Thursday’s Special

Paula’s (Lost in Translation) challenge this week is Tall.

Cascais

Following her idea of a lighthouse I have opted to show this  beautiful blue and white striped pepper-pot structure, which is topped by a small glass beacon.

During the 1750s, on a rocky shoulder overhanging the sea, a small fort was erected that was part of the maritime defence of Cascais until the 19th century. In 1762 it was modernized, and began its function as a lighthouse in 1868 after losing its military value.

In the lighthouse museum are gathered representative pieces that illustrate its activity whilst it was a lighthouse, featuring a series of optical devices from the 19th and 20th centuries as well as an audiovisual centre where a multilingual documentary about the lighthouses of Portugal is exhibited.

You really need to wear good sunglasses when visiting this site – the white glossy tiles of the exhibition centre and auditorium throw off a blinding light in the sunlight which quite hurts the eyes! The tiles are laid slightly unevenly so the apparently plain surfaces catch the light and have a subtle iridescent quality.

I have been promising to show this to my blogging friend Jo for a very long time! I hope she enjoys it 🙂

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

55 thoughts on “Thursday’s Special”

    1. Have had these photos around for a while but never found an opportunity to post them. I really must write about Lisbon and Cascais. Both lovely places to visit.

  2. Jude it is so pretty! I don’t think I have seen such a striping anywhere else. I loved your comment about needing the sunglasses. It makes me think of driving here on a sunny day when everything is white with snow. It’s absolutely blinding.

    1. I loved it and the light reflecting off the tiles reminded me so much of Sydney’s opera house tiles.

  5. You have! And there I was expecting a Friday fountain. 🙂 You do like to keep me on the hop, Jude. It is beautiful and I’m sure I’ll get to walk right by there one day. Thanks for the tip- I absolutely will wear my sunglasses.

      1. Forgot to say, thanks for the mention 🙂 We managed a day in Sintra from Lisbon but I’ve always planned to go back for Monserrate and Cascais.

        1. So much to see in Sintra. I’d like to return there and spend a few days. Was a bit too hot and humid on my visit so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I could have.

        2. We climbed up there on foot, like bloody lunatics! Didn’t want to queue for the bus. Was that a mistake! I’d like to go back too. 🙂

  6. Ohhhh, this is so very lovely. I drove through Cascais but did not capture this one. I wish that lighthouses in Croatia are more colourful. Thank you, Sue. Your beautiful photos reminded me of my great trip to Portugal. Wish you a more peaceful weekend!

    1. I am very envious of Jo and her Algarve abode. I could easily live in Portugal and Cascais is a delightful town.

  7. Pingback: Thursday’s Special: Tall | Lost in Translation

  8. Oh, to have a photographer’s eye. I have a photograph of this same structure but it’s not nearly as impressive as yours. Well, it was also cloudy so we didn’t quite get that blinding effect. I didn’t realise there was a museum attached to it. Guess I’ll just have to go back again one day….

  10. Nice shots. Yes, I can easily imagine the sunlight, bright white tiles and light reflections to be quite blinding. As this was a fort, what have they done with the rest of the buildings/rooms? Boutique accomodation?

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