Monday, December 31, 2012

Closed On Mondays


National Pantheon, Lisbon

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Decay (LXXV)



I was walking in Caxias when something peeking through the trees caught my attention. I jumped over the fence, walked for one minute and found this pavilion which is falling apart. I looked for the main residence and, actually, there are two manors not far away but none of them looks regal enough, so the 'mystery' remains.

Friday, December 28, 2012

Aloe Arborescens

 
Lisbon-Oeiras-Cascais railroad at Cruz Quebrada
 
Aloe arborescens blooms once a year around Christmas

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Tiled Building


 Santa Clara Square, Lisbon

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

The Sé

 
Lisbon Cathedral (1150)

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Feliz Natal/Happy Christmas


Silk Floss Tree dieing blooms at the Tropical Botanic Garden, Lisbon

Monday, December 24, 2012

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Foggy Morning

 
Nova Oeiras

Friday, December 21, 2012

Facing The Ocean


Conceição Beach, Cascais

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Decay (LXXIV)


Former beach bar at Parede built in 1959 and destroyed by the ocean in the 1980's.
Every winter parts of the building are washed away.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Devout


(Old) Church of Our Lady of Conception, Lisbon
 
This was my first visit to this church and I have no idea 'who' is inside the glass box - creepy! -, some saint I guess. I could have asked the woman but she was so concentrated that I didn't want to bother her (actually she didn't even see me).
 
This is just one more church that collapsed after the 1755 Great Earthquaque. However, the stone elements of the façade were reused in the reconstruction and are a great example of the original Manueline style. Unfortunatelly I didn't manage to get a proper shot - narrow street, tram cables and much traffic - but you can check it here.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Hello

 
Wood Duck at Morais Park, Parede

Monday, December 17, 2012

São Julião Fort


Carcavelos Beach
 
This fort dates back to 1553 and is considered to be the greatest coastal defense building in Portugal. During the French invasion, Napoleon troops have occupied it in the year of 1807, but British allies conquered it one year later and in 1809 the fort was again in Portuguese hands.
It currently is the official residence of the Minister of Defense.

Sunday, December 16, 2012

#15


Alfama, Lisbon

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Friday, December 14, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

National Pantheon


Church of Santa Engrácia, Lisbon
 
Building work proceeded from 1682 through 1712, when the architect died. King John V lost interest in the church, concentrating his resources in the gigantic Convent of Mafra. The church was left unfinished until the 20th century when it has been converted into the National Pantheon, in which important Portuguese personalities are buried.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Arcades Around The Square


Terreiro do Paço, Lisbon

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Drying Laundry


Alfama, Lisbon's oldest district
The Sé (Lisbon's Cathedral), built in 1150, stands in the background

Monday, December 10, 2012

Tram #28 (II)


Alfama, Lisbon

Sunday, December 9, 2012

The Guitar Player


Alfama district, Lisbon

Saturday, December 8, 2012

After the Flooding


Last thursday it rained all day long and Oeiras was flooded. The trash stuck on the railing helps us understand how high the water level was.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Saramago Foundation

 
Casa dos Bicos, Lisbon (check the building here)

José Saramago (16 November 1922 – 18 June 2010) was a Portuguese novelist, poet, playwright and journalist.
In 1992, the Portuguese Prime Minister Cavaco Silva -yuck!-, who currently is our President -yuck!-, ordered the removal of The Gospel According to Jesus Christ from the European Literary Prize's shortlist, claiming the work was religiously offensive. Disheartened by this political censorship of his work, Saramago went into exile on the Spanish island of Lanzarote, upon which he resided until his death in 2010.
In 1998 he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Sunshine and Pouring Rain


Underground passage to Carcavelos Beach

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Church of São Vicente de Fora


Lisbon (1582-1627)
It's a huge building that was once used as a monastery. Check it here.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Breakfast at Alfama

 
My favourite café at Alfama, Lisbon's oldest district

Monday, December 3, 2012

Former Coastal Defense

 
São Bruno Fortress (17th century) at Caxias

Sunday, December 2, 2012

The Cascade Garden


A royal playground built in the early 18th century at Caxias

Saturday, December 1, 2012

CDP December Theme Day: "My Street"


This is the end of the street where I live.
The aqueduct was built to supply water to the palace of the first Count of Oeiras, the founder of the city of Oeiras (1759)