Month: August 2015

[:en]Paris for two, 40 tips[:pt]Paris para 2, 40 dicas [:]

[:en]PARIS for Two , 40 tips “She liked to be in Paris, favourable city to lovers, where the taxi chauffeurs never interrupted a kiss …” Anais Nin Paris. Each reunion is like the first time; discovery and excitement. I never get tired of Paris; there is always a new neighbourhood to find, a new spot to relax, a new graffiti to admire … and then there is the Seine, this river of stories to tell, that transports us to another century. I unplug from reality. The sounds of Paris … the movement of Pigale and its mills, the clicks of cameras that shoot in front of the Moulin Rouge, the “bateaux” sailing down the river,  the subway musicians, the sights of tourists sitting on the steps of Montmartre and voices of vendors carrying miniature flashing Eiffel Towers. The colours of Paris, pink (like life there), the green lawns, the grey roofs, the lake in Tuileries Garden and the multi-coloured shops like Pylones. And of course, the smell of “Nutella Crepes”; that addiction. Here I give you 44 tips for Paris for two (Other than …

[:en]If Santorini could speak…[:pt]Se Santorini falasse…[:]

[:en]If Santorini could speak, it would tell you that here life is blue. Blue as in the color of the sky, the sea and the 365 domes of the churches that exist on this island (one for each day of the year). Santorini is made from the remains of a volcanic eruption that formed this huge boiler, which looks like a lake, around which are located the beautiful small villages of the island. Santorini has around 15,000 inhabitants. The island’s capital is Fira. The main source of income is tourism and the production of wine. Santorini comes from the name Santa Irene, but its official name is Thera meaning “the most beautiful”. The beaches are black sand except for two, a white sand and a red one (dependent on the geological layer that they are exposed). You can hop on a boat trip to the crater of the volcano. You can swim in volcanic waters, 5 degrees warmer than the usual. Oia is the oldest town, beautiful but crammed with people, especially due to the …

[:en]Things to do in Lisbon[:pt]Lisboa a 2[:]

[:en]Things to do in Lisbon My cousins Justi&Roberto went recently to Lisbon, to spend a Holiday in Bairro Alto. This wasn’t their first time there, in the University days, they lived in different areas of the city (Benfica, Novas Avenidas, Graça), but nothing compares to the intensity of living in the central frantic Lisbon. Here are their fun things to do in Lisbon: To Sleep in Lisbon: An accommodation in Bairro Alto was our choice.The central location and the possibility of walking into areas where “everything happens” (Principe Real, Chiado, Baixa and Cais do Sodre) was our priority. There are some places with excellent ratings on Booking.com, including ours: rent4rest, which is well located in a quieter street, but very close to the center of nightlife. Contrary to what most people would think, the area is very safe (a friend lent us a smart cabriolet, which we parked in the surrounding streets without any type of vandalism) and we had the privilege, every day at night, to open the windows of the apartment (Rent4Rest Bairro Alto Charming 1Bd Apartment) and listen to fado in a nearby …

Encontro com os Locais – Justi & Roberto

Estes meus primos de estimação, são daqueles casais que me inspiram diariamente. O Roberto é aquele irmão emprestado, o meu primo mais novo (ainda por cima vizinho) que de tão bonzinho que era, fazia o favor de brincar comigo às barbies desde que eu, em troca, jogasse ao Chuckie Egg no Zx Spectrum… Esfolavámos os joelhos a andar de bicicleta na Contrata (Caniço de baixo) e tínhamos o clube dos detetives onde desvendávamos “mistérios inexistentes”- a piada consistia, sobretudo, em fazer os cartões de sócio e determinar por votos em papelinhos dobrados, quem era o Chefe. Depois passaram-se anos, seguimos caminhos diferentes e hoje é com muito orgulho e euforia que assisto aos seus concertos; fabulosos, os Akoustic Junkies. A Justi é daquelas pessoas que se gosta logo à primeira. O seu sorriso, simplicidade, sinceridade e alegria são no mínimo contangiantes. Responsável, determinada e com aquele “saber viver”, são só apenas alguns dos adjectivos que a caracterizam. Gosto tanto de vê-los juntos, na vida, nos concertos, nas viagens ou nos selfies espontâneos. Gostam de passear pela ilha, festejam aniversários e a noite madeirense não seria a …

[:en]Calcutta Diaries[:pt]Diários de Calcutá – A viagem à Índia. [:]

[:en] Calcutta Diaries The Departure With a smile on my face, I set off toward my India. Yes, *my* India – we’re already on informal terms. Funchal – London – Mumbai – Kolkata. A 27-hour journey. Arrival in Mumbai: 34ºC and heavy rain. Right next to the airport lies the world’s largest slum. If you’ve seen the film *Slumdog Millionaire*, you’ll know what I’m talking about. An endless sea of blue rooftops, stacked on a hill. Bollywood skyscrapers just beside it. A land of contrasts, just as I expected. As soon as you step off the plane, there’s a humid, stuffy, and warm smell. Then, air conditioning kicks in to soften it. We had a 6-hour layover between flights. Tempting as it was to leave the airport, the rain and fear of traffic – and missing the only connecting flight of the day – made us wait. The Arrival As I exited the airport, I was greeted by a chaos of yellow and blue taxis, tuk-tuks, cars, buses, motorbikes, and open-bed trucks carrying standing passengers …