I am someone who likes to be in control of any situation. The pandemic made me realise even more that no matter how much you try to control your life, control is an illusion, a lie we are told since young age and on which we believe blindly. There's no such thing as control. Perhaps … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: quick visit to Lisbon
Some beautiful places make me sad. Their beauty is a reminder of the beauty I may lack in my life. A reminder of a life I never had or will. A reminder that society is too busy with being practical. A reminder that any golden ages are way over and of how unequal they actually … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Monserrate Palace & Gardens, in Sintra
I'd say Quinta da Regaleira it's a place that leaves you with a lot of questions and no answers. Composed of a neo-gothic ornate mansion, and gardens filled with symbolism, it could be just a way for the wealthy to satisfy their eccentric tastes or maybe a bit more than that. I like to think … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: the mysterious Quinta da Regaleira, Sintra
We were admiring the interiors of Pena Palace when a really nice lady from the staff monitoring and safeguarding the tours told us our tickets also included a visit to the Chalet that was built specifically for Edla, the second wife of king Ferdinand II. We weren't aware of such fact. She said "it's just … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Countess Edla’s Chalet in Sintra
There is a lot more to Sintra than its palaces and castles. One even has the feeling that land has indeed something supernatural to it, but I'd say it's just that Nature is so abundant, so healthy, so green, that you feel you're walking in a magical land, that was indeed gifted with fertility and … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: the ethereal Pena’s Natural Park, Sintra
You may be lost in the beauty of Pena Palace while you explore its grounds, trying to absorb every single detail, romanticising about the times when Kings and Queens stepped on the same grounds and potentially admired the same sights. But while you walk through its verandas and terraces, your eyes will eventually turn and … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: the Castle of the Moors in Sintra
In an attempt to try to stay sane one must take advantage of the few (but yet existent) possibilities. As any returns to normal travelling might be difficult to foresee, as the future remains cloudy, I must try to preserve any remains of mental health. Many have heard of Sintra. The first time I visited … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Pena Palace in Sintra
Green lands contrasting with the blue sky. The photo was taken from the top of the Castle of Montemor-o-Velho, a little town in central Portugal. The streets were deserted on a Sunday afternoon, as the sun was also a bit shy.
As the year advances, the less likely it seems I’ll be able to get on a plane to travel for the simple joy of it before the end of 2020. I might as well accept it and get over it. However, I found myself getting excited with the new opportunity of spending this time in … Continue reading Sights of Portugal: Passadiços do Paiva
"I am a seagull, of no land,I call no shore my home,I am bound to no place,I fly from wave to wave." Empress Elisabeth of Austria A couple years ago, visiting Vienna, I came across this little poem written by the Empress and saw myself in it. The more I learned about her while visiting … Continue reading The Seagull
