this summer i traveled to the beautiful island of pico. one of 9 islands that make up the azores. they are itty bitty islands in the middle of the atlantic ocean that belong to portugal. it really looks like someone just happened to drop some crumbs on the map. this was my 11th trip there. and it never seizes to amaze me. when i wake up in the morning and see the clear breath taking view of the volcanic mountain known as pico, i immediately grab my camera and snap some quick shots. i told luis this summer that i wonder if people who live there find this place to be so beautiful. they drive around pico everyday, but do they ever stop to enjoy the view?!?
i have learned many thing over the summers that i have spent there in pico. ive learned that portuguese people have no filter, and tell you what they think. which in some cases can be a little harsh. i was told ive gained weight about 800 times in the 4 weeks i was there! lol. from some people who hadnt seen me since i was 12. yup. bound to gains some lbs. that was 15 years and 2 babies ago. ive learned that the old generation works harder than any other people i know. luis' 87 yr old grandfather still gets up daily and tends to his garden and his bees. ive learned that the women there KNOW how to cook...and are offended when you do not eat what they offer. ive learned that nothing is fast pace. and i mean NOTHING. everyone lives a very slow and relaxed life. not to say that they have it easy by any means, but they do not have the normal hurry that us americans do. unfortunately this year i also learned that when you have a small town, someone who is bored, and has a mouth bigger than the island itself, sometimes rumors get started. i learned that sometimes when you loose friends...it only makes you more grateful for the real ones in your lives.
this summer luis and i got to be the padrinho and madrinha (like the best man and maid of honor) for his brothers wedding. cesar (my only brother in law on my goncalves side) married tania...one of luis' best friends. i could not be happier for them. i love that our family is growing. i love that hopefully someday cristiano and tiago will have little cousins in pico.
walking off the plane in pico and seeing my in laws face as they set eyes on their 2nd grandchild for the first time was amazing. to know that i had some part of making them be that happy, makes me feel good. to see how my in laws adore our kids is an amazing feeling!
although the views were great...our real friends are unforgettable...and this year was made of many memories, the best part of traveling to pico this summer for me, was the fact that my parents got to go with us. they've gone every year for some time now. but this year was extra special. mainly because of my mom. as all of you know we had a little scare late 2011, and i didnt know if we would ever get the chance to go anywhere together again. i could not have been happier to be experiencing all of this with my healthy mom. our family is definitely blessed.
it will probably be a few years before we get to go to pico again. but i can hardly wait!! i miss everyone there so much! until next time....
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