Santamer (Zero Day 2)

I slept well last night without coughing as much and let myself sleep until 7:30, but I felt very weak and aching, and decided to give myself another zero day of real rest. And I did just that, laid in bed all day. Other than getting up for breakfast here at the hostel, and then in the evening walking to a little restaurant a block away for dinner.

I ended up eating at a wonderful little courtyard restaurant run by two young women who are friends and they made up a special chicken, potatoes, egg roll, and salad meal for me since their specialty was home made hamburgers. With a beer it was €5.6 ($6.22). I just love walking down these narrow cobblestone streets and finding these little places. The shops on these obscure streets range from businesses like pharmacies, clothing stores, to travel agencies. The atmosphere in those little places seem so much more personal and friendly. The longer I am in Portugal, and the further away from the big city, the friendlier I find the people. I think it is probably true everywhere in the world.

After dinner I just could not go straight back to the hostel and wander a few blocks down a couple of street and through a big park. Interesting that two blocks from the hostel is a big modern shopping mall, which is such a contrast to all the little shops and restaurants on those old narrow cobble streets. I did not walk far because I really wanted this to be a big rest day, so I headed back to the hostel for an early night.

I definitely was not feeling better this morning than yesterday, but I do feel a little better now, but still with a little congestion in my lungs and coughing. Maybe the medicine is working and fighting the infection in my lungs? My plan is to see how I feel in the morning, and if I continue to feel better, I may start trekking? I want to be sure I have the energy because the next place with lodging and food is Azinhaga, 18 miles (28 km) away.

Best wishes to all,

Ted

Please excuse the typos, spelling, grammar, etc., as I am typing this on my phone, and I am probably pretty tired.

If you would like to see the Alzheimer’s Association website and see our team page please go to:

act.alz.org/goto/tedstrek

Walking through the city park gives you a sense of the Portugués history and sense of pride

The typical narrow cobble streets, outside my hostel

The beautiful old building right across the street from the modern shopping mall

The Mall. I didn’t want to include it, but it points out the contrast of old to new

Ok, I had to have a photo of were I spent my whole day. The large gray sheet is actually a silk x-large sleeping bag liner I use when it is too hot to sleep under a blanket or my down comforter/sleeping bag. I also use it at places where I might not feel comfortable in the cleanliness of a bed or the sheets. Here at the Hostel Santarém everything was very clean, but I just like the comfort of my own sleeping stuff. The sleeping bag/comforter does not have a zipper, and has a foot pocket, hand pockets, and a built in hood, so it is very versatile in all different temperature from warm to close to freezing. Great Sierra Designs bag.

Me actually watching a Netflix movie today