Terras de Luz e Mar: Portugal

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terça-feira, 16 de outubro de 2012

Holidays in Portugal

I almost wasn't able to go to Portugal last September. My cat Fofinho has been very ill,demanding constant care and attention. This time, we couldn't ask our neighbors to take care of him. Too much work and responsibility...

So, my husband stayed here with him and I managed to go to Portugal to visit my mother, family and a couple of friends.

My mother's health has been worse - she has many difficulties to walk and a lot of pain in her back and legs- and I wanted to spend some time with her and take some measures to make her life easier and comfortable.

I arrived in Portugal very tired since I hadn't been sleeping very much due to my cat's situation. I wasn't feeling very relaxed either: I was fearing that something might happen to Fofinho while I was in Portugal and my husband would have to deal alone with some unpleasant and painful situation. The expectations given by the vet were very bad...

My stay in Portugal was a bit depressing since I found some of my friends and relatives facing serious economical troubles.Every year I go to Portugal, the economical situation looks worse than before. Some of my friends have lost their jobs, other needed to close their businesses, etc, etc...

Meanwhile, we almost lost Fofinho during my short stay there, but since I arrived to the NL, he looks better.Let's see how it goes. I keep going with all the treatments. I must write a post all about it.

I have so many things on my mind now- I feel like I have two lives, one here, one there- that my mood for blogging has been very low.I 'm now trying to understand all the new rules and taxes of the Portuguese State Budget 2013, so I can explain to my mother in the best possible way how she will be affected by all of this mess. This time, she will lose a very good deal of money and the situation is more serious than ever.

Nevertheless, Portugal is still for me the most beautiful country in the world, and for some moments, I was able to forget all my fears and worries...:-)

Portugal, September 2012

Alcochete

From Férias Portugal 2012

Cascais

From Férias Portugal 2012

Galapos, Setúbal

From Férias Portugal 2012

Lisbon, Parque das Nações

From Férias Portugal 2012

sexta-feira, 5 de outubro de 2012

Portugal: 869 years of History

October, 5th 1143: Portugal became an independent country by the Treaty of Zamora.

Portugal: The beauty of simplicity

Best Tourism Video in the World 2012 in SILAFEST Festival in Serbia and one of the four awarded films in Cannes Festival Corporate Media & TV Awards 2012

World Heritage Portugal- National Geographic Channel 2008 (English)

Monocle, October 2012
Generation Lusophonia: why Portuguese is the new language of power and trade

segunda-feira, 28 de novembro de 2011

Fado:World Immaterial Heritage

Fado...our national song is from this Sunday World Immaterial Heritage! Congratulations Portugal!!!!!!

Some of my favourite Fados...

Mariza, Oh Gente da Minha Terra

Dulce Pontes, Canção do Mar

Amália Rodrigues, Barco Negro

Carlos do Carmo, Os Putos

sábado, 18 de setembro de 2010

Costa Nova and Aveiro

Costa Nova, Aveiro, Portugal

(Summer vacation, August 2010)

You know how I was missing, not only our mountains, but also our pretty beaches...

So, this year's choice, "para matar saudades", was Costa Nova, nearby Aveiro...

From Costa Nova

Why I love so much Costa Nova? Well, let's see...

the waves...

From Costa Nova

the seafood, the fish, well, all the food in general :-))...

(my heart, my soul and my stomach, of course, became so full and happy this vacation...:-))

Mariscada (Restaurante A Marisqueira)

From Costa Nova

Arroz de Marisco (Restaurante Clube de Vela)

From Costa Nova

Arroz de tomate com choco frito (Restaurante Canastra do Fidalgo)

From Costa Nova

Jaquinzinhos com Molho de Escabeche (Restaurante D. Fernando)

From Costa Nova

Fritada de peixe

From Costa Nova

Arroz de Feijao

From Costa Nova

Queijo Fresco

From Costa Nova

the Rimini ice-creams....oh, dear!! So good!!!

From Costa Nova

... and, of course, I love also Costa Nova because of the famous wood houses with colourful stripes, Os Palheiros.
;-)

From Costa Nova

Look how beautiful was the moon when I made the previous photo...I just loved the evening strolls...:-)

From Costa Nova

We went also to the beautiful city of Aveiro with its canals and Art Nouveau buildings and we took a boat trip in a typical Moliceiro ...

From Aveiro

Ah, this is Aveiro, Portugal, not Almere, Netherlands...;-)

From Aveiro

Finally, Hotel Azevedo ;-) has revealed itself to be a very good choice to stay in Costa Nova ;-) Ah, and I saw some Netherlanders there...;-)

Yes, I was happy in Costa Nova! ;-)

Misia, Triste Sina

quinta-feira, 16 de setembro de 2010

Miranda do Douro

Miranda do Douro, Tras-os-Montes, Portugal

(Summer vacation, 16th and 17th August 2010)

We arrived in Portugal through Miranda do Douro.
This town is located in the Northeastern part of Portugal, on the border with Spain.

Miranda is a very beautiful town to go for a stroll and enjoy ancient monuments and medieval History...

From Miranda do Douro

Miranda is a very special town...

Miranda has its own language ;-)...Mirandes...

From Miranda do Douro

Mirandes is a romance language belonging to the Astur-Leonese linguistic group. Miranda is celebrating today the co-official recognition (along the Portuguese language) granted by the Parliament on 17th September 1999.

Parabienes, Miranda! :-)

We read a bit of Mirandes when we were walking on the streets ;-)

From Miranda do Douro

I bought these dictionaries and grammars to learn the differences between Mirandes and Portuguese ;-)

From Miranda do Douro

Portuguese and Spanish readers, guess what I found cute on this page...;-)

From Miranda do Douro

Miranda has also its typical dances with Pauliteiros de Miranda...

If you click on the link, you will see how the men dress themselfs ;-)

We saw the girls, As Pauliteiritas de Miranda.
If you click on the video, you will see one of the dances ;-)
Do you like it?

Miranda has its own meat too, protected by European Union ;-)

"Quero uma Posta Mirandesa, por favor!" :-)

From Miranda do Douro

It was our lunch after our boat trip in Arribas do Douro.
Please, click on the link so you can see more photos about this fabulous landscape.

From Miranda do Douro

We stayed at Albergaria O Mirandes. It is not expensive, the rooms are very good, the food is delicious and the owner and the staff are very friendly.

A must go again, for sure!

Casa de Sezim: a historical portuguese house

For so many years, I wished to go there, to Casa de Sezim, and stay for a while. This vacation, I went there and just stay one night, but at least, I saw the house and its beautiful walls. Next time, I will stay more time. :-)

From Casa de Sezim

Antonio Pinto de Mesquita, the owner of this charmante house, was an embassador. Here we see a photo with him and Queen Elisabeth II when she visited Portugal in February 1957.

From Casa de Sezim

This historical house is in the present family since 1376. Its XIX century panoramic wallpapers with scenes from both the new and the old world become a motive of international curiosity because of their rarity.

From Casa de Sezim

Casa de Sezim is happily situated in Guimaraes, Portugal's first capital, also an exquisite city.

From Casa de Sezim

In this historical house, the breakfast is served in this terrace with view to the gardens. Very nice!! We enjoyed so much!

From Casa de Sezim

We just stayed one night and enjoyed the house for one morning, but the friendly welcome of the owners and the staff made us wish to come there again ;-)

To see more photos of the beautiful Casa de Sezim, please, click here.
For more information (in portuguese), please, click here.
For more information about portuguese historical houses where you can stay and enjoy unforgetable moments, please, click here.

Or you can buy this book. It is in Portuguese and in English.

From Coisas Minhas

quarta-feira, 15 de setembro de 2010

Porto Sentido

Porto, Portugal

(Summer vacation, 21 August 2010)

The capital of the North, the second city more important of my country:
The Noble and Loyal city of OPorto.
Welcome to one of my portuguese favorite cities ;-)

From Porto

This photo was taken in Vila Nova de Gaia, the city in front of the Invicta (as we call OPorto), where the caves or Port wine cellars are located.
Here, we see Barcos Rabelo, the boats that used to cross Douro river (from Alto Douro to Vila Nova de Gaia) with the Port wine barrels.

After a stroll in this beautiful hotspot, we were ready to celebrate Carla's birthday ;-)
We had our lunch here, in Vila Nova Gaia. The restaurants have great views to the Invicta.
Everybody (except me) have chosen the typical Oporto's sandwich: Francesinha ("little frenchie", lit.). I like it, but I was full. I had eaten a lot in the previous days ...;-))

From Porto

This "lekker" sandwich is made with bread, wet-cured ham, linguiça, fresh sausage, steak or roast meat and covered with molten cheese and a hot thick tomato and beer sauce served with french fries. If you want to know more about Francesinha, please, click here. Really huge, don't you think? But tasty, very tasty ;-)

After lunch, we went to Solar do Vinho do Porto, where we drank a glass of Port wine. We were simply enjoying the day :-)

From Porto

We sat here, in this beautiful living room,

From Porto

because there was no place in the garden outside...

From Porto

No wonder why, Solar do Vinho do Porto has a very nice view...:-)

From Porto

Rui Veloso, Porto Sentido

(Thank's Carla for this wonderful afternoon ;-) Gostei muito!!)

terça-feira, 14 de setembro de 2010

My Place on Earth is...

Alto Douro Vinhateiro, Portugal

(Summer vacation: 18th, 19th and 20th August 2010)

From Douro

Alto Douro province, located in the Northeast of Portugal, was considered by UNESCO, in 14 December 2001, as World Heritage Cultural Landscape.The river you see on the photo is Douro, one of the major rivers of the Iberian Peninsula.The name may have come from the Celtic tribes that inhabited the area before Roman times.

From Douro

The famous Port wine (Vinho do Porto) is exclusively produced in these beautiful Douro Valley mountains. Port wine is a sweet, red wine, often served as a dessert wine. For more information about it, please, click here.
On the photo, you see the famous socalcos. The vineyards are displayed in stairs.

From Douro

When we travel by train, boat or car in Douro Valley, we see the names of the most famous Port wine producers, like Sandeman....

From Douro

or...

Cálem
Cockburn's
Croft
Ferreira
Fonseca
Kopke
Offley
Ramos Pinto
and others...

Some of these farms (Quintas) are also beautiful places to visit or stay.
This photo is from Quinta de Santo Antonio, where we have stayed during a couple of days, enjoying the exquisite landscape.

From Douro

Our bedroom window's scenario...:-) marvelous, isn't it? :-)

From Douro

I also like to go to Pinhao to enjoy a glass of Port in the Vintage Hotel ;-)

From Douro

Douro is my place on Earth. There, I feel calm, well, plenty.

From Douro

I' ve so many good memories from Douro:-)

the train travel between Regua-Pocinho: the scenario, the mountains, the Quintas, the vineyards, the river...unforgetable!!

the travel by car from Rio Torto to Douro. ;-) Just awesome!

the night we get lost in the vineyards and we were rescued by a Port wine producer ;-)

and this year, the breathtaking 4 hours ride in the mountains and the endless talks with Aida and Pedro ...;-)

I drink a glass of Port wine to Douro! And you?

Aledys, thanks for the link.