CURRENT MISSION

To sail, to garden, to speak Portuguese and Spanish

ABOUT ME

My wife and I are retired teachers with an enthusiasm for travel. We are particularly keen to improve our Spanish and Portuguese by meeting native speakers in the places that we visit.

Interests

We are both keen gardeners active outdoors through all seasons of the year. Over the years we have had a shared enthusiasm for learning Spanish and Portuguese by visiting Latin America, Spain and Portugal. We have spent time in language schools staying with local families to improve our spoken language.

I am a keen small boat sailor and Chris has her own allotment on which we grow vegetables and fruit for ourselves and our friends.

• instructor
• gardening
• boating
• traveling
• outdoor activities
• sailing

Music, Movies, and Books

We both read crime fiction, novels of general and historical interest, travel writing , history and science. Although our musical tastes are not well developed we particularly enjoy the Spanish singer/writer Joaquin Sabina, Chavela Vargas and, of course, the popular music of our student days in the 60s. We are currently enjoying the subtitled Scandinavian dramas which have reached our screens in Britain lately. Montalbano, the Sicilian detective, is another favourite of recent months.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Our rambles around South America have taken us from the Orinoco in Venezuela to Argentine Patagonia and Cape Horn. The glaciers and cold seas of the Chilean channels left a lasting impression of admiration for the native peoples who made their lives in these hostile environments. In 2014 we return to Brazil with the aim of crossing the continent on the Amazon River.

Teach, Learn, Share

I am an experienced and qualified sailing instructor. Chris teaches English to students for whom English is not their first language.

Countries I’ve Visited

Brazil

Countries I’ve Lived In

United Kingdom