7am
Well it's the last day of the conference and
after late night at the gala Thursday night the peaceful breakfast hall was
bustling with a huge group of new hotel guests. This is a day that calls for an
extra coffee and pastry. Boy o boy, will I miss these breakfasts!
9:30am
The last day of the conference closes with some
discussion of how Portugal views itself and its HRD challenges. One of my
favorite parts of this trip has been getting to know the local people and it
was really interesting to get some insight on how they see themselves within
the workplace.
2pm
After a quick nap, it's time to get back out and
walk the Avenue Liberdade. I love this grand boulevard filled with statues and
shaded by palm trees.
3pm
Portugal is a nation strongly connected to its
Roman Catholic roots and it seems like a church is around almost every corner.
Regardless of your faith it's worth going inside because behind the simplest of
facades can be astounding beauty, this is the Church of St Anthony from the
early 17th century.
You would hardly notice it in a city filled with
beautiful architecture.
But go inside and look up!
On our way back from my staff ride at the Castle
of St George we passed a lovely little cafe that I thought I would never find
again. Well low and behold while walking around doing some shopping I
recognized the stairs we came down and after about 5 flights up it was right
there.
A cozy
little spot for a break from the heat.
This was a day when we all got to go out and
explore, I like to walk around take it all in while others did some sight
seeing and grabbed some snacks.
Time for me to take a coffee and to head back to
the hotel for dinner but the sound of music and the smell of roasting meat
distracted me. The festival of St. Anthony is next week and the celebrations
are already starting. So perhaps a late lunch is in order.
Time flies and time to start the painful process
of packing for home. At least I know that I have found a new country to explore
further. The Portuguese people have opened my eyes to a new culture that is
warm and welcoming with a vibrant history that is alive in everyday life.
Chao
and Obrigado my ride to the airport is here.
Charles Ames
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