Sunday, March 31, 2013

Daylight Saving Time – DST


Carcavelos Beach
 
The conception of DST was mainly credited to an English builder, William Willett in 1905, when he presented the idea to advance the clock during the summer months. His proposal was published two years later and introduced to the House of Commons in February 1908. The first Daylight Saving Bill was examined by a select committee but was never made into a law. It was not until World War I, in 1916, that DST was adopted and implemented by several countries in Europe who initially rejected the idea. (timeanddate.com)

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Muddy Bench


Gardens of the Palace of the Marquis of Pombal and 1st Count of Oeiras, the founder of Oeiras
 
This month was the worst March in 40 years. Portugal received four times its average rainfall.

Friday, March 29, 2013

Bright Door

 
Castelo district, Lisbon

Thursday, March 28, 2013

River View


Alfama, Lisbon

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Reading Room

 
Alentejo House (Alverca Palace), Lisbon

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Little Surfers


Carcavelos Beach

Monday, March 25, 2013

Silk Floss Tree

 
Spiny Ceiba speciosa, native to the tropical and subtropical forests of South America, at Cascais

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Tile Work Detail


Uncommon, and somehow irregular, design made of tiles with different shapes, on the arches above the interior red doors of the church I posted on yesterday. You can see a very similar design on the bottom shot of the previous post. However, if you look carefully, that one is kind of fake as it is painted on square tiles. I guess it might have been made when the church was restored after the 1755 Earthquake, or even more recently.

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Tiled Sanctuary



Church of Our Lady of Remedies (17th century) at Carcavelos
 
I find this church very difficult to photograph. Have been here twice before and deleted all the shots I took. This time I'm posting two just because I don't think I can do any better than this. Sorry.

Friday, March 22, 2013

Shady Stream


Oeiras Palace gardens

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Happy Spring!


Woods at Carcavelos
*
Previous post update: Code Yellow on all our coast. It seems the ocean is finally 'doing its job'! :-)

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Seasons Are Changing


Carcavelos Beach

The most extreme tidal range occurs when the gravitational forces of both the Sun and Moon are in phase. However, it's just two days left to the March Equinox and the ocean still looks strangely calm this year (September Equinox here). The area shown in the photo usually is, if not submerged, at least all wet.
 
This is my contribution to the City Daily Photo mid-March theme: Festival of the Equinox
 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Vandalism


Planter benches at Cais do Sodré, Lisbon

Sunday, March 17, 2013

TV Headed Flying Pig


Stencil on a Coca-Cola painted ad at Santo Amaro Beach, Oeiras

Saturday, March 16, 2013

#7

 
Downtown Cascais

Friday, March 15, 2013

Tourists

 
Praia da Rainha (Queen's Beach) at Cascais

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Navigators Lane

 
One of the many old narrow streets at Cascais

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Palácio Vagos/Clinica de São Cristóvão (St. Christopher Clinic)



The original building, which dated back to the Middle Ages, didn't survive the 1755 Great Earthquake. The palace was rebuilt according to the late 18th century style and in 1913 it was converted into a clinic. 

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Tiled Walls


Restaurant at the Alentejo House (Alverca Palace), Lisbon

Monday, March 11, 2013

Arab Patio




Alentejo House (Alverca Palace), Lisbon

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Iron Work By Jorge Vieira


City Hall Square, Lisbon

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Cerca Moura (Moorish Wall)


Alfama, Lisbon
 
Lisbon was conquered to the Moors in 1147. This is the best preserved part of what was then a Moorish city defensive wall.

Friday, March 8, 2013

The Tagus In The Background

 
Castelo district, Lisbon

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Decay (LXXX)


Odéon Theater (1927) at downtown Lisbon
 
The opening of hundreds of Warner Bros/Lusomundo cinema rooms in shopping malls decades ago in this country ruined most of the wonderful theaters from the glorious period.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Tiled Buildings


Narrow street in Lisbon

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Église Saint Louis-des-Français


Church founded in 1552 for the Francophone Catholic community in Lisbon.
This is not the original look of the building which was seriously damaged after the 1755 Earthquake.

Monday, March 4, 2013

Dining Room



Alentejo House (Alverca Palace), Lisbon
 
Just a bit decayed, it's the perfect place to rent if you want to give a great party.

Sunday, March 3, 2013

2M (March 2)



800.000 people protested against the government in Lisbon yesterday (1,5 million in 40 cities).
 
The Portuguese aren't short of reasons to grumble. The country is forecast to weather a third straight year of recession in 2013, unemployment has ballooned to a record 17,6% (!!!) and an avalanche of tax increases and welfare cuts shows no sign of letting up as the government looks for another €4 billion to cut.

Apart from the global crisis, we all know who the people responsible for the chaotic situation we are currently facing in Portugal are and not even one banker or one corrupt politician is behind bars.

Saturday, March 2, 2013

Roman Theater


Alfama, Lisbon
 
The theater was built in the first century BC by Emperor Augustus and expanded in 57 AD with a capacity for 5000 people. It was abandoned in the Middle Ages and disappeared underground until Lisbon's post-earthquake reconstruction in the 18th century. 
Taking photos inside the museum is not allowed, but if you want to know what the theater looked like, click here and watch the video.

Friday, March 1, 2013

CDP March Theme Day: Café Chairs

 
Aura Café at the arcades around Terreiro do Paço Square, Lisbon