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These 'Heels Are Wandering

Expat Life in Portugal

"Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship
My senses have been stripped
My hands can't feel to grip
My toes too numb to step
Wait only for my boot heels to be wandering
I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade
Into my own parade
Cast your dancing spell my way, I promise to go under it"

Bob Dylan

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Back in the USA

Back in the USA

Back in the USA

After completing all of my tasks to leave Portugal, I arrived back home in late July 2023. WIth the help of several neighbors, I was able...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 23, 2024

I Got By With a Lot of Help (& Support) From My Friends

I Got By With a Lot of Help (& Support) From My Friends

I Got By With a Lot of Help (& Support) From My Friends

During our time in Portugal, we enjoyed the company of so many people who made our life a joy. All of these people were a huge comfort...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 21, 2024

Leaving Portugal

Leaving Portugal

Leaving Portugal

Making the decision to leave Portugal and return home to Chapel Hill was not difficult. As much as I loved living there, I knew that I...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 17, 2024

Meagan's Tribute to Her Father

Meagan's Tribute to Her Father

Meagan's Tribute to Her Father

It seems appropriate to me, on this Father's Day a year later, to include the tribute to Will that Meagan posted after he died in 2023. ...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 16, 2024

And in the end....

And in the end....

And in the end....

This post is a tough one -- to write and to read. It is perfectly fine to skip it if you wish. But the last few weeks of Will's life are...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 12, 2024

The Pleasure of Their Company

The Pleasure of Their Company

The Pleasure of Their Company

In May os 2023, we were graced with visits from good friends. In between doctor visits and more tests, we enjoyed spending time with...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 12, 2024

Health Care in Portugal

Health Care in Portugal

Health Care in Portugal

This blog was designed to share our experiences as expats in Portugal. It turns out that health care became a significant part of that...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 10, 2024

River Cruise in the Netherlands and Belgium and Some DIfficult News

River Cruise in the Netherlands and Belgium and Some DIfficult News

River Cruise in the Netherlands and Belgium and Some DIfficult News

In mid-April, just after Meagan departed, we went to Amersterdam for two days on our own before we departed on a tulip time river...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 4, 2024

Interlude with More Testing and a Visit from Meagan

Interlude with More Testing and a Visit from Meagan

Interlude with More Testing and a Visit from Meagan

After returning from Spain in mid-March of 2023, Will had more tests and doctor visits. First, he had a PET Scan, which is a test to...

Winnie Graybard

Jun 4, 2024

Back to Spain for More Distraction

Back to Spain for More Distraction

Back to Spain for More Distraction

On our first visit to Spain, in late 2021, both of us decided that we wanted to return to Madrid to visit the Prado and also return to...

Winnie Graybard

May 23, 2024

More Tests -- The Waiting Was the Hardest Part

More Tests -- The Waiting Was the Hardest Part

More Tests -- The Waiting Was the Hardest Part

After returning from Bilboa and San Sebastian, Will had more tests and doctor visits. First he had an bronchoscopy/biopsy. which was done...

Winnie Graybard

May 23, 2024

Distraction Tour to Northern Spain -- Early February 2023

Distraction Tour to Northern Spain -- Early February 2023

Distraction Tour to Northern Spain -- Early February 2023

In early January, Will had his first meeting with a pulmonologist and a lung scan was scheduled. A few days later, he reviewed results...

Winnie Graybard

May 21, 2024

It's Time for the Rest of the Story

It's Time for the Rest of the Story

It's Time for the Rest of the Story

Back in 2020, I started this blog to tell the story of our lives as expats in Portugal. Over the course of over two years, I shared our...

Winnie Graybard

May 20, 2024

Expat Life Two Years In

Expat Life Two Years In

Expat Life Two Years In

We have been here in Portugal for just over 25 months. Most of my blog posts have focused on our travels. I thought it was about time to...

Winnie Graybard

Feb 4, 2023

Farewell to the International Dog of Mystery & Intrigue

Farewell to the International Dog of Mystery & Intrigue

Farewell to the International Dog of Mystery & Intrigue

Many of you are Facebook friends of ours so you have already heard that news that our beloved Chili died a week ago. We miss her terribly...

Winnie Graybard

Jan 25, 2023

December in Madeira

December in Madeira

December in Madeira

Way back in mid-December, we made a quick trip to Madeira, a Portuguese island off the coast of Morocco. Its main city, Funchal, is...

Winnie Graybard

Jan 25, 2023

Travels with Chili -- A Little Family Road Trip

Travels with Chili -- A Little Family Road Trip

Travels with Chili -- A Little Family Road Trip

Back in mid-November we decided to take a short road trip down to the Algarve -- the southern coast of Portugal. We took Chili with us....

Winnie Graybard

Dec 15, 2022

Last Really Big Trip of 2022

Last Really Big Trip of 2022

Last Really Big Trip of 2022

We actually got home from this trip in mid-October. But then we had some more guests and I needed some quality sitting around time. So,...

Winnie Graybard

Dec 2, 2022

Summer Visitors and a River Cruise on the Douro

Summer Visitors and a River Cruise on the Douro

Summer Visitors and a River Cruise on the Douro

We have been so fortunate to be able to share our expat lives with friends this year. In early September, Normal and Juan Rengel stayed...

Winnie Graybard

Sep 28, 2022

Summer Fortnight in Scandinavia

Summer Fortnight in Scandinavia

Summer Fortnight in Scandinavia

We booked this trip early this year thinking that Scandinavia would be nice and cool in August. However, the big heat wave even got as...

Winnie Graybard

Aug 26, 2022

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Thanks for your interest in our expat life in Portugal. Let us know if you have any questions or topic suggestions for our blog.

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