Day 3

After virgorous urging from Alex we decided to give blogging a try...so here we are.

Although we live in a decidedly urban area we are awakened each morning at sun up by the crowing of many roosters. They continue their "music-making" at few minute intervals through-out the morning.

I am trying hard to get the family into a school routine and sleep schedule before school actually starts. This morning I dragged myself, and I mean that literally, out of bed at 8AM. Once I was up and had my coffee I was fine...but getting out of that bed took determination. I found I was enjoying the solitude of my morning so much that I didn't wake Mike and the girls for another hour.

I love opening my back door and looking out over all the orange tiled roofs below. Every house has an orange tile roof. Just as every house has a gated yard and garden with stones, flowers and a bit of grass. Our landlord, Senor Martine is always out there puttering. Each morning I go through the house opening the windows (no screens) and curtains to let in the fresh air and sun light. By noon it is warm so we close them to keep the house cool. There is no rain at this time of year so things are dry...no humidity.

This morning we did our first load of laundry and hung it out on the line to dry. We have a washing machine but no dryer. I don't know how well this will work during the rainy season...we may look into getting a dryer before then.

This place is amazing and very different than any place I have been before. Mike has been pleasntly surprised that much of his Portugese is coming back. I on the other hand just smile a lot. I wanted to say good morning to Senor Martine this morning but couldn't remember how so I just hid so he wouldn't see me. I'm trying though, so I know I'll get better at it. N