PORTUGAL ...

I made it safe and sound to Portugal yesterday, where I'm spending some time with friends before a week of meetings in Lisbon.  My friends have a home by the beach in Estoril, about 30-minutes from Lisbon.  Estoril, the Western-most point in Europe, is steeped in history.  Its location on the Atlantic and its ideal climate have made it a perfect location over the years for "occupation" and you can still see traces of its Phoenician, Roman and Arab past on the streets.  During World War II, the area was known as a center for "spies and diplomatic secrecy."  Because the country was neutral during World War II, German and Allied Forces alike used Estoril as a base of operations.  The casino here inspired Ian Flemming's first James Bond novel, Casino Royale.  Other than that, it's a lot like Santa Monica, minus the loons.  I haven't seen any Starbucks yet, but stay tuned ...!