We Just Bought a Little Bit of Freedom

We have spent about two months basically staying inside. Restrictions are slowly being eased. Assuming everything stays on track we will be able to really start moving around within Portugal in mid-April. However, until we get our residency card and more of the European borders open up we will not be able to leave Portugal. So we decided to buy a car. This will allow us more freedom to take day trips and short overnight trips to all those places in Portugal we have been waiting to visit.

We were able to buy a 2013 Renault Clio Sport Tourer with reasonable mileage (about 44K). Buying a car from a salesman whose English is only slightly better than our (non-existent) Portuguese has been an experience. He did make us a really good deal on the car -- or as he said, "Big Business." I think that not only will that be the name of the car but it will be used widely in a variety of circumstances. Try it. It works.

The first two pictures were taken at the dealership (or car stand as they call it here in Portugal). It really would have been a gift if they had put gas in the car but that's another story. The third one is the car in its new home environment with its proud papa.

Will did a great job re-acquainting himself with a manual transmission and driving home on a really busy motorway where everyone else seemed to know where they were going. Happily we made the navigation system speak to us in English. Buying gas was another one of those cultural adventures that we have come to love so dearly. Luckily there was a gentleman nearby who spoke enough English to help us solve that mystery. I will be renewing my stick shift skills in the next day or so. Luckily our neighborhood is fairly quiet and I can take my time.

We are really looking forward to venturing out into the world. Of course, as of midnight tonight until the day after Easter we are prohibited from traveling between municipalities. But after that, we are going to take Big Business on the road!

P.S. Car insurance for this baby costs a total of $385.00 per year.

P.P.S. In a sea of gray and black cars, ours will be able to spot in a parking lot.

P.P.P.S. Big Business has room in the back for a few suitcases for when guests come to visit. Hint hint.