Since our permanent move to Portugal, we have visited Puerto Rico a couple of times, but this trip marked our first journey to mainland USA. Our trip had a rocky start. Due to fog in Amsterdam, our flight from Porto was delayed, causing us to miss the connection to New York. While we waited in the KLM Airlines ticketing queue to rebook, Emi jumped on the Delta app, and I called Delta. We made three simultaneous attempts to get on the next flight to NYC—let’s see which method could solve our problem the quickest. The ticketing queue only resulted in a number indicating it would take 2.5 to 3.5 hours before we would get called to the counter. Wowza! After about 15 minutes on hold, I finally spoke to an agent. At about the same time, Emi wrapped up her chat session with the AI bot on the app. We managed to secure seats on the next flight to NY later that day. AI Chat Bot wins—impressive technology!

 

Because of situations like this, we prefer to travel light with no checked luggage. Maybe our checked bags would have made it to NY on the same flight as us; maybe not. Since we booked a separate flight the next morning to PHX, we would have faced a good chance of arriving in PHX without our bags. Sure, KLM/Delta would have sent our bags to NY eventually, but they wouldn’t have forwarded them to PHX. So, we would have had to buy all new clothes and toiletries for the trip or pay to overnight the bags. It’s much easier and less stressful to get around without dealing with large pieces of luggage.

 

After a good night’s sleep at a NY airport hotel, we felt rested and ready for the next hop across the country to Phoenix, Arizona. Our first moment of realization “we aren’t in Europe anymore” happened during breakfast at the hotel. In Europe, even the simplest hotel breakfast includes an assortment of fresh breads, fruits, cheeses, cold cuts, jams, yogurt, granola, fresh-squeezed juices, and espresso, served in ceramic or porcelain cups and plates with stainless steel silverware. Here in NY, we had a few muffins, bagels, and sweet breads, all individually wrapped in plastic, with paper plates, paper cups, plastic silverware, drip coffee, and some slightly green bananas.

 

After arriving in Phoenix, I felt impressed – one of the best airports I have ever visited. It has large concourses, great bars and dining options, and a Sky Train that takes you even to the Rental Car Center. A really pleasant experience. After grabbing the rental car, we felt energetic, not jetlagged at all.

 

Our first mission involved satisfying our craving for Mexican food. Portugal lacks Latin American cuisine and most of the restaurants that exist really disappoint. We love Abuelo’s, so of course, that became our first stop in Phoenix, and it did not disappoint. With that craving satisfied, it was time for some good craft beer. Our Airbnb sat only a few blocks from Wren House, so we enjoyed a couple of rounds with our friends Kelvin, Joseph, and Tony. Kelvin drove all the way from San Diego just to hang out with us for a few days—this meant a lot to us, and it felt great to see him.

 

I’m not going to lie; one of the reasons I wanted to take this trip in March involved Arizona Spring Training! Ha! So, of course, the next day, we headed to Salt River Fields at Talking Stick to watch the Arizona Diamondbacks play the San Francisco Giants. It felt awesome that so many friends could join us—Andy, Seth, Veronica, Kelvin, Joseph, Scott, and Wes. It felt fantastic to catch up with everyone. The weather turned great—sunny but not too hot. I still tried to stay in the shade as much as possible since I don’t get along well with the sun. I ended up getting a little tan, but Emi called it a burn. We shall agree to disagree! I enjoyed a craft beer in a can despite the $16 sticker shock, but at least it was 24 oz. Oof.

 

Cornish Pasty remains as one of our favorite restaurants. Enjoying a pasty and tasty hazy IPA from San Tan Brewing brought back great memories! ☺ Unfortunately, our friend Brian had to leave early to deal with a family emergency. Our hearts go out to him and his family. We appreciate that he made the effort to see us, even if his visit got cut short.

 

The next day, we didn’t have any plans until the evening, so we decided to hike Piestewa Peak, a trail we used to frequent when we lived in Arizona. It’s quite steep and challenging but features spectacular views. However, super windy, which made some stretches unpleasant – I thought we could get blown off the mountain. But in the end, we persevered and reached the summit, feeling accomplished. Desert hiking has its own kind of beauty that I appreciate, but I prefer the lush green forests, soft, fertile dirt trails, and countless streams and rivers of northern Portugal, even if it means enduring a lot more rain! ☺

 

 

We attended the Tempe Arts Festival, which we enjoyed yearly while living in Arizona. Unfortunately, rain fell most of the day and only a few vendors opened their stalls. It looks like the rain finally caught up to us from Braga! ☺ However, that didn’t dampen our spirits too much. We spent some quality time with Nate and Andy before heading to Fountain Hills for dinner.

 

 

In Fountain Hills, we met up with my former boss, Roger, and his wife, Suzanne. I worked with Roger for so long that it feels strange to refer to him as “boss,” since he has become more of a friend, colleague, and mentor. He has been invaluable in helping us achieve our life goals and dreams, which isn’t typical in a boss-employee relationship. We will always be grateful to adSoft and Roger and Suzanne.

 

The next stop on our U.S. journey down memory lane is Seattle. We enjoyed dinner and drinks with my two oldest and best friends, Luke and Collin. We had dinner at McMenamin’s Anderson School with Collin, his wife, Emily, and their two boys, Grayson and Beckett. I truly appreciate the relaxed vibe and eclectic décor of McMenamin’s locations; it’s a lovely place to hang out. After dinner, Luke joined us, and we moved to the Wood Shed, a tiny, hobbit-like house with a wood fire and a bartender serving excellent whisky-based cocktails. We shared countless old stories along with some new adventures, resulting in many bouts of uncontrolled laughter – it was a fantastic night.

 

 

The next morning, we drove to Portland to spend a few days there. Having grown accustomed to the Portuguese driving style, this drive on I-5 frustrated me to no end. While drivers in Portugal can be a bit aggressive – flashing their lights and tailgating until you move to the right lane – the driving culture in the Northwest differs significantly. Many drivers tend to cruise in the left lane, even when no one occupies the right or middle lanes. Super annoying when you are trying to pass! I can’t flash my lights to signal them to move because I never know if it might escalate to a road rage incident.

 

While in Portland, we enjoyed many of our favorite food spots. In Northwest Portland, we had lunch with Antonio at Bing Mi. Unfortunately, Lina didn’t feel well and couldn’t join us – we missed you, Lina! Bing Mi started at the Nob Hill Food Carts and has since grown into a nearby restaurant. We love their Jian Bing, a savory Chinese crepe filled with delicious ingredients, commonly served as street food. No visit to Portland feels complete without a Pine State Biscuit sandwich; I always choose the Chatfield, which features fried chicken, bacon, and cheese topped with house-made apple butter.

 

We also had a lovely dinner with Jessica and Scott, who excitedly talked about their upcoming holiday in Portugal. They will be in Braga during Braga Romana – our favorite festival of the year – and we’re thrilled to share that experience with them.

 

Since moving to Braga, one of my favorite hobbies has been pickleball. I usually play twice a week, and starting next week, I plan to play three times a week – yes, perhaps a bit obsessive! I even ordered a new pickleball paddle to pick up from my mom’s house while in the U.S. I’m thankful to our friend Liz for introducing me to the sport while we still lived in Portland. I managed to play only once back then due to work commitments, but now that I’m retired in Portugal, I have plenty of time to enjoy pickleball. Playing with Liz and her friends at a fantastic facility near Lake Oswego brought me so much joy. I had a great time. Thank you, Liz!

 

 

Our final night in Portland felt special. We hosted a big group dinner at Steeplejack Brewing Company and felt grateful to have everyone join us: John D, Jeff, Liz, John H, Fena, Janet, and Nikki. The location is a former church located a few blocks from our old home. It was converting into a brewery when we moved out, and we eagerly awaited the chance to visit. Finally, that night arrived! I enjoyed the food and the beers while we shared plenty of old cycling tales – it’s interesting how much crazy stuff can happen on a bicycle.

 

 

I’ve reflected on the changes in Portland and Phoenix since our last visits three years ago. While three years isn’t long, the differences, or lack thereof, are notable. Phoenix and Tempe have experienced an unprecedented boom during this period, with many new high-rises, expansive commercial campuses, and mid-rise buildings emerging. The Valley of the Sun truly thrives.

 

In contrast, Portland has hardly changed. Although the city has improved its management of the homeless crisis—resulting in a significant decrease in numbers—new commercial or residential development has been scarce. Why is that? I have a theory. During COVID and the year following it, many conservative-leaning news outlets reported on people living in liberal cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, expressing dissatisfaction with their leadership’s handling of COVID (strict lockdowns and mandatory vaccinations), the homeless crisis (perceived inaction), and rising crime (calls to defund the police and neglect of property crimes). Those reports suggested many people were leaving these cities for more conservative areas like Arizona, Texas, and Florida. At the time, I didn’t put much stock in it, but after visiting both Phoenix and Portland, those stories seem accurate.

 

After Portland, we returned to Washington State to spend a few days with my mom. She and my stepdad live on Key Peninsula, which sits on the more rural side of Puget Sound, away from Seattle and King County. This peaceful area boasts natural beauty. We worked on jigsaw puzzles—my mom’s favorite pastime—and enjoyed walks through the wooded neighborhood down to the ocean. We made homemade clam chowder that rivaled any restaurant. I took a bowl to our neighbor, Herb, an elderly man who shared wonderful stories about his time living and working on Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands as soon as I mentioned we had moved to Portugal. I loved spending quality time with my mom and Rob. Although our plan to meet once a year on the East Coast for a cruise hasn’t worked out yet, I hope we can start that tradition next year.

 

 

On our last day in Washington, we enjoyed a big family lunch at a Chinese restaurant. My cousin Josh, his wife Valerie, and their kids Jantzen, Elsa, and Dominic joined us, along with my stepbrother Wesley, his wife Nicole, and their son Kal-El. We sat at a large round table with a glass Lazy Susan in the middle, which proved a bit challenging to manage with the kids, but the food tasted fantastic. I believe the Seattle/Tacoma area has some of the best Cantonese food. I felt so glad to gather as a family, especially since coordinating schedules with work and the kids’ activities can be quite difficult.

 

 

Since our overseas flight departed from New York, we decided to spend a couple of nights in the city. I felt excited because it marked my first time in NYC! We stayed in Manhattan near Times Square and Central Park. The hotel impressed us with its recent renovations, but the tiny room reminded me of living in our Wolf Pup travel trailer again! We enjoyed many New York staples: pizza, cheesecake, and bagels. I miss a good bagel. We also visited some great craft beer bars, even though pints cost around $12 (about $15 after tax and tip). In Portugal, we can enjoy a complete night out for about the price of a single round of drinks in NYC—yikes!

 

Despite only having three days in the city, we managed to see quite a lot. We had dinner with Emi’s cousin, Ricardo, who took us to a Dominican restaurant in Queens. It served the best mofongo I’ve ever tasted. We walked around Times Square, which overwhelmed the senses—a true mecca of capitalism, but still an exciting experience. The 9/11 Memorial felt somber and stirred strong emotions in me. While I understand it’s a tourist attraction, I found it distasteful to see many people taking selfies and family photos there. It reminded me of Auschwitz; do you really want a photo of yourself standing in front of those gates?

 

I thoroughly enjoyed Central Park and Grand Central Station. Chelsea Market offered many great food options, including the famous Portuguese pastry, pastel de nata! My favorite of all the experiences we had was an elevated train line transformed into a city park, aptly named The High Line. A beautiful way to repurpose the space.

 

 

I enjoyed New York City, and it truly felt like we lived out scenes from some of our favorite movies and TV shows. However, many subway stations looked old and rundown, showing their desperate need for renovation, which felt quite depressing. Additionally, the cost of everything blew my mind. I have to say, I prefer European cities where, in general, I feel safe, the metro and train stations remain relatively clean and secure, and the vibe feels more welcoming and relaxed, even in the larger cities.

 

Overall, we had a wonderful time catching up with so many friends and family members. I wish we could have found time to visit Boise to see my Aunt Theresa, Uncle Joe, and Chase, but this trip already exhausted us. My apologies to all the friends and family members we didn’t have an opportunity to see.

 

While I do miss everyone back in the United States, Braga feels like home for us—it’s where we belong. I love returning to our comfortable apartment and embracing a walkable lifestyle. Living in a city center creates a unique connection to the community, as you see everyone going about their day just like you. Strolling through the streets brings a sense of liberation and spontaneity; you can pop into a café, bar, or restaurant and enjoy a drink or two without worrying about driving, parking, traffic, or anything other than living in the moment.

 

Now, I’m ready for some relaxation as I get back to my little routines. There is something calming and therapeutic in mundane daily tasks and hobbies. Bye for now!