writing for self-discovery

How much is too much fun?

Is it when there isn’t time enough left over to write about it? If so, I’ve been acing it in the I’m having too much fun department.

But this morning, it came to a screeching halt in a dentist office here in Ferragudo. I’d cracked a filling several months ago and had referrals from expats for this particular clinic. It’s an all-female practice which I instantly loved. The procedure was pain- free from start to finish, and the price…

Let’s back up.

The crack happened before I left Minnesota. I’d gotten it X-rayed with my usual dentist. The X-ray cost $136.00, and the quote for a replacement filling was $500. But I’d run out of time before my trip, so I decided to get it done in Portugal.

At my first appointment here in Ferragudo, they took X-rays and scheduled me for the procedure in two more days. When I went to the counter to pay for the X-ray, the receptionist who is fluent in English said, “No, of course you don’t pay. First consultation always is free.”

Gobsmacked, I left in a daze, wondering how on god’s green earth they survive.

Today, I lay in the dentist’s chair while she and her assistant carried on a nonstop conversation in Portuguese while drilling, pickaxing, and flushing my old filling out then installing a new one. It took an hour and fifteen minutes, and as I said, there was zero pain at any time.

When it was clear she had finished and I once again went to the counter to pay, I was told the bill was 70 Euros. At today’s exchange rate, that’s $73.00, 85% less than I would have paid at home. Somehow, that $73 pays for the X-rays, the time with the dentist, her assistant, the receptionist, their office space, furnishings, and the materials and equipment she used for the repairs to my tooth. 

How can the price difference be so vast?

Even though a visit to the dentist can hardly qualify as fun, saving that much money is very satisfying!

A trip to the mountain hideaway of our landlords, Maria and Jorge, however, was fun on every level.

Three days ago at 1:00 sharp, a car horn beeped outside the house. Grandpa (Maria’s father) had arrived to pick us up. ReAnn took the front seat, and I slid into the back with Pee, Grandpa’s terrier.

For the next 45 minutes, I white-knuckled the hand grip as the car maneuvered hairpin curves from valley up to mountaintop down to valley and up again.

When we arrived, I was given a tour of the cabin.

It’s one main room, a bathroom with a composting toilet and a shower that’s even more creative than mine, and stairs to a sleeping loft.

The meal was ready, and we dined in true European style, lingering for hours over wonderful food.

It began with bread, cheese, prosciutto, marmalade, and wine.

Then we had a stew of chicken, with chickpeas, carrots, and large slices of soup-soaked dense bread that did not disintegrate. Along with that dish were two kinds of baked sausages and chunks of pure fat.

I skipped the fat, but the rest was delicious! Maria explained.

After the main course, a basket of oranges appeared. They have 100 orange trees and a few olive trees on their property.

After oranges, Maria brought out a homemade sponge cake. Jorge served cappuccino, and we sipped a beautiful port wine to finish. 

Grandpa regaled us with stories. He often started with a question, for example, “Do you know how the Germans discovered American spies in the war?” We didn’t know. So he told us it was the way they used a fork when they ate, and he demonstrated the difference.

We discussed politics. They have strong opinions about the current state of affairs in the U.S.

They talked about their children and grandchildren, and so did we.

Grandpa was a civil engineer and designed airports. Jorge owns a construction company that builds houses and does renovations. Maria teaches chemistry. Their cabin was a roofless ruin before they decided to resurrect it. Grandpa has a 4-bedroom house in Ferragudo, and Maria and  Jorge have a big beautiful home there, too.

Then, it was time to pile into the car and head back before dark.

Grandpa decided to return a different way, so we had an extended tour of the countryside.

How lucky I am to be here reaping the benefits of ReAnn’s people connections and having so much fun!

And it continues. In my next post, I’ll tell you about yesterday, the river cruise to the vineyard and the most elegant wine tasting experience ever.