Storks are protected here in Portugal...and they build their nests in the tall chimneys scattered about town. This huge chimney was crumbling and the only way it could be legally repaired was to remove the top portion (nest and all) while the residents were away...then rebuild the base structure and replace the chimney top and nest without disturbing the storks. They seem not to have noticed.

Sunset at the Lagos Marina. The only way to get a sailboat into or out of this marina is to radio ahead request that the pedestrian drawbridge be raised.

I have taken many lighthouse photos for our friend Steve, California sailor and talented painter with a passion for lighthouses. This one was a special milestone for us. This lighthouse sits farther west that any other in Europe. After we rounded the corner of Portugal, we anchored out for the last time this year.

We anchored two nights in this sheltered bay inside a reef a few miles west of Setubal. The first morning, as the tide came in, we dinghied over to what remained of a sand spit of an "island" quickly disappearing beneath our feet. Here, Brendan waves to the camera as Roy maneuvers the dinghy in the surf. We had great fun exploring the sand, sea, and a small island behind Blaze, visible in the distance. The second morning we departed before sunrise.

The city of Lisbon needed a mention. We saw lots of beautiful architecture, brick ceilings, hilly old town, etc. We walked up and down ... up and down ... up and down. Our significant memories, however, are not of the large cities but of the villages and wonderfully expressive people.

This photo is for my dad who wanted to know how the dinghy was attached. If you look at the roof of the back deck you will see two arms extending out on either side of the flag. These arms roll in and out, and cables dangle from them with weighted metal cylinders and locking hooks at the end of each to hold ropes attached to the dinghy. During travel, the dinghy is hoisted to a resting position on the platform where you see the two cases (containing the life rafts.) To keep it from swaying while Blaze is in motion, the ropes are wrapped around the roof support posts and cleated to where you see the black dock lines. In the background you can see the castle walls near the Cascais Marina.