For one month I stayed at David’s place. It was such a great experience that I was sad to leave. David and his family made me feel so comfortable and welcome in their beautiful home. We had many meals and conversations together. Their incredible generosity really touched me. There was so much fresh food that they grew and shared with me. My room, bathroom and sitting room were lovely, well-arranged and decorated, with fantastic views, trees, nice light, quiet, private, great for working on my own on some creative projects. Gorgeous. I felt free to do as I wished, from staying in, walking around and seeing the animals on the farm, and getting out, coming and going as I needed. All easy-going. There are several surrounding villages, small roads, lovely trails and places to walk, like from another time. While I had everything I needed, some little markets nearby and access to public transportation, David and his wife helped me get around a few times and took me along when they went grocery shopping. Thanks to them and the house, I got a lot of work done, got to know the local area and Portugal’s Northern Region and had a rich cultural context in which to understand it. I feel truly fortunate and grateful. It was a unexpectedly wonderful time and I hope to return and visit my new friends/family.