The customer

Roasted chestnuts point of sale at Oeiras train station.

Contrasting Oeiras

Church window

Our Lady of the Incarnation church at Chiado, Lisbon downtown.

Fog on the horizon

Paula Rego

Paula Rego is the most famous living portuguese female painter. She was born in Lisbon (1935) within a rich family, during Salazar's regime, which would be a later influence in her work. Married to an english artist, she moved to London in 1975.

Her work often gives a sinister edge to storybook imagery, emphasizing malicious domination or the subversion of natural order, sometimes dealing with polemic social realities.

Paula Rego was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1989 and was awarded the Degree of Doctor of Letters honoris causa by Oxford University in June 2005.

Part of her work can currently be seen at Palácio Anjos (and taking photos is allowed!).

Black cat

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This season I was honored with the Christmas Spirit Award from La Clau (Conversaciones de café), Mexico. Thank you so much, I really appreciated it! :-)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

This year Christmas decorations are very humble and discreet. I think it's a wise example of saving and I'm glad they did it (at last!).
This is the façade of Oeiras City Hall main building at twilight.

24th Dec.

The representation of Christ's birth is displayed at the main square of Oeiras downtown.

Gate

Private house at Carcavelos

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AWARDS

In the last couple of days I was honored with the 'Butterfly award' given to me by Tr3nta, (MAD) Daily Photo, Dusty Lens, North Metro and Beyond and Angela, Nice Daily Photo.
Thank you all so much!

I've also got the '(This blog believes and looks forward) PROXIMITY' award, also from Tr3nta, (MAD) Daily Photo. Thank you one more time, pal!

Now I know I should pass these awards to eight people, but I just can't... I've been visiting such fantastic blogs and have met such nice people around here since I became a CDP member that it is impossible for me to name only a few. So, don't be angry with me and please try to understand. All of you have been awarded now and you know who you are. Thank you!

Autumn (II)

This is my last autumn post as winter has officially started yesterday.

1- tunnel leading to Carcavelos beach.

2- Estoril train station.

Gotan Project

Gotan Project have performed yesterday night in Lisbon. This was the best concert I've been in years! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!

Yesterday at the beach

(Click on the photos to enlarge)

The fifties (III)

'Saisa' restaurant at Santo Amaro de Oeiras beach.

ISAF - International Sailing Federation

'100 years of sailing' monument (1907-2007) and the old stone walls of the Citadel, seen from the marina at Cascais.

Watering lion

Fountain at the Count of Castro Guimarães museum gardens, Cascais.

A room with a view

A little Hockney play

Lionfish (Pterois volitans) under actinic light at Lisbon 'Oceanário'.

Shadow

Oeiras Palace

Fishing boat

Carcavelos beach

Wooden structure

Solid looking structure holding a glass dome of a shopping mall at Carcavelos.
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And speaking of solid structures:

Manoel de Oliveira is the oldest active movie director in the world. His work has been awarded 39 times, not only in Portugal but also in several cinema festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Montréal, Chicago or Tokyo. Actors like Catherine Deneuve, John Malkovich, Marcello Mastroianni, Irene Papas or Michel Piccoli have worked with him. Yesterday he has celebrated his 100th birthday while shooting his new movie and he is allready working on the next. Isn't this amazing?

Red and Yellow

 

1- Mailbox + recycling container at Carcavelos;

2- Oeiras Fireman headquarters

Belém Tower

The Belém Tower was built in the early 16th century in the portuguese Manueline Gothic style, to commemorate Vasco da Gama's expedition (sea-route to India). This defensive construction has become one of the symbols of the city, a memorial to the nation's power during the Age of the Great Discoveries.

The tower (UNESCO World Heritage Site, 1983) is located close to the Discoveries Monument, at the mouth of the Tagus River estuary, western Lisbon.

Between the tides

Gladly the cold wave seems to be gone, so it was nice to come back to the sea shore.

For sale

Brand new restored old houses for sale and another still in progress, all on the same street at Oeiras.

Rua das Alcássimas

This is supposed to be the oldest street in Oeiras (rua = street). There are some nice restored houses, but I've chosen these as I think they show the real atmosphere of the place.