Baleal, Portugal

Surfing in the fog

After moving to Portugal, I began participating in several online Portuguese conversation groups. The facilitators are remarkably talented volunteers and I’m fortunate to be in these groups, where I practice speaking Portuguese with fellow immigrants.

My conversational partners in these classes are from Ukraine, Russia, Iran, Israel, and India. In the course of practicing Portuguese, I have learned a bit about their countries of origin, the holidays they traditionally celebrate, and the foods they enjoy. Occasionally, too, I learned why they immigrated to Portugal and what they love about their new home. One fellow language learner spoke with enthusiasm about Baleal, a seaside town in the Oeste region of Portugal, and how they learned to surf there.

When my wife and I had some free time earlier this fall, we decided to visit Baleal. The day was clear and sunny when we started our trip. By the time we arrived at the ocean, the blue sky had disappeared behind a heavy fog.

Surfing in heavy fog at Baleal

The only people on the beach were surfers. Several were preparing to head into the ocean, despite the poor visibility. I spotted one man who managed to ride a wave through the fog. It was cool and windy and the visibility was not much longer than the length of a pool.

Except for the surfers, the beach was empty

As my wife and I walked along the beach, we saw many small surfing camps meeting along the beach. Each of the groups included three or four people and an instructor. The people here were clearly drawn to the ocean and the sport.

Despite the fog, small groups of surfers were participating in surfing camps

Out past the surfing groups, the shore became a long sandy stretch with only a few walkers.

The beach in Baleal is a superb place for a long walk.

As we walked, the fog gradually began to lift. Eventually, we could see the buildings in Baleal.

The sun returned and we could both see and hear the waves crashing alongside our path.

It’s easy to hear the waves here

We walked on the peninsula of Baleal towards the Ilha de Fora and saw incredible rock formations, and, of course, a small, beautiful church nearby.

Baleal rock formations.

Baleal is north of Peniche and south of Foz de Arelho. Each one of the seaside towns we’ve visited in Portugal has been different. We love the beaches of Baleal and enjoyed watching the surfers even on a foggy day.

What I’m Reading

Mindful by Nature: The Inner Work of Being Outdoors by Tim Drake and Jason Hamilton.
Mindful by Nature is a collection of personal stories, meditations and poems intended to help the reader connect to nature. The methods proposed by the authors are designed to work well, whether one lives in an urban or a rural setting.

I read one short chapter at a time and incorporated some of the recommendations for connecting with nature into my daily life. Nothing about the meditations or exercises required me to gather supplies or engage in logistical planning. For the most part, I could simply walk out my front door and follow the chapter’s suggestions for ways in which I could better observe the nature near my home and notice changes in my environment over time.

If you are interested in both practicing mindfulness and becoming more connected and observant about nature in your daily life, you might find this book useful. I did.

Thanks to Cornell University Press, which published this book, and NetGalley for providing an advance PDF of the book for me to read.

Recipe to Try

Nut and Seed Crackers with Dates (updated) - This recipe for crackers from Family Friend by Lukas Volger looks really delicious. I’m always on the lookout for high protein snacks and these crackers include almonds, chia seeds, pepitas and sunflower seeds.