Christmas and New Year in Portugal

We got up at 3.30 am for our 6.30 flight from Charleroi to Porto...all ran smoothly, plenty of time to wait for the van to take us from the parking to the airport. Mummy and I went back in the car to keep warm while the van turned up...it was close to zero degrees. Flight was good - time to read and sleep. We were met by grandpa and went to say hello to everyone in the shops. We took it leisurely in the morning and after lunch we drove to Obidos. The sun was shining, put the heating on full blast and we settled down for an early night. We did a big shop in Pingo Doce, buying what we wanted for dinner - I wanted pizza of course. After dinner we say comfortably on the sofa and started to watch the mega long versions of The Lord of the Rings...over the next 10 days I saw all 3 films, close to 12 hours and I loved it :-)
We visited Gerias after a yummy lunch at our local restaurant and saw more than 2000 nativity scenes - I took many photos with my own camera and was very excited that we bought one too for our house.

Christmas Eve we drove back to Porto and my parents did the last minute shopping while I just looked at every book and game in FNAC and wanted them...All the relatives were arriving when we got back to grandparents place for the evening festivities. I played cards, watched TV and ate and ate. Close to midnight Rodrigo and Renate arrived and I got dressed with Rodrigo to be a Santa Helper. I loved it, no complaints for me, I picked up the many presents under the tree and handed to Ze-Luis, even some I called out myself especially the ones for my parents. After I could open all my presents - loved it.

Boxing day was much more leisurely - starting with a late breakfast. My parents went for a long walk to town discovering new cafes, shops, hotels while I played zombies on Tio's iPad with Rodrigo. Lunch and more games. We had very good weather. On the 27th we took Rodrigo to see Ruca Christmas special and we were singing and dancing/swaying along with the music. Later Daddy took me and Rodrigo to the cinema to see the Penguins while mummy then walked around the Dolce Vita shopping centre. Tia and Tio were not feeling well and did not join. Another day we went to the park with Rodrigo and I loved playing on all the different climbing frames and trying out the exercise machines. We also went to Quinta Do Mar for a day and walked along the front in beautiful warm sun, met Toze', Christina, Bea and Katerina for coffee and then later Bruno with Pedro (Pedro and I went to the playground).
Tuesday, we went back to Obidos...more Lord of the Rings :-) and joined by Tio, Tia, R&R for New Year's Eve. We celebrated in the Bowling Alley of Caldas. I had a great time, playing air hockey with some older kids (even they came from Belgium and Dad was builder in Wezembeek), we had a game of bowling and could eat so much food + my favourite fizzy drinks. We had live music and some fireworks at midnight. It was a great party.
New Year's Day we had a very late lunch at our favourite place and then went to the Christmas party. I had an owl on my arm and a parrot. I went tobogganing on a tyre down an icey slope, we watched shows (circus), we visited Santa etc...Lots of fun.
After dinner Tia, Tio, R&R left. The next day we relaxed and walked around Obidos, visited the lego exhibition (very cool Star Wars pieces especially). We went for a drive and watched a magnificent sunset. I was so very happy cuddles, fun and beautiful. We stopped at a local church where there was a full scale nativity scene.
Then it was time to pack up again and after a long walk and lunch we went back to Porto...more time to play with my cousins and relax before back to Brussels and restart school on 5th January.

HAPPY NEW YEAR and best wishes for 2015.
Tiago