My own little box of snapshots.
Helena calls me aunt Patita, knows how to plant the perfect kiss on a cheek, imitates my every gesture - specially dance moves -, bosses everyone around by pointing her little finger, makes faces for the camera, speaks a language of her own and her smiles and giggles are highly contagious. Better than sugar almonds and chocolate eggs, don’t you think?
Kaiser Chiefs, at Coliseu de Lisboa, yesterday: what a great band, what a great gig, what a great night! I’m in luuuuurve!
Five amazing musicians, a cozy little jazz club and a few g&ts in good company made for an excellent night out, despite the stormy weather we had to face to get out there.
The weather was glorious on the last Sunday in October. By the end of the afternoon, Carcavelos beach was still crowded. And the sea presented a pattern of little black dots, the silhouettes of surfers floating patiently, waiting waves that were few and far apart. The sea was a surfer soup.
When I was studying, I used to cruise downtown Lisbon on a daily basis. Nowadays, I don’t go there often anymore. When I needed to go in that direction, a couple of days ago, I decided to take the camera with me, let it dress me as a tourist again, and take some casual snapshots to post here.
It’s amazing how having a camera on your hands can change your attitude so much. Things that have been there since long, had certainly crossed my eyes, but never grabbed my gaze until now.
I assume lots of observant people grasp those colourful details without the need for a purpose. Not me. If I don’t force myself to lookout, my distracted mind will turn my attention inwards and I’m as good as blind.
Last week, as I was heading to Barcamp08, I had the chance to take some snapshots of beautiful Coimbra. And it was indeed by chance, as the event’s venue was in the modern but remote Polo II, well removed from the city centre. Head in the clouds as always, I failed to check google maps before I left home, and made my way up the hill to the old University buildings instead.
Downtown Coimbra was teeming with strollers and shoppers, silently inviting me to slow down and enjoy the sun that was finally coming through the dissipating clouds. I did have some time to spare before the meetings, so why rush?
It wasn’t until I reached the summit of that very steep climb over irregular stone pavement, and dragged myself around the impressive university buildings in a wild goose chase, that I realised the department I was looking for was miles away.
My high-heeled feet weren’t too happy to find that I needed to walk all the way back down to my starting point and catch a taxi. But inn the end, the touristing around such beautiful surroundings, with my camera in hand, was worth the pain and made my weekend away just a bit nicer and richer.
©2007 Patrícia Furtado