Owls and Butterflies

London - early 20th century

2010-07-03T20:18:00.009+01:00

A really nice video from old London!!
Close to the end of the video, you can check the ancestors of the famous double decker bus... and any similarities with traffic in India are pure coincidence!! :)

Example & Inspiration

2010-06-19T22:14:00.004+01:00

"Always be thankful, always consider it an honour that you CAN work harder than others, that you CAN do something to benefit others; and WHATEVER happens is to your best. And if we do that, the Buddhas will give us everything."
(Lama Ole Nydahl)

Diamond Way Quote: Lama Ole Nydahl on “Producing Buddhism”

2010-03-19T21:40:00.005Z

Truly inspiring! Click below:

Diamond Way Quote: Lama Ole Nydahl on “Producing Buddhism”

Its amazing how much great information this blog has to offer... for Free and to everyone who is interested in knowing more, in doing and being more!

Wishes of a great weekend! :)

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T23:19:00.005Z

Someone special shared this with me a few days ago and I believe that in the same way it made me aware of what I may be missing sometimes, it made me smile from beginning to end...

My favourite quote here is:
"Do not take life too seriously. You will not get out of it alive."

Enjoy! :)

Zurich in a January day

2010-02-14T23:10:00.004Z

Short impression of the city lakeside in a beautiful soundtrack :)

R&R

Zurich & Hung from Rento on Vimeo.

Nordic effects in London - A future winter tourism destination?!

2009-12-18T22:21:00.011Z

With the atmosphere heating up in Copenhagen world climate summit, the weather effects are felt a bit everywhere, and as one knows only what one sees through the senses, these effects may be beyond what we're actually aware of.

c) London snow

The Queen takes the train instead of all her other (carbon producing) alternatives (not being this the reason necessarily) and Prince Charles takes his (not so carbon efficient) private jet to attend the summit. At the same time, limousines are driven from as far as Germany and Sweden to serve the delegates...
As time is running out, one starts wondering what will be the postures of the world leaders present and if they're actually reach an agreement or leave before it.

London gets covered in snow and people try to work around it with more or less joy, but certainly with a white Christmas feel to it!

At the same time if we add this to other environmental changes happening over the last years - floods, fires, unusual high temperatures or a blending of the seasons of the year -, we can wonder when action is finally taken... when the biggest polluters actually pay their fee to help solve their own problem...

Well, without any activist riots coming from this side, let's just wait and see what comes next... but hands on to take action in any way possible, everyday life is certainly a good start to create the world we want to present the future with...

Ara

Silly Cat

2009-11-14T15:05:00.001Z

Amazingly real and funny!!

There's a whole collection and even a real video!

Treasure hunt vs. hunting the treasure...

2009-11-12T00:07:00.011Z

We may search all our lives for something, and yet...
It may have been always within us,(deep or not) inside us, in front of our noses or mirrored in those we surround ourselves with.

This is the beginning of a special collection...

So why denied it, block it?
On the other hand, why make it into something unrealistic as soon as we become aware?

Talent, potential, greatness to DO and BE!
We all have it in essence. The reason why not all of it unfolds for everybody may lay on our individual background and experience, on Karma, on coincidences some even say...
It rains in London today and the sun shines elsewhere... However there is always a clear sky behind our clouds! :)

Objects of Memory

2009-11-10T22:16:00.008Z

Objects fill our life.
One single object can bring the memory of a whole event, story, person or place.
Holding on to that object too much is a different story...

At the same time, we only see what our individual perspective, mentality or current emotional state allows us to see, most of the times...
And we let the imagination come in, adding a special touch to everything around.
Only very few times, very few moments, we see things as they really are. Like a beautiful clear sky with super fast clouds blocking the view.

Nevertheless, we all have our story and objects help to tell it more clearly :)

The two first months in London went very very fast...

Mirror Art - by Naczas

2009-11-01T22:33:00.008Z

Great work from amazing people!!
Have a look at Naczas! :)
(http://www.etsy.com/shop/naczas)

... Burn-E :))))

2009-08-24T23:12:00.002+01:00

If you've seen Wall-E, this is a kind of side story... Really cute :)

Farewell Ireland!...

2009-08-13T16:41:00.009+01:00

:)
Two amazing years...the start of something still undiscovered completely... a step forward... green and more green, in a million tones and shapes... great friends... unforgettable moments... and always a chance to visit again... for all these reasons and many more!

The photo collection is so wide that I didn't seem to manage it all yet... Each part of it means a trip somewhere, great moments and great people around to make it memorable... Some are gone, others are here to stay because it just makes sense... :)

Special memories...
1st month - Dublin by night :)
Shots of early days
Impressions...

... :)))) ...

To Dublin, Carrick, Sligo, Killarney and to all of you my friends... :)
Go raibh míle maith agat! Thank you! :)
Hope to see you again sometime soon!
A big (sqeeeeeezing) hug!

Can/should Big Brother really be watching you??

2009-08-09T23:31:00.001+01:00

It's all very global, "facebooked", "twitterized", as easy as a low-cost flight to an otherwise unknown location for the masses...
Ironically, it's even fun to feed the monster. But...

What to do when it's just too much??

A bit of Portugal, its tunes and great voices...

2009-08-05T17:28:00.000+01:00

Some say it may be fate, nostalgia, hope, even regret, but Fado music is definitely part of the soul of Portugal - like Flamenco for the Spanish. Sometimes sad, hopeful, melancholic and even joyful, the fado song is about life, love and often a feeling of "saudade" - without direct translation, it means lack of something, or someone very dear to us... often remembered with a smile.

Almost very Sunday morning I would wake up to the sound of these tunes, male or female voices, other songs in between... but a very important part of my childhood memories! :)

"Barco Negro" - The original from the great Amália Rodrigues (1920-1999)

A contemporary version... :)
"Barco Negro" by Mariza

"Chuva" ("Rain") by Mariza

"Maria Lisboa" by Mariza by the Belém tower in Lisbon

The original by Amália - 1961

A bit of Cape Verde melodies in Lisboa.
"Sodade" by Cesária Évora & Mariza

Mariza on David Letterman's Show - "A gente da minha terra"

Polish or not Polish? :))

2009-08-03T12:57:00.001+01:00

“...and you’re from Poland, right?”, said someone to “Daniel” the other day! And the week before, and last month and ... every time the situation comes when a Polish or Irish or English person greets him and starts its conversation (in a bar, petrol station, etc.) straight in Polish. Well... Daniel kind of looks like Russian, Polish, Baltic, Eastern European... all blended together very well into a look that is basically interpreted by people according to their own individual view of the world...

Like in one other situation, when after all this usual greeting and a tipping moment, he accidentally gave 1 penny instead of 1 pound. The assistant mumbled some words with “curva” and went on. He was quite amazed at the situation and approached the waiter with 3 pounds, whom was then carrying bottles in his hands and in a mix of clumsiness and surprise accepted the tip and smiled... Interesting how swearing wasn’t probably in his mind at this moment! And how Daniel, who could have been angry at the swearing part, could’ve just walked away, sealing the interaction with a bad feeling... There is always a choice!!

When you move out of your country to live abroad, there is a mix of adventure and fear of the unknown, excitement of travelling, learning experiences and search for something new, together with a relief of finally leaving behind your normal life, despite the special people you may miss... not necessarily to go home every holiday or summer, paying for (sometimes extremely) expensive flights or showing off your “holidays” lifestyle in your home town. Now that you feel (and seem to look) so different because you come with a funny accent in your native language... In my opinion, our language or accent doesn’t really change so much, even if we don’t speak it every day. It’s part of us and the way we learned the world around... Why to go on with fake sophistication and add a “je ne sais quoi” to our style, when our mind and language naturally adapts to our home country...

This is a general thought and doesn’t apply if you’re born in London, from a Maltese mother and a Swedish father, living in Germany for most of your life and having a Hungarian lover!!!

With a global society, where we travel, live and work with so many different people, it’s quite common the assumption of a specific label towards a face, look, style or simple body language, prior to any speech. And how so many times this first impression shatters itself with a complete different ending, surprising us and our initial judgements...

The point is, do we really want or bother to change our first impressions about people and the world around us?

Free smiles that change lives :)

2009-07-31T14:58:00.000+01:00

Van's ilustrations... I'm a fan!! :)

2009-07-31T00:34:00.000+01:00

It would be cool to drive a car like this!! :))
If it was a Mini Cooper convertable, it would be just Perrrfect...

(c) click to see more...

Welcome home U2!!! :)))

2009-07-30T16:42:00.000+01:00

Happy days...
Great concert!!

around 7pm

around 9pm

around 10.30pm

around 11.30pm

Thanks for the photos Chris!! :))

Sunshine in Latvia :)))

2009-07-29T21:11:00.001+01:00

Amazing sunshine, beach, travels north, east and south east...
Sunset flying girls!

Smoked chicken and fish in this super smoking machine!!! yummy :)

Bees, many many bees... here in evening mode, having a party!!

@ the Zoooooo :)

Bowling night! :)

Open air Opera!! Great experience!

Posing with tradition... :)

Last evening...

... eating at Lido! A national gastronomy institution...

Great trip!!! Looking forward to the next visit... :))

Into a life of travels - and holidays in between :)

2009-07-21T12:55:00.000+01:00

June-July09
It was unusually hot in Ireland in early June. Almost 30º! Sunbathing seemed kind of out of place... :) It was more like a pre-Spain sun for me I guess.

A few posts ago, there was Madrid and my night photo walk - the group was arriving in less than 2 days...

So here it started my month away through 5 countries, 17 day tour with 40 people, 16kg suitcase, my Canon, and its great 50MM lens!

One never knows a city in full, the way things change... so it's exciting to travel there again - even for work reasons. Madrid was 30-35º in early June and no sign of rain...

Toledo was extremely hot too, but beautiful than ever, all streets "dressed up" with flowers and symbols for the religious festivities starting the next day :)

I think I dreamed of pickpockets so much on this trip, that they were one of the big topics of these 2 weeks of intensive information giving, coordination and travels through Spain, France and Germany!
A teacher got robbed, me and another teacher had hands quite close to our bags in the Madrid metro and a few days later my whole bag was softly taken away in central Barcelona in what it seemed like 1 second only. There was 1 hour wait at the closest police station to make a complaint about theft!! Pickpockets here are true professionals and it seems a very profitable job...
With not much time to deal with the loses, it was time to move on with the trip and to dedicate to the group schedule. Without money, phone and tour papers, the essential came by memory and the night was long... It was time to leave to France for the next 6 days.

From west to east, the Pyrenees marked the border line and for the 3rd time this year I was in the beautiful and relaxing south of France.

We stopped in the beautiful medieval town Carcassonne, the Roman Nîmes, which was also the main denim supplier for mister Levi Strauss in its early days. A 2000 year old bridge - Pont-du-Gard -, was our stop before Avignon. Between sun and rain we headed east into Nice for a few days for a mix of Belle Époque and modern trends, a pebbled beach and good food!
The day-trip to Monaco was the highlight of the Riviera. We stopped at a perfume factory around the area where most perfumes are produced, and went on a very interesting journey of scent - and sneezes :))...

The cliffs, the turquoise water, the yachts, the houses, the cars, the stunning views in each curve... all was beauty on the way to Monaco. We even drove through the formula 1 circuit, still with the marks painted on the floor from the last race.
Extremely expensive and with country entry tax, but definitely worth visiting on the way to/from Italy, either for the tax free haven it is, for being the world's second smallest country, for the Jacques Cousteau museum and submarines, well... for all these reasons!!

A TGV train trip "teleported" us in Paris in just 5 hours. We were then away from the relaxation of the south into the big city feel once again. A river cruise, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, The Louvre Museum, the Versailles Palace, La Madeleine, Les Invalides, all these icons were now out of the list of must sees.

No matter how many times one is in Paris, there will always be a "Must See" list, either for monuments, shows, designer shops, Sunday dancing local shows by the riverside, the charming Montmartre or the student's cheap and trendy Latin Quarter.
After 3 days in Paris and 13 on the road with the group, it was time to head into Germany. Despite this long and fast paced trip, together with a disastrous bus company service and the unusual low temperatures, it was still great place to be for the final part of the tour.

Heidelberg and Munich were our main highlights. The first, a picturesque town with the oldest university in the country and academic traditions similar to other old and prestigious universities around Europe. The Nekar river is the main orientation and from where one can have pleasant cruises and amazing views of the castle and the "Altstadt".

On the way to Munich, going through Stuttgart, one passes by some of biggest car manufacturers in Germany as the number and quality of the cars around shows... Audi, Mercedes Benz, Porche, BMW.

In Munich the rain followed us the whole way... We had one of the best guided tours ever, with John taking us into a journey of history and modernity, making the rainy day much more interesting. The Glockenspiel show is worth seeing too. A group of dancers and knights start a parade and it's like being a kid again somehow... Easy enough to explore walking, Munich has also great cycleways and metro system. Especially if one wants to go a bit of the beaten track and explore the beer halls where the locals go and practice a bit of German...
After 17 crazy days, it was finally time to relax, meet new friends, meditate...

Exploring Bavaria

I love trains and all the unpredicted situations related to them... Like this trip that took 5 hours instead of 2, and this (illegal) walk on the rails after entering a train heading to a journey into out-of-service :))) The other passenger had inline skates instead of shoes, spoke little German, and Italian with a funny accent - he was from Romenia! :) I ended up translating between Italian and English with the train driver that guide us back to the station... somewhere in the south east of Germany!!

The landscape is so much nicer from a train than beside the highways, it's possible to walk around inside, it's ecological and a kind of romantic type of journey, where you can take time to enjoy it...
It was a great privilege to travel through this green landscape, with friendly people, beautiful wooden houses, good food, cycleways, lakes and mountains.

In 1 week I almost forgot about time and that I had to leave again soon... if only we could bring our lives to all the special places we experience in life... It was definitely like a rebirth, a new stage, a step ahead in life.

New and great friends came, together with a feeling of home and wanting to come back sooner than later. With an open heart, each day is like an exciting discovery of life inside and around ourselves, each moment we live in full seems to last forever...

Bis bald meine leibe freunde :)
Bis bald EC :)

On how to try to know the reasons why...

2009-07-10T16:11:00.000+01:00

"It's funny how..." has started many of my random texts and I really don't know why... Maybe it's because life IS funny, interesting, unexpected, beautiful, amusing...
Well, after some of morning mental energy and ideas for the day, I opened an email that brought me straight into childhood and its learning time pleasures - actually I can still imitate Donald Ducks' voice... :) Funny, no?! :)))

Some mixed feelings come along the days - on why haven't I uploaded some photos, or did this or that... On why funny thoughts or/and worries can make us loose our appetite just after we prepared an amazing lunch to enjoy in silence. So, diving into psychology based readings, I discover how funny it is to buy a book or a magazine that happens to refer to topics one is actually looking to see clearly...
How interesting is to read about others achievements and positive actions, doubts and motivations, ways to find ourselves through others' value and example.
How life is so short and precious for us to loose ourselves in endless battles (inside and outside)...

Why judging someone's curiosity of exploring it all and being fascinated with beauty... Why judging silence... personal space... Why not to examine things from all sides to have a better perspective of life, others and ourselves... Why running away from what is and simply makes sense... !?? By saying "I don't have time" isn't a sign of wasting time?!

I guess the questions will continue and any reasons why will naturally be there ... :)

Change of scenery... and back on the blog

2009-07-08T20:05:00.000+01:00

Back in Ireland to reload energies and leave again soon...
Hopefully the posting will be a bit more frequent too, well... we'll see how it goes.

So many stories, impressions, words, thoughts to share from this last (and crazy) month of travels :) It's truly amazing how life shows us its beauty and value, its impermanence and amazing people we have the privilege to share it with... even for some minutes, hours or days...! Because some may stay and stay and enrich our lives a bit more... Together with those that are part of us!
Thank you!! :)

(non-edited) Madrid night impressions

2009-06-11T07:56:00.000+01:00

Madrid... once again!

With the temperatures going from chilly into 40 degrees this week, the nights are the best time to be out... I'll be the one toasting in the sun, starting today!!

In and around Plaza Mayor

Loved the golden tones on the columns and this toilet paper art this lady was doing. Unfortunately, the police was already there telling her to take that away... They seem to be on top of all illegal tourism activities lately...

Above- when is your letter arrive? Shall we have "una copa" by this golden gate? :)

Sol area

Canalejas and Huertas areas

The other photographer, my love for vespas... and ooops, I lost my shoe!!

Inside the metro. As far from the center one goes the better trains, stations and the less crowded it is...

My hotel room for the rest of the week... Hope I have time to enjoy it!

The 50MM lens is a great object and to be able to explore, it's just fantastic!!
Now, the question is... which photos to choose for editing? :)

So far and yet closer than ever...

2009-06-08T23:09:00.000+01:00

Twelve hours of traveling... and the journey to a new life is here!! What a great feeling :)!

Flying with the clouds today was like a dance... and suddenly the shade of the plain appeared with a perfect circle rainbow with it... so clear, so beautiful...
Almost as amazing as the flat rainbow also over Spanish sky last year!! Need to make a drawing of it!

Awareness... a book that came to me (and this time I realized I've been waiting for something like this), in an audio form, allowing some insight on a long journey or just a moment of reflection...
Stressful times bring all sorts of thoughts and emotions, like clouds keeping an unclear view of the sky. Luckily insightful friends and the love and presence of "who makes sense" simply brought the mirror in front of the nose... Thank you for this amazing week, from all my heart! :)

Yes, because despite all the labels we can give to things, truth comes silently and powerful... Home is where WE are :)! I feel I belong anywhere I go and everywhere I choose to BE!

Love your morning smile :* :)

Música à Pala!? :)

2009-06-03T11:34:00.000+01:00

Este post tem de ser em Português, porque sim!

E porque iniciativas porreiras merecem ser promovidas aqui vai esta do meu amigo Carca!

A Feira do Disquinho à Pala!
Um excerto:
"Este blog está a precisar que lhe dedique amor, e é mesmo isso que eu vou fazer. Vou injectar amor no meu blog com uma seringa das farturas! Das grandes! Uma fartura de amor! Vou começar a oferecer disquinhos à pala a toda a gente!!! Não, não vou colocar aqui rapidshares e megauploads de álbuns que ainda nem sequer estão no mercado (já tenho o novo dos Sonic Youth a ganhar "pó" no meu disco por vergonha de o ter sacado antes de estar à venda) nem nada que se pareça.

Durante este mês de Junho, irei indicar-vos sobre projectos novos ou menos novos, conhecidos ou desconhecidos, que andam por aí a fazer pela vida e que merecem toda a visibilidade possível. E, a cereja no topo da fartura do amor, que oferecem os seus trabalhos gratuitamente a quem se quiser dar ao trabalho de os escutar. Haverão projectos de Portugal, do Brasil, da Suécia, dos Estados Unidos e de outros cantinhos do planeta Terra. E este mês passará para os anais da história como:

"
... E já vai no 3º episódio :)
http://contra-v2.blogspot.com/

Baggpipe festival

2009-06-01T12:38:00.000+01:00

On a trip to Enniskillen in Northern Ireland last weekend this lovely melodie attracted us to the park were a few hundreds were playing...

:) slightly different from other "Filarmónica" bands we know!!

Amazing creations - Momix

2009-05-29T11:56:00.000+01:00

This is not new, but is definitely amazing to watch... if not live, at least on video!

Uma vida de tentativa e erro - A life of trial and error

2009-05-25T16:43:00.000+01:00

Às vezes, pequenas coisas podem ajudar-nos a mudar... na maioria das vezes. O mesmo se aplica àqueles que achamos que nunca vão mudar! Talvez sim, talvez não! Mas se nunca tentarmos dizer, fazer, surpreender, abraçar, beijar, dar sem a expectativa de receber... nunca iremos saber!
Dedicado a familias.

Sometimes, small things may help us to change... most of the times. The same applies to those we think will never change! Maybe yes, maybe no! But if we never try to say, do, surprise, hug, kiss, give without expecting to receive... we'll never know!
Dedicated to families.

:) How interesting!...

2009-05-24T15:21:00.000+01:00

Books have been around since I know myself. And while in the beginning I was just doing maths homework on the inside covers of my mum's novels, I later undoubtedly transferred them to the back shelves (not to put them in closed boxes!), simply because other reads became much more meaningful. Together with books about wild life (illustrated ones and later TV documentaries), encyclopaedias and the world Atlas, reading self help books when you're too young seems a bit inappropriate sometimes. Looking back, however, I eventually became a traveller, a map collector and psychology oriented books were the ones I often felt more attracted to.

It happened the opposite too. Having had always a "to read list" together with a growing pile of "started but not yet finished" books, I became aware that for some reason it wasn't yet the right time to take these in.

The interesting part of this immense curiosity/desire for knowledge and new discoveries, is that over the years they (books) tended to come to me, as if, having found/given/shown a particular book at a certain time and read it avidly, it was a sign that only then I was ready to take its message in and learn from it... how interesting!

Well, today I finished a book I didn't know I was searching for... And it's really amazing to become aware how universe works and the way there are no coincidences after all!
It's great when an author's writing can penetrate the skin, making it chill or have our head feel the "bzzzz" of a small electric shock, as when we meditate or have an insightful conversation with a good friend.

... how interesting are all the richness friends share with each other, how minds connect, how much power a "I can handle it" gives to whatever our life brings us, how different a job/relationship becomes when we act like we count and give 100% to it, because it simply is our nature.

Thank you! :)

Awareness

2009-05-23T20:44:00.000+01:00

:) Cool animal photos (c)!

2009-05-21T20:40:00.000+01:00

Social media...

2009-05-21T11:18:00.000+01:00

Interesting, at least...
"Websites keep deleted photos" & own users data?!!!

Cool vegetarians!! :)

2009-05-17T18:13:00.000+01:00

http://www.autobloggreen.com/photos/peta-lettuce-ladies/781621/

Lou, this is for yoouu :) And Carlos too!

Enjoy!

Moon Fish @ Lisbon Aquarium

2009-05-17T17:58:00.000+01:00

"Take a photo of meeeee" :)

A memory of our last visit to Lisbon in March/April...
It's always a pleasure to be in this "Pearl of Europe"!!

The Lisbon aquarium "Oceanário de Lisboa" was built for the Expo98 area. It holds around 8000 species of animals and plants!
For more, visit - www.oceanario.pt

Beauty on sand...

2009-05-15T10:09:00.000+01:00

Amazing work :)

A smile to your coming day...

2009-05-09T12:57:00.000+01:00

... So why not start in the morning as you wake up!? :)

Thank you my dear, this is now my favourite alarm... :*

A warm voice in an amazing melodie...

Music Trends

2009-05-09T12:42:00.000+01:00

For all music reviews enthusiasts and music lovers...
(Carca amigo, isto é para ti!! :))

News & Album Reviews - Treblezine

A week in Paris - Where are those photos!?

2009-05-09T00:38:00.000+01:00

:) Well... after some careful considerations (and a few dozens to choose from...),
part of photos are joining their story in text.

For more check TravelPhotoCollection
... Enjoy! :)

SIGNS

2009-05-06T13:46:00.000+01:00

:)
It's curious what the universe brings when we become more aware of what is around us...

Short film - awarded in The Cannes Film Festival 2008
"Story of a sign"

Sweet Sunny Sunday :)

2009-04-03T00:03:00.000+01:00

March, 2009

With closed eyes, focusing on my breathing and the warm sun in my skin, I sat on the floor against the fence of a closed garden absorbing the sounds happening around...
... this was still Paris.

Like an orchestra with no maestro, sounds were flowing naturally as the soft wind brought them to me.

On Sundays some riverside roads close to traffic and cyclers, roller skaters, locals and tourists happily fill it in what I think to be one of the nicest ways to spend a Sunday in this city.

I found a spot on the grass and stayed sunbathing, watching the people and relaxing.

Later, while walking I listened to the sounds of people, and more languages then I could understand... a sudden Portuguese dialogue over a game of cards came as I crossed the crowded riverbank.

Up to Pont des Arts (a pedestrian bridge from where one can see the tip of Ile de La Cite), a hunchback beggar lady, repeated a request for money in monotone, making it hard to understand if one didn't notice her holding a cup while walking by ... but as I handed her a clementine, a “Merci Madame” came twice in perfect French, putting a surprised smile on my face... poor lady looking at peoples' feet all day...
I wonder if she ever would turn around to see the lovely river view everybody was eager to see passing beside her... :)

Paris... is it like in the postcards!?

2009-03-14T21:04:00.001Z

:)

Thanks to postcards we can imagine this city through someone else's eyes and lenses, but in one of the most visited countries in the world it's quite surprising to see that its heart beats strong in the way people are proud of their identity - even if not so proud of their political situation...

Walking in average 5 to 6 hours a day, I've been discovering an immense diversity, as if walking through many villages put together around the famous touristy sites by the Seine river...

The wow feeling is there of course, as any "mortal" would express by standing under more than 300m of an iron structure with the crowd's voices echoing all around together with the music of the never ending traffic... Yes, the Eiffel Tower is amazing... (and no, I didn't have my camera with me...!)
It seems unreal even to see it turning golden in the twilight. Something you surely want to see in the company of a good friend or a loved one... I had the pleasure of being there with a new hostel friend - Red-haired Emma from Australia with roots in Ireland!

Another surprise was the Montmartre area and the Moulin Rouge. From all the stereotypes about Paris, I think this is one of the interesting ones to explore and see for yourself... I pictured in it a bit of downtown Lisbon in its multiculturality - the narrow streets and the main hill with the Sacre Coeur on top, but one feels also something very unique - the soul of this city... an area where a vineyard still exists, where many well known artists lived - Dali, for example -, and where you can have an overview of Paris for free :)!! Since that rainy day and my camera didn't go well together, I guess I'll have to go back up there in my next visit!

Paris has one of the biggest mixes of people I've ever seen... Knowing that the French territories abroad are almost all continents, one can have an idea, but actually to see so many beautiful people and wonderful facial combinations is very interesting... The fashionable, stylish Parisians surely blend well with tourists in the old cafés, rushing to their lunch or piling up inside the metro like sardines, on the streets, the sidewalks and everywhere...

Speaking French takes you around well and people even will speak to you in good English if they notice you're trying to find your words or your accent is unavoidable... Grumpiness comes along too if you suddenly try to ask for directions to someone not expecting it, like outside the busy tourist areas.

Thanks to another common situation - where over breakfast or some other "hostel type episode" I end up meeting someone - usually speaking another language -, this time I met a nice Spanish girl with whom I ended up exploring Paris on a busy Friday night... Curly-haired and brown-eyed Sonia was a great company in our Spanish speaking night walk in Paris, taking photos and getting lost in the crowded and narrow streets of St. Germain... reminding me of relaxed college nights with very nice talks about everything and nothing!

At midnight, with the shiny Pyramid du Louvre in front and the glittering tip of the Eiffel Tower behind us, we headed for the last crowded metro of the day!

Time to write some postcards...

Great weekend everyone!! :)
Bisous Bisous

Paris... et l'aventure commence! (and the adventure starts!) :)

2009-03-09T18:15:00.000Z

Oui, I finnally got myself into Parriii :) , more like an explorer than a romantic person - that will be for the next trip here... ;)

Day 1 is going long and quite overwelming... arriving in rush hour in any big city of Europe is quite a test to ones nerves!! And when traveling in one of the oldest metro systems in the world, a muscle workout too...

... stories and shots will follow on this 2 month adventure in new, familiar and even old places!!

Bisous - besos - beijinhos - buchas :)

Home photo experiments...

2009-02-25T10:38:00.000Z

... my office at the moment!!

Visual effects :)

La Provence - photo collection

2009-02-25T10:05:00.001Z

Nîmes

Photo above - a portrait of rural life in the South and the way the Roman influences are still present...
For the trip photos, please click on the text below :)

In 4 to 5 days me and Gwen explored what seem to be some of the coolest places in the south of France. From Europe's most complete medieval fortress to a Roman amphitheatre still housing events and bullfights (yes, there happen in France too - but the poor animal is treated well) to a Roman Temple in full structure with a museum inside! Lovely "pans au chocolat" whenever we could, the huge Palais des Papes and our riverside view of the famous bridge in fortified Avignon, where followed by a trip into the Côte D'Azur - Cassis -, to see the turqouise waters and a lovely scenery. Finally, we ended the day in the town of fountains - Aix-en Provence "Ex"!

A flight from Marseille airport allowed me to have a great view over the rugged coast in one of the few moments of sun that week... :)
Despite the weather, it was a great trip. A special thank you to my driver... :))!!

See you in again very soon beautiful France... :)
À bientôt!

London photo experiments :)

2009-02-16T20:52:00.000Z

...

Um olhar ao espelho... (A look in the mirror...)

2009-02-13T10:47:00.000Z

A post about Portuguese (anti)culture, so similar to other countries and yet so unique in each reality... A look in the mirror of ourselves as a people - noting several stereoptypes and rooted habits - and how easy it is (and always been) to blame everybody else - especially the government - for our own responsibilities...

(Original version follows this translation)

'Material needed to build a country' by Eduardo Prado Coelho - in Público newspaper

"The previous belief was that this politician (Santana Lopes - former mayor of Lisbon) wouldn't suit, as well that one and the other (Cavaco - former Prime Minister PM and current President -, Durão - current President of the European Comission - and Guterres - former PM's). Now we say that Sócrates (José Sócrates - current PM) is not good either. And whoever comes after him, wont be anything good. For this reasons I begin to suspect that the problem isn't in the dabbler mayor of Lisbon or the farce the current PM is.

The problem is within us. Us as people. Us as 'human material' of a country.

I belong to a country where being 'Smart' (as in devious) is the valuable attribute, as much or even more than the euro.

A country where getting rich overnight is an appreciated virtue more than to build a family based in values and respect for others.

I belong to a country where, unfortunately, the newspapers can't be sold like in other countries, i.e. with boxes on the sidewalks where you pay for ONE newspaper and you only take ONE newspaper, leaving the others there.

I belong to a country where private companies are private suppliers of their own dishonest employees, who take home, as if it was correct, sheets of paper, pencils, pens, paper clips and every possible office supply for their kids' homework... and for themselves.

I belong to a country where people feel clever when they manage to buy a fake decoder for cable TV, where you fake your tax form, in order to pay or pay less taxes.

I belong to a country:

- Where not being punctual is a habit.

- Where company directors don't value their human resources.

- Where there's little interest for ecology, where people throw garbage on the streets and, later, complain that the government doesn't clean the sewers.

- Where people complain that electricty and water are expensive services.

- Where a reading culture doesn't exist (where young people say 'it's boring that we have to read') and there's no conscience or a political, historic or economic memory.

- Where our politicians work two days a week to approve projects and laws only good to 'hunt' the poor, twit the middle class and benefit a small elite.

- I belong to a country where driver licenses and medical declarations can be 'bought', without taking an exam.

- A country where an old person, a woman carrying a baby, or a handicaped person stand on the bus, while someone pretends to be sleeping not to give the seat away.

- A country where the priority is the car, not the pedestrian.

- A country where we do many wrong things, but we're constantly criticizing our government.

The more I analize the negative qualities of this or the other politician, the better I feel as a person, despite that it was just yesterday when I corrupted the traffic guard not to get fined.

The more I say the president is the one to blame, the better I am as a portuguese man, despite that just this morning I deceived a client that trusted me and helped me to pay some debts.

No. No. No. That's enough.

As 'human material' of a country, we have many good qualities, but we're a long way of being the men and women the country needs.

These negative qualities, this portuguese 'in the blood clever smartness' ('CHICO-ESPERTICE PORTUGUESA'), this dishonesty in small scale, that later grows and evolvs until it converts itself in political scandals, this lack of human quality, that is real and honestly bad, more then this or the other politician, because they all Portuguese like us, ELECTED BY US. Born here, not elsewhere...

This makes me sad.

Because, even if the PM would leave today, the one to follow him would have to continue working with the same defective 'human material' that, as a people, it's everyone of us.

And he won't be able to do anything...

I have no garanty that someone can do better, but until there's a clear sign of how to eradicate our addictions as a people, nobody will be good enough.

Nor Santana, nor Guterres, nor Cavaco were good, not even Sócrates is good enough as well as nobody else that comes next.

What's the alternative?

Do we need another dictator, that makes us obey the law by means of force and terror?

It's good to be portuguese. But when that 'portuguesish natural way' starts to be an obstacle to our possibilities to develop as a nation, then everything changes...

Do not hope to light a candle to all the saints, expecting them to send a messias.

We have to change. A new governor with the same portuguese can do nothing.

It is very clear... We're the ones that need to change.

Yes, I believe this fits very well in all that keeps on happening to us:

We excuse the mediocrity of adverse TV shows and, frankly, we're tolerate with failure. It's an industry of excuse and stupidity.

Now frankly, after this message, I've decided to look for the responsible, not to punish but to demand him (yes, demand) to improve his behaviour and not to play deaf or misunderstood.

Yes, I've decided to look for the responsible and I'M SURE I'LL FIND HIM WHEN I LOOK MYSELF IN THE MIRROR. THERE IT IS. I DON'T NEED TO LOOK FOR HIM ANYWHERE ELSE.

And you, what do you think?... *MEDITATE*!"

*EDUARDO PRADO COELHO*

Original text:

'Precisa-se de matéria prima para construir um País' *Eduardo Prado Coelho - in Público*

"A crença geral anterior era de que Santana Lopes não servia, bem como Cavaco, Durão e Guterres. Agora dizemos que Sócrates não serve. E o que vier depois de Sócrates também não servirá para nada. Por isso começo a suspeitar que o problema não está no trapalhão que foi Santana Lopes ou na farsa que é o Sócrates.

O problema está em nós. Nós como povo. Nós como matéria prima de um país.

Porque pertenço a um país onde a ESPERTEZA é a moeda sempre valorizada, tanto ou mais do que o euro.

Um país onde ficar rico da noite para o dia é uma virtude mais apreciada do que formar uma família baseada em valores e respeito aos demais.

Pertenço a um país onde, lamentavelmente, os jornais jamais poderão ser vendidos como em outros países, isto é, pondo umas caixas nos passeios onde se paga por um só jornal E SE TIRA UM SÓ JORNAL, DEIXANDO-SE OS DEMAIS ONDE ESTÃO.

Pertenço ao país onde as EMPRESAS PRIVADAS são fornecedoras particulares dos seus empregados pouco honestos, que levam para casa, como se fosse correcto, folhas de papel, lápis, canetas, lips e tudo o que possa ser útil para os trabalhos de escola dos filhos ....e para eles mesmos.

Pertenço a um país onde as pessoas se sentem espertas porque conseguiram comprar um descodificador falso da TV Cabo, onde se frauda a declaração de IRS para não pagar ou pagar menos impostos.

Pertenço a um país:

- Onde a falta de pontualidade é um hábito;

- Onde os directores das empresas não valorizam o capital humano.

- Onde há pouco interesse pela ecologia, onde as pessoas atiram lixo nas ruas e, depois, reclamam do governo por não limpar os esgotos.

- Onde pessoas se queixam que a luz e a água são serviços caros.

- Onde não existe a cultura pela leitura (onde os nossos jovens dizem que é 'muito chato ter que ler') e não há consciência nem memória política, histórica nem económica.

- Onde os nossos políticos trabalham dois dias por semana para aprovar projectos e leis que só servem para caçar os pobres, arreliar a classe média e beneficiar alguns.

Pertenço a um país onde as cartas de condução e as declarações médicas podem ser 'compradas', sem se fazer qualquer exame.

- Um país onde uma pessoa de idade avançada, ou uma mulher com uma criança nos braços, ou um inválido, fica em pé no autocarro, enquanto a pessoa que está sentada finge que dorme para não lhe dar o lugar.

- Um país no qual a prioridade de passagem é para o carro e não para o peão.

- Um país onde fazemos muitas coisas erradas, mas estamos sempre a criticar os nossos governantes.

Quanto mais analiso os defeitos de Santana Lopes e de Sócrates, melhor me sinto como pessoa, apesar de que ainda ontem corrompi um guarda de trânsito para não ser multado.

Quanto mais digo o quanto o Cavaco é culpado, melhor sou eu como português, apesar de que ainda hoje pela manhã explorei um cliente que confiava em mim, o que me ajudou a pagar algumas dívidas.

Não. Não. Não. Já basta.

Como 'matéria prima' de um país, temos muitas coisas boas, mas falta muito para sermos os homens e as mulheres que o nosso país precisa.

Esses defeitos, essa 'CHICO-ESPERTICE PORTUGUESA' congénita, essa desonestidade em pequena escala, que depois cresce e evolui até se converter em casos escandalosos na política, essa falta de qualidade humana, mais do que Santana, Guterres, Cavaco ou Sócrates, é que é real e honestamente má, porque todos eles são portugueses como nós, ELEITOS POR NÓS. Nascidos aqui, não noutra parte...

Fico triste.

Porque, ainda que Sócrates se fosse embora hoje, o próximo que o suceder terá que continuar a trabalhar com a mesma matéria prima defeituosa que, como povo, somos nós mesmos.

E não poderá fazer nada...

Não tenho nenhuma garantia de que alguém possa fazer melhor, mas enquanto alguém não sinalizar um caminho destinado a erradicar primeiro os vícios que temos como povo, ninguém servirá.

Nem serviu Santana, nem serviu Guterres, não serviu Cavaco, nem serve Sócrates e nem servirá o que vier.

Qual é a alternativa?

Precisamos de mais um ditador, para que nos faça cumprir a lei com a força e por meio do terror?

É muito bom ser português. Mas quando essa portugalidade autóctone começa a ser um empecilho às nossas possibilidades de desenvolvimento como Nação, então tudo muda...

Não esperemos acender uma vela a todos os santos, a ver se nos mandam um messias.

Nós temos que mudar. Um novo governante com os mesmos portugueses nada poderá fazer.

Está muito claro... Somos nós que temos que mudar.

Sim, creio que isto encaixa muito bem em tudo o que anda a acontecer-nos:

Desculpamos a mediocridade de programas de televisão nefastos e, francamente, somos tolerantes com o fracasso. É a indústria da desculpa e da estupidez.

Agora, depois desta mensagem, francamente, decidi procurar o responsável, não para o castigar, mas para lhe exigir (sim, exigir) que melhore o seu comportamento e que não se faça de mouco, de desentendido.

Sim, decidi procurar o responsável e ESTOU SEGURO DE QUE O ENCONTRAREI QUANDO ME OLHAR NO ESPELHO. AÍ ESTÁ. NÃO PRECISO PROCURÁ-LO NOUTRO LADO.

E você, o que pensa?.... *MEDITE*!"

*EDUARDO PRADO COELHO*

Snowmen in Ireland ...

2009-02-09T19:51:00.000Z

As the weather in the UK always heads West into the Emerald island, we woke up with a nice white scenery last Sunday here in the Northwest...

Still half awake I ran outside and had a chance to meet a lovely "snowperson", lending him my hat, as it was so cold!! He smiled and introduced me to his new friends too :) - a crazy skier rain dear visiting from Austria and a fluffy "snowmom" with her little "snowbaby" born last Xmas!!
Later in the day, rainbows appeared bright and beautiful...

What a perfect day! :)))

Impressive!!!

2009-02-05T21:41:00.000Z

If micro waves change/process food, imagine what they can do to our brains!?
Check this out:
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5odhh_pop-corn-telephone-portable-microon_

When we just want to relax and unwind... how about a "switch off" on that lovely device and enjoying a few minutes/hours/even days of tecnology freedom!? :D
... anyway, we'll still use our portable phone after, right!?

Oh, how I love mountains and secluded beaches :)))

La Provence - here I come...

2009-01-19T00:24:00.000Z

Beautiful Latvia...

2009-01-16T23:28:00.000Z

Latvia was a total surprise for me. Travelling so far East for the first time and having images of this country only from maps and late research online, it was impressive to see traces of the horrors (in the Russian and German occupations) and the grey, aligned buildings from communist architects.
The complex language as become one of my current projects and the walks by 'old Riga' and it's historic buildings, amber jewellery everywhere, nice food and cultural offers of great quality where good signs of the growing identity of this small country by the Baltic Sea.

First days :)

The white blanket was beautiful and the cold had this pleasant feeling, despite freezing the nose... Heading north-east it was time to see the heart of the country and head to the mountain to try myself into snowboarding!! It was more like a small hill when compared to the Sierra Nevada or The Alps, but for my own safety and counting the time one falls, it was just perfect...

Marcello :)

One of the furriest cats I've ever seen and held (even if he only let me do it on the very last day...)
Very moody and funny cat, with an owner that loves him like a baby :))
When building a Christmas tree, with natural candles and all, he was our biggest supporter and you have to agree - a great model too :)!!

Last day...

After more then a week and with the temperatures going down seriously, this sunny day was like a bonus!! Just a short drive from home base, the lake "Baltezers" is an ice-hockey ring and ice-fishing area in the winter and a beach and water sports area in the summer... warmer evenings and whiter nights are surely something to look forward too... :)

I became a fan of the white scenery, operas in Christmas, Lido's traditional food, the huge market, dill mayo, smoked chicken, hot black currant with black balsam and natural candles in Xmas trees...
... All with a warm welcome and a feeling of being at home!

Liels Paldies!! (Thank you very much!) :* :* :*

Simple things...

2009-01-16T17:53:00.000Z

Imagine reality as an endless You Tube video... :)

... and you'll know everything is going to be just fine.

Bossa Nova

2009-01-16T17:02:00.000Z

Happy New Year!! Feliz Ano Novo!

It's funny to see our writing from some time ago, how we'd write some things in the same way, sitting in that same cafe... how the way the thoughts were expressed has so much more beauty in the language that filled our mind at that moment... so naturally.

In the same way, the person we are now would probably describe the world beyond that window in a distinctive way...

So, in a way to make peace with the past and let it rest in the attic of our lives, let's smile while we enjoy a memory, but move on... Because the future is here and we make it by coming downstairs and live! :)

Here's a jewel of my attic collection...
(to be translated, upgraded or updated eventually!)

Ao som de uma bossa nova familiar, escuto a minha língua e decido deixar o pano cair e mostrar todo um mundo de emoções vivido nos últimos tempos…

Embora natural, a escrita em português acontece com menos frequência... pelo domínio que outras línguas têm à um par de anos.

A evolução dos tempos traz mudança de pensamentos, um tempo de emoções amadurecidas, medos adiados e amores perdidos, se sequer algum dia encontrados.

O tempo de balanços é depois… o tempo é agora, um presente em direcção ao futuro.

Tanto o passado guarda… E por ser passado, é na sua morada que residem as memórias de dias nublados, dias de sol ou dias de tempestade… Residem sobretudo experiências, histórias, pessoas, imagens… tantas imagens da beleza das coisas e pequenos flashes do horror dos homens!

O passado é base de desenvolvimento e âncora que arrastamos connosco, por nostalgia, medo de ver em concreto o que nesses tempos reside, ou desejo de voltar a tempos em que tudo era mais simples, por vezes… Porém, a simplicidade é algo a reter e manter, porque representa o que é genuíno e humano, mas no lugar de um regresso ao passado, tem de ser como um virar da página…

“Pensas demais”… diz-me uma amizade recente! “Pois, eu sei!”, respondo no meu francês pronto a sair com o gosto de practicar.

Pensar é uma arma, sem dúvida! Pode ser benéfica no sentido de reforçar uma postura, uma imagem… Pode também ser traiçoeira ou até levar à loucura, se demasiados pensamentos deambularem sem sentido nem destino, se as ideias, emoções e julgamentos se sobrepuserem à própria realidade…

Tenho conhecido viajantes, poetas, seres alegres diante de uma bela dose de álcool e outros até sem uma gota sequer. Escritores de tempos livres são muitos por todo o mundo… e se isso significa libertação pessoal, que sejamos todos!

Um café cheio de gente, uma rua escura num fim de tarde de Outono e imagens em movimento mais ou menos apressado preenchem o meu olhar diante da janela. Memórias de sabores e aromas especiais percorrem o pensamento e (quase) o corpo, enquanto que as tentações se apresentam diante dos meus olhos, como guloseimas…

A evolução dos tempos traz-nos sobretudo a segurança e a liberdade de soltar e enfrentar muitos dos nossos medos, sem que isso nos leve a transformar a nossa personlidade ou forma de actuar… Traz-nos um sorriso verdadeiro, um abraço mais forte, um gesto sincero, uma palavra sentida, o reconhecimento da nossa própria vida…

Uma constante tão certa como a mudança, sem pensamento dormente e vontade abundante, num viajar ao centro de tudo e logo a seguir pelo mundo fora…

Porque cada dia é um só e tanto acontece… porque a vida é um relâmpago, mais breve que um fôlego, tão forte e intenso quanto queiramos que seja…

… Entre as quatro paredes do nosso pequeno mundo… Dentro de um avião rumo ao próximo destino… No local de trabalho.. Em mais um breve dia de sol… De pés despidos na relva como em tempos de criança… De copo na mão e dança no pé em boa companhia, numa noite qualquer…

Absorbo os sons e cheiros neste café de uma cidade distinta daquelas que um dia descobri e amei… Ao som de uma bossa nova invulgar, vozes soltam sons familiares e estranhos, e carros rosnam ferozes depois do vidro que nos separa.

Um olhar idoso (e curioso) e um outro escritor (de tempos livres ou não, não sei!) amparam-me de ambos os lados, tão desconhecidos como todas as outras pessoas neste café que visito, nesta cidade em descoberta… No lugar que escolhi para partir à descoberta do mundo… à descoberta de mim…

“We are all made of stars”

2008-12-01T23:13:00.000Z

People come and go in our lives and we choose either to take them with us in our path or just enjoy that little moment in the whole time we have…

At work, traveling, just going out on the street, online…
We go across so many faces, so many expressions, so many worlds… and we wonder…

- Is that person happy?
- Is that person enjoying the life chosen to live?
- Has that person ever felt true love?
- Is that person free?

A million thoughts come with just a look, a movement, a simple trace, the posture, the way of walking or just the fact of existing and being another element of the crowd…
Because so many emotions come and go with the people I observe, so many words fill my mind as this text gets into shape. As if it was meant to be filled today, now!
Questioning myself and others about goals, challenges, fears and mostly, my deepest wishes…
… I wonder.

One can’t renounce one’s soul (or one’s mind) and what it makes us think, feel and do…
Truth brings us closer to love, to happiness and to freedom… while accepting the simplicity as the true way to reach the essence of everything.

People that come and go in our lives, either passing by on the same path we follow, on the streets or just simply everywhere around, they can bring the unexpected and surprise us by sharing their view of the world, smile back at wishing all the best, just because they do wish…
:)

Dublin, Room 19 – Sep. 2007

Shots of early days

2008-12-01T22:59:00.000Z

Ha'Penny Bridge

The Hairy Lemon Pub

Irish Flavours!!

2008-12-01T22:48:00.000Z

Imagine how is like to have this photo over your breakfast table for 2 months (the hostel where my life in Dublin started...), you eventually have to try it, if you haven't already...

... and how nice it is - The Black Stoff!! :)

One year! It's good to be back!

2008-11-30T03:44:00.000Z

If there was any hope that this moment would arrive, well… it means all the excuses to go through a few year’s texts and photos went away and life is good!!

September 4th, 2008.
One year after the flight that brought me out of lovely Lisbon to the world, starting with Dublin!

Overwhelmed with so many new things, with all the cultural differences and the multiculturalism of Ireland’s capital, I ended up staying and enjoying the challenge of finding myself in a completely new place.
Around the time of the last post (October07), life was showing me its ways in a new country, fitting in, adapting, exploring and enjoying the whole process...
I moved to the countryside in spring-summer and discovered a more genuine Ireland, amazing scenarios, 1001 different tonalities of green and sheep - the true mountain climbers around here - with their black head and white thick layer of wool, among many other things...
The same way life changes, we also change.

Many words were written… but just some found their way until here! Some in English, some in Portuguese and translated versions whenever applicable. The photos will come along too.

Enjoy the reading!

Wise hands

2007-10-01T10:08:00.000+01:00

Looking towards the future a smile comes, together with something so true:
In the end it's all about who we are and where we will go! But also where we come from...
... and it's interesting to be aware of the power it has over our emotions, our decisions, our lives!!
Love you granny Lucinda vó linda! :D

Dublin 8pm - Full moon night 26-9

2007-09-28T00:26:00.000+01:00

Over the clouds...

2007-08-04T01:02:00.000+01:00

“(…) Perhaps you, like many people, have always felt that if others really knew you, they wouldn't like you. So you keep your entire emotional life secret. But whatever you hide from others, you will also hide from yourself. And whatever you hide from yourself can control you without you being aware of it. (…)”

Read this some time ago and in a way it got to me recently. There are times when we all feel something similar like this whether we reveal it or not, other times when we face the fact that this is limiting our actions and even our happiness and needs to taken care of – if this expression applies to such subjective area – the emotions!!

After a very intense trip in every aspect (as usual all the trips tend to be), and after many words written I can transfer to this text some parts of a very active and limitless imagination…

Overlooking a sea of clouds now, all I can think of is when to go back…

Fell in love a million times a day on this trip… from the breathless vision of the East coast of Ireland when arriving, to the bike ride near the lakes of Killarney (in the Southwest), the rain and its smell, the clothes glued to the body and the green surroundings in that foggy morning, together with meeting people by accident and spending unique moments inside a busy Irish pub over some pints of Guinness!!

Been with so many nice people and felt really good over there. The mild weather, the friendlyness and the big melting pot made of Dublin a very diverse and interesting city. Other parts of the country are surprising also in other ways and definitely to come back and discover with a closer look.

“There’s nothing in the world, no rewards nor punishments, but only consequences”
Robert Ingersoll
(a phrase about the Karma and how all the good and bad energies we feel towards others, come back to us as sharply as a boomerang, making us feel either extremely happy or doomed and surely amazed how this can actually be so real…)

A trip home made me think (and question) about where is my home after all… Because in a way, I’m going back with a feeling I don’t have anything to go to, except my family and some close friends, and that there is nothing there for me, but in some other place I haven’t found yet!

Life surely brings back the good or bad feelings you’ve given before… Life smiles you back if a smile is to be the way you face other people and reality itself…

Fell in love with an image of someone and that made me go on this trip. Fell in love almost every day of it… In the way I was welcomed, the new people that came into my life recently and there by accident making me face (and learn about) some undiscovered aspects of my personality… Amazing discoveries that made me have the pleasure of somebody’s company over some pints! And the will to have them around soon even only for a visit!!

Fell in love with the streets, the flowers in every doorway, the bridges over the Liffey river, the icon! – the Guinness factory -, and even the well kept parks and the way the locals enjoy them so much in they daily break, absorbing every minute of sun in this rainy city!

Fell in love with the discovery of myself in a totally different place and the way I got addicted to it… My natural environment somebody told me once. And if travelling is that after all, I believe that home will be the place I feel good at, where people understand me and vice versa. The true home is and will be there always, as the place to go back and reload the energy levels…

The same place where all the truly important people are, the ones you seek support and respect from on your way towards the unknown, on your search for better opportunities and new experiences. Sometimes a bit unreal, others scary, but with loads of courage and will to achieve goals and see beyond our little window!

A passion for life is surely something that needs to be fed and kept alive!

So… Next trip!? :D

ARA

Smile

2007-07-11T18:07:00.000+01:00

It's funny how one can give so many for free and feel really good about it... a candy, a flower, a kiss, a hug... A SMILE! It's funny how one can make "making people smile" a daily life achievement and get that good energy to go on day by day!

In Tourism business you need to offer your smile no matter how you're feeling inside. I just leave my stuff outside the door and try to give the best of me in order to give (not just offer) a true smile! The greatest part of this is that most of the times people - complete strangers - answer you back the same way!! The beauty of the job and the "fuel" that keeps me enjoying everyday as the first one...

And it's really funny when someone smiles at you first when you're in your own world and you feel strange to receive it, because you're used to have the initiative... The shyness comes evident sometimes, but other times like now I just answer back with an immense and positive smile! Maybe it's time to receive some return of the genuine ones I've been giving all my life...

Hopefully life brings me a smilly future now that it's just starting...

Let's share good energy and just... smile!

2007-07-10T11:01:00.000+01:00

"In what language are you thinking now, Rita Bonita?”
- Tales of an Adventure in Spain

The Challenge

A trip starts with some planning usually – flights, accommodation, calling friends there if it’s the case and goes with some study.
This one started as a small victory, panic, excitement and a sense of mystery… “You got assigned a tour!” was a mix of controlled hysteria and a sense of a new stage in my life. Feeling exhausted from work and not being able to think or do anything besides that, was a limit that needed to be crossed…

Planning and double checking are a part of the daily routine. The trip started on a monday with a flight and ends wednesday next week with another flight.
The expectations are high and I’m trying to be able to provide everything possible for a smooth trip. There are things in favour and against on me here. However, the negative ones, only I pointed them out so far.

Route notes and emotions

Writing this at the end of the trip can be a bit out of place since so many feelings, emotions, thoughts and actions took place and besides being sick and really tired, this is so far the most incredible trip I’ve had by its intensity, itinerary and the nice people I met on the way.

A big machine runs over all group trips. This acknowledgment was at least overwhelming to start with and also a bit of a shock, since in the studies I’ve done one knows that the sun and beach massive tourism rules the markets but also is a process of going against identities and traditions, transforming the sites in big tourists markets. Either way it’s a reality that promotes the economic development all over the world. It’s sustainability is another issue for a future text.

Being organised and flexible had certainly helped me in my life and an advantage in these 10 days. Lisbon to Malaga was a bit hard painful starting point with nervous stomach aces and a 10 hour bus trip.
Good weather and the discovery of a new city were positive against a big walk with the bag in the hot Malaga! A nice hostel with a terrace overlooking the ocean was a very nice start for my trip. My free day to prepare mentally! If I only knew that the trip would be going by so fast…

Discovered dark sanded beaches and saw the resemblance with the beach resorts back home. Next day was the day! Malaga airport and a bus trip to Torremolinos.

Met 30 new people I would be leading for the next scary days and I wouldn’t stop smiling… Not being an expert about certain locations of the trip, guided tour itineraries inside the monuments or other small details, made me feel a bit nervous along the way. Only for me though! Found myself being funnier and calmer then I ever thought I could be!! This and other discoveries made me overlook my life in a different and more confident perspective. Hopefully a start of a new cycle in life with the normal changes involved…

The African continent on the horizon was the first high point for the group. “3 continents in 3 days!!” - I would tell them. Gibraltar’s location made that possible and our visit involved a very close look of their famous inhabitants – the monkeys or “los monos”!! A limestone cave with enormous chambers (in a very touristy changed scenery was the other stop. The English town was a bit surprising with the prices (in pounds) and the different types of food.

The hot sun filled our days and it made Seville’s walking tour less pleasant as it could be.

Anyway, it was really nice to be back!! We visited the Reales Alcazares and the Cathedral straight after. We’d be doing a boat trip in the Guadalquivir River later in the evening and nice

views came to our eyes.

The four star hotel amazed everyone, but for one night only since Granada was expecting us the next day.
Directly to one of the most beautiful sites in the world, I was still feeling the group and arranging things for this new city I was discovering…

A million details overwhelmed us all as the Alhambra was being showed more and more… Generalife gardens were left for another time as I needed a mental break from the group after the big shock of the massive business going around these sites and group trips.
A remote hotel didn’t allow us to walk anywhere… But in the end a flamenco night was arranged and what seemed to be a boring night at the hotel turned to be a nice Latin and musical one. Unforgettable!

Photos were my break of everything and also a personal contribution for them. My special group! Hopefully others will follow soon, since I’m getting addicted!!

After one night in Granada, a big trip to Madrid was expecting us. Initially going by Toledo, this trip ended up being less stressful as I thought since everyone was sleeping most of the time.
We stopped in the “manchega” (from Castilla-La Mancha province) little town of Puerto Lapice where several Inns from D. Quixote’s time are visible. La “Venta del Quijote” was our stop for lunch.

Heading to Madrid, we were expected at the hotel and we decided the Prado Museum would be our highlight for the afternoon.
Hopefully the hotel was located in the central part of Gran Via, where it was possible to walk everywhere. We’d be staying in Madrid for 2 and half nights, since the last one would be over at 4am.

Proud of myself for knowing all their names by heart, I was even more relaxed until I got sick…
Still friendly and competent but exhausted, I had a mix of anger and fragility, will to disappear and to be taken care of and strength to go on!!
Their support and feedback was great all the time!

The last busy day of this (mine and theirs) Adventure in Spain, was discovering the beautiful Toledo, its location and heritage together with its connection to Lisbon – the river Tagus, “Tajo” in Spanish or “Tejo” in Portuguese.

The visit to the outstanding old centre of the Catholic Church in Western Europe – the Toledo cathedral – overwhelmed everyone with the presence of styles and heritage of the 3 different cultures that used to live here in harmony. Jews, Arabs and Catholics built a beautiful site, now

adays world heritage by UNESCO. Worth coming back for a closer look…

One of the highlights of the trip was coming closer – the Sword factory!! They say the Tagus waters are really good for building strong and flexible swords! Weapons, helmets, swords, knives and all sorts of touristy objects filled the areas.

A quick lunch followed us since we had to head back to Madrid for another sight-seeing tour and visit to the Royal Palace. The end of a busy day physical and mentally was filled with an early dinner (at least for the locals, since we arrived to the restaurant at 7:50pm!

Chocolate and “churros” were asked along the whole trip and finally at San Ginés everybody could have a good time. The next day was free and we’d only meet for dinner.

My voice was almost gone, so the dream land, a trip to the pharmacy and the travel channel (in Spanish) were a big part of my day – the warrior’s rest!

“In what language are you thinking now, Rita Bonita?” – They’d ask along the whole trip! A funny question that made me think about it and realise that I don’t know in which one of the 4 and half languages I’m thinking of most of the times. A big mix inside my mind!

The last dinner of the trip took place after a small walk (the daily one!) and was followed by a stop at kilometre 0, the point where all the distances in Madrid and Spain are counted from.

An early night and early morning ended these intense and amazing 10 days. For me a big mix of nostalgia together with a big throat ace and growing sneezes!

The goodbyes are always weird, but this one was special. There was a “see you in the future” with the teacher and lovely person I worked with the whole time. Motherly and respectful, she was the pillar of this trip and prepared these kids really well. She cried on my shoulder and me as usual kept my emotions inside. Waited until they all went through the passport control and headed back to the hotel.

This moment meant reality was closer for good and bad, but a day and half to go still. Not much fun though, because I ended up staying in bed as much as possible and headed to the plain completely ill.

A trip ends with some planning also and mostly a deep thought of when to do it again. You get addicted and it feels really good! See you next year!!

Wind

2007-07-10T10:44:00.000+01:00

Please blow my heart, the wind is coming to take it…

Let’s head towards happiness, the wind will blow in this direction eventually… Even with no common destiny, may this be your journey and mine... to go where we want the wind to takes us.

Dia e noite... sombra e luz! Night and day... shade and light!

2007-07-10T10:27:00.000+01:00

“Onde quer que haja muita luz também há muita sombra”.
Goethe

As pessoas e a vida ensinam-nos isto mesmo… Numa angústia e necessidade visceral de exteriorizar emoções, tento conjugar pensamentos e ideias em algo simples e claro. Tanto, tanto que a dor começa a percorrer o corpo e a emoção enche-me o peito após um violar de uma simples folha branca.
Sorrio…

Tanto para dizer, gritos e gestos num respirar intenso, frenético e ansioso, numa desesperada tentativa de respirar mais um pouco.

A busca da leveza, num esvaziar e filtrar da mente em busca de paz e clareza de espírito. A busca da luz interior, por entre as sombras que habitam o nosso ser, é um trabalho constante ou algo de deixamos para depois, uma e outra vez…

Querer ir com o vento sem saber que direcção tomar é uma faca de dois gumes… A indecisão num cruzamento, onde o caminho a seguir se apresenta em vários sentidos, arriscado e indefinido… É o ponto de ruptura que alcança a rotina em ritmo lento e angustiante.

Nem tudo é mau afinal. Uma questão de postura perante a vida… O que fazer, então?

Trabalhar, fazer merecer o que nos dão, dar o melhor de nós em tudo o que fazemos.

Fazer com que a luz que emana de nós seja maior que a sombra. Por vir de dentro. Por ser verdadeira. Pela força que todos transportamos e nem sempre nos damos o tempo e o esforço de a procurar.

A indecisão tortura-me o espírito. Mais do que luz ou sombra, o lusco-fusco de um qualquer amanhecer, após mais uma noite em claro…

A chuva cai, mas não varre as ideias que queremos libertar, apenas as concentra mais ainda num ensopado gigante que obrigatoriamente temos de enfrentar… Porque o sol vem breve apenas e o verão tarda em chegar…

Buscamos uma luz efémera e esquecemos que há sombras feitas de ilusões e que poderá existir mais luz além da que os olhos alcançam… aquela que só no nosso íntimo reside e só a nós pertence, mas que podemos e devemos partilhar com quem realmente vale a pena.

Porque sim!

English version

“Wherever there is a lot of light there is also a lot of shade”
Goethe

People and life teach us basically this... In an anguish and a gut need to put out my emotions, I try to align the thoughts and ideas in something clear and simple. So much that pain flows in my body and excitement fills my chest after my words cut through a blank sheet of paper.

I smile…

So much to say, shout and gesture in an intense, frenetic and ansious breathing in an attempt to breath a little bit longer.

The pursuit for lightness, the emptying of the mind, filtering it in search of peace and clarity. The pursuit of an inner light, beyond all the shades that live within us as beings, is a constant work in progress, or a procrastination, i.e. something we postpone again and again...

Wanting to go with the wind with no certain direction is like walking in an endless enclosure... The indecision in a crossroad, where the path to follow comes in many directions, risky and unpredictable... A kind of breaking point that captures the routine in a slow and torturing pace.

Not everything is bad in the end. A matter of overlooking life, maybe...

What to do then? Work, make yourself worthy of what you get, give your best in everything that you do...
Make your own light take over the shade. By coming from within. By being true. By the strength we all have in ourselves and most of the times don't bother to take the time or effort to look for it.

Uncertainty tortures my mind. More than light or shade, it's the twilight of a dawn, after another sleepless night...

It rains, but it doesn't sweep away the thoughts we want to set free, it just gathers them all in a giant and soaked something we need to face eventually... Because the sun shines shyly and the summer is still a long ahead...

We pursue an ephemeral light and ignore those shades coming from illusions, hoping for an existing light beyond what our eyes can reach... a very personal light that lives deep inside, one that we can and should share with who's worthy of it.

Just because!

Poet - old soul2

2007-07-10T10:22:00.000+01:00

Ventanias

Vento que sopras
Água que corres
Gente que vives e só mostras
O que te pedem. E então morres!

Acabas ainda mais só
Com a brisa a acariciar-te
A cobrir-te e a levar-te no pó
Como que a comunicar-te
As verdades que esqueceste de dizer
Ouvir e assumir, antes de morrer.

Pensa bem, agora
Agora que já não vale a pena, pensa
Talvez surja a tua hora
Hora de voltar a pensar,
Hora imensa…

Agora que acordas,
Mostra o que vales
E quebra as correntes, as cordas
Para viveres feliz com teus males.

ARA 2-99

Poet - old soul1

2007-07-08T04:11:00.001+01:00

Riquezas

Paredes velhas
Cimento que se parte
Casa com telhas
E porta nova. Que sorte!

Envolvem sentimentos
Por vezes já esquecidos
Hoje ricas em tormentos
Riquezas e sonhos desvanecidos

Fazem companhia ao vento
Brisa que corre sem correrias
Chuva que cai e gasta com o tempo
Essas paredes velhas e frias

O progresso inda vem longe
E tão depressa não vem
Então, o camponês apenas finge
E vive feliz…
À espera da riqueza que não tem.

ARA-1999

Local Multiculturality!!!

2007-04-22T19:22:00.000+01:00

“Where are you from?” they ask. I’m portuguese, I say. An “ah, ok” or “cool!” follows my answer. And we change the subject. Sometimes it continues, sometimes not...

I’m from a place where summer nights bring a completely black sky, stars seem like lamps and the moonlight is so bright that you can walk through the night almost everywhere you want. A small place where your neighbour knows your life better than his own and from where you want to run as fast as you can...... But you come back.

You just miss the scent of the land in a foggy morning, flowered trees in spring and those memories that only come together in their birth place. You breathe the pure air and all its energy and you’re ready to leave, one more time.Everywhere you are, there is always a place you call home. Even just to go back and get your memories and ideas together. Even for an hour. Even for a day.

Where am I from? I was born in Coimbra and lived in the countryside. Besides the secure place your memories remind you to miss, there is always that spot you just belong to, at a certain point in your life. Lisbon seemed so far away, confused, mysterious... And yet, it just got me!! Besides the craziness of traffic, this amazing city has so much to see. A land where cultures mix and emerge, where something is always happening... From the area you live in, it seems there is always a new part of the city to discover... And this is so good, because it’s true! The seven hills and viewpoints. The sun, the light and the joy it brings to streets, gardens and people. A city of small villages with their own character, LISBOA is the melting pot of all Portugal’s regions and accents. Unique sounds and simple pleasures like drinking on the street with your friends and everybody else in Bairro Alto.

Alfama. Narrow streets where you feel like getting lost are a part of the discovery of a new place, streets where fruits are sitting outside patiently and the ladies hang their clothes on the balconies or just lean on the window, watching time going by with curious visitors, maybe looking for something new to share with the neighbour in the front window 2 meters away...

“Saudade” is a Portuguese word that means nostalgia, melancholy in a way that makes you smile, like when you miss something or someone you love that is there waiting for you. Along with “Lisboa”, its metaphor of girl, lady and mother are common themes of Fado songs. Alfama and Bairro Alto hold places for every taste. The best of this is that even if you are a local, you can get surprised, as I did, discovering popular Fado, people like João (from a Tasca do Chico) and other ordinary people singing and sharing their love for the songs that fill our lives, our culture... Thank you to the outside looks (“macaco!”) that help me to remember about these nice things we have around and end up missing eventually...

Laid back Lisbon was the enchanting port of the Phoenicians around the 7th century b.c., the “Olissippo” of the Romans and the “Al Usbuna” from the Moorish period. The capital of the country since the 13th century, it was the centre of the spice trade from African and Asian colonies in the 15th and 16th centuries and one of the most important cities in the world. If you get asked why a certain restaurant has India in the name and serves, not indian food, but some of the most typical (and cheap) portugueses delights, now you know why!

Lisboa has “something”... You just need to give yourself time to feel, taste and listen to it! ... And stay a few more days! I keep doing it... and 4 years have gone by!
See you around!
ARA