner. The kitchen is the oldest part of the house.



Dining table 



Morning after guitar playing by candlelight and inscense



Artwork made from beach trash



Heading on... reluctantly



Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Dried Fish and the Royals in the Mountains

It is July 4. Pretty quiet here south of Madrid. I haven't checked in in a couple of weeks and in a week we will be leaving the Iberian peninsula for the US. Will catch up when I get home if not before. Curt

June 17
We reached Nazare late in the afternoon as people flooded off the beach. Older women were still selling their fish along the seawall. Behind them on the beach were stretched long drying racks and nets  from the days fishing.

As the daylight faded we walked up and down the tight streets and lit on a small restaurant withits entrance was almost hidden along the wall bordering the stone 'calle'. The futbal game was starting and we enjoyed grilled fish caught that day.





Nazare






Nazare



Our restaurant and the owner


His grandparents



I had booked what appeared to be an interesting hostel for Eleanor's birthday in Sintra just west of Lisbon. Spending the next midday in Obidos, a small walled city, we arrived in the remarkable town of Sintra with its twisting roads. After getting lost a man led us to Almaa. I'll save that for the next post.


Obidos... you can walk the top of the walls around the town. No barriers. And factor in the wind.






Fellow artists Eleanor and Burt



Obidos courtyard





On to Sintra...


Along our walk to town



Mosaic in the Quinta da Regaliera



The architect and builders dug a maze of caves under the Quinta



and a mystical shaft to the surface



On to the gardens of Palacio do Pena



Pena Palace









and the Castelo dos Mouros- Castle of the Moors built in the 8th century