Saturday, January 31, 2009

Huge cacti

This is just the top of two Cereus peruvianus monstruosus at Jardim Municipal (see previous post).

Friday, January 30, 2009

Once upon a time there was a wall

Oeiras downtown public park, Jardim Municipal, on a rainy day.
More photos of the park on this post .

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

M

This was a fantastic building from the 50s housing a nice restaurant. Although its circular shape has been kept, it is now an uncharacteristic structure where fast food is for sale!

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Reading room

Former library and reading room at the Gardens of Cascade, Royal Country Estate of Caxias.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Fake skywatch

The sun insists on hiding above the clouds so here is something blue on a surf school wall at São Pedro do Estoril.

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Swan

Railing detail on an old bridge over Ribeira da Lage, the small river that crosses town. The swan is the symbol of Oeiras council. It was chosen in 1759, during the Iluminism period, as a symbol of light, purity and graciousness. This bird also represents the clear spirit of men as well as the beauty of nobility.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

House numbers

All shots taken at Oeiras old town

Friday, January 23, 2009

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Blooming Aloe

This aloe species* is the most common african succulent plant around here, allways blooming in winter.

* There are more than 400.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Monday, January 19, 2009

Emerald and turquoise

18th century tiles covering a wall of the picnic area at Oeiras Palace gardens.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Saturday, January 17, 2009

São Bruno fortress

This small 17th century fortress at Caxias is one of many in the area, built for the coastal defense.One more photo on this post.

Friday, January 16, 2009

A room with a view (II)

Today is grey, dark, wet, very ugly! So I decided to post the latest sunsets just to cheer up a little.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Carolina ducks

Carolina or Wood ducks (Aix sponsa) at Parque Morais, Parede.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Remnants

'Marianas' was a shanty town at Carcavelos controlled by drug dealers. The surrounded area was allways full of junkies; you could easily see them on the road sides shooting heroin, if you were driving by, which was not a good idea at night. This was a dangerous place even for the police.
It took many years before the thousands of immigrants who lived there were relocated at different places according to a special program and houses and barracks were torn down a couple of years ago. This is all you see now.
New buildings will soon grow like mushrooms as roads are allready done and trees have been planted in the area, but in the meanwhile it's nice to see this space building free now.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Oeiras Mother Church - interior details

Oeiras Mother Church was first mentioned in historical documents dating back to the 16th century, but it was enlarged in 1777, so this is not its original look.

Sorry about the quality of the pics but, as photos are not allowed, I had to take them in a hurry... Even so I was caught!...

Monday, January 12, 2009

Broken stork

Gardens of Cascade at the Royal Country Estate of Caxias (18th century).
A fortune was spent to restore the site and yet the cascade is not working and everything seems to be broken and falling apart! I don't get this... (click on the photos to enlarge)
All statues on the ponds have been replaced by ugly bidimensional replicas in some white material. I think (and hope) they are still working on the originals so the statues will soon come back to where they belong.

Sunday, January 11, 2009

First air crossing of the South Atlantic

Portuguese aviation pioneer Sacadura Cabral and expert in astronomical science Gago Coutinho were the first to cross the South Atlantic Ocean by air in 1922, from Lisbon to Rio de Janeiro in Brasil.
The plane, a Fairey III-D, is on display at the Portuguese Maritime Museum and this replica stands by the Tagus river, between the Discoveries Monument and Belém Tower, western Lisbon.

Friday, January 9, 2009

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria intrepes at Parede beach promenade.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Under the morning sun

Click on the photo to enlarge it and have a better view of one of the seven hills in Lisbon, having São Jorge castle on top (conquered to the muslim by the first portuguese king in 1147).

Monday, January 5, 2009

Half bloom

Like many other south african plants, Strelitzia reginae blooms in (our) winter.

Sunday, January 4, 2009

Counts of Castro Guimarães Palace

Built in 1890, this palace, located at Santa Marta Cove (Cascais), was donated to the local authority in 1924, becoming the Municipal Museum.
(Click on the photo to enlarge)

Saturday, January 3, 2009

The 'island'

Amazing what you can find right in the center of Carcavelos, next to Oeiras.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Let the sunshine in!

No way! 2009 has started grey!...

Thursday, January 1, 2009

FIAT LUX

Let there be light in 2009!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!