Friday, October 31, 2008

The fifties (II)

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Today I was honored with another Kreativ Blogger award, this time from Steven, Cavite Daily Photo.
My ''6 things that make me happy'' are here.
The list of the new 6 awardees is the following:


Thank you so much, Steven! :-)

Thursday, October 30, 2008

An all time favorite


A warholized picture of my favourite odd fish

 
Ocean Sunfish (Mola Mola) at the Lisbon Oceanarium

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Praia da Torre

Torre beach and São Julião fortress.

Temperatures have dropped 10ºC from one day to the other! Hope this is just some cold wave not lasting for long... it's still October!

Kreativ Blogger Awards

Today I was honored with the Kreative Blogger award given to me by Tr3nta of (MAD) Daily Photo.
Now I have to list '6 things that make me happy', which are (among many others):


- Safaring in Mala Mala
- Spending some days at Manu Biosphere Reserve
- Snorkeling or diving at Ko Nang Yuan
- Sailing down the Ayeyarwady River
- Watching the sunrise on top of Tikal temple #4
- Walking the pathways by the Iguaçu waterfalls

Also it's my turn to pass this award to 6 bloggers and i will try to choose those who have not yet received it:


Thank you so much, Tr3nta!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Lady and the cat

A lazy cat is taking advantage of the hot October sun, while the patroness of fishermen, Our Lady of Conception, is contemplating the ocean at Oeiras marina.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Tavares 'rico'

One of the finest restaurants at Lisbon downtown (and the inevitable tram cables between me and the building...).
Click to enlarge the photo.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Spooky reflection

Blue glass tower of a shopping mall at Cascais.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Graffiti (II)

Clever work after a coffee trademark logo (Sical).

Friday, October 24, 2008

Cascais sea promenade

This is where Cascais sea promenade (2,5 kms) ends, at São João do Estoril.



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Thursday, October 23, 2008


'Pangeia Instrumentos'

''Pangeia instrumentos'' shows instruments, acoustical dispositives and instalations conceived after a process of experimentation and 'intersection' with design, music and performance. Based on the evolution of musical instruments through History, the exhibition can currently be seen at Palácio Anjos (previous post) and you can play them all.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Anjos Palace

Built in the 19th century, Anjos Palace was part of a big farm known at the time as Villa and Miramar Park. Located right ouside Lisbon, at Algés, it has become a cultural center housing some very good exhibitions.



Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Cascais old streets




Click on the photos for a better view.
Some information of this small town on the previous post.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Cascais bay

I've already shown you some shots taken at Cascais (check labels), but here is some basic information now:
The coastal settlement of Cascais, 30 kilometres west of Lisbon (Oeiras, where I live, stays half way), has its origins in the 12th century. The former fishing village gained fame as a resort for Portugal's royal family in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Nowadays it is a cosmopolitan suburb of the portuguese capital and one of the richest municipalities in the country, being a popular vacation spot for both portuguese and foreign tourists.
The small beach in the background can be seen here.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Top of abandoned building

This is the top of an amazing horse stable and coach house (1914), that is falling apart! Through all my life I've allways seen this private building closed and abandoned, but now, even the big green arched metal gates have been replaced by brick walls... It's a shame!

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Bananas

I would never post such a photo if I was living at the tropics, but being in Europe I think it is pretty cool to see bananas growing outdoors.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Jaws

Maybe not the best marketing for a diving tours operator... :-)
Well, actually, we have more than 30 shark species on our coast, but none of them is know to attack humans.

Thursday, October 16, 2008

A peep at the palace

Oeiras Palace, built by hungarian architect Carlos Mardel, was the former residence of Marquis of Pombal and Count of Oeiras (18th century). Some more information on the previous City Hall post.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Summer is back

The smallest beach at Cascais late afternoon.

After a grey weekend with the first autumn rain saturday morning, it's really hot again!

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

The dark room









This amazing video of a guy playing drums at a football stadium can be seen in a dark room installation, as part of a modern art exhibition (Young at Heart - Remix) at Cascais Cultural Center (see below). Photos are not allowed, but I took advantage of being in such a dark room where video cameras could not catch me. The formerly Convent of Our Lady of Pity (built 1641) became Cascais Cultural Center in 2000, after some great work inside, beeing now a multifunctional space.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Hotel Palácio


During World War II, with Portugal’s neutrality, Estoril was a haven for European royalty, and became known as the 'Coast of Kings'. Hotel Palácio (built 1930) was home to various royals, but was also frequented by both British and German spies, who often met for drinks at our Estoril Bar. Later, these stories of intrigue and espionage inspired various famous books and films, with the hotel providing a stage for the James Bond movie, 'On Her Majesty’s Secret Service'. (Hotel Palácio)

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Feeding frenzy

Huge koi at Vasco da Gama Aquarium (see previous post)

Saturday, October 11, 2008

Aquario Vasco da Gama

The museum







Vasco da Gama Aquarium opened its doors to the public in 1898, during the 4th Centenary Celebrations of the Discovery of the Sea-route to India by the renowned navigator Vasco da Gama.
It was during the 19th Century that Oceanography was born as a real science. However, the support of King Carlos was the determining factor in the construction of such an institution. Member of several scientific institutions, King Carlos distinguished himself as oceanographer and naturalist. From 1896 until 1907, he supervised twelve oceanographic campaigns off the Portuguese coast, aboard the 4 royal yachts "Amelia". He collected a lot of zoological material as well as physical and chemical data that he used as a remarkable work of scientific dissemination including several exhibitions and the publication of books and reports. Most of this zoological collection as well as the documents are now kept at the Vasco da Gama Aquarium.


King Carlos (1863-1908), also mentioned on the previous post, was the son of King Luis and Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (daughter of Victor Emmanuel II, King of Italy). He was murdered in Lisbon by republican activists as he travelled in an open carriage with the royal family. His heir, Prince Luís Filipe, was also shot to death. Several days later the younger son Prince Manuel was acclaimed King of Portugal (the last of the Braganza dynasty) until 1910, when Portugal became a republic. This was the end of monarchy.

Friday, October 10, 2008

The Citadel

Cascais Citadel and Fortress are a complex of buildings whose construction took place between the 15th and the 17th centuries, for the defense of the coast and Tagus river estuary.
In the year of 1871, many changes have been made inside, once the Citadel became the summer house of the royal family.
The man staring at the ocean with the binoculars in his hand is the sea lover King Charles I (1863-1908).
Seen from the small beach at the bay.
This is the western part of the fortress. The glass 'boxes' are the entrances to the elevators of the underground car parking. On the right side of the photo, where the portuguese flag stands, is the entrance to the marina that sits below the fort. (Click on the photo for a better view)
The Citadel is now housing Lisbon fashion week (Moda Lisboa) for a few days (see previous post).

Thursday, October 9, 2008

''Reflashion''

Lisbon fashion week (Moda Lisboa) is starting today; the shows will take place at Cascais Citadel.
I don't mind about the reflection on the glasses covering the posters on this photo because it has everything to do with the name of this season events: 'Reflashion'.