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My maternal grandparents and their children. Seated: My grandfather José Elias and my grandmother Leopoldina. Standing at the back, my uncles and aunt: Cândida, Lino, and my mother Narcisa. Standing in the front, my uncles: José, João, Félix, Wilson, and Milton.
My maternal grandparents, José Elias and Leopoldina, came from the parish of Penhas Juntas, municipality of Vinhais, district of Bragança, in the province of Trás-os-Montes e Douro, in northern Portugal, near the border with Spain.
My maternal grandparents, José Elias and Leopoldina, came from the parish of Penhas Juntas, municipality of Vinhais, district of Bragança, in the province of Trás-os-Montes e Douro, in northern Portugal, near the border with Spain.
My grandfather José Elias was a calm, tranquil, and quiet person. Behind this calm demeanor was a strategist and a great entrepreneur. He owned an emporium and a hotel. One business fed the other, ideas that I learned for the future.
My grandfather José Elias was a calm, tranquil, and quiet person. Behind this calm demeanor was a strategist and a great entrepreneur. He owned an emporium and a hotel. One business fed the other, ideas that I learned for the future.
He gave me a lot of attention. After school, I would stop by the emporium to talk to him and eat Portuguese cookies and sweets that came in tins and were sold by the kilo. I helped him serve customers and learned about business from him, especially the famous "proof of nine," subtracting nines.
He gave me a lot of attention. After school, I would stop by the emporium to talk to him and eat Portuguese cookies and sweets that came in tins and were sold by the kilo. I helped him serve customers and learned about business from him, especially the famous "proof of nine," subtracting nines.
When there were no customers, he would tell stories and exploits from his time living in Portugal. He talked about the wars in Europe, his move to France for work, and his meeting with my grandmother Leopoldina, who defied her father to marry him, a rare act at the time. He told me about the lands, their small houses, the limited space for planting due to the rocky soil, the harsh northern winters, and the difficult life they had.
When there were no customers, he would tell stories and exploits from his time living in Portugal. He talked about the wars in Europe, his move to France for work, and his meeting with my grandmother Leopoldina, who defied her father to marry him, a rare act at the time. He told me about the lands, their small houses, the limited space for planting due to the rocky soil, the harsh northern winters, and the difficult life they had.
I always considered him a romantic, as I sensed in him a charm for life, for his children, and for my grandmother Leopoldina, a Portuguese woman with a strong personality and a winning spirit that he did not dare to contradict. She made us go to mass every Sunday in a single file with my sisters and cousins. I never missed a beat with her, obeying and following the rules. When she walked towards the hotel where we lived, I watched her and felt immense pride, as she seemed determined to arrive and solve problems, whatever they might be.
I always considered him a romantic, as I sensed in him a charm for life, for his children, and for my grandmother Leopoldina, a Portuguese woman with a strong personality and a winning spirit that he did not dare to contradict. She made us go to mass every Sunday in a single file with my sisters and cousins. I never missed a beat with her, obeying and following the rules. When she walked towards the hotel where we lived, I watched her and felt immense pride, as she seemed determined to arrive and solve problems, whatever they might be.
On Sundays, she awaited her children and grandchildren for lunch. There we were, sitting at the table, eating sardines, codfish with potatoes, onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. And my grandfather serving good Portuguese wine from a large bottle, which was never missing in our homes.
On Sundays, she awaited her children and grandchildren for lunch. There we were, sitting at the table, eating sardines, codfish with potatoes, onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes. And my grandfather serving good Portuguese wine from a large bottle, which was never missing in our homes.
No one complained about the happiness of being Portuguese. With my maternal grandparents, I learned a lot about city life, having one's own business, working, and respecting people.
No one complained about the happiness of being Portuguese. With my maternal grandparents, I learned a lot about city life, having one's own business, working, and respecting people.
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