Prisoner of Hopes

Category: History

  • Journey to Belem: Travel Goals

    The journey to Belem, the birthplace of Portuguese exploration, begins with a little exploration of our own. The walk through Alfama had fewer mistakes and backtracks than our walk yesterday. We celebrate our progress. It is now time to conquer the bus system. We look for the 728 bus stop and with some assistance from…

  • A Walk Through Lisbon: Travel Goals

    The air is crisp and cool when we leave the apartment. Already feeling accomplished as we finally figure out how to use the light in the stairwell and manage to find the electric release latch on the door to the street, we walk with confidence into the unknown. That is short lived. When you walk…

  • Roots

    The roads are winding and only sometimes paved.  Creeks and man made ponds dapple the landscape, visible between tall stands of oak and pine. Heaven on Earth.  Turkey vultures strut through barren fields.  Rocks are plentiful in the overturned soil.  Cattle call across the hills and hollows. Hauntingly beautiful and impossibly difficult terrain. It is…

  • Friendship

    If you’re ever in a jam, here I amIf you’re ever in a mess, S.O.S.If you ever feel so happy you land in jail, I’m your bailIt’s friendship, friendshipJust a perfect blendshipWhen other friendships have been forgotOurs will still be hot. (Noel Coward) Noel Coward wrote some catchy tunes. You can’t help humming along. This…

  • Echoes

    Central Nebraska.  Corn and tractors.  Tractors and corn.  At Homestead National Park, hopefulness and despair were on full display.  The settlers who came by the thousands to homestead persisted out of stubborn hope for a better life.  They came with almost nothing and built a life out of hostile soil.  Cutting sod for houses.  Using…