Ethereal Glow

Early to Évora to see if we could make progress on exchanging our driving licenses. 

Gorgeous foggy morning that was still foggy when we stopped off in Monsaraz for a coffee on the way back - the lifesize Nativity figures were quite ghostly. Then, as we left, you could see the Lake again; it was utterly still and silent, and this ethereal glow on the water. Felt so frustrated that I wasn't able to capture the beauty, but this will remind me...

We couldn't linger, as wanted to get to Post Office to see if my ID card had arrived (it hadn't), plus, we needed to call in on Kasia, who is alone with a very ill 3yr old Mira.

From Darkling:

Darkness does not diminish light. It amplifies it. Clarifies it... (The light in this scene was only glorious because of the darkness around it.)

At this time of solstice, the zenith of the dark betrays its vulnerability. It has peaked. And we are still here...

At this time of solstice, at this moment of darkest dark, we can smile, knowing that the year has turned. That all things, one day, will turn.

O Holy Night.

Gratefuls:
- that Mike's license application was accepted (though mine was not)
- Mira a little better this afternoon
- the smell of orange peel (Mike is curing the olives, with orange peel, garlic and bay leaves)