#330 - Rainy days II

"Avenida da Republica is one of the main avenues of Lisbon, geared towards north-south axis, which is the nerve of New Avenues.

Ressano Garcia Avenue called to the establishment of the Republic, this artery extends from the Plaza Duque de Saldanha to Entrecampos Square, where there are several important buildings, especially headquarters or offices of large companies and some trade. The number of residents is negligible.

It is along this avenue that is the Plaza de Toros do Campo Pequeno, who reoppened to the public in 2006. It is also next to the railway station of her Entrecampos, one of the most widely used of the Portuguese capital, right next to the Old People's Fair that for a long time, was the largest amusement park in Portugal.

The Avenue of the Republic is served by three stations, Metro: Saldanha, Campo Pequeno and Entrecampos, and several rows of the bus rails." [*]

#327 - Rainy days I

Yesterday I manage to get away from work at lunch time and I took a few shots from the bus.Hope you like them because i'll keep posting them tomorrow.

It's hard to me to take photos now during day because at 5.30pm its already dark and photos get really crappy!

Statue to the Duke of Saldanha

"At the heart of the Plaza Duque de Saldanha, is a monument that evokes the memory of a great military, political and Portuguese statesman. The name was evoked JJOÃO CARLOS DE SALDANHA OLIVEIRA E DAUM, 1st Earl, 1st Marquess and 1st Duke of Saldanha. Born in Lisbon on November 17 in 1790 and died in London on November 21, 1876.

Thirteen years after his death, coming to remind the relevant services to the Fatherland and Freedom, has been open tender for the construction of the monument, which was charged by public subscription. Among several competitors, won the draft submitted by statuary Tomas da Costa and the architect Miguel Ventura Terra.

On Nov. 5 of 1904, proceeded to the formal ceremony to launch the first stone, chaired by King Carlos, on February 13 of 1909, was inaugurated by King Manuel II.
The monument has a pedestal with 7.28 meters tall, square base, flanked the same order of columns and capitals cinnamon, topped with a bronze statue in the honored, that with 3.18 meters in height.

At the base, the side facing the Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo, presented in a bronze allegorical figure of "Victory", draw in the right hand, a sword and winning on the left, the glorious palm. From this figure, also executed in bronze, are the weapons between branches of Portuguese laurel. In the other sides of the pedestal, there are heads of lions, arguing in the mouth range with decorative inscriptions alluding to the campaigns of Marshal: the north, campaign Montevideo (1816 - 1823); to this, Peninsular War (1806 -1814) and, to the west, the campaigns of Freedom (1826 to 1834).

The statue and all the decorative elements were merged in the Army Arsenal, the statue weighing 2354 kg and allegory of the "Victory" 1920 kg." [*]

#321 - Farewell to Queen Elizabeth 2

Photos by João Quaresma

Last thursday was called at Lisbon, for the last time the Queen Elizabeth 2, more than a handsome bellhop, this ship is a veritable institution. Completed in 1967, was the last big pack of British design and construction, and represents the end of an era in many respects. Still belongs to a time when passenger ships were built not only for cruise trips, but for transport, and therefore had to be fast to be competitive, unable to compete with the plane, many were reused for cruising. It is also a time when these ships were considered strategic resources of a country, in case they are needed to transport troops in wartime (if the QE2, which was mobilized during the War of the Malvinas / Falkland, in 1982), and why its bid was largely subsided. It is still motor with steam turbines, a system that is no longer used in favor of more economical and compact diesel or gas turbines. And, most evident from the outside, is a time when there was real good taste in that the ships be looking stylish without sacrificing anything on behalf of transporting more passengers and to offices of floating holidays.

The QE2 is not the last ship of this generation in service (among other things, our dear Funchal continues, proud, navigating with the Portuguese flag, as a last resistance of our glorious Merchant Navy before). But it is the most famous and most symbolic. So this his last cruise, after which to Dubai which will serve as floating hotel-casino, symbolizes the end of an era. ~JQ

A big thanks to João Quaresma for submitting this photos and captions, and for his collaboration on Lisbon Daily Photo Blog :)

#293 - Rossio Square The heart of Lisbon

"Rossio is the liveliest square in the city, where people stop to sit and relax, or for a drink at the several atmospheric cafes with outdoor sitting .

On either side of the square are two baroque fountains, and in the center is a monument measuring 27 meters in height. It consists of a pedestal with marble allegories of Justice, Wisdom, Strength, and Moderation, qualities attributed to Dom Pedro IV, whose statue stands on top of the monument.

In the 19th century the square was paved with cobblestones in wave patterns, a design seen today in many other pavements all over Portugal, and that has spread to Portugal's former colonies from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to Macao (China).

On the north side of the square is the Dona Maria II National Theater, a monumental neoclassical building built in the 1840s. The portico has six Ionic columns (originally from the Church of St. Francis, destroyed in the 1755 earthquake), and crowning the pediment is a statue of playwright Gil Vicente." [*]

Where: Baixa How: Metro - Rossio Station

Sights Nearby

Rossio Station - A monumental train station.
Rua Augusta - The city's main shopping street.
Restauradores Square - Large busy square.
São Domingos Church - A church marked by tragedy.
Figueira Square - Busy square and transporation hub.
Comercio Square - Monumental riverside square.
Municipal Square - Home of the City Hall palace.
Conceição Velha Church - Church that survived the Great Earthquake.
Santa Justa Elevator - An Eiffel Tower-like landmark with views over the city.
Rua das Portas de Santo Antão - Pedestrian street lined with seafood restaurants.
Avenida da Liberdade - The city's main avenue.

Click here to see its twin

#167 - Trip over the Tagus River

"The 25th of April Bridge, also known as Bridge over the Tagus (Ponte sobre o Tejo), was inaugurated in 1966 with the name “Salazar Bridge”, the dictator who had it built. It was later renamed to commemorate the “Carnation Revolution” that happened on the 25th of April 1974. This was a day of "bloodless revolution." In the Carnation Revolution, the soldiers placed carnations in the muzzles of their rifles as they led the revolt against the world's longest dictatorship. This suspension bridge is very similar in appearance to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. It is 2.278km long and leaves Lisbon at high level above Alcântara and makes landfall at Almada on the southern bank of the river. Particularly busy during weekends, traffic jams can be avoided by taking the recently-built Vasco da Gama bridge or leaving your car on a parking lot and taking the train that passes on the under side of the bridge since 1999. "
Font: Lisbon - The Complete Holiday Destination Guide

In the last photo you can see the missing Whell that Sailor Girl have been blogging about!

#161 - Tagus view from Chiado

#140 - A view of Lisbon

In this photo you can see a view of Lisbon, taken from my mothers balcony. In the foreground is the park Eduardo VII, and next the São Jorge Castle, and then the Tagus River. Fantastic, isn't it?

#136 - Drought fountain

In Público (22/4/2008)

«O que faz uma sereia quando lhe cortam a água? Vai nadar para outras paragens? Definha até por fim a bela cauda se lhe transformar em duas pernas? Aluga um jacuzzi? Vai para dois anos que a fonte do Rossio virada ao Teatro Nacional D. Maria II está sem pinga de água, para desespero das belas figuras que a ornamentam. Nos primeiros tempos de seca, a Câmara de Lisboa optou por esconder as ousadas raparigas atrás de um tapume que não as deixava sequer ver uma das praças mais bonitas e mais fotografadas da cidade. Depois seguiu-se uma segunda fase de encarceramento, um regime de liberdade provisória em que já só havia uma rede a separar as sereias do resto do mundo. Convencido de que não havia, afinal, a esperar delas nenhuma espantosa fuga cidade fora, quem sabe se até ao mar, o actual executivo municipal retirou dali a vergonhosa vedação que as rodeava e voltou a mostrá-las ao mundo como elas nunca deviam ter estado: despidas de água, ao contrário das suas irmãs da fonte do lado oposto da praça, que continuam a fazer as delícias de quem gosta de chapinhar nos dias quentes. Razões para tamanha maldade, a câmara não apresenta nenhumas. Resta às sereias rezar - rezarão as sereias? - ou ensaiar uma dança da chuva de cada vez que sentirem a pele encarquilhar-se ao sol.»

"What does a mermaid when it cut the water? Swim to other lands? Decline until finally the beautiful tail turn on two legs? Rented a Jacuzzi? Its been two years since the Rossio fountain facing the National Theatre D. Mary II is without water, to despair of the beautiful pictures that adorn. In the early days of drought, the Board of Lisbon opted to hide the beautiful girls behind a tapume so they can not even see the one of the most beautiful and photographed squares of the city. Then followed by a second phase of imprisonment, a system of provisional freedom in which we only had one network to separate the mermaids from the rest of the world. Convinced that there was, after all, none of them expect the astonishing escape outside town, who knows if to the sea, the current executive municipal withdrew away the shameful that the fence around again and show them the world as they never should have been : stripped of water, unlike their sisters fountain of the side of the square, which continue to be the delight of those who likes splashing in the hot summer days. Reasons for such evil, the camera does not present any. It remains to pray mermaids Or tested a dance of rain each time you feel the skin shrink in the sun. "

In Público (22/4/2008)

#129 - Gulbenkian Series VII

#128 - Gulbenkian Series VI

Museum

The Building

"The project for the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Museum, inaugurated in 1969, was the result of a limited competition that took place from, 1959 to 1960 between three teams of architects. The ambitious and detailed specifications being based on the presupposition that the new building was to serve as “a perpetual homage to the memory of Calouste Gulbenkian, and its lines were to reflect the essential features of his character – concentrated spirituality, creative force and simplicity of life”. The project had to take into consideration various types of installations to house the museum, auditoriums and library and also the administrative and technical services of the foundation. The site chosen was the Parque de Santa Gertrudes in Palhavã, Lisbon (the present site).

From the three solutions jointly presented that of the team made up of the architects Ruy Jervis d’Athouguia, Pedro Cid and Alberto Pessoa was selected as fulfilling the requirements of the commission to produce a sober, dignified building in a unified architectural setting. A large number of specialists in various areas worked on the project co-ordinated by the winning team. The remaining two projects were by an architectural team made up of Arnaldo Araújo, Frederico George and Manuel Laginha, and the other by Formosinho Sanches, Arménio Losa and Pádua Ramos.

The existing architectural ensemble, simple in line with different areas ably linked together, is surrounded by a green area designed by the landscape architects Gonçalo Ribeiro Telles and António Viana Barreto, with lawns, trees, pools and even an open-air amphitheatre. The exterior or the museum is like a massive rectangular parallelepiped set on one of its longer sides where the use of concrete and granite creates a mellow chromatic equilibrium. Planned in relation to each object collected by Calouste Gulbenkian, on the lower floor it has a Temporary Exhibition Gallery, a small auditorium, a museum shop and cafeteria as well as the Art Library. A defining mark in Portuguese museum architecture, the edifice of the Museum is organised round two gardens with numerous tall picture windows that enable the visitor to enjoy Nature and Art. A noteworthy example of the latest trends in modern Portuguese architecture of the 1960s, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation was awarded the Valmor Prize for Architecture, in 1975. " [*]

#127 - Gulbenkian Series V

One of the many things I learned in blogs is that there is always a different duckling.
Different doesn't mean ugly, as ever learned by the stories.
Indeed in my point of view, is the difference that makes everything more interesting.

#123 - Gulbenkian Series I

Gulbenkian's park.

"The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a Portuguese private institution of public utility whose statutory aims are in the fields of arts, charity, education and science. Created by a clause in Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian's will, the Foundation's statutes were approved in 1956.The head-office is located in Lisbon. The large premises, opened in 1969, comprise the head-office itself and the museum. In addition to the areas occupied by the Foundation's management and various departments, the premises include a large auditorium, a space for temporary exhibitions, a congress area with auditoriums and other rooms, as well as a large building that houses the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the Art Library. The entire complex is set in the Gulbenkian Park. In 1983, the Modern Art Centre, consisting of a museum and an education centre, was opened at one end of the park. The Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência is situated inside a multi-building complex in Oeiras. The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation also has a delegation in the United Kingdom (UK Branch) and a centre in Paris (the Calouste Gulbenkian Cultural Centre).

The Foundation actively pursues its statutory aims in Portugal and abroad through a wide range of direct activities and grants supporting projects and programmes.The Foundation has an orchestra and a choir that perform throughout the year within a regular season, and organises solo and collective exhibitions of work by Portuguese and foreign artists. It also organises international conferences, meetings and courses, awards subsidies and scholarships for specialist studies and doctorates in Portugal and abroad, and supports programmes and projects of a scientific, educational, artistic and social nature. Moreover, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is actively involved in publishing, especially through its programme for university textbooks. It also fosters co-operation projects with Portuguese-speaking African countries and East Timor pursuing the Millennium goals, promotes Portuguese culture abroad, and operates a programme to preserve evidence of the Portuguese presence in the world. In addition, the Foundation supports Armenian communities worldwide." [*]

#107 - Rossio fountains

Rossio is one of the most beautiful squares in Lisbon. People pass here everyday, rushing for work, and hardly take the time to look around. It's not only the beautiful monuments and the fountains, or its fascinating history... Rossio is a living book. Recently renovated, it hasn't lost any of its mysticism... Feel it around the D. Maria II National Theatre, where many plays were, and are, performed and seen by Kings and Queens, around the fountains used at the beginning of October to baptize the freshmen as they were about to enter the University -, around the cafes frequented by famous Portuguese personalities - like Cafe Nicola founded in 1929 - and yes, oh yes, smell it on freshly roasted chestnuts that have been sold in the Rossio Square for many many years.In the middle of the square there's a statue of Dom Pedro IV and at its foot the four female figures representing Justice, Wisdom, Strength and Moderation, qualities attributed to Dom Pedro himself. The originally called 'Dom Pedro IV Square', got the name Rossio from the local people and it's still today a traditional meeting point both for Lisboetas and visitors. [*]

#106 - Shooting in Rossio :)

Today enjoyed shooting at the center of the city (as always), right in front to Tabacaria Mónaco. I selected these tourists because they were very concentrated in shooting each others and didn't noticed me doing the same to them!!

#92 - April 2008 Theme Day: Water

I can spend hours seeing the surfers watching the sea...

Don't forget to visit other blogs:

Kissimmee Comic Book Style , Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix - Bostonscapes, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Mo, London, UK by Ham, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Melbourne, Australia by John, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Gordio, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,

#81 - Goodbye Lisbon

I will be in the Algarve for the next week taking pictures for the next monthly theme and to search for a red bikini for a certain person.

I don't know if I can get my network connect to net there. If I can I´ll be here tomorrow, If not... have a good Easter :)

#72 - Thirst!

Detail of wall outside the Palácio de Belém, official residence of the President of the Republic.

#71 - Please, play once more...

(all photos from Paulo Santos)

... asked Sailor Girl to a cute pianist named George Townboy. He hypnotized all with his music and charm at Padrão dos Descobrimentos.

(Yes, he's cute!)

The names have been adapted, they are not real :)

#66 - Sky Watch

Stop thinking about spring affairs and refresh your mind :)

#40 - A Lighthouse in Belém

I had never noticed it until two days ago.

It is the difference between the distracted look and another one with a camera in your pocket!

Photo taken from the CCB garden overlooking Tagus river.

I dedicate this post to Sailor Girl and Le Guilvinec !