tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25693794450940626162024-03-19T07:42:43.867+00:00DCveR's Twilight ZoneDCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-91536902112423670712007-11-21T22:34:00.000+00:002007-11-21T22:50:58.441+00:00Featured photo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqXhluCmdGWYrnyrLF-IpK_VzwkKCuJQKFQgjj4j5KxWmrWAojrfeI0A_dFAEbzy1KChbj0nggjqtzZh9aaFN8KWFZtRUeWLP6Q6cmZxoBO-xktb4uFe3WPm-Pbv_wE3a_MT1ysKfJ7EN/s1600-h/IMG_0022.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMqXhluCmdGWYrnyrLF-IpK_VzwkKCuJQKFQgjj4j5KxWmrWAojrfeI0A_dFAEbzy1KChbj0nggjqtzZh9aaFN8KWFZtRUeWLP6Q6cmZxoBO-xktb4uFe3WPm-Pbv_wE3a_MT1ysKfJ7EN/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5135426136954594594" /></a>Dawn at our place. GH took the photo, obviously. At this time of day either I'm already off to work, not home yet or sound asleep...<br /><br />PS: The dinner mentioned on the previous post was <a href="http://www.quintadecatralvos.com/eng/default.asp" target="_blank">here</a>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-6672540080799217442007-11-17T13:38:00.000+00:002007-11-17T13:51:26.677+00:0012th AnniversaryYup. GH and I have been stuck with one another for twelve years today!<br />And trust me: it is not easy. Putting up with me for all this time?<br />Presents will be swapped, a special dinner will take place on a special place and some more celebrations will occur... nobody is invited of course, today is just for the two of us!DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-7826831700968034662007-10-29T08:28:00.000+00:002007-10-29T08:30:41.657+00:00Third Strike<a href="http://business.guardian.co.uk/retail/story/0,,2200645,00.html">Yet again GAP contracts slave work</a>. After the cases in 2004 and 2006, another factory is found using slave children to make GAP products, this time in India.<br />Again GAP denies any knowledge and discards any responsibility, claiming they simply won’t market the products made by the said factory.<br />Not enough I’d say. Maybe that would do the first time it happened, but if this kind of situation happens systematically with the same company something smells fishy.<br />Well, if instead of a big corporation we were talking about a two bit criminal in California he’d be in for life… well, maybe neither US nor international laws would have a way to force GAP out of business, maybe there is no third strike law to prevent companies from using slave work.<br /><br />But buyers can surely force GAP out of business and with that show all other companies that the world has had enough of slavery.<br /><br />So if you’re reading this please let all your friends know what is going on and start boycotting all GAP products.DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-35659169338814768432007-10-19T18:57:00.001+00:002007-10-19T18:59:38.984+00:00Relativity?GH's finding on an alleged "gourmet store" in Lisbon: pop tarts!<br />Ok, I do admit we sometimes shop there for some specific items...DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-61087225174258745202007-09-15T16:40:00.001+00:002007-09-15T16:43:59.895+00:00Featured photo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/4664841/santa-clara-convent.jpg" taget="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px;" src="http://static2.bareka.com/photos/medium/4664841/santa-clara-convent.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Inside Santa Clara's Convent, in Funchal. On the beautiful Madeira Island.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.panoramio.com/photo/4664841" target="_blank">Check out where it is</a>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-59187968104405512282007-09-11T16:47:00.000+00:002007-09-11T16:49:27.457+00:00Not really making up for the lack of postsTry and listen to this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dazkarieh.com/ingles.htm">Dazkarieh</a>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-33958070383820828912007-07-20T23:18:00.000+00:002007-07-21T14:56:46.667+00:00Making do<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07GNe9aLG7qFxDBg9I-M2rzFsjxRdQzUKCQZl-7sz4p_QkM-dp2qScQkvK65ZruS2pHvPEiaA8cAxKrIzk6-o6XN55Dy9q-dAmZxsNynb8TIZEbIht8O6eGG7j9_6OSysF3d-KPLzMBuJ/s1600-h/20072007(004).jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07GNe9aLG7qFxDBg9I-M2rzFsjxRdQzUKCQZl-7sz4p_QkM-dp2qScQkvK65ZruS2pHvPEiaA8cAxKrIzk6-o6XN55Dy9q-dAmZxsNynb8TIZEbIht8O6eGG7j9_6OSysF3d-KPLzMBuJ/s400/20072007(004).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089428068504538242" border="0" /></a><br />with what I have around here.DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-85066423924265045062007-07-13T17:49:00.000+00:002007-07-13T17:59:30.771+00:00Holiday rant<span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">6 minutes</span></span><br /><br />That was the exact time elapsed from the moment I left the building for my holidays to the moment I got the first call from the lab.<br />Two more hours went by 'til I got the second call.<br />Rats!<br />I'm stuck here, too broke to travel abroad, with my cell phone on because my family must be able to reach me. Problem being everybody will be able to call me.<br />Money doesn't bring happiness, but it sure helps when you want to have fun and travel!<br />Of course I shouldn't be complaining. Yes, I do know plenty of people have it worst than we do.<br />Well, we'll make do whit what we have for now.<br />Sorry for the bad mood. A couple of days at the beach and it will surely improve.<br /><br /></span>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-47024361951127662802007-07-12T20:48:00.000+00:002007-07-12T20:49:53.416+00:00Despair<p class="MsoNormal">Last May a desperate mother of a disabled girl drove her car off a cliff killing herself and her 25 year old daughter.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The despair of having to take care of her child eventually overwhelmed her.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After 25 five years of devotion to someone she knew could never have hope for a better future, that mother decided to put an end to both her child’s suffering and her own.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This week another desperate mother killed a son and tried to commit suicide too although she survived. <span style=""> </span>A six years old epileptic boy died after his mother’s boyfriend dumped her. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Reading the news about it, especially the comments from the neighbors who say the little boy was a lovely kid, most people claim for the murderous mother’s head.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Me? Not sure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I really don’t know.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I can’t even start to imagine how desperate a mother must be to kill her own progeny, so how can I tell if another mother is faking such despair?</p>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-71819392916187872042007-07-02T18:19:00.000+00:002007-07-02T18:22:06.882+00:00Summertime salads<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><br />2 tbsp chives<br />1 tbsp mapple syrup or honey<br />1 tsp salt<br />1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper<br />1/2 cup plain yogurt<br />2 tbsp olive oil<br />1 oz cider vinegar<br />1 tbsp ground garlic<br />1 tbsp mustard<br /></div><br /><br /><br />Or at least it seems to me these are more or less the right amounts... I never actually measure stuff for a salad dressing. Mix it well and chill it before serving.<br />Give it a try and tell me about it.DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-36917887840075877092007-06-29T15:02:00.000+00:002007-06-29T15:17:54.658+00:00Old fashioned thermal container<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLApUWbHPZrJ04Z8kd4GKwYQ9jJI8U58rlXNCULmaDNuabgdUbTseODqfxT4BcsbXHhQVTOnLPxUh7jh7RSFc7aGT_5LCHFdyirydk7M2pYCEtGNvg2hOTO0kC_TxKOjaFMhButCQK1R0J/s1600-h/tarro.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLApUWbHPZrJ04Z8kd4GKwYQ9jJI8U58rlXNCULmaDNuabgdUbTseODqfxT4BcsbXHhQVTOnLPxUh7jh7RSFc7aGT_5LCHFdyirydk7M2pYCEtGNvg2hOTO0kC_TxKOjaFMhButCQK1R0J/s320/tarro.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081502516216287986" /></a>The cork oak (<span style="font-style:italic;">Quercus suber</span>), native to southern Europe and most common tree found in Alentejo (the southern part of Portugal just north of the Algarve), is used since ancient times not only to produce corks for the local wine but to create several other objects.<br />This is a "tarro", it is basically a traditional food recipient that would allow taking hot food to workers in the cereal fields.<br />The craftsmanship is extremely simple: cut a section of the tree trunk, hollow it from the wood except in the bottom and <span style="font-style:italic;">voilá</span> thermal insulation used even before the Romans invaded the Peninsula some say.DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-1264105791620808662007-06-24T21:57:00.000+00:002007-06-24T22:04:04.380+00:00Featured photo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2925543" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgodfAxM0ECiRexrG6rRzQFPWiZF_Iuxmb46sB4NVVFELH3SThWZLVREpPdcjjFOgVz-jGMil639gS4009AqnEtTEYDk4pEnUc2Wq_cYsfaE8Hf0w5AKLGL50FecIgmiVAMeCNxx7qc4oGO/s320/templo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5079753824821409666" /></a>Évora's <a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/portugal/evora-roman-temple.htm" target="_blank">Roman Temple</a>. Or a detail of it, to be accurate.DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-47906634803364431332007-06-21T16:53:00.000+00:002007-06-21T17:13:07.459+00:00Évora's Bones Chapel<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=327027#lt=38.578232&ln=-7.882690&z=7&k=1&a=1&tab=4" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BCiXWTl4o9kB2-96Fet-cnYEIaJk2OxzVjf4fSQ5yFYx8-__sdWgaFWr5uAco5nrC8AwBluspgZLBJMYKPA8ZflN0-pWZGhgZCJOEfOS9vaYMpry53CHjCbSSg0w9rDPgA7UQqyGgsKO/s400/collage.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5078564015801202546" /></a>A few pics of the Bones Chapel. One of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89vora" target="_blank">Évora</a>'s <span style="font-style:italic;">ex libris</span>.<br />Click on the picture to see details and to locate the place on a map.<br />Évora is one of <a href="http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/pt" target="_blank">UNESCO's World Heritage sites in Portugal</a>.<br /><br /><br />And no, I do not get any kind of grant from the tourist board for trying to lure you all into visiting our country...DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-89823639769778962722007-06-17T19:11:00.000+00:002007-06-17T19:16:45.023+00:00Portuguese delicacy<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk2qJIGW4hVgtYmXt5CiWC51N4QpOhbapEX6SHyyfzEEOAshNEQwAmPC4-vY82f5KGzDK85BmYVGsLzqFJBl9jRpbi2XDfeb3wbho2fgo182-SQrSMx505Ag9aI8N7S1ulaR7asfkXXdq/s1600-h/caracois.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbk2qJIGW4hVgtYmXt5CiWC51N4QpOhbapEX6SHyyfzEEOAshNEQwAmPC4-vY82f5KGzDK85BmYVGsLzqFJBl9jRpbi2XDfeb3wbho2fgo182-SQrSMx505Ag9aI8N7S1ulaR7asfkXXdq/s400/caracois.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077113377712076642" /></a>Delicious I tell you!<br />Although when you have foreign guests this can turn into something of a cultural clash... most people who have never had a snails snack seem to be grossed out by the idea of eating a snail.<br />But the choice of snacks available in most places is bountiful enough to please almost all tastes.DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-34381889670221112182007-06-10T22:15:00.001+00:002007-06-10T22:27:16.635+00:00Lifetime experiences II<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijinuQq6v9Scx0jssdveXPgIho_JOMHHQZwnfWDvujrmPuuckTZOn6rkguuIahD0hkuafJV3X6xfATxVDdqgUhaUU4vfcy1kOB-uPb6uCfMtUjnEikPcMwZ9FY2OSjjUV4E9FMzk_lQuas/s1600-h/planador.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijinuQq6v9Scx0jssdveXPgIho_JOMHHQZwnfWDvujrmPuuckTZOn6rkguuIahD0hkuafJV3X6xfATxVDdqgUhaUU4vfcy1kOB-uPb6uCfMtUjnEikPcMwZ9FY2OSjjUV4E9FMzk_lQuas/s400/planador.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074563030426679122" /></a>This weekend I've redeemed a voucher GH had given me as a present on our last anniversary.<br />See that little plane like thingy on the photo?<br />That's a glider and yours truly was on it!<br />She offered me a sail flight!<br /><br />I'd flown on several planes and helicopters before, I'd done sky diving, but I always wanted to try a sail flight and never got to do it. <br />An experienced pilot got us up, made several acrobatic maneuvers (never thought I would ever do two loopings in a row without an engine, that thing really was amazing) and even let me fly the glider for a while.DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-44792951854305878612007-06-09T22:02:00.000+00:002007-06-09T21:59:01.582+00:00Featured photo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl_rW-sUlONcGOCvQLtKStTA91KlcXAPTqMgoDV5nQC-IWKDrgVNiWp1ijdyL-y6tKE-eXyNVtFgDYDwDYfDX_tPAluCjeYp-WnE8QuZqD39siJZCk5jiiwQZpWBw71zbOU61_s_35mHN/s1600-h/aveiro.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQl_rW-sUlONcGOCvQLtKStTA91KlcXAPTqMgoDV5nQC-IWKDrgVNiWp1ijdyL-y6tKE-eXyNVtFgDYDwDYfDX_tPAluCjeYp-WnE8QuZqD39siJZCk5jiiwQZpWBw71zbOU61_s_35mHN/s400/aveiro.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073446549383116610" /></a>This one was taken in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aveiro">Aveiro</a>, a city sometimes called the Portuguese Venice. <br />Although at the time of this visit there was a book fair in town plus several other cultural events I must confess the reason for our visit was mostly gastronomical... you see there are this traditional sweets made of egg yolk and sugar that we just love and whenever we drive nearby we simply have to make a little detour.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=327027#lt=40.630630&ln=-8.635254&z=7&k=1&a=1&tab=4" target="_blank">Locate this picture on the map</a>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-52696247987585022422007-06-08T07:49:00.000+00:002007-06-08T06:45:11.673+00:00Lifetime experiences<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjpI81eRNvmZQZWHZ_pDKfAaqdME12Rj7ch1vxosy_I1H_bwkuPX6_cV6QMAxse_-UX6z6f5w0XVW_3V9yx92akW3uVI95HbPlPhlUholZRuwhJ_gnS6JTrsIJDRfodFDK8W8mbp4rKx0/s1600-h/golfinhos.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 200px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOjpI81eRNvmZQZWHZ_pDKfAaqdME12Rj7ch1vxosy_I1H_bwkuPX6_cV6QMAxse_-UX6z6f5w0XVW_3V9yx92akW3uVI95HbPlPhlUholZRuwhJ_gnS6JTrsIJDRfodFDK8W8mbp4rKx0/s400/golfinhos.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073443177833789234" /></a>GH's birthday present was really a present for the two of us.<br />We went swimming with dolphins.<br />For those who think it is bad luck to give or receive birthday presents before the actual b-day... oh well, guess superstition doesn't bother us and with our schedules and lack of free time we just had to make do with whatever chance we had.<br /><br />PS: Today is the second anniversary of this blog. With the change of address I almost forgot it!DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-12040557330258187462007-06-07T20:58:00.001+00:002007-06-08T06:44:32.463+00:00Where it all started<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGNh4Xk7MhI7_0-mPUbCm7nyg3rj2Ceilw991Br2pF1W1YphfQmTll64aAStafyNDur5iuoZ5YTWvg_rxq583P6WJCkuKG90PG5Dw96u6w4IechTdz4cy_5Gva_lQyUWRwqvipTrsmBbD/s1600-h/guimaraes.JPG" target="_blank" ><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width:150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGNh4Xk7MhI7_0-mPUbCm7nyg3rj2Ceilw991Br2pF1W1YphfQmTll64aAStafyNDur5iuoZ5YTWvg_rxq583P6WJCkuKG90PG5Dw96u6w4IechTdz4cy_5Gva_lQyUWRwqvipTrsmBbD/s400/guimaraes.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073435661641021202" /></a>This is the castle of Guimarães. Traditionally the place where Portugal was born.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCUDtLEFOcAX3b0cV_edDuHf7L9a0QoW2kPDHzkRPQ2DB6J04eh2yluTBIQk7pi1yOoq5s3J1LrPM4WiLsGxmY5vmG7EEqK2k0KaEeApOemsZ54UqvrBltuE9wO-4LKS9W8N9U2jHofZ3/s1600-h/afonso+henriques.JPG" target="_blank" ><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width:110px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCUDtLEFOcAX3b0cV_edDuHf7L9a0QoW2kPDHzkRPQ2DB6J04eh2yluTBIQk7pi1yOoq5s3J1LrPM4WiLsGxmY5vmG7EEqK2k0KaEeApOemsZ54UqvrBltuE9wO-4LKS9W8N9U2jHofZ3/s400/afonso+henriques.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073435751835334434" /></a> The statue depicts Dom Afonso Henriques, or Afonso I of Portugal, son of Henry of Burgundy Count of Portugal. In 1120, eight years after his father's death he rebelled against his own mother and the king of Castile (tradition has it he beat up his mother and had her put in chains) and proclaimed the independence of Portugal.Of course the king of Castile didn't quite like the idea, war broke out. Things were hard, battles were won, others lost but finally in 1143 in the city of Zamora, Spain, a peace treaty was signed and Portugal was officially recognized as an independent kingdom. <br />Some say it is no wonder most of us have a bit of a bad temper, a nation that started with a son beating his own mom.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=327027#lt=41.445107&ln=-8.291502&z=3&k=1&a=1&tab=4" target="_blank" >Locate these pictures on the map</a>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-47507850944215094792007-06-07T08:16:00.000+00:002007-06-07T21:45:19.069+00:00A town full of temples<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQPjMBLyt7a21__FKGx0S5HRbYYXI4ykOKTPhBiHZ1hMq4vvb550QRuXuVL2CObo-wgC8bDC-WxMThXIujceyDbJOo6zhPX5Q2bKqSciCI7FvnRur3Z_D5OA16O8a0WpHbc3xHu7VH-F5/s1600-h/sameiro.JPG" target="_blank" ><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 240px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCQPjMBLyt7a21__FKGx0S5HRbYYXI4ykOKTPhBiHZ1hMq4vvb550QRuXuVL2CObo-wgC8bDC-WxMThXIujceyDbJOo6zhPX5Q2bKqSciCI7FvnRur3Z_D5OA16O8a0WpHbc3xHu7VH-F5/s320/sameiro.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073236504007505650" /></a>This is where the wedding was, it's Basilica do Sameiro, one of many churches you can find in and around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Braga" target="_blank" >Braga</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh085DuyAKilt3iF6pFtNHKKrLY6u_IYdpjlYDJz2W-eIWcph7cFaBEsj8xTbx7O_8kxGW7jvIwx8aQVPYhkc2cDSJGNtsvYIGj0e2dpPG5uj0dGUf02ZU-VGVAzaKDhta3zVml1AGpznhf/s1600-h/bom+jesus.JPG" target="_blank" ><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 180px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh085DuyAKilt3iF6pFtNHKKrLY6u_IYdpjlYDJz2W-eIWcph7cFaBEsj8xTbx7O_8kxGW7jvIwx8aQVPYhkc2cDSJGNtsvYIGj0e2dpPG5uj0dGUf02ZU-VGVAzaKDhta3zVml1AGpznhf/s320/bom+jesus.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073238213404489474" /></a>We stayed in a hotel near yet another sanctuary <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bom_Jesus_do_Monte" target="_blank" >Bom Jesus do Monte</a>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=327027#lt=41.526058&ln=-8.398361&z=6&k=1&a=1&tab=4" target="_blank" >Find out where this photos were taken</a>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-75699902920050757712007-06-04T22:18:00.002+00:002007-06-04T22:39:59.495+00:00Tired, very tired actually...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaEKyFS8q4PB6xyxb42IFni5nf871pXhpBCHbB82wCPsPlRvYTzXA0p-qZ89kj_-OB739V0FSPBW5A-4a6rH97zOdFYy5fyqqTPiajijd4VnY5WYYNxWQ0u239a-i3KA8owUVGUZuF-Iz/s1600-h/lipstick.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width: 80px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfaEKyFS8q4PB6xyxb42IFni5nf871pXhpBCHbB82wCPsPlRvYTzXA0p-qZ89kj_-OB739V0FSPBW5A-4a6rH97zOdFYy5fyqqTPiajijd4VnY5WYYNxWQ0u239a-i3KA8owUVGUZuF-Iz/s400/lipstick.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5072337197373384514" /></a>An American friend arrived Saturday morning, we picked her up at Lisbon airport, raced to Braga (city in the northernmost area of Portugal) to attend the wedding of a friend of ours, made a slalom through several places in Portugal on Sunday as we headed back home and finally, today, we headed south to the Algarve (southernmost part of Portugal) so I could give GH her birthday present (given in advance...her b-day is only on the 15th).<br />And we drove back home again...<br />Too tired to make a decent post, but not tired enough not to share with you the laugh I had at our American friend's lipstick (click on the pic to enlarge it).DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-46142451756617968902007-05-31T19:23:00.000+00:002007-05-31T20:06:20.246+00:00A little garden by the seaThat's what our people call this plot of land that is our country: um pequeno jardim à beira mar plantado.<br />A peaceful little place, where people are mostly gentle.<br />It seems we are the <a href="http://www.visionofhumanity.com/rankings/" target="_blank">ninth most peaceful country in the world</a>... <br /><a href="http://www.visionofhumanity.com/index.php" target="_blank"><br />(if you want check how peaceful your country is)<br /></a><br /><br />This would sound a lot better if it weren't for the fact that violent crime is rising here too. If it weren't for the fact that although I'm not that old I still remember when people felt a lot safer than they do today.<br />Still this is a rather nice place to live in.<br />True we don't have color coded alerts to tell people how scared they must feel, but then again people usually don't feel frightened around these parts.<br /><br />The feeling however gets a lot worst when I stop looking at my own belly button and start looking around, looking at the war thorned countries, at the countries where law and order are but a dream, where the only law is the word of those who hold the guns.<br /><br />And even in countries that may seem mostly peaceful from the table, when I think of Ghana ranking 40th, my mind wonders to the <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/200704240669.html" target="_blank">slave children there</a>... <br />Call me naïve if you want to, but I really believe it would be possible to build a better world where this ranking would make no sense, where all people could feel safe and where all children could play and go to school.DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-4370039091805704042007-05-30T12:17:00.000+00:002007-05-30T12:51:19.895+00:00How's that for non-pollutant?A former Formula 1 engineer, Guy Négre, has signed a deal with an Indian company (Tatra Motors) to produce an <a href="http://www.theaircar.com/" target="_blank">air-driven vehicle</a>.<br />This car works on compressed air, thus having zero emissions.<br /><br />A completely non-pollutant vehicle.<br /><br />Or is it? Its air tank must be filled with an air compressor, either the in-built electric compressor or an industrial compressor.<br />So although the car by itself is environmentally friendly, charging it means you'll have to use electricity.<br />Now, you can have a windmill generating the electricity, or a solar panel, that way you won't be using fossil fuels to generate the electricity for the compressor, but then you'll have to spend energy to build the windmill or the photovoltaic cells...<br />Don't get me wrong, I DO think this car is great and I do think we must try and find environmentally friendly solutions. But the main issue remains in electricity. Most of the processes in our so called civilized world require energy, at some point or another. Nuclear power is dangerous and generates pollution. Fossil fuels aren't going to last forever and you all heard about the problems associated with them.<br />As for all the other sources of energy... they are not efficient enough to satisfy our needs for energy. <br />Without wanting to seem pessimistic, but assuming it will take a long time to solve our energy problems, maybe we all should really focus on the other side of the equation and instead try to reduce our need for energy. Walk instead of driving, use public transportation, turn off the lights when you don't need them, unplug all the useless electrical gizmos around the house. Electrical can opener? What for?<br />Off course this idea can also mean don't spend so much time on the internet, turn off the computer... <br /><br />In the meanwhile, a big HURRAY!!! for Guy Négre for is contribution!DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-76957527825280378042007-05-27T22:24:00.000+00:002007-05-27T22:34:01.740+00:00Featured photo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtanfXSMvKQZhv1ud2o2zPy9MQFdrc1mlk9h8OexoNdwMOdaCMzMz4-UmRmFr0CSFxhf33nCNo0JtbXDruCJCG4pK6TMm0_0PKOLM5JegdONpQE0bdix4y5WDRbln8aK9GWqcf-m1zxm4/s1600-h/hundertwasser.JPG" target="_blank"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; width:180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtanfXSMvKQZhv1ud2o2zPy9MQFdrc1mlk9h8OexoNdwMOdaCMzMz4-UmRmFr0CSFxhf33nCNo0JtbXDruCJCG4pK6TMm0_0PKOLM5JegdONpQE0bdix4y5WDRbln8aK9GWqcf-m1zxm4/s400/hundertwasser.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5069371573221666658" /></a><br />This is Hundertwasserhaus, you can read more about this building <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundertwasserhaus" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.panoramio.com/photo/2427407" target="_blank">Find where this place is</a>DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-4049634796328487062007-05-26T20:57:00.000+00:002007-05-26T21:07:53.721+00:00Book suggestionMost people nowadays talk about global warming.<br />Some people follow the <i>eco-leaders</i>, assuming all the arguments of the environmental gurus are right.<br />Some others simply deny the theories of the environmental groups.<br />How<br />many people actually try and understand what is at stake? How many<br />people do actually know what the real issues are, what the real<br />knowledge about our situation is?<br /><br />Well, <a href="http://forecast.uchicago.edu/" target="_blank">this book</a> can give a real down to Earth easy to understand explanation on what we know about global warming.<br /><br />However you should also read <a href="http://www.crichton-official.com/fear/" target="_blank">this other book</a>, although fictional it has sound<br />scientific basis, well documented, and points out several important<br />issues about activism without adequate knowledge of the issues<br />defended...DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2569379445094062616.post-15570707958273461542007-05-25T07:07:00.000+00:002007-05-25T07:15:02.166+00:00Delusions of grandeurOur glorious government has been telling us all that cutting down on public expenses is absolutely necessary.<br />To cut on said expenses hospitals, schools, maternities and other public services have been closed throughout the country.<br />Yesterday however we’ve learned through the <a href="http://www.sportugal.pt/noticia.php?noticiaID=21735" target="_blank">media (Portuguese only, sorry)</a> that the city of Al-Khader, in Palestine, has a new football stadium (soccer for you American folks), FIFA approved, seating 6000 people, offered by the Portuguese Government.<br />A gift in the value of over 2 million dollars.<br />Although poor we are however a very generous people.<br />You would expect that such an action from a government would cause a revolution, you would probably expect riots… Well… No.<br />As I said we’re generous.<br />So as soon as the news was heard the Portuguese people supported it in the form of an e-mail that spread around. This e-mail suggests we should even make a few more offerings, namely a gym for Afghanistan, an Olympic Stadium to Somalia and all our politicians to the crocodiles of the Nile!<br />I’m am not a rich guy. At the present I’m actually short of cash. But one thing is for sure, I would gladly chip in for the last item. My only doubt is: wouldn’t those poor crocs be poisoned were they to eat such <s>crap</s> food as our politicians?DCveRhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13968186371733793050noreply@blogger.com6