Killer Caterpillars

"The Unites States has a fantastic, world leading national soccer team. And it also has a men's team." 
Rachel Maddow

on the sacred yoga mat

Behold the present condition of my legs. It looks far better in this picture than it does in life: in reality people are staring on the street.
We are not sure if it is the usual allergy to the shit they spray on the golf courses, or it is the work of a poisonous caterpillar.

Poisonous caterpillars are apparently a thing here. They have little hairs that cause large allergic reactions in people, and more terrifyingly- in dogs, whom they can kill (a caterpillar!) But it is not the season, so it is probably just the golf, or the pollen. I heard from the physical therapist here (yes we see her constantly) that the newly born caterpillars descend from the top of the pine trees to look for a place to go underground where they will become butterflies and then fly to the top of the tree and start the whole thing over again. Once on the ground, they choose a leader, and then follow that leader, occasionally to their deaths. They have been seen in a hopeless circle where they are stuck, because the leader is a moron and didn't find a place underground, but instead just found the guy at the end of the line. Or if the head guy gets run over by a car, the followers keep walking until they are all on a pile on top of him where, inevitably, a car runs over all of them.
Good riddance I say. It's kind of creepy anyway the whole turning into a butterfly thing. I asked her what they are called in Portuguese and she said: Caterpillar. This was such a disappointment. I thought I was going to be able to add to my pathetic list of Portuguese words that total: Cake, rain, thank you and tomorrow.

Interestingly I only get these rashes after one of our epic, hot sweaty walks. I know what you are thinking: this could affect my step count.

In other news: we are going to Barcelona on Saturday after spending one night in Comporta a hip beach place that is long on Madonna and short on golf. We will stay in Barcelona for a few days, then bring prodigal home for more Portugal, then Switzerland, then Lechy lech.

The big news is we are swinging by Puerto Rico on the way home. Because it's there, and it's a tax haven; also they hate Trump, and maybe they need more paper towels. Who knows.

In the "It's not all bad news out there for the United States", column may I submit the following:
Rachel Maddow's interview with Megan Rapinoe: the greatest girl crush interview of all time. And remember how the handsome Turk told me the only two groups of people who tip at all, much less so generously are the Americans and the Irish? Well we were walking around Faro the other day and a guy was playing guitar and he was truly good. But he wasn't really good with the customers; he was just so into his own head. So I stopped to throw in some money and what do I see? The only other cash in his guitar case was a ten dollar bill. usa.usa.usa.

Playing guitar downtown Faro

I worry sometimes that I am missing out on the best parts of a U.S. summer. We don't have barbecues much here and it is hard to find corn. But then we see this sky last night- one that looks exactly like cotton candy clouds, and I am ok again.

Will send photos of Comporta tomorrow. xx

no filter. In front of one of the many very high tech enormous houses being built here.