Tourists also need Post Offices
Dear Editor,
I was a tourist in Portugal with Paul Claffey in 2000.
A shuttle bus took a few of us from the hotel to the beach which was unsafe so we couldn’t swim.
We toured the seaside village looking for a Post Office.
A native man, mounted on his bike , the back wheel raised on a step, and with a few broken umbrellas and a chimney brush on the carrier, was peddling like mad. He was sharpening knives.
“Excuse me” I said, “Where is the Post Office?” He didn’t respond.
Outside a Café in the blazing sunshine we approached four big swanks in bright clothing and wearing white flat caps.
“We are looking for the Post Office “I told them. They smiled with flashing teeth but gave no response.
“Par Avion?” I suggested. “Par Poste?” still no reply. I drew a rectangle on the back of a beer mat; scribbled what looked like a name and address, scribbled a stamp on the top right hand corner; I gave it a good thump with my closed fist and then jested to post it.
They got the message, pointed across the little village and invited us to join them, but they didn’t speak English either so we declined.
Tourists need Post Offices everywhere they stop so if we are depending on tourists to bring prosperity to the country for