We Need a Miracle

A detail of the capitals on the columns of the Roman temple in Évora; Mike's Blip shows more of it.

We got up before the sun today to drive the hour to Évora to be the first in the queue after we found out yesterday that the Dept of Transport was open for real live appointments. We've been trying since early December to swap our British driving licenses to Portuguese ones, online, and getting absolutely nowhere. Well, we're still nowhere, as they said they have no contact with that department and has to be done online. Incredible. The photo in extra probably sums up the day more.

We did, however, join the Portuguese Automobile club, which took forever, but great time listening to Sr Jaime on his life as a green beret parachutist in the army, politics, culture, and so much more. And he will do his best to help us after a friend gets back from holiday... it's always who you know. He's worked for the Club for over thirty years, and says the Dept of Transport is definitely the worst government department to deal with, and the pandemic has made it even worse.

Gratefuls:
- seeing four hot air balloons rising over the Lake as we crossed the bridge, so beautiful
- Sr Jaime giving us the best map we've had yet of Portugal, more reliable than the Sat Nav
- walking through the old part of Évora and appreciating its character, taking photos like a tourist