I can't get enough Portugal

Europe in general is amazing.  Culture, coffee, food, big ass mountains, and the Mediterranean.  I do find the language barrier intimidating, believe it or not.   

But Portugal!  This stunning place pictured above is called the Devil's Mouth.  The postcards show this with tranquil waters and sailboats.  I prefer the chaos.  I was lucky enough to tag along with a friend.  Went to Cascais, Sintra, Porto, and maybe Lagos, and definitely Lisbon.  Sadly, I don't remember.  

I became obsessed with cork.  I was sure to buy a cork purse, wallet, coin purse.  How can you not find this fascinating?  Cork!  the stuff you use to stop bottles and pin notes.  It can be made like material!  I still don't know how.  I saw giant planks of cork on a flat bed!  I bet you haven't seen that shit.  

Next thing I loved was blue tile.  I didn't get any.  At the time I couldn't think what I'd use it for.  Recently I redid my kitchen.  Guess what my backsplash is made of?  It helps that I'm currently obsessed with the color blue.  Still, I have a unique kitchen design.  It is both blinding white to the point of sterility, yet calm and blue and peaceful.  But this is supposed to be about Portugal!

Then there's castles.  Come on, need I say more?  Europe has castles.  It's what they did back in the day.  We have forts along the coast.  They have castles.  And they're just like you think they are:  spires, arches, winding stairwells, ooh arrow slits!  Hee Hee!  And the roads that lead there, I imagine have been there for a millennium, old stones that have seen the feet of kings and tourists.  Also I lost my fun sun hat there.  The winds were high, the spire was high, my hat never had a chance.  Was it St. George?  Was it Pena Palace?  You'd think I was high!  (but no.)

The food I wasn't into.  There was a lot of sea food, surprise surprise, not my thing.  What I am wild about are these milk tarts.  Now I knew about these before I visited.  Another friend gave me the recipe and I still make them.  They're super easy.  Instead of going to Portugal, just google it.  And don't use paper liners.  They're called Queijadas.  Oh and European coffee!  You can't get a cup at the gas station to go,  which is stupid but maybe they would see that as sacrilege?  Anyway, they will give you a tiny porcelain  cup, no milk, some sugar, and you have to stand there and drink it.  None of this paper cup in your car's cup holder business, just straight up hot insanity jolting thru your system.  In a way, I can respect that.  

Driving is fun in Portugal!  Roundabouts!  Roundabouts are the best and if you disagree then fuck off.  No, no I take that back.  I should aim to educate.  Don't trust me though, see what the FHWA has to say on the subject.  Back to driving.  Stay on the right so the maniacs can pass.  Be aggressive.  And just like Costa Rica - COMMIT!  Also, finding an automatic transmission is tough.  Good luck.  

The city of Porto is probably my favorite.  It's very old timey, has a big ass bridge and trolley car.  I don't care for port the beverage, but I bet you can find some excellent stuff there.  I just remember it was beautiful and I think I saw an alien, like Roger from American Dad.  Really, I was not high!!