Porto Subway Love offers second chance for Love at First Sight

Facebook has a group called Porto Subway Love, which is seeking to facilitate the reunion of people who have "exchanged romantic looks" on the Porto metro and want to see each other again.  The group, which was created just over a month ago, already has more than 250 members.

Daniel Micaelo-Rosa, the creator of the group, explains that falling in love (or just finding new friends) through exchanged glances on a subway is extremely common.  Hence this group aims to facilitate such meetings that arise from a glance, a smile or a gesture that happen daily on the metro.  But even though such an exchange can be quite common, the two parties rarely get off at the same station.

The metro meeting group is not a new idea, and Daniel actually got the idea after speaking with a couple from Berlin.  He found there are people who want to start a discussion to try and find someone on the metro who they could not take their eyes off, but did't actually approach them out of shyness.

A new Center of Innovation for University of Porto

The Parque de Ciência e Tecnologia of the University of Porto is continuing to grow.  The next phase will be a new center for innovation coming up in Asprela.  The building is intended to develop new products through the work of local researchers and in conjuction with major companies.

The project is being driven by the UPTEC (Association of Technology Transfer of Asprela) which launched the bidding process for the new construction at the end of August.  They are planning to announce the winning bid and contractor within the next few days and construction will proceed later this year.

The new center represents and investment of nearly 2 million euros and is expected to be completed by the end of next year.  The new center will be almost 20,000 sq feet in size with two floors and will be built next to the existing Engineering Faculty building at the University of Porto.  This proximity will facilitate the the campus as one of the floors of the new building will be reserved for PhD Students and Faculty that are developing new products.

The building will be used for continual technological development, as teams with completed project move out of the new building and new developement teams come in.  All of the currently planned space has already been reserved, and plans for an additional construction for the School of Psychology are underway.

Daily Linguistic Features #309

Daily Thought

• Todo o homem é culpado do bem que poderia ter feito e não fez.

Word of the Day / Palavra do Dia

•  POLINIZAÇÃO = pollination

Porto Slang / Calão do porto

• "Ter uma branca" - um instante de esquecimento.

Portuguese Dictionary

• panaceia

1. s.f. pretenso remédio universal para todos os males físicos e morais
2. Fig. tudo aquilo que se considerava válido para resolver qualquer problema

Crossing the Rio Douro in Porto

You don't really need an excuse to go back to Porto, but if you're still looking for one, then the Palácio do Freixo is awaiting you at the doorstep.  As you come across the Rio Douro, you will see nestled on the river banks the first national hostel in Porto.  Opened in October 2009, the Palácio do Freixo is finally enjoying a dignified way of life.  The elegant 18th Century building was designed by David Sinclair, who also designed the mill works that sit next to the palace.

The new opening was a bit of a conversion project for the old edifice as both it and another wing of the palace were extensively recovered to their original brilliance, including many pieces of furniture and frescoes which adorn the walls throughout the old palace.  It now has 87 rooms and suites, many large common spaces and a spa area for its guests.

The hostel has been extremely popular since it opened and required some time to fine tune its daily services, but with its friendly atmosphere and location, even many locals from the city take the opportunity to get a peek inside the former palace.  A special emphasis is put on the comfort and functionality of the rooms, with most overlooking the river.  With the historic charm of its garden area and the unexpected infinity pool at its border, it creates the illusion of being the first "resort" city of Porto.

Portugal Pavilion film at the World Expo in China

This is a 7 minute film that is currently running at the Worlds Fair in China at the Portugal Pavilion.  It will run for six months and will have an estimated 3 million visitors.

Daily Linguistic Features #308

Daily Thought

• Aqueles que monopolizam a palavra não sabem escutar.

Word of the Day / Palavra do Dia

• SOBREVIVER = to outlast; to outlive; to survive

Porto Slang / Calão do porto

• "Cromo" - pessoa invulgar, castiça ou com determinada característica bem ou mal aceite.

Portuguese Dictionary

• tonificar

1. o que faz esticar ou pode ser esticado
2. v. tr. Dar tom ou vigor a
3. fortalecer

Porto Site Seeing in Style

It is well known that the city of Porto is rather concerned about style, unlike many other cities, including Lisbon.  And now anyone visiting Porto will be able to get to know the city, all while traveling in style.  The Kyrostur CityTour company is currently promoting urban tourism within Porto and have defined themselves by offering individuals the ability to site see from their own personal Mini Cooper.

Through agreements with Mini, Kyrostur can offer their clients the option of traveling to many parts of the city while doing it in style with one of the German made models from Mini Cooper, including the Cabrio and the Countryman.

Among the tours offered (all of which are customizable) are the Urban, Cultural and Landscape circuits; Nightlife tours; Gay Travel Tourism; Nature Tours of the Douro Valley; and the Sport Tour.  The company is looking forward to expanding their tour offerings to Lisbon and the Algarve in the near future.

Parents required to replace staff in schools

At the Filipa de Lencastre secondary school in Lisbon, parents are going to school at lunch time to help supervise students in the 5th and 6th grades, that have to cross a street to go eat lunch at the school headquarters.  The president of the local PTA, Maria Graça Castro, explains that this solution was necessary to address the lack of teaching assistants that has been evident since the start of the school year.


At this school, the lack of teaching assistants is being filled by the parents who go to school at certain times to help monitor students.  According to the national PTA group, the Lisbon and Tejo valley areas have been most affected by the assistant shortage.  The Education Ministry and local leaders are still working to solve the problem that parents have complained about since the first of the school year, nearly 2 months ago.  When asked about this situation, the Education Ministry says that they can only help in Curriculum Enrichment Activities that are promoted by the local towns and cities in conjunction with the PTA.

A major roblem is that the lack of helpers is leavin many of the younger children, down to the 1st Grade, alone and unable to care for themselves.  Although some say the problem was worse at the first of the school year, there are still many cases in which parents are being invited to serve as non-teaching staff.

Tallest Structures in Portugal Almost Stack Up

It seems that more and more often I keep seeing news stories about some country in the world constructing the worlds next tallest building.  And in the scheme of things, it looks like Portugal stacks up pretty well - literally.  As you can see in the graphic above, if you take all the major building structures in Portugal and stack them one on top of another, they are almost equal to the current tallest building in the world.

Of course now I feel a little bit bad that I've only been to the top of the shortest building on this list - the Torre de Clérigos in Porto.  I'll have to make more of an effort the next time I'm in Portugal to visit more of these building and go to the top to see Portugal from above.

Daily Linguistic Features #300

Daily Thought

• Quando alguém nos escuta é como se nos ajudasse a nascer, nos permitisse desabrochar.  As ideias começam então a germinar e a ganhar vida em nós.

Word of the Day / Palavra do Dia

• descalço = barefoot

Porto Slang / Calão do porto

• "Cromo" - pessoa invulgar, castiça ou com determinada característica bem ou mal aceite.

Portuguese Dictionary

• assear

1. v.tr. Dar asseio a; limpar.
2. Enfeitar.
3. v.pron. Vestir-se com esmero.

Another New Bridge for Porto/VN Gaia

Porto already has six beautiful bridges that pass over the Rio Douro and now a seventh bridge has begun contruction.  The new bridge will connect Medas (Gondomar) with Lever (Gaia) and will be operational by April 2011 according to the Ministry of Public Works.  The new bridge, designed by architect Armando Rito, will be almost 760 meters long, 45 meters at its highest point, and have three lanes in each direction.  The two lane sections will be built in parallel with a 20cm gap between them.

Built with pre-stressed concrete, the bridge will have a total of six spans (the longest being 150 meters) and five twin pillar supports, two of which are based in the Rio Douro.

The new bridge has yet to be officially named, but is planning to open to traffic on the same day as the new A41 highway.  Right now there are about 300 workers on this construction project and the bridge represents an investment of approximately 35 million euros.

Currently there are six bridges (more pictures) that pass over the Rio Douro from Porto to VN de Gaia including: Ponte Dom Luís I; Ponte Dona Maria Pia; Ponte de Arrábida; Ponte São João; Ponte do Freixo; and Ponte Infante Dom Hernique.  Previous to these six bridges, the Ponte Pensil stood just downstream from the current site of the Ponte Dom Luís and operated from 1843 - 1887.

Daily Linguistic Features #298

Daily Thought

• A ambição e a serenidade não são conciliáveis.

Word of the Day / Palavra do Dia

• estalido = crack; crackling

Porto Slang / Calão do Porto

•  "Ah, pois é!" - com toda a certeza; sem quaisquer resquícios de dúvidas

Portuguese Dictionary

• embrenhar

1. v. tr.  Esconder entre brenhas ou matos
2. v. pron. Internar-se
3. Fig.  Concentrar-se; absorver-se

Fadista Luísa Rocha launches debut CD

After a career of more than 10 years, Luísa Rocha will release her first album in November.  Her debut album, 'Por uma noite de Amor', will be released in the first half of November, under the David Ferreira label, with the participation of special guest guitarist, Ricardo Rocha, and singers Tó Cruz and Paulo Ramos, among others.

On this album, the fadista - who has already been singing for 10 years and currently sings for the Clube de Fado - is accompanied by José Manuel Neto (Portuguese guitar), Carlos Manuel Proenca (guitar) and Daniel Pinto (bass guitar).

The disc mostly contains unreleased songs, including 'Dou-te um Beijo' by Paulo Carvalho.

Frango Assado com Alho (Baked Chicken with Garlic)

• 1 Chicken, 3 - 3-1/2 lbs
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 Tbs cayenne pepper
• 1 Tbs paprika
• 1 Tbs dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt

With a sharp boning knife, cut through the back of the chicken.  Using kitchen shears, remove the breast bone from the chicken.  Turn the chicken over with breast up, and using the palm of your hand, press down to flatten and open the rib cage.  Spread out the wings and legs.

Place a spit through the legs to keep them open during the cooking process.

Place the chicken in a cooking dish and sprinkle it with the lemon juice.   In a small bowl, place the garlic, cayenne pepper, paprika, oregano, black pepper and olive oil.  Mix well.

Rub the chicken all over with this marinade.  Cover the cooking dish and let it set for 3-4 hours at room temperature, or leave it in the refridgerator overnight (but remove from the fridge a few hours before cooking).

Season both sides of the chicken with salt.  Place the chicken in a 400° F oven for 1 hour until the chicken is cooked, turning it a few times and basting it with the marinade.  The chicken is cooked when you poke a toothpick in the thigh and the liquids run clear.

(If you place the chicken in a cold oven to start the skin will become especially crispy

Só 15 euros...

Um homem chegou a casa tarde, vindo do trabalho, cansado e irritado, e encontrou o seu filho de 5 anos esperando por ele na porta de casa.

Pai, posso fazer-lhe uma pergunta?

O que é? Respondeu o homem.

Pai, quanto é que você ganha por hora?

  Isso não é da tua conta. Porque é que estás perguntando uma coisa dessas?

Respondeu o Pai  em tom agressivo.

Eu só quero saber. Por favor, diga-me quanto é que o pai ganha numa hora?

"Se queres saber, eu ganho 15,00 € por hora."

Ah..." o menino respondeu, com a sua cabeça para baixo.

Pai, pode-me emprestar 7,50 €?

O pai ficou furioso, "Essa é a única razão pela qual me perguntaste isso? Pensas que é assim que podes conseguir algum dinheiro para comprar um brinquedo ou alguma outra coisa? Vai para o teu quarto e deita-te. Pensa sobre o quanto estás sendo egoísta. Eu não trabalho duramente todos os dias para tais infantilidades.

O menino foi calado para o seu quarto e fechou a porta.

O Pai sentou-se e começou a ficar ainda mais nervoso sobre as questões do filho. Como ele ousa fazer tais perguntas só para conseguir algum dinheiro?

Após cerca de uma hora, o homem tinha-se acalmado e começou a pensar:

Talvez houvesse algo que o filho realmente precisava comprar com esses 7,50 € e ele realmente não pedia dinheiro com muita frequência. O homem foi para a porta do quarto do filho e abriu a porta.

Estás a dormir, meu filho, perguntou.

Não pai, estou acordado, respondeu o filho ..

Eu estive a pensar, talvez eu tenha sido muito duro contigo à pouco, afirmou o Pai. "Tive um longo dia e acabei descarregando sobre ti. Aqui estão os 7,50 € que me pediste. "

O menino levantou-se sorrindo. "Oh, pai obrigado, gritou. Então, procurando por baixo do seu travesseiro, rebuscou alguns trocados amassados.

O Pai viu que o menino já tinha algum dinheiro, e começou a enfurecer-se novamente.

O menino lentamente contou o seu dinheiro , e em seguida olhou para o  pai..

Por é que queres mais dinheiro se já tinhas algum? Gritou o pai.

Porque eu ainda não tinha o suficiente, mas agora já tenho, respondeu o menino.

" Pai, eu agora tenho 15,00 €. Posso comprar uma hora do teu tempo? Por favor, chega mais cedo amanhã a casa. Eu gostaria de jantar contigo."

O pai ficou destroçado. Colocou os seus braços em torno do filho, e pediu-lhe desculpa.

É apenas uma pequena lembrança a todos vocês que trabalham arduamente na vida. Não devemos deixar escorregar através dos nossos dedos o tempo sem ter passado algum desse tempo com aqueles que realmente são importantes para nós, os que estão perto do nosso coração.

Wild Ocean Storms in Porto!

And to think, I was just there a few weeks ago taking wonderful pictures on the beach.  Now in the exact spot where I stood, the sea is heaving beyond it bounds with some freak weather.  Large waves were covering everything in their path along the Foz do Douro area of Porto, near Castelo de Queijo.  I think the funniest part of this was seeing the news report of people who just stood there on the Boardwalk without regard to the power of the winds and water and watching them get drenched when the big waves did finally come in.  Granted you must remember that there is a 10m high sea wall there in front of the boardwalk, but still these waves were powerful enough to come in and over this section.  Not sure what this will mean for winter weather in Portugal this year.  On a scary side, watching the video made me remember the videos I saw of the tsunami disaster in Phuket a few years ago.  I imagine the people getting caught in this wave had a similar thought going through their heads.

A Fond Farewell to the Family

Besides the roast chicken meal for the last dinner, I got really lucky as my sister-in-law, Cio, made up three different desserts to enjoy.  She works at a restaurant where she is always learning new recipes, and fortunately for us, we got to taste her practice.  A layered cookie cake, a chocolate pudding, and a coconut cream mousse - these names do not do them justice, because American mousse and pudding is very different and bland by comparison.

While the women folk chattered about the beauty of these desserts and how to make them, my nephew Toni and I were ready to eat.  We'll let them talk as much as they want, it leaves all the more for us to eat.  It was one of the few nights to have the entire family together to talk and eat and enjoy one an others company, accompanied by great jokes, some verbal spats, but ultimately everything that makes up a family.  But just like the food we were eating, the family is like a recipe with many ingredients to give it body, make it sweet, and finally throw in a few nuts.

Last Meal Request - There Can Be Only One

Coming down to the end of this great trip, I was asked for my last meal request, and there can only be one response to that - Frango Assado (Roast Chicken).  And when it comes to roast chicken there is only one place to go, the Central Churrasco.  The are highly recommended as having the freshest chickens and the best side dishes.  Arriving at the restaurant, there are two entrances, one for dining in, and the other for take-out.  As we entered the front part, I thought we would be in and out quickly, since not all the table weren't quite filled, but then we got to the take out bar, and it was mass chaos, as dozens of people were placing orders and waiting for their orders hot off the grill.

Chickens and ribs are quickly pulled off the grill, cut into pieces, smothered with your choice of gravy, hot sauce or blood, and placed in a to-go container.  Many people were ordering 3, 4, 5 or more chickens on each order.  We ordered three chickens with salad and, of course, french fries.  But these guys are used to such a crowd and we only had to wait about 20 minutes for our order.  So how do you cook up and serve a thousand chickens each evening?  Let the video speak for itself.

A Final Order to Go from the Primazia

There's No Place Like Home....of the best pastries and snacks in Porto.  This was the fast food shop of its time before all the American companies moved in with their own brand of fast food.

Espinho Market, A Weekly Tradition for Hundreds of Years

One of the most interesting parts of Portuguese culture is the weekly markets that occur in most cities.  These markets have been going on for hundreds of years, when people would go to the local open air market to buy what they needed for the week.  Now a days super markets offer a majority of the items that are sold at these markets, but the experience itself can never be copied.  Different sections come together in these markets from fish and food, to household items, to clothing, to livestock.

Being Monday could only mean one thing - the Espinho Market.  Espinho is a small coastal town just south of Porto, but the city explodes on Mondays.  The cry of food vendors and fish mongers could easily be heard as everyone is trying to sale their wares.  Some are aggressive, calling out their offers to the passers-by while others sit patiently awaiting their next client.  After seeing booth after booth filled with fruits and vegetables, I'm not sure how some of these people can make a living with so much competition.

Continuing on through the market, I arrive at the far end and enter into what is known as the gypsy market.  Just as many vendors, but perhaps not exactly "licensed" goods being sold.  On every side I was offered Armani sunglasses and Dolce & Gabana watches, Levi jeans and Luis Vuton purses.  One man was slowly moving through the crowd and coyly asking if I wanted to buy an iPhone 4, while others wanted to sell me the latest Hollywood movies, 4 DVDs for $5.

A Drive Around Porto

For my last Saturday in Porto, I decided to take a drive around Porto, visiting many of my favorite places and drinking in one last long fill of the sites, sounds and smells that I may not see for another year.  Thus here is my photo essay of the day.

Castelo de Queijo - Foz do Douro

Castelo de Matosinhos

Praia dos Ingleses

Looking west down the Douro River

Dom Luis I bridge and ancient city wall of Porto

Visiting the Porto Water Front and Docks

Since Porto is an ocean front city, we couldn't just stay in the center eating grilled chicken everyday.  We had to visit the water front near the docks where fresh seafood is brought in each day for the local restaurants to serve.  We decided to visit the area of Matosinhos and Leca de Palmeira to find a good seafood place to eat.  There had been a popular buffet restaurant in Gaia called Trombarija that we had heard was relocated to the Matosinhos region, but we couldn't find it.  And so the next recommendation was the Casarao do Castelo restaurant.

This was certainly a 5 star restaurant and well worth it for the fresh seafood and portion sizes.  A tank full of fresh, live seafood greets you at the door where you can choose your "Plate of the Day".  In the states I had usually only seen these type of tanks with lobster, but here there were at least 10 different type of seafood alive and kicking there in, from lobsters and crabs to fish and eel.

One of the things my wife had wanted was a salty appetizer called "percebes" - the closest translation I could find is barnacles - and fried sardines.  Not especially to my liking but she certainly snapped them down like popcorn.  I stuck with the bread and cheese.  But I did have the Cream of Seafood soup, full of crab and shrimp in a cream broth.  While my wife got her fill of seafood, I asked for a half order of the Veal Cutlets with Mushroom sauce.

However, what arrived at our table was enough to serve 4 people.  We had to verify that this really was a half order and we were assured that it was.  The veal was tender, the cream sauce delectable and the potatoes fried and seasoned to a perfect golden brown.

A Pauper's Meal and a New Best Freind

Since I had already had my meal fit for a king, I decided to go to the opposite extreme and have a pauper's meal, something that I did every once in a while when I was living here 20 years ago.  For a quick night time snack nothing can beat the mixture of oatmeal cookies and chocolate milk.  It makes up a wonderful type of chocolate sludge which is great tasting and filling as well.

Later that evening we passed by the home of our good friend Graciosinha, who has taken care of my wife, her family and probably everyone in the neighborhood and some point in the past 35 years that she has been there.  Age has taken its toll, but she remains an integral part in the life of the neighborhood.  Along with her, I also have another new best friend, Fofinha, her pet dog.  Fofinha is shy at first, but once she gets to know you she loves to stay with you and have her tummy rubbed.

Another Gastronomic Adventure

We finally got back to Porto and got everything cleaned up from our little side trip down south.  After arranging everything, we decided to visit the new Shopping Arrabida, which is near the Arrabida Bridge on the Gaia side of the river here in Porto.

I first went to see where my sister-in-law works, at one of the many food establishments that are in the mall.  Up on the top floor where are all the food shops are, they also have an outdoor deck where you can get a great view of the Douro River into Porto.

After meeting up with my wife's sister, we decided to have lunch at the mall as well.  And once again we were drawn to Serra d'Estrela, a restaurant with many traditional portuguese dishes.

This time I remembered to take pictures as I chose the Rice with Duck again, but here they top it all with cheese as well.

While my wife chose a typical portuguese sausage and potato dish topped with an egg, something the portuguese are fond of doing to their food.

Tourism, History, Religion and a Bygone Era

With some other things to take care of, we headed back north early.  Unfortunately, it was one of the few rainy days that occur here, so we traveled in the more than usual humidity.  We decided to pass by three principle cities that are major contributors to the Portugal experience.  We first headed to Nazare, a very touristy city on the beach.  Plenty of seafood restaurants and souvenir shops along the boardwalk, but what makes this city even better is a major outcropping or rock from which you can see the city.  Of course there on top are plenty more souvenir shops and women in traditional folkloric dress selling all variety of nuts to all the people getting off the tour buses.

From there we headed in land to a major historical monument at Batalha, where a great example of baroque architecture is on display at the local cathedral and monastery.  Even though Batalha is only 20 miles from the coast, it takes about an hour to get between cities since there are no real direct routes between the cities.  Instead you go along all the local, one-lane back roads where you can get stuck between large trucks that have to down shift to first gear to get over the local hills.

Our final stop was at one of the most famous religious sites in Portugal, Fatima.  This is where a couple of proclaimed miracles have occurred.  The first was with an appearance by the Virgin Mary to three local children, and the second was witnessed by a large group of people gathered at the sanctuary that was subsequently built for the first miracle, with an apparition of the sun.  Even to this day over 80 years later, millions of tourists are drawn here each year.

Along the back roads, you sometimes come across the most unique and memorable places.  One such place I first encountered 11 years ago on the outskirts of Nazare.  We saw an announcement for a concert featuring one of the biggest groups of Portugal, Xutos & Pontapes (the U2 of Portugal) and one of the newest groups at the time As Tentacoes.  I passed this same concert venue today and was devastated to see that it had been abandoned and left in ruins.  It was a strange sensation to see what had been the site of so much energy and entertainment, left to rot and deteriorate.

Free Form Thoughts on some Portuguese Food

First of all, I would just like to say Thank Heaven for the man that invented Calippos.  This is Portugal's version of a Popsicle and I downed many of them in my original days of living in Portugal during the summer.  My favorite flavor at that time was Lemon, and it is still one of the best thirst quenchers to be found here when the temperatures rise to near hundred.  But this year, a new flavor has emerged, Cola.  It has now become my favorite flavor and I have probably consumed at least a dozen by now and will continue with even more until I leave.

The other odd thing to note, not only here but around the whole world, is how major brands that we know in America exist here, but with some different flavors that are preferred by the locals.  Here it is Pringles that come in paprika flavor.  I remember these from 20 years ago when they were made by another company here, and it looks like Pringles finally clued in and took advantage of the local preference.  Now how can I get them to sale these in America?  They are my favorite variety of potato chip here and I'll probably end up bringing a few can home with me.

Taking our Own Lives in our Hands - Driving in Lisbon

Contrary to the wishes of Claudia, I wanted to drive into Lisbon today to visit a few places that I had been before and see what was new.  We sort of went to Lisbon, since we only made it to the outskirts of the city in an area called Benfica where the Colombo Mall is located.  To my advantage, I had by GPS working with my Portuguese maps and it worked like a charm.  We were able to make a straight shot to the mall without problem.

We entered the mall through the local Continente Supermarket and then into the mall area full of stores, though a lot more American ones now-a-days.  They had McDonald's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Burger King, Pizza Hut, The Gap, Timberland, etc.  Although it may be opening up Portugal to the world, some of these influences are hurting the country more than helping.  I can personally see an increase in the child obesity rates here, I wouldn't doubt that it is because of the fast food restaurants that have popped up on every side.

After a nice lunch at the Serra d'Estrela restaurant, we headed out to the Cascais area to visit Boca do Inferno (The Mouth of Hell), a cave where ocean waves enter and cause an upspout of water to shoot out of the ground.  The typical tourist market was there, along with some newer, more permanent cafes and restaurants.

From there we headed to the Cascais Beach for some pictures, and then continued on to the Estoril Casino to take a quick look around.  I had passed the front many times, but this was the first time inside.  The funny part was that we found a slot machine with the same Hot Sauce theme that we had played in Vegas.  It was an older machine and not all the lights worked, but it payed out regularly and we spent a couple of hours there and broke even on our money.  Good time to leave.

We ended the night by visiting our very good friend Ines and her daughter Beatriz in Carcavelos.  She has been freinds with my wife for many years, but this was the first time I had met her in person, because we had spoken by computer many times before.  It was a great reunion for all of us.