I hear voices on the street in random succession. Like a rippling of voices from another realm unexpectedly. A stream of languages flowing by your ears while walking quickly down a cobbled stone sidewalk; dodging cars, motorcycles, and skinny motorized scooters that probably should be outlawed as they scream by …nearly crippling anyone in their path.

And I am the guy with the glass half full (although my wife would disagree). Nonetheless, I do hear these voices from around the world. Literally!

And recently we see these images posted on streets. Where are these people? …shocking and scary too.

People watching and gazing at public art, we see so much, such variety…

And as we leave this lovely place where we have once again learned so much. Like its remarkable ancient Roman vintners who left in their wake some 264 varieties of grapes. Really? Yes, quite a future in wine futures I would say for Portugal.

And as our Sommelier, Miquel noted, “It is not the wine specifically, it is the way of our people, in that our door is always open. We are welcoming and are not afraid of the future as we live with a sense of hope.”