Steve's sandbox

Tag: Portugal

  • Mazin Weber – Madrid: June 2022

    Hi everyone,

    At the start of June, I decided to go outside of my comfort zone and go to visit Lisbon, Portugal. It was one of the most incredible weekends of my life, full of action and excitement. On the first day, we decided to visit some of the most important sights of Lisbon, in order to soak in the atmosphere and see the things that attract so many tourists every year. We made our way to the Monastery of Jerominos, built in 1501 by King Manuel I of Portugal to celebrate the return of Vasco de Gama from India. The architecture was beautiful, with a creamy renaissance art and the courtyard was perfectly trimmed in the middle to provide peacefulness. Outside the monastery, we met a tuk-tuk driver who offered us a tour of Lisbon in his vehicle for an hour.

    In this antique, local vehicle, we passed by the Belem Tower, one of the best sites of Lisbon and something I was dying to see. It is located just outside of the sea, near the monastery and directly on the river. It is a 16th-century fortification located in Lisbon that served as a point of embarkation and disembarkation for Portuguese explorers and as a ceremonial gateway to Lisbon, and was built during the peak of their Renaissance. We were able to tour briefly the UNESCO World Heritage Site and take amazing pictures, before we continued on our journey to the city centre.
    In the city, surrounded by the pink and blue buildings that are native to Lisbon we passed upwards to visit some of the best ‘miradoures’ of Lisbon. The views were stunning, of the city from high up views buzzing with life and culture just beside the river. It really captured the essence of the city as we stopped at various points through the antique and ancient streets to capture the view.

    The second day, we ventured outside of the city, to a town called Sintra that is about 40 minutes in the train from the Portuguese capital. The small town was amazing, visiting the national palace of Sintra had views of the entire mountains surrounding the town, with its peaks covered in fog from the cloudy day. We ventured upwards, up the mountain after visiting the palaces and visited the Palacio de la Pena, a unique castle that is situated just outside Sintra, and what I loved about it was its uniqueness. The castle is divided in an assortment of colours, a third of it was red, a third was blue and a third was yellow. The array of colours was something I would never see in any other castle of its time. It was one of the principle places of residence of the Portuguese royal family in the 19th century and is situated in an isolated mountain covered in bushes and exotic trees. Despite the tormenting rain, we could not stop laughing as we witnessed the beauty of the castle, interior and exterior and learnt much of its history. Looking down, one could only see fog and steep drops which was terrifying to see. Nevertheless, it was a beautiful castle and the array of colours was very attractive, as it was extremely unique.

    The third day, we ended the visit with an amazing trip to Parque das Naçoes, on the outskirts of Lisbon, this renovated suburb provides a huge touch of modernity. The city was recently architected in the 1990’s where the 1998 World Exposition was situated, and remains one of the largest financial districts in Portugal and Europe. Despite the numerous attractions such as the Science Museum and Vasco da Gama Tower, which is the tallest building in Lisbon. We visited the cable cars that take you directly over the sea, giving you a view of the ocean on one hand, and the view of the modern and tall dock on the other hand. Afterwards, we entered the Oceanarium, where we were greeted by thousands of different species of fish, penguins and even otters. I found it very enlightening to visit such a place because marine life is something very important to Lisbon, as they have many different creatures swimming right up to their shores such as dolphins and even occasionally whales.
    I enjoyed greatly seeing the variety of fish, having hardly been to such a place before and I soaked in the variety of different colours of fish, in particular the majestic manta rays and sharks that swam in the main central tank.

    I thoroughly recommend Lisbon to anyone, particularly those who live in Spain because it provides a breakaway from the Madrid city life and offers a refreshing different taste of ‘iberian culture’.

    Hola a todos,

    A principios de junio, decidí salir de mi zona de confort, de ir a visitar Lisboa, Portugal. Fue uno de los fines de semana más increíbles de mi vida, lleno de acción y emoción. El primer día, decidimos visitar algunos de los lugares más importantes de Lisboa, para involucrarnos del ambiente y ver las cosas que atraen a tantos turistas cada año. Nos fuimos al Monasterio de los Jerominos, construido en 1501 por el rey Manuel I de Portugal para celebrar el regreso de Vasco de Gama de la India. La arquitectura era preciosa, con un arte renacentista cremoso y el patio estaba perfectamente recortado en el centro para proporcionar tranquilidad. Fuera del monasterio, conocimos a un conductor de tuk-tuk que nos ofreció un recorrido por Lisboa en su vehículo durante una hora.

    En este vehículo antiguo y local, pasamos por la Torre de Belem, uno de los mejores sitios de Lisboa y algo que me moría por ver. Está situada justo al lado del mar, cerca del monasterio y directamente en el río. Es una fortificación del siglo XVI situada en Lisboa que sirvió como punto de embarque y desembarque para los exploradores portugueses y como puerta ceremonial de Lisboa, y fue construida durante la encima de su Renacimiento. Pudimos recorrer brevemente este lugar, declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO, y tomar increíbles fotografías, antes de continuar nuestro viaje hacia el centro de la ciudad.
    En la ciudad, rodeados de los edificios rosas y azules propios de Lisboa, pasamos a visitar algunos de los mejores “miradoures” de Lisboa. Las vistas eran impresionantes, de la ciudad desde lo alto vistas llena de vida y cultura justo al lado del río. Realmente capturó la esencia de la ciudad, ya que nos detuvimos en varios puntos a través de las calles antiguas para capturar la vista.

    El segundo día, nos aventuramos fuera de la ciudad, a un pueblo llamado Sintra que está a unos 40 minutos en tren de la capital portuguesa. La pequeña ciudad era increíble, visitando el palacio nacional de Sintra tenía vistas de toda la sierra que rodea la ciudad, con sus picos cubiertos de niebla por el día nublado. Nos aventuramos hacia arriba, subiendo la montaña después de visitar los palacios y visitamos el Palacio de la Pena, un castillo único que está situado a las afueras de Sintra, y lo que me encantó fue su singularidad. El castillo está dividido en un surtido de colores, un tercio era rojo, otro azul y otro amarillo. La variedad de colores era algo que nunca vería en ningún otro castillo de su época. Fue uno de los principales lugares de residencia de la familia real portuguesa en el siglo XIX y está situado en una montaña aislada cubierta de arbustos y árboles exóticos. A pesar de la atormentadora lluvia, no podíamos dejar de reírnos mientras presenciábamos la belleza del castillo, por dentro y por fuera, y aprendíamos mucho de su historia. Al mirar hacia abajo, sólo podría ver niebla y caídas abruptas. Sin embargo, era un castillo precioso y la gama de colores era muy atractiva, ya que era extremadamente única.

    El tercer día, terminamos la visita con un sorprendente viaje al Parque das Naçoes, en las afueras de Lisboa, este renovado suburbio tiene un enorme toque de modernidad. Se trata de una ciudad de reciente arquitectura, de los años 90, donde se ubicó la Exposición Universal de 1998, y que sigue siendo uno de los mayores distritos financieros de Portugal y Europa. A pesar de las numerosas atracciones, como el Museo de la Ciencia y la Torre Vasco da Gama, que es el edificio más alto de Lisboa, visitabamos los teleféricos que te llevan directamente sobre el mar, ofreciéndote una vista del océano por un lado, y la vista del moderno y alto muelle por el otro. Después, entramos en el Oceanario, donde nos recibieron miles de especies diferentes de peces, pingüinos e incluso nutrias. Me pareció muy ilustrativo visitar un lugar así porque la vida marina es algo muy importante para Lisboa, ya que tienen muchas criaturas diferentes nadando hasta sus costas, como delfines e incluso ocasionalmente ballenas.
    Disfruté mucho viendo la variedad de peces, ya que apenas había estado en un lugar así, y me empapé de la variedad de colores de los peces, en particular de las majestuosas mantas y tiburones que nadaban en el tanque central principal.

    Recomiendo encarecidamente Lisboa a todo el mundo, sobre todo a los que viven en España, porque es una escapada de la vida urbana de Madrid y ofrece un sabor diferente y refrescante de la “cultura ibérica”.

  • Case Study: Joshua Binfor – Lisbon, Portugal 2019-20

    As part of my year abroad, I spent 7 months in Lisbon working as a translation and communication intern. My initial and main goal was to immerse myself in Portuguese as much as possible. Although I arrived in Lisbon already having an intermediate level of Portuguese (B2), my understanding of Portuguese was tested to a new level, and I essentially lived the language. I arrived at the beginning of June which was an excellent time to familiarise myself with the city. The weather was perfect and there were so many events to choose from. Despite the fact that I had already visited the city before, this would be the first time living in the city for an extended period of time.

    At my work, I was able to learn and explore new professional areas. I was able to develop my translation skills while working with professionals. I mainly translated documents from Spanish and Portuguese into English, and I was able to apply my skills to different types of translation. Not only did I learn many translation skills, but I also took care of the social media of the company which taught me many valuable skills about media management.

    Portuguese literature is one of the best worlds I now have access to. I enjoy literature and reading in general but reading in another language is an amazing experience. Reading in Portuguese was very taxing at the beginning because I had to look up many words as my vocabulary was not very large. My favourite Portuguese book O Universo num Grão de Areia [The Universe in a Grain of Sand], written by Mia Couto, is a book of short essays that touches on so many issues without making the issues overly academic or complicated.  Not only was I exposed to Portuguese culture, but I also got a glimpse into Mozambican culture, where both histories are intertwined.

    I had the chance to travel to the north and south of Portugal which were very different experiences. The north is must colder and has Portugal’s second biggest city Porto. There is a huge art community in Porto and a rich cultural history. In the south, I visited the Algarve which is renowned for its beaches and for the beautiful walks. While the country is not huge the contrasts make from excellent holidays. Though Lisbon has a lot of charm it does not show the full range of Portuguese culture; therefore, it is worth visiting other places outside of the capital.

    What really stood out for me was the friendly nature of the Portuguese people. Even though I was in a capital city, I had many conversations with Portuguese people in cafes, in taxis and at bus stations. Speaking to people directly always helps when learning about recent Portuguese history. I have made many lifelong friends and I hope to stay in contact with them.

    There have been many people who has supported me on my studies, and the Trust is one of those who has helped me through the process. In its on way, writing a report each month helped me to keep track of my progress and achievements and it helped me to value my experience in Portugal.

     

    I am very grateful for the opportunity I have had in Lisbon and I hope others are able to have a similar experience.

  • Joshua Binfor, Lisbon, Portugal – December 2019

    How could I visit the north of Portugal without visiting the south? That was my reasoning before planning to visit the Algarve. This month I had the opportunity to visit the Algarve which is in the south of Portugal and is famous for its beaches. Did I go to the beach in December? Yes, I did, but I’m still not crazy enough to enter the water. Although it wasn’t very cold, with temperatures between 15 and 23 degrees, I still didn’t want to risk entering the cold Atlantic Ocean. The Algarve is excellent for adventures. There are many open spaces, you can do hiking and lots of outdoor activities. Some of the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen have been in the Algarve.

    Being in the Algarve and going on extensive walks gave me a lot of time to think about my experience in Portugal thus far. I have been in Portugal for almost 6 months and so much has happened in such a short space of time. Much of what I have learned in this time has been very beneficial and I have definitely grown as a person. Being in the Algarve with my friends from the UK allowed me to experience a new environment with old faces and with people who I miss dearly. This boosted my spirit and made me realise that I miss my friends and family more than anything else about home.

    This month I also continued to enjoy Portuguese film. Tristeza e Alegria na Vida das Girafas (Sadness and Joy in the Life of Giraffes), is a film about a 10 year old girl who misses her mother dearly after she has passed away. She lives with her father and her only friend: a teddy bear that goes by the name of Judy Garland. One day, she decides to run away from home because she wants to get money so that she can watch the National Geographic channel. During this journey to get the money she faces different trials and revelations. The film is well executed and has a very authentic feel. The film is not a big budget Hollywood film but what stands out is the incredibly subtle dialogue. The actors show an understanding of the roles they play and there is an authentic interaction between the characters. I hope to see more Portuguese films which stretch the ability of the actors and show real human emotions and connections.

    Como poderia visitar o norte de Portugal sem visitar o sul? Esse foi o meu raciocínio antes de planear visitar o Algarve. Este mês tive a oportunidade de visitar o Algarve que fica no sul de Portugal e é famoso pelas suas praias. Se fui à praia em dezembro? Sim, fui, mas ainda não estou louco o suficiente para entrar na água. Embora não estivesse muito frio, com temperaturas entre os 15 e os 23 graus, não quis arriscar entrar no frio do Oceano Atlântico. O Algarve é excelente para aventuras. Há muitos espaços abertos, o que permite fazer caminhadas e muitas atividades ao ar livre. O Algarve tem algumas das praias mais belas que já vi.

    Estar no Algarve e fazer longas caminhadas deu-me muito tempo para pensar na minha experiência em Portugal até agora. Há quase 6 meses que estou em Portugal e muito tem acontecido neste curto espaço de tempo. Muito do que tenho aprendido neste tempo foi muito benéfico para mim e definitivamente cresci como

    pessoa. Estar no Algarve com os meus amigos do Reino Unido permitiu-me experienciar um novo ambiente com caras antigas e com pessoas de quem tenho saudades. Isto reforçou o meu espírito e fez-me perceber que sinto a falta dos meus amigos e família mais do que qualquer outra coisa.

    Este mês continuo a gostar de ver filmes portugueses. Tristeza e Alegria na Vida das Girafas, é um filme sobre uma menina de 10 anos que sente muito a falta da mãe depois de ela ter falecido. Ela vive com o pai e o seu único amigo: um ursinho de peluche que se chama Judy Garland. Um dia, ela decide fugir de casa porque quer ganhar dinheiro para poder ver o canal National Geographic. Durante esta viagem para conseguir o dinheiro, ela enfrenta diferentes desafios e revelações. O filme é bem executado, com uma sensação muito autêntica. O filme não tem um grande orçamento em Hollywood, mas o que se destaca é o diálogo incrivelmente subtil. Os atores mostram uma compreensão dos papéis que desempenham e há uma interação autêntica entre os personagens. Espero ver mais filmes portugueses que alarguem a capacidade dos atores e mostrem emoções e interações humanas reais.

  • Joshua Binfor, Lisbon, Portugal – November 2019

    This month I went to Porto. Porto is the second biggest city in Portugal, and it has the most famous Portuguese wine, Port wine. The city is also nicknamed Invicta because during the civil war the Portuguese city withstood a siege of over a year. It was my first time in Porto, and despite all the rain, I really liked it. The city definitely has a different feel to Lisbon. It has more gothic architecture and the city has a more traditional character. Many people would say Lisbon used to look like Porto however due to the development of many new buildings it looks more modern. On the other side of the river to Porto there is Vila Nova de Gaia, which is also very beautiful, and it is less crowded and greener. It is very simple but has its own charm. While I was in Porto, I tried the traditional dish Francesinha. It has bread, wet-cured ham, fresh sausage like chipolata, steak, and covered with melted cheese and a hot tomato and beer sauce. Yes, once you eat it you won’t need to eat until the next day. I was able to do a tour of the building of one of the major producers of port. I tried 3 different wines to see how the process of creating port changes the flavour, and they were all complex and exquisite.

    I recently have been getting into Portuguese film. I watched an amazing Portuguese film call Tabu. It was about a female protagonist called Aurora, who is shown as an impulsive and cantankerous elderly woman in present-day Lisbon. However, she becomes hospitalised and she sends her neighbour, Pilar, to pass word of her condition to Gian Luca, a man of which no one has ever heard her speak of. The film then goes back to Aurora’s youth and shows her involved in a forbidden love affair with Gian Luca, her husband’s best friend. Although, the main theme is about the love affair of Aurora, the film also calls into question Portugal’s colonial history and the memory loss of the atrocities committed in many of the former colonies.

    Este mês fui ao Porto. O Porto é a segunda maior cidade de Portugal e tem o vinho português mais famoso, o vinho do Porto. A cidade também é apelidada de Invicta porque, durante a guerra civil, a cidade resistiu a um cerco de mais de um ano. Foi a minha primeira vez no Porto, e apesar de toda a chuva, gostei muito. A cidade tem definitivamente uma atmosfera diferente da de Lisboa. Tem uma arquitetura mais gótica e um caráter mais tradicional. Muitas pessoas diriam que Lisboa costumava parecer o Porto, mas devido ao desenvolvimento de muitos edifícios novos parece mais moderna. Do outro lado do rio temos Vila Nova de Gaia, que também é muito bonita, menos frenética e mais verde. É muito simples, mas tem o seu próprio charme. Enquanto estive no Porto, experimentei o prato tradicional Francesinha. Tem pão, presunto, salsicha fresca, linguiça, bife ou carne assada, e coberto com queijo derretido e um molho quente de tomate e cerveja. Sim, uma vez comido, não é preciso comer até ao dia seguinte. Pude fazer uma visita guiada ao edifício de um dos maiores produtores de vinho do Porto. Experimentei 3 vinhos diferentes para ver como o processo de criação do vinho do Porto muda o aroma, e todos eram complexos e requintados.

    Ultimamente tenho andado a entrar no cinema português. Vi um filme português fantástico chamado Tabu. Era sobre uma protagonista chamada Aurora, que é apresentada como uma mulher idosa impulsiva e mal-humorada em Lisboa de hoje em dia. No entanto, é hospitalizada e manda a vizinha Pilar passar a notícia da sua condição a Gian Luca, um homem de quem nunca ninguém a ouviu falar. O filme remonta à juventude de Aurora e mostra-a envolvida num caso de amor proibido com Gian Luca, o melhor amigo do marido. Embora o tema principal seja o caso amoroso de Aurora, o filme também questiona a história colonial portuguesa e a perda de memória das atrocidades cometidas em muitas das antigas colónias.

     

     

     

  • Joshua Binfor, Lisbon, Portugal – October 2019

    Although it’s still warm, summer is truly over, and the cooler autumn can now be enjoyed. I went to Torres Vedras for a weekend to visit friends that I made last year, and it was amazing. Last year, I had only studied Portuguese for a year and my Portuguese wasn’t great, but I managed to maintain conversations and make friends. This time I was able to communicate in a much more efficient and accurate way. I was able to see the progress I have made just within a year, and I’m looking forward to seeing my progress for the rest of the year.

    This month I went to see Variações which is Portuguese film about the life of António Variações. He had huge influence on Portuguese pop culture, and he was very innovative in both his fashion and music style. He married the traditional Portuguese musical genre of Fado with Rock and Pop, thus creating his own signature sound. He challenged many prejudices in Portugal and he united many parts of the society. Although, he only had the minimum education at the time, he was able to write complex and thought-provoking lyrics. The film was entirely in Portuguese and without subtitles. Although, at times I missed some of the dialogue, I was able to follow along and grasp the intensity of the film. I hope to be able to watch more Portuguese films to increase my knowledge of Portuguese culture.

    The Portuguese news has been full of information about the elections. Portugal just had their elections on the 6th of October 2019, where all 230 seats to the Assembly of the Republic were at stake. The Socialist Party (PS) won the elections with 37%. While there were many celebrations  about the result of the elections, in a country that has long been considered immune to the rise of the European extreme right,  a new nationalist formation – Chega! – has for the first time won a seat in the Portuguese parliament since the end of the Salazar dictatorship in 1974.

     

    Embora ainda esteja calor, o verão acabou, e agora pode-se desfrutar do outono mais fresco. Fui a Torres Vedras passar um fim-de-semana, para visitar amigos que fiz o ano passado, e foi fantástico. O ano passado, só tinha começado a aprender português há um ano e o meu português não era grande coisa, mas consegui participar em conversas e fazer amigos. Desta vez consegui comunicar de uma forma muito mais eficiente e precisa. Consegui ver o progresso que fiz no espaço de um ano e estou ansioso por ver o meu progresso para o resto do ano.

    Este mês fui ver Variações, que é um filme português sobre a vida do António Variações. Ele teve uma enorme influência na cultura pop portuguesa e foi muito inovador, tanto na moda, como na música. Conjugou o género musical tradicional português do Fado com Rock e Pop, criando assim o seu próprio som único. Desafiou muitos preconceitos em Portugal e uniu muitas partes da sociedade. Embora, na altura, só tivesse a educação básica, foi capaz de escrever letras complexas e evocativas. O filme estava inteiramente em português e sem legendas. Apesar de, por vezes, ter perdido algum diálogo, consegui acompanhar e captar a intensidade do filme. Espero poder ver mais filmes portugueses de forma a aumentar o meu conhecimento da cultura portuguesa.

    Os meios de comunicação portugueses têm andado repletos de notícias sobre as eleições. Em Portugal, as eleições acabaram de ter lugar, no passado dia 6 de outubro de 2019, na qual estiveram em jogo os 230 lugares para a Assembleia da República. O Partido Socialista (PS) venceu as eleições com 37% dos votos. Embora tenha havido grandes celebrações em torno dos resultados das eleições, num país que há muito é considerado imune à ascensão da extrema direita europeia, uma nova formação nacionalista – Chega! – ganhou pela primeira vez um lugar no parlamento português desde o fim da ditadura de Salazar, em 1974.

  • Joshua Binfor, Lisbon, Portugal – September 2019

    I have been in Lisbon for almost three months now. Time flies when you’re having fun. As I spend more time in Lisbon my Portuguese gets better and better and I’m able to have better access to Portuguese traditions and culture. At work, my tasks continue to become more thought-provoking. Translating colloquial documents presents new problems as there are a lot of expressions that cannot be translated. This means I have to do thorough search to find the meaning of phrases. However, I am supported by my colleagues who are always ready to help me and show me the tricks of being a translator. I had the opportunity to translate an advert script from Portuguese to English which I assumed would be easy; however, there were challenges. For example, how do you translate “beijindos” when the literal translation, “small kisses”, isn’t a common phrase in English? So, in the end I settled for “see you” because it seemed to be the most appropriate phrase for the context. I’m anxious to see how my Portuguese continues to evolve and my skills as a translation intern improve.

    This month I had the opportunity to visit Setúbal, which is city in Portugal that was one of the most important centres of fishing Portugal. There are many beautiful beaches in Setúbal and sometimes you see dolphins in the Sado river but unfortunately, I didn’t get to see them that time. I tried fried cuttlefish which is a speciality of Setúbal and it was delicious. I would like to visit the city again because I only spent one day there but I really enjoyed it

    This month I also visited the Gulbenkian museum because there was an Islamic Art exhibition which was very interesting. In addition, the museum is free on Sundays, so I decided to go and have a look at the exhibition and some of the other rooms. I didn’t manage to do the whole museum but from what I saw, I enjoyed, and I will make another visit soon.

     

    Estou em Lisboa há quase três meses. O tempo voa quando nos estamos a divertir. À medida que vou passando mais tempo em Lisboa, o meu português vai ficando cada vez melhor e vou tendo mais acesso às tradições e à cultura portuguesas. No trabalho, as minhas tarefas continuam a tornar-se cada vez mais estimulantes. A tradução de documentos

    (Gulbenkian museum)

    coloquiais coloca novos problemas, porque há muitas expressões que não podem ser traduzidas literalmente. Isto significa que tenho de fazer uma pesquisa minuciosa para encontrar o significado das expressões. No entanto, os meus colegas apoiam-me. sempre prontos a ajudar-me e mostrar-me os truques de ser tradutor. Tive a oportunidade de traduzir de português para inglês um guião publicitário que presumi que seria fácil, mas surgiram desafios. Por exemplo, como traduzir “beijinhos” quando a tradução literal, “small kisses”, não é uma frase comum em inglês? Por isso, acabei por me contentar com “see you”, porque parecia ser a frase mais apropriada para o contexto. Estou ansioso por ver como o meu português vai continuar a evoluir e como as minhas competências como estagiário de tradução vão melhorar.

    Este mês, tive a oportunidade de visitar Setúbal, uma cidade em Portugal que foi um dos mais importantes centros de pesca. Há muitas praias bonitas em Setúbal e, por vezes, é possível ver golfinhos no rio Sado, mas, infelizmente, não consegui vê-los na altura. Provei choco frito, que é uma especialidade de Setúbal, e era delicioso. Gostaria de voltar a visitar a cidade, pois só passei um dia lá, mas gostei muito.

    Este mês, também visitei o Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, porque havia uma exposição de Arte Islâmica muito interessante. Além disso, o museu é gratuito aos domingos, por isso, decidi ir dar uma vista de olhos à exposição e a algumas das outras salas. Não consegui ver tudo no museu, mas, do que vi, gostei e irei fazer outra visita em breve.

     

  • Joshua Binfor, Lisbon, Portugal – August 2019

    Lisbon is starting to feel like home. Although, some of the city’s original charm has worn off, I have a new appreciation for the city. The festive events of June and July have come to an end and things are a bit quieter. The Summer period is taken more seriously in Portugal than in the UK, and the city feels deserted as most of the residents have gone on holiday. You could say that it feels like there are more tourists than residents. The interesting thing about Lisbon is that as much as it is a big city there are parts of the city that feel like the countryside. The metropolitan area of Lisbon is not very big, so it is easy to find yourself is an area that is much greener and less built up. This month I have taken time to visit the historical sites near Lisbon. I went to Sintra, and Sintra has its own special micro-climate that dramatically affects the temperature. Although, I went to Sintra on a day in which the temperature was over 30 degrees in Lisbon, when I reached The Palace of Pena, which is located at the highest point in Sintra, the temperature dropped and there was a lot of fog. The Palace of Pena is one of my favourite castles because of its colourful design and beautiful architecture which blends elements of North African design and European design.  Near the Palace de Pena there is also a Moorish castle, and here you can learn about the history of the Moorish people in Europe, and the North African influence on Portuguese art. All in all, my fast-paced London rhythm is adjusting to the slower but dynamic and steady rhythm of Lisbon, and I look forward to seeing how my appreciation will grow for the city during my stay here.

     

    (Sintra)

    Começo a sentir-me em casa em Lisboa. Embora, algum do charme original da cidade tenha se desgastado, eu tenho uma nova apreciação para a cidade. Os eventos festivos de Junho e Julho chegaram ao fim e as coisas estão um pouco mais calmas. O período de Verão é levado mais a sério em Portugal do que no Reino Unido, e a cidade sente-se deserta porque a maioria dos residentes já foi de férias. Pode-se dizer que parece que há mais turistas do que residentes. A coisa interessante sobre Lisboa é que tanto quanto é uma cidade grande há partes da cidade que sentem como o campo. A área metropolitana de Lisboa não é muito grande, assim que é fácil encontrar-se yourself é uma área que seja muito mais verde e menos construída acima. Este mês eu fiz exame do tempo para visitar os locais históricos perto de Lisboa. Fui a Sintra, e Sintra tem o seu próprio microclima especial que afecta dramaticamente a temperatura. Embora tenha ido a Sintra num dia em que a temperatura era superior a 30 graus em Lisboa, quando cheguei ao Palácio da Pena, situado no ponto mais alto de Sintra, a temperatura baixou e havia muita neblina. O Palácio da Pena é um dos meus castelos favoritos devido ao seu design colorido e à sua bela arquitectura que mistura elementos de design norte-africano e design europeu. Perto do Palácio de Pena há também um castelo mouro, e aqui pode aprender sobre a história do povo mouro na Europa e a influência do Norte de África na arte portuguesa. Em suma, o meu ritmo acelerado de Londres está a ajustar-se ao ritmo mais lento, mas dinâmico e constante de Lisboa, e estou ansioso por ver como o meu apreço pela cidade irá crescer durante a minha estadia aqui.

    (Palace of Pena)

  • Joshua Binfor, Lisbon, Portugal – June 2019

     

    (Lisbon)

    O verão é uma ótima época para estar em Lisboa. Os longos dias e o clima quente dão à cidade uma nova vida. Os longos dias alegram a todos e as pessoas gostam de passear a admirar a bela arquitetura de Lisboa. Como é meu primeiro mês, usei o meu tempo para permitir perder-me na cidade. Lisboa é uma cidade excelente para se perder. Cada estrada é pitoresca e pode apreciar todas as vistas e sons. Além de passar um tempo em Lisboa, fui a Belém, que fica a 20 minutos de comboio e é um dos lugares mais bonitos de Portugal. Também pode desfrutar dos renomeados Pastéis de Belém, que são os icónicos Pasteis de nata. Eles podem ser muito doces, então um ou dois são suficientes para alegrar este sabor icónico de Lisboa.

    Durante o mês de junho há o Festival de Santo António, também conhecido como o Festival das Sardinhas. Durante este festival as ruas estão cheias de pessoas enquanto apreciam música, dança e muito peixe grelhado. O cheiro de sardinha assada enche o ar e pode ser sentido de todos os cantos da cidade. Como a festa começa na tarde de 12 de junho, o evento dura até o amanhecer de 13 de junho é um feriado bancário. As ruas estão cheias de cor e diversão, e é um evento para todos, pois, há aspetos para todas as idades. Enquanto a música é maioritariamente música tradicional portuguesa, a música do mundo lusófono pode ser ouvida nas ruas. É um evento que encapsula a alegria dos portugueses e mostra a diversidade dos países de língua portuguesa. Embora o evento principal deva ser apenas um dia, o clima festivo continua por mais tempo. A atmosfera permeia a cidade.

    (Belem)

    Summer is a great time to be in Lisbon. The long days and warm weather give the city a new lease of life. The extended daylight cheers everyone up and people enjoy walks to admire the beautiful architecture of Lisbon. As it is my first month, I have used my time to allow myself to get lost in the city. Lisbon is an excellent city to be lost in as every road is picturesque, and you can appreciate all the sights and sounds. In addition to spending time in Lisbon, I went to Belem which is a 20 minutes journey on the train and is one of the most beautiful places in Portugal. You can also enjoy the well-known Pasteis de Belem which are one of the most iconic versions of Pasteis de nata. They can be very sweet so one or two are enough to joy this iconic flavour from Portugal.

    During the month of June there is the Santo António Festival also known as the Festival of Sardines. During this festival the streets are filled with people as they enjoy music, dancing and lots of grilled fish. The smell of grilled sardines fills the air and it can be smelt from all corners of the city. The party begins in the afternoon of June 12th and the event lasts until the sunrise of June 13th which is a bank holiday. The streets are filled with colour and enjoyment, and it is an event for all as there are aspects for all ages. While the music is mostly traditional Portuguese music, music from the lusophone world can be heard in the streets. It is an event that encapsulates the joy of the Portuguese and displays the diversity of Portuguese speaking countries. Although the main event is only supposed to be one day, the festive mood continues for longer. The atmosphere truly permeates the city.

    (Santo Antonio Festival)

  • Grace Partington: Case Study – Portugal, 2016

    Case Study:  Grace Partington, Portugal (2016)

    Receiving a John Speak Trust Scholarship was extremely helpful in easing financial pressure whilst abroad (including cost of travel, accommodation and social activities) which aided me in improving my Portuguese.

    In January I arrived in Portugal (in Lisbon airport to be exact) to fantastic weather. The sun was shining and my snapchat app informed that it was 18 degrees C. However, the smug attitude disappeared when I realised that my Portuguese was not what it had been nine months previously in Manchester, and that speaking to someone (to enquire about a ticket for the train to Coimbra) was going to be difficult.

    I spent my semester studying in Portugal’s third city, Coimbra, which is about midway up Portugal, between Porto and Lisbon. It is, as students of Coimbra argue, the place that J.K. Rowling got her inspiration for Hogwarts from and it is easy to see why. The easiest comparison to an English university would be to Durham due to the small size of the city and the existence of various churches. However it is much more; students habitually walk around in long black capes and uniforms of sorts and there is a strong tradition of choirs, ‘tunas’ and music of all kinds. As time passed, I realised that Coimbra is a city rich in history and interesting stories. Unfortunately, many people have not heard of Coimbra and although nowadays it can seem like it is simply a relatively small university city, in the past Coimbra was central for Portugal’s power and, in fact, was the capital of Portugal for a century from the year 1145.

    The University of Coimbra is one of the oldest in the world; it officially opened and was confirmed by the Pope in 1290. Originally, the University started in Lisbon but was transferred between there and Coimbra various times until it ended up in Coimbra in 1537.

    Additionally, living with people that only spoke Portuguese was very helpful in forming a strong basis of knowledge of the language and using it every day at home, at university and in all types of environments developed my confidence and vocabulary.

    Being a native English speaker, it would have been very easy to just speak English (and fall into the so-called “Erasmus trap”) as lots of Erasmus students were eager to practice and it was the common language of a lot of students, however forcing myself into situations where I often felt uncomfortable (due to not being confident with the language) and avoiding all-English situations really helped.

    Initially, it was nice to converse with people who were not Portuguese and who were also learning Portuguese; situations in which Portuguese was our only common language.  This eased the pressure and mistakes from both parties which were not so obvious so there was less embarrassment. This allowed me to build my confidence until I felt good enough to properly engage with native speakers which happened surprisingly quickly due to constant exposure.

    My favourite ways of passing the time in Coimbra were:

    Have a coffee – something the Portuguese do every day and that is a style of life here in Portugal. If I want to feel part of the student community I used to go to Praça da República, on my route to the university, and watch all the students taking a break in the big square between classes. Another option was ‘Mil Doce’, an attractive café close to my house; it has a beautiful terrace with a great view of the river and the city and it is an ideal spot to sunbathe. Pastel de Nata optional.

    The river path

    Go for a run – Although Coimbra is not ideal for a gentle run (due to the immense hills) there is a great flat path next to the river with great views of the river and the bridges. A great way to relax.

    The “Escadas Monumentais” – installed by Salazar during his dictatorship who believed that students should be physically as well as mentally fit. There are 150 steps and I had to climb them at least once every day on my way to the university….

    Play an instrument – The ‘tunas’ are very popular here and it’s normal to see groups of students, clad in the traditional capes of Coimbra, walking through the streets singing and playing their guitars so I bought myself a ukulele and started practising some songs in my free time.

    Sunbathe – The weather was very mixed but on sunny days I liked to find a sunny spot to sunbathe. My flat had a lovely balcony on which I can relax but also Coimbra has a great park next to the river

    I borrowed a flag from a friendly Portugal fan specifically for this photo who then gifted it to me! It is currently hanging in my room in Manchester.

    Football – One of my favourite experiences (an unexpected one) in Portugal; Portugal’s victory in the Eurocup. On the 10th of July Portugal won against France and achieved its first big international title and I was lucky enough to be there to see it.

    Like all the matches, I watched in Praça da República and the atmosphere was phenomenal; there were more people than I had ever seen before (from time to time this made it difficult to watch the match) and everyone with the green and red hats and scarves of Portugal. The square was truly a sea of green and red and noise. The country’s obsession with Ronaldo fascinated me and when he was injured by a tackle by Payet and he couldn’t play, the emotion and disappointment of the crowd was incredible; I have never seen dedication to a player like it.

    Despite the efforts of the two teams, at the end of the match the score was 0-0 and extra time started. However it seemed like luck was with Portugal because Raphael Guerreiro scored in the 108th minute and the whole place exploded. There followed a crazy night that is impossible to describe. People were throwing fireworks in the square and there were people jumping on top of cars and beeping their horns; it was a madness that I will never forget. I am very grateful for my experience in Portugal but this night was something I will carry with me my whole life and one of the greatest experiences of my year.

    I also had the opportunity to travel throughout Portugal. One of the most fun trips that I made was to Lagos, on the south coast of Portugal. I have always been a little sceptical with respect to the Algarve and the Costa de Sol. Both places have a bad reputation; of being full of British tourists, and the type of tourist that drinks to excess and gives a bad name to the rest of us.

    However, there were a lot of things that were not expected. For example, probably because of the low season, there were hardly any British tourists. Surprisingly, the hotel was full of old, calm couples of a mixture of different nationalities.

    I think it was because of the low season and the relative peace that I was able to appreciate the charm of Lagos. The main town was full of narrow, cobbled streets with varied restaurants and picturesque squares. Although there was an abundance of cheap bars, in my opinion they did not detract from the obvious charm of the old town.

    I was also able to appreciate the main street next to the lovely canals. The canals were lined by palm trees and full of sailing boats which made for a pleasant walk to the beach.

    Overall, I think that I had a different experience of the Algarve than the majority of tourists who visit there. In fact my stay was relatively relaxed and I am happy to have been able to experience a different side of the popular tourist spots.

    During my time in Coimbra I have enjoyed many great experiences and met some lovely people.   I am truly grateful to the John Speak Trust Scholarship for providing some financial support to make my experience in Portugal all the more enjoyable and allowing me the freedom to immerse myself in the Portuguese culture.

     

    Regards,

    Grace Partington

     

  • Portugal’s Victory! – Grace Partington, Portugal – July 2016

    A vitória de Portugal!

    Chega o meu último blog post e também o acabo do meu erasmus em portugal – que boas experiências e que bom povo conheci! Nao posso acreditar que acaba mais sim que acaba e, emseguida do meu último blog post, eu vou acabar com uma das minhas experiências preferidas (uma experiência inesperada) em portugal; a vitória de Portugal no Eurocup. No dia 10 de julho Portugal ganhou contra França e conquistou o seu primeiro grande título internacional e eu tinha a sorte de estar ali para vê-lo.

    Como todos os partidos, vi na Praça da República e o ambiente era fenomenal; havia mais gente que nunca tinha visto antes (de vez em quando isso fez que era dificil de ver o partido) e todo mundo com os chapéus e cachecoles de Portugal de verde e vermelho. A praça era um verdedeiro mar de verde e vermelho e de ruido. A obsessão do pais com Ronaldo fascinou-me e quando ele foi lerido por uma falta de Payet e não podia jogar no primeiro tempo a emoção e a decepção da multidão eram incrível; nunca vi uma dedicação a um jogador assim.

    Apenas do esforço dos dois equipos (França, após um primeiro tempo lento, voltou a entrar melhor no segundo tempo) ao fim do partido o resultado era 0-0 e o prolongamento começou. Entretanto parecia que a sorte estava com Portugal porque Raphael Guerreiro atirou a trave aos 108 minutos e o mundo explodiu. Seguia uma noite louca que não é possível descrever. A gente tirou fogos de artifícios na praça e havia gente saltando em cima dos carros e bipando as suas buzinas; era uma loucura que nunca vou me esquecer.

    Para concluir estava muito grata pela minha experiencia em portugal mais issa noite foi alguma coisa que levo comigo para a vida inteira e uma das experiencias mais grandes do meu ano.

    ENGLISH:

    Portugal’s victory!

    My last blog post has arrived and also the the end of my erasmus in Portugal – so many great experiences and great people I have met! I cannot believe it is ending but end it does and, following on from my last blog post, I am going to finish with one of my favourite experiences (an unexpected experience) in Portugal; Portugal’s victory in the Eurocup. On the 10th of July Portugal won against France and achieved its first big international title and I was lucky enough to be there to see it.

    Like all the matches, I watched in Praça da República and the atmosphere was phenomenal; there were more people than I had ever seen before (from time to time this made it difficult to watch the match) and everyone with the green and red hats and scarves of Portugal. The square was truly a sea of green and red and noise. The country’s obsession with Ronaldo fascinated me and when he was injured by a tackle by Payet and he couldn’t play, the emotion and disappointment of the crowd was incredible; I have never seen dedication to a player like it.

    Despite the efforts of the two teams (France, after a slow first half, returned to play better in the second half) at the end of the match the score was 0-0 and extra time started. However it seemed like luck was with Portugal because Raphael Guerreiro shot past the cross bar in the 108th minute and the world exploded. There followed a crazy night that is impossible to describe. People were throwing fireworks in the square and there were people jumping on top of cars and beeping their horns; it was a madness that I will never forget.

    To conclude, I was very grateful for my experience in Portugal but this night was something I will carry with me my whole life and one of the greatest experiences of my year.