Off again….it seemed that we had barely settled at home, but this was a short trip, a bit over two weeks. Ray had a “COST” conference in Lisbon (also referred to by us as the annual meeting of the European talking fund) and plans to visit a colleague in Coimbra. The last time Ray was in Portugal was in 1976, when we were young and poor, and Edie had never been there. So we were not inclined to pass up the opportunity, despite an upcoming wedding in the family (Yoni and Lian on April 4), missing Purim with Abigail and Elianna, and Ray’s sister Marlene’s arrival for Passover (and as it turns out, also the wedding) the day after we returned.
We continued on to Italy, where Ray gives, every year or two, a short plasma course in a master’s program associated with the University of Padua. This time he gave also the short writing course so Edie spent many hours reviewing and commenting on exercises. Sightseeing in the Veneto was selective but that’s okay- every trip we see a few more things.
Those of you who have patience to read the attached file may learn a bit more about:
• the Masonic principles behind the construction of Lisbon’s new lower city,
• the development of coaches as a more comfortable mode of transport for royalty and nobles (and the origin of the word “coach”),
• the Catholic saint who lived in Lisbon, Coimbra, and Padua more than 800 years ago and what he has in common with Isaac Abrabanel, a Jewish philosopher, Biblical commentator and financier to royalty in the period leading up to Jewish exile from Iberia.
Everything going on after we got back has delayed posting this report and we are already in United States for another short sabbatical, starting with conferences in San Diego and Chicago. More to follow!
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Ray and Edie Boxman Travels 