Has anyone noticed a pattern emerging here on my dbos pad? I had the very great pleasure of meeting yet another Portuguese pbase photographer when I travelled across the River Tagus to Barreiro to meet up with Ana Carloto. This was the first time that I have been to Barreiro since the trains for the Alentejo stopped leaving from there, and it was the very first time that I ventured beyond the confines of the railway station. The sun was shining and it was quite warm (for a northerner like me anyway), so I wandered off in search of anything related to the fishing industry. It didn't take very long, because less than 100 yards from the ferry station there is a small beach that is literally covered in fishermen's huts and beached fishing boats in all shapes, sizes and colours. Later in the day, Ana took some time off of her work to come down to meet me and to show me the sights of her town. I have to say that I like places like Barreiro, Seixal and Vila Franca de Xira. Certainly they have never been (and never will be) tourist destinations, but they have not lost their "soul" - even if they may have lost their industries. Barreiro has a charm, and I had the fortune of having Ana show me places that not even the most lost tourist could find (and they would have to be very lost to be in Barreiro in the first place). All in all, a great afternoon during which, between us, we solved all of Portugal's problems by appointing José Mourinho president! Obrigado, Ana, foi um grande prazer em ti conhecer.