Portugal

As soon as school was out on Friday, we dashed for the airport and flew to Lisbon, Portugal. We spent one day exploring Lisbon before driving south to Vilamoura on the Algarve coast. We stayed there for six days before returning to Lisbon to fly home on Christmas Day. The weather was in the low 60's with not a snow flake in sight. After sleeping 10 hours every night, we drove to different beaches and cliffs along the coast, ate out, swam at the indoor pool (too cold to swim outside), and saw Harry Potter 7 again.

Michael atop an ornate, free-standing elevator designed by a student of Eiffel. Great views of Lisbon.

Another shot from the viewing deck at the top of the elevator. Kyle decided to take pictures of me everytime I took pictures of him. Katy does not like high places! St. George Castle can be seen on the hill behind them.

On the grounds of Lisbon's St. George Castle.

Katy, Tim, and Michael at the beach in Vilamoura (Algarve coast in the south of Portugal). We stayed in a near-by resort and most days Tim and Michael came to the beach to check the tides, collect shells and broken pottery (Michael thinks he found ancient Roman pottery), and play in the waves.

Standing on the most western point of Portugal. This was the "end of the world" for Europeans until the beginning of naval exploration around Africa and to the Indies.

Some last-minute Christmas shopping at the mall in Faro.