About Oregon Expat
Sometimes the best view is from the outside, and an American expatriate living in Portugal is, in many ways, outside of both nations. The views can be spectacular. I’m also a science nerd, Mac dweeb, grammar geek, and science fiction author, so the posts in this blog tend to be eclectic.
Click the “About” tab if that wasn’t quite enough detail — or go to my official author website.
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Recent Posts
- Hope, an unfamiliar emotion
- Pompeii takeout and American assumption
- Far Enough
- I have an issue with Netflix’s “Away”
- Now, about *that* topic
- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
- Alsea Rising: The Seventh Star is in the wild
- Alsea Rising is out and #1!
- Coming soon: Alsea Rising
- On his terms
- Beyoncé: Homecoming
- UPRISING and balance
- The brain radio
- Alsea lovers: This is the one you’ve been waiting for
- The chicken church
Recent Comments
- Fletcher DeLancey on Porto’s most famous bookstore
- pablohaake on Porto’s most famous bookstore
- Alberto on Throwing flowers
- Rael on Portuguese idiom of the day: Lança perfume
- Rael on Portuguese idiom of the day: Lança perfume
- Fletcher DeLancey on Hope, an unfamiliar emotion
- Miriam English on Hope, an unfamiliar emotion
Categories
Monthly Archives: August 2012
Curiosity odds and ends
Lest you think I’ve forgotten about our latest and largest Martian robot, here are a few nifty bits for the weekend. First of all, if you have an iPad, iPhone, or any smart device with an accelerometer, go to this … Continue reading
Posted in Apple, science, tech
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Porto’s most famous bookstore
One icon I really wanted to see in Porto was its famous bookstore (indeed, one of the most famous in the world), Livraria Lello & Irmão. I’d read about its gorgeous interior architecture, and it did not disappoint. I nearly … Continue reading
Posted in Portugal, travel
10 Comments
Porto laundry
We’re home! — and happily looking forward to sleeping in our own beds tonight. It’s funny, as a child I remember my parents making “Oh god what a relief” comments about getting to sleep in their own bed after a … Continue reading
Posted in Portugal, travel
6 Comments
Oof — stuffed!
Today we made a return trip to Porto for a full-day tourist extravaganza. Having just now arrived at our lodgings (it’s nearly 23:00), I’m too tired to post all that I want to, so this will have to suffice: The … Continue reading
Posted in food, Portugal, travel
9 Comments
An American cookie
In Aveiro today, we spotted a small kiosk with a large sign declaring that it sold “Bolachas Americanas,” meaning American cookies. Since the availability of American-style cookies (chocolate chip! peanut butter oatmeal!) in Portugal ranges somewhere between rare and nonexistent, … Continue reading
Posted in food, Portugal
35 Comments
Douro cruise
Guess what we did today? This is a rabelo, a boat native to the Douro River, which in yon olden days was used to haul wine casks from the inland vineyards down to the Porto wine cellars. The railroad rendered … Continue reading
Posted in Portugal, travel
19 Comments
The Cork Museum
Today it…rained. I’m still in shock. I’d forgotten what rain looked like, after unending weeks of heat management in the Algarve. My wife points out that the forecast for our destination did indeed call for rain, and I said, “Yes, … Continue reading
Posted in Portugal, travel
9 Comments
Off to the north
We’re off to the Great White North — I mean, the north of Portugal. Many thanks to those who commented and emailed with Porto suggestions; we’ve got a lovely list to work with! (Crowdsourcing: the real strength of the Internet.) … Continue reading
Posted in Portugal, travel
3 Comments
One drop of water
You’re hiking along on a hot summer day, and that clear, cold stream you’ve just crossed seems too good to pass up. Leaning down, you scoop up a handful of water and drink… …unless you’re a microbiologist, of course. In … Continue reading
Posted in science, video
3 Comments
Random word playlist
I just stumbled across an interesting way to create a playlist in iTunes. I wanted to listen to “And I Will Kiss” again (from the London Olympic opening ceremony), but since I’m lazy, I just typed “kiss” into the search … Continue reading
Posted in Portugal, tech
14 Comments