Octopuses

Peniche, Portugal, 2017

(Ring Ring, Ring Ring)

The clock stood at 6:30 and the alarm rang out. Waves could be heard rolling in the distance.

“Get Up! Looks like a beauty out there today,” my brother pulled my blankets off like a kid on Christmas morning.

“Let’s go catch some waves, we didn’t come all this way to sleep in,” he said.

“Meehhhh, I’m getting up,” I murmured pulling sleep from my eyes. He began to squeak into his wetsuit, while I splashed cold water in the bathroom sink. By the time my teeth were brushed, he had already fetched some warm morning muffins instructing me like a sergeant to eat.

The day had only passed a half hour and we were heading to the lookout.

“Look out that one, rolling in …” my brother pointed out towards the horizon.

 “I wonder where everyone is?” I replied.

The cold morning air nipped our hands and feet while the ocean breeze chilled our faces. For a tropical destination, October sure is rather chilly in Portugal.

Gazing over the jagged cliff and out to sea, we found our spot and headed for the sand. The waves continued in a smooth stream all morning, offering endless fun, even for a novice such as myself.

After a couple hours, it was midmorning and my arms began to fade in the ocean current.

“Lets head in for a break!” I shouted to my brother.

“Only a few more,” he rang back.

I felt like an old mother trying to pull a toy from an ambitious child. Arms throbbing, I headed in. The cool morning began to warm. Eventually, my brother returned from the water grinning from ear to ear.

Lunchbreak: Time to wander the town. For all the tourism it boasts, Peniche isn’t very large. A few white buildings line the tight streets in the central area, but the surrounding beaches extend for miles and miles.

On a side note, the World Surf League hosts an event every year; Unfortunately, we arrived a week after it concluded. Post-event, the tourism season ends and it feels as though the town really consists of my brother and myself, a few locals, and a bunch of grilled octopus.

After a coffee break in town, with the world’s greatest Portuguese cream pastries, (Seriously, I could write a blog just on how good these things are!) we found a cozy spot on the beach to rest in the sun. The rest of the day consisted of playing in small waves and laughing on the empty beach.

As the waves began to fall in the fading afternoon light, we played in the sand.

To round out our day, we headed back into town for dinner. For the third night in a row, we had the same amazing meal: local red wine and grilled octopus. Both my brother and myself love trying new food, but couldn’t resist returning to the same restaurant for an unusual and amazing meal. Every time the octopus was served, there was a pause for self-reflection while staring at the tentacles: “Why am I eating this again?” Then after the first mouthful, you were reminded of the incredible taste.

Nighttime arrived and we headed back to the hotel early, for we were to be up at first light again, chasing more waves. What a simple routine we had in Portugal; Surf, Sun and Octopus. Time moved slower, but the trip faded in an instant.