Portugal – Page 3 – TRAVEL WORDS

home thoughts from abroad

Home thoughts from abroad is a new series on Travel Words featuring a ~~single~~ photographs that remind me of a country visited and showing something that uniquely identifies it as being ‘abroad’.

“Here in Lisbon it is a warm 20°C on a sunny day in late May. I am dressed in sandals, jeans and a light linen top. Lisboans on the other hand are still wearing boots, opaque tights, cardigans and leather jackets. Some are even in puffer jackets with fur collars! I am sweating just looking at them.”

It reminded me of a conversation I had with my daughter in March many years when I was on holiday in Johannesburg. The temperature was around 19°C and again it was a lovely bright and sunny day. I was outside in T-shirt and jeans. My daughter, up from Durban was shivering in jeans and a jumper. “Ma” she asked plaintively, “Aren’t you freezing?” I smiled and shook my head. In England it had been a mere 8°C when I left. These were summer temperatures for me. She on the other hand had just spent the winter living in Durban where temperatures rarely fall below 20°C with a 90% humidity.

Everything is relative.

Square September: Pink

Becky’s September square photo challenge Day 25! She would like us to share photos which embrace ‘pink’ – there could be pink in the photo, the subject or photographer could be ‘tickled pink’*, or indeed looking ‘in the pink’*. A photo that manages to do all three things is the ultimate offering.

calçada portugues in Belem - the delightful district to the west of central Lisbon

*‘in the pink’ means in perfect condition, or in good health, and ‘tickled pink’ means delighted.

September Squares | Pink

PS. There was the possibility of a pink sunrise this morning, but I only had the phone upstairs and tried taking a photo through a rather grimy window. Result not great. Sky. Fantastic!

Square September: Pink

Becky’s September square photo challenge Day five! She would like us to share photos which embrace ‘pink’ – there could be pink in the photo, the subject or photographer could be ‘tickled pink’*, or indeed looking ‘in the pink’*. A photo that manages to do all three things is the ultimate offering.

Graffiti in Lisbon.

*‘in the pink’ means in perfect condition, or in good health, and ‘tickled pink’ means delighted.

September Squares | Pink

June Squares | Roofs

It’s June and another 30 day challenge from Becky. ‘The Life of B’ This month she is looking for a roof or roofs or even rooves. Follow the link for the rules.

A scene I am sure Becky will have seen for herself – this photo was taken from the viewing platform at the top of the Santa Justa Lift (Portuguese: Elevador de Santa Justa) in Lisbon. With a view over that amazing wave pattern in Rossio Square. Cropped and zoomed in to show the magnificent terracotta tiles.

June Square | 14th June

March Square | Multiple Squares

Some you have seen before, others you have not, but with time running out I wanted to display all my Portugues squares. In a square. Of course.

We are almost coming to the end of Becky’s (“A life of a 40 something”) March challenge of square photographs with the theme:

‘Squared Squares’ – think multiple squares and squares within squares
‘Squaring the Circle’ – the perfect post will be a circle within a square

March Square | 29th March