Bites and Bits - Where I have been lately

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Lisboa | 27.02

Some days you feel like things are stuck, your life is stuck in the same place, and you can't leave the place where you are.
But then a small action can make you feel that there is some future, things can be slow, be going somewhere.

detail | Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Lisboa | 27.02

Projects pile up, slowly and slowly take shape.
Days pass by so quickly, more quickly than I can do the things I want to.
I have a lack of focus and personal organization. But I'm working on it...

seagul | Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, Lisboa | 27.02

On other subjects, last week I went to Lisbon, and spend the morning near Jerónimos Monastery. I ate a pastel de Belém and saw two temporary expositions of the National Archaeology Museum. [QUINTA DO ROUXINOL. Roman kilns in the Tagus estuary and Global Change. and Technology atthe Origins of Agro-Pastoralism in Alto Ribatejo] I really enjoyed the museum, I will for sure return sometime soon.

Santuário de Fátima | 02.03

Then on Saturday went with my family to Fátima Sanctuary.
I'm not a religious person, but I respect others beliefs. It was very sad seen persons talking out loud in a place where is suppose to be a meditative place. It was even sadder seen a religious ceremony in the open sky and people on their cell phones.

The space around the Sanctuary is quite nice, specially the access to the parking lots. It was a small garden with such quite and calmness. The light was gorgeous, so as the blooming trees.

Nazaré | 02.03

After Fátima we drive to Nazaré for a quite late lunch on friend Restaurant - A Tasquinha.
Delicious food, good white wine and beyond excellent Port Wine.

Gambas à Tasquinha | Nazaré | 02.03

After lunch we enjoy the good weather and a small walk near beach.

until the next time... see you around...

Sting in the ear | Love will tear us apart

Joy Division

love will also tear us apart here...




Nouvelle Vague

The Streets of Óbidos

Óbidos | 08.February

I'm not sure if it's a matter of taste, or acquired style, but in my own photography I tend to like them more without human presence. Empty streets, nature and so on.
It might a reflection of myself, and how I see myself in the world... or just a question of opportunity.

Óbidos | 08.February

Óbidos
Castle & Town
The fortificafion has roman origins. It was also conquer by D. Afonso Henriques {first King of Portugal} in 1148.
It was rebuild multiple times over times.
The lands of Óbidos were always under the Queen’s of Portugal command.
It is one of the few castles in Portugal that still have complete exterior walls, that makes the town and the castle inseparable, magic and so unique.

Óbidos | 08.February

Óbidos | 08.February

{ in the Óbidos series:
- Óbidos Street Lamps I
- Óbidos Street Lamps II
- The Streets of Óbidos }

Óbidos | Street Lamps II

Óbidos | 08.February

Óbidos is such a magical village.
Most of it still inside old middle age walls. Visiting it makes you thing you are in another era...
It can be a very tourist oriented place, but at the same time, you can go there and enjoy a quite moment. You can climb the walls, and the castle and imagine how life and things were many centuries ago.
This post is a second part of photography collection of Óbidos Street Lamps.

Óbidos | 08.February

Óbidos | 08.February

{ in the Óbidos series:
- Óbidos Street Lamps I
- Óbidos Street Lamps II
- The Streets of Óbidos }

Óbidos | Street Lamps I

Óbidos | 08.February

There's something magical about old looking street lamps, either when they're on, or just when against some contrasting background, like the blue sky, or a white wall.
On them we can see rust passages of time and intricate lines.
At night when they're on we can marvellous our self  with the game of light and shadows they produce.

Óbidos | 08.February

Óbidos | 08.February

Keep and eye for the second part of this photo collection.

{ in the Óbidos series:
- Óbidos Street Lamps I
- Óbidos Street Lamps II
- The Streets of Óbidos }

Torres Vedras | Carnival'13 - Reciclagem

Ecoponto Verde | Carnaval Torres Vedras - 2013

 This year the theme of the Carnival was Recycling. Thought it might sound a hard theme to came up with a mask there were some nice and creative ones.
I've only seen one of the parades, although I've been in all of them (except the sunday one), which was the Friday one, were all kids from the city and surroundings mask them self.

I was quite busy, that's it took me so long to post theses photos, and also why (sadly) I don't have more.

Ecopontos Amarelo | Carnaval Torres Vedras - 2013

Birds | Carnaval Torres Vedras - 2013

Sad Clown?! | Carnaval Torres Vedras - 2013

and my favourite photograph | Divers | Carnaval Torres Vedras - 2013

Bites & Bits | Life (short) Update

Óbidos | 08.Feb

It as been a long time since the last update.
So much as happen since then. This is the problem of keeping a blog... or pretty much anything in my life. I started, I have good and nice intentions to keep doing it, but something come up, and I leave it for tomorrow, and then for another day... and another... when I have notion weeks might have passed... or even months.
Last update was in the beginning of the month, I was supper excited with Briana's visit, and meeting her friends Sabrina and Karlijn.
They came for the Carnival, and it was great! As I knew they were food lovers (just like me) I've manage to arrange as much of traditional dishes for them to try. Things like shrimp rice and rabbit rice, portuguese cheese and wine, cod, corn bread, green broth, sponge cake... and couple of more things. I hope they've enjoyed as much I did.
Although the good company, the weather was not the nicest thing ever. For the couple first days they stayed with me, it was ok, cold and windy (as usually at this time of the year) but with sun peaking though the clouds. The last day was rainy and cloudy, just like a really winter day.
I didn't photograph much on these days, I focus more on having a good time, and of course... eating.

Sabrina, Briana and Karlijn | Óbidos | 08.Feb

I was hoping that I could enjoy the rest of the carnival, but the weather didn't agreed with me. Monday night was rainy, and though I was with a crazy (fluorescent pink) wig and weather protect, my friends weren't. We have to choose, end the carnival or celebrate it indoors. We did the second one. As we did on Tuesday.
After that I considered myself on holidays (like I have done very much!) and stay at home in my pyjamas for whole day! As I've been obsessed with The Lord of the Rings, with the OST of the movies, I read the books. By that time I've finished the first one, and started the second. (It's a slow progress, because I want to enjoy it as much as I can).

Eternal number 8 | Óbidos | 08.Feb

I've been considering and over thinking the purchase of a tablet. It's easy to transport and take anywhere, I could read the thousands of pdf's books that I own, yadyada... blablabla.
The big problem as always been the price, and if I really want to use that money for that.
Finally I've manage to decide in purchasing one. It's not top market, or super duper anything. But it works and even have a quirky name/brand/model - it's a Dino.
So now I have my own personal dinosaur!!! How could I resist, right? And all that without having to break my piggy bank. Superb!

Óbidos | 08.Feb

This past week (18th to 24th Feb) as been a mixed feelings one. A lot of work and dreams were on the table. But things move so slow! that it can get a bit frustrating. I've basically focus on this one thing that I really want to work, but at the same time I felt that I wasn't going very further, which lead to feel unproductive and trap too. Pulling me to try (one more time) to do more than one thing at once.  Try to balance a bunch of my dreams and projects in one plate, and at the same time try to feel productive and happy at the same time.
For the next week I've challenged myself to do things differently, I will be working to keep myself on track. (but - as usually - I don't have much faith in me and in self imposed things).
Until the next time ;)

08.Feb