Ted and I have lived in Portugal for a month now. We have things to say about it. Things like wow. Wonderful. A balm to the soul. It’s the scenery, yes. The architecture. The food. The wine. But mostly it’s the people.
Here’s a story that sums up the gentle kindness and courtesy the Portuguese have shown these two expats.
With three pools, a gym, a cafe, a grocery store and a farmacia, Clube Fluvial Portuense is impressive–and it’s reachable by a short bus ride from our apartment.
The thing that impressed us most, however, was the attitude (or perhaps a should say lack of it) that the lifeguard showed in loaning me the cap. He could just as easily have barred me from the pool that day, citing health regulations and various facts about the filtration system.
I certainly wouldn’t have blamed him.
Instead, he found a way to say yes.
To make our trial run at the Clube a memorable one.
My hat’s off to him.
Though I’ll be sure it’s on for our next visit.
P.S. I’d love to post a photograph or two of the building’s jaw-dropping interior, with lane after lane of sparkling blue water in not one but three pools. Photos are not allowed on the premises, however. A rule clearly spelled out in the rulebook … and one I plan to follow.
Mike Coleman 