TRAVEL TALES

Picture Perfect Portugal

Submitted by Jess & Dino Moler of Keresan Trail

My husband’s love language is definitely TRAVEL! We are often looking for new adventures and places to explore both domestically and internationally. After hearing so much about Portugal lately we decided to see what all the buzz was about. Let me tell you - if Portugal was not on your travel bucket list before now, go grab a pen and rewrite your list!

We started our adventure in Porto!

Scenery and Overall Feel:

One of the first things to understand is Porto is divided by the Douro River and connected by the Dom Luis Bridge and of course walking across is a “must do” activity with great views of the river and architecture. All the beautiful cathedrals, historical landmarks, and pretty Portuguese buildings are all on one side. The other side is where all the port cellars are.

I was immediately attracted to the facade and cobblestone streets of Porto. Porto is Portugal’s second largest city and is so incredibly picturesque! From its cobblestone streets to its colorful tiled houses and stucco rooftops, Porto is literally picture perfect in every way.

Food and Drink:

• Life’s short – Dessert First!

Pasteis De Nata is the national desert of Portugal and it is divine. This custard pastry doesn’t look very appetizing from the pictures but it’s quite divine! I had too many to count while visiting and I may have enjoyed four of them the night we left.

• The Main Dish -

We were told we must eat Franceschina. It is one of the most traditional and Kitchen, BEFORE talked about dishes in Porto. It is essentially a sandwich with thin steak, sausage, ham, and melted cheese, all cooked in a thick tomato and meat sauce. As if this heavy meaty rich dish was not enough on its own, Dino decided to add an egg on top of it! • The best for last – THE WINE!!

You probably already know this but Porto is famous for its Port wine. This is the fortified dessert wine that has become famous worldwide. All of the major port makers are in and

around Porto. You will see from the Dom Luis Bridge all the numerous signs representing different wineries.

The grapes for port wine are grown in the Douro Valley. And if you love drinking port and wine, why not go straight to the source and be among the beautiful vineyards of the Douro Valley. The Douro Valley with its dozens of stunning wineries is only 2 hours by train away from Porto. And this is where we spent the second half of our amazing trip!

I really have never had fondness for Port in the past but “when in Rome,” so we booked a tour with one of the many vineyards that offer Port tours. This allowed me to learn a lot about the history and the winemaking process and how Port is fortified and aged. Then of course, we went to taste yet more Port wine. And I must say that I developed quite a fondness for some of the ports. We were also introduced to a white wine called vinho verde which has become my new favorite! While I’m no wine connoisseur, I would describe this wine as a green wine, a touch of fizzy, and mostly dry. I have several bottles that have been added to my home collection if anyone wants to stop by to try a glass.

And while the tours and tastings were all amazing, the scenery in the Douro Valley was just breathtaking. From the mountains to the Douro River, and rows upon rows of grapevines and olive trees, this was certainly a trip that we highly recommend to all of our Shawnee Life neighbors and friends.

Lima Central Catholic Annual Retreats

by Paige Brinkman, Lima Central Catholic Senior Every year at Lima Central Catholic, students go on a retreat with their class and each grade has a different retreat. These retreats focus on building relationships with your class and with God.

Freshman students go to Camp Clay at the beginning of the year. They spend the day swimming in the pond, playing games, doing exercises to build relationships, while creating a bond with their class. When at Camp Clay, students are split into two groups. One group does kayaking or paddle boating, goes swimming in the pond, plays on inflatables, and goes on the zip line. The second group goes off to do games with the staff running the retreat. The students play games that help them learn more about their class and that focus on teamwork. After lunch, everyone switches activities. The freshman retreat is used as a time to create new friendships with the classmates they will be with for the next four years. While on the retreat, I created many memories and friendships with my class that I still hold on to today.

The sophomore retreat and junior retreat are held at our school’s campus. These retreats are smaller but still have a big impact. The sophomore retreat, like the freshman retreat, encourages students to get to know their class and to let their class know who they are. The junior retreat focuses more on a relationship with God. This retreat is run by Net Ministries College Students. They go from school to school to share the word of God. When the retreat begins, they split the juniors into small groups. When with their group, students talk about God. One part I remember the most from the retreat is when we shared where we were at with God and when we learned how to strengthen our relationship with God. These retreats were fun, but not as much fun as the senior retreat.

2022 Senior Leadership Team

Top left to right: Gabe Cira, Oli Bruno, Matt Cira, Ben Siatkosky, Sal Guagenti Bottom left to right: Olivia Stolly, McKenna Bader, Paige Brinkman, Ashlyn Lee, Blythe Nickels

The senior retreat is called Kairos, which means “God’s time” or a time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action. Kairos is a four-day retreat at Maria Stein in Mercer County. This retreat is student-led by class leaders. In order to be a leader, students have to fill out an application and have an interview as a junior. If selected as a leader, they go on the retreat as a junior with the senior class. They go as a junior so that they can experience the retreat and then, as a senior, they can lead their class retreat. Billy Bourk attended as a junior this year and said, “I loved it, it was a very eye-opening experience.”

The point of Kairos is to get to know your classmates on a deeper level, learn about your own faith journey, and deepen your relationship with God. At Kairos, the leaders and adult leaders give a witness talk. These talks are a story from the

Kairos Senior Retreat, November, 2022

leader about their life and faith journey that shows how God was with them or how they found God. Every story is different, but many of the students can often relate to someone’s story in some way. They then split into small groups where they reflect on the talks and everything that goes on at Kairos. This is a time to share personal thoughts and all that is shared in the small group, stays in their small group. Along with the witness talks and small group time, seniors will also attend mass, adoration, penance, play games, and have a chance to share their own story or experience. There are also many more fun surprises that I cannot share, but they are definitely the most impactful parts of the retreat. These four days and three nights allow students to grow closer to each and every one of their classmates. Each year, the senior class and junior leaders come back from the retreat with a weight lifted off their shoulders, a closer bond with each other and God, and many memories they will never forget.

As a senior student at Lima Central Catholic, it is easy to say that these retreats have been one of the best and most memorable parts of each year. Bridget Mulcahy said, “It was great, we grew closer as a class and to God.” Christian Marks shared that, “It was fun getting to know other students in a different way. The retreat taught me how to open up and share my feelings. I am so glad I went!” Each retreat has a different impact and as I get older, the impacts have grown bigger and bigger. My senior class just went to Kairos this past November, and we all learned so much about each other. You think you know a lot about a person, but you really only know the surface. Each person has something deeper to them and getting to know that about the people in your class really helps you grow a stronger bond. I created bonds with people I don’t normally talk to and I can now say we are friends. Kairos has become one of my all-time favorite high school memories and I will never forget the fun times I had with my class.