Shubho Noboborsho for the Bengali year of 1415!
love you all. miss you dearly.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Shubho Nobo Borsho: Happy (Bengali) New Year! 1415.
Shubho Noboborsho for the Bengali year of 1415!
love you all. miss you dearly.
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Lisboa - day 4
.Hello once again - day 4.
Well, since in this very packed vacation there is no mercy for the guests, we woke up at 900 although we went to bed at 0300. R and S picked A and I in their car and we headed East!!!
We drove to Monsaraz. We got to Monte do Limpo and met Simao, Su's brother. Monte do Limpo is a vineyard and a ranch, and Simao and Claudia, his wife run it. I think it's originally owned by Claudia's family but I am not sure. We met there Su's niece, Carolina, what a gorgeous baby! and so smiley and friendly!!! We also met more family of Su. First Simao took us to eat lunch since we were starving. We went to a gorgoues reataurant in Tilheiro the nearby town where the houses are painted white and blue and everything is filled with serenity. Oh, the countryside is just marvelous. The restaurant is in this place they used to make oil in, there is a lot of art hung and it is absolutely an amazing place to eat. We had a very big 4 course lunch there and we were very very very happy.
We got back to the ranch and hung out there for a few ours again having some coffee and drinks. Simao gave a a tour of the wine factory which is ultra interesting. The process of making wine is fascinating. We saw where you make the wine, where it is stored to age, in barrels where it is later brought and where it is bottled. Of course we tasted different wines from the harvest that is still not even bottled. You can imagine this is quite a unique experience. So after being fed and getting drunk and resting and meeting family and talking and buying bottles for family and friends we drove up to the castle of Monsaraz which has another beautiful town in it and there are ruins from the Roman times I guess, the ancient walls protecting this town. We climbed on the wall and saw the amazing view of Alentejo - just vast vast open space of green and fields and an artificial lake that was formed when they build a dam 60 kms from there 5 years ago. So the views are amazing the atmoshpere peaceful, oh what a day what a day!!!
We drove from there to Evora a small town where Simao lives. We walked in the very well kept clean and beatiful city. Saw Diana's temple. A temple from the 2C for probably Diana, walked the streets, saw the Castle that dates to the 12-13c. saw the chapel of bones and went to a wonderful garden to rest. of course we had some coffee and eaten... Oh, all this was done also with Ana the friend of the gang who I met the day before in Bairro Alto.
We went to the new beautiful apartment of Simao and had dinner with them... Simao is quite a Chef.... From there we drove home and got home around 0130. What a long and exciting day!!!!
That's day 4!
Well, since in this very packed vacation there is no mercy for the guests, we woke up at 900 although we went to bed at 0300. R and S picked A and I in their car and we headed East!!!
We drove to Monsaraz. We got to Monte do Limpo and met Simao, Su's brother. Monte do Limpo is a vineyard and a ranch, and Simao and Claudia, his wife run it. I think it's originally owned by Claudia's family but I am not sure. We met there Su's niece, Carolina, what a gorgeous baby! and so smiley and friendly!!! We also met more family of Su. First Simao took us to eat lunch since we were starving. We went to a gorgoues reataurant in Tilheiro the nearby town where the houses are painted white and blue and everything is filled with serenity. Oh, the countryside is just marvelous. The restaurant is in this place they used to make oil in, there is a lot of art hung and it is absolutely an amazing place to eat. We had a very big 4 course lunch there and we were very very very happy.
We got back to the ranch and hung out there for a few ours again having some coffee and drinks. Simao gave a a tour of the wine factory which is ultra interesting. The process of making wine is fascinating. We saw where you make the wine, where it is stored to age, in barrels where it is later brought and where it is bottled. Of course we tasted different wines from the harvest that is still not even bottled. You can imagine this is quite a unique experience. So after being fed and getting drunk and resting and meeting family and talking and buying bottles for family and friends we drove up to the castle of Monsaraz which has another beautiful town in it and there are ruins from the Roman times I guess, the ancient walls protecting this town. We climbed on the wall and saw the amazing view of Alentejo - just vast vast open space of green and fields and an artificial lake that was formed when they build a dam 60 kms from there 5 years ago. So the views are amazing the atmoshpere peaceful, oh what a day what a day!!!
We drove from there to Evora a small town where Simao lives. We walked in the very well kept clean and beatiful city. Saw Diana's temple. A temple from the 2C for probably Diana, walked the streets, saw the Castle that dates to the 12-13c. saw the chapel of bones and went to a wonderful garden to rest. of course we had some coffee and eaten... Oh, all this was done also with Ana the friend of the gang who I met the day before in Bairro Alto.
We went to the new beautiful apartment of Simao and had dinner with them... Simao is quite a Chef.... From there we drove home and got home around 0130. What a long and exciting day!!!!
That's day 4!
Lisboa - day 3
Hello! day 3.
Ana and I went for a trip in the outskirts of Lisbon this day.
We woke up around 900 and took her car. we drove along the cost until we got to Cascais. it's a city on the Atlantic very very very picturesque and beautifu. with painted buildings and small alleys and a really good vibe all around.
First we had breakfast at this bakery place - had some bread and cheese and Croissants. Yummy. Then we walked in the alleys. I got a present for my sis - filigrana. it's silver earings that are covered with gold made of little threads of metal. really delicate and beautiful work. Then we had the best ice cream in Santini and walked more in the small town.
From there we went to Boca do inferno (mouth of hell) where the Atlantic meets a rocky cliff and sometimes it's scary apparently the way that the waves hit the cliff but the ocean was quite calm that day (great weather, did I mention?). So we sat and watched the ocean what could possibly be better than that?
We continued our journey along the Atlantic and got to a nice beach with a lot of kids and people skipping school apparently and walked a long walk along the beach. Ana spent the entire day teaching me about portuguese culture and slang it was great....
From there we went to the most western point in Europe and watched the ocean once more (Roca... I can't rem the name). Then we drove through a valley and got to an enchanting fish restaurant by a lovely beach and had lunch there. A tried to feed me weird stuff. That's all I am willing to say.
Later we went to Sintra another very colorful and lovely town surrounded my mountains. we saw the palace but didn't have time to go to the castle. We did have time to walk in the narrow alleys and nice streets, see the colorful houses and of course eat some queijadas. We really are suckers for sweets!
Then we headed back and met R and S who came back from Algarve. we had only 15 minutes to meet them but it was still enough time for a drink. We were in Chapito which is a very nice restaurant with yet again an amazing view of Lisbon. Apparently there is a circus there and the stars are all children that didn't have homes and they train then and put shows on. Nice!
Then A and I went to the amazing show of the diva Adriana Calcanhotto. it was in this antique classic concert. This was a closed concert and the opening for the new album of Adriana but somehow A got tickets and we were lucky enough to attend it. we are humming it all week it was just a once in a lifetime experience.
We later met R and A with two new friends, Vasco and Ana. We went to the clubbing scene of Lisbon which is weirdly enough outside. we stood at the corner of a street with many bars and clubs in Bairro Alto the clubbing area apparently. the street was absolutely packed with people and we hung around there and also in another corner for a few hours. There is a great atmoshpere there so many yound and beautiful people out in the street drinking and having fun. The only problem as always was that every night I am SOOO tired from the very long day I had....
We walked home from there.
And that's day 3.
Ana and I went for a trip in the outskirts of Lisbon this day.
We woke up around 900 and took her car. we drove along the cost until we got to Cascais. it's a city on the Atlantic very very very picturesque and beautifu. with painted buildings and small alleys and a really good vibe all around.
First we had breakfast at this bakery place - had some bread and cheese and Croissants. Yummy. Then we walked in the alleys. I got a present for my sis - filigrana. it's silver earings that are covered with gold made of little threads of metal. really delicate and beautiful work. Then we had the best ice cream in Santini and walked more in the small town.
From there we went to Boca do inferno (mouth of hell) where the Atlantic meets a rocky cliff and sometimes it's scary apparently the way that the waves hit the cliff but the ocean was quite calm that day (great weather, did I mention?). So we sat and watched the ocean what could possibly be better than that?
We continued our journey along the Atlantic and got to a nice beach with a lot of kids and people skipping school apparently and walked a long walk along the beach. Ana spent the entire day teaching me about portuguese culture and slang it was great....
From there we went to the most western point in Europe and watched the ocean once more (Roca... I can't rem the name). Then we drove through a valley and got to an enchanting fish restaurant by a lovely beach and had lunch there. A tried to feed me weird stuff. That's all I am willing to say.
Later we went to Sintra another very colorful and lovely town surrounded my mountains. we saw the palace but didn't have time to go to the castle. We did have time to walk in the narrow alleys and nice streets, see the colorful houses and of course eat some queijadas. We really are suckers for sweets!
Then we headed back and met R and S who came back from Algarve. we had only 15 minutes to meet them but it was still enough time for a drink. We were in Chapito which is a very nice restaurant with yet again an amazing view of Lisbon. Apparently there is a circus there and the stars are all children that didn't have homes and they train then and put shows on. Nice!
Then A and I went to the amazing show of the diva Adriana Calcanhotto. it was in this antique classic concert. This was a closed concert and the opening for the new album of Adriana but somehow A got tickets and we were lucky enough to attend it. we are humming it all week it was just a once in a lifetime experience.
We later met R and A with two new friends, Vasco and Ana. We went to the clubbing scene of Lisbon which is weirdly enough outside. we stood at the corner of a street with many bars and clubs in Bairro Alto the clubbing area apparently. the street was absolutely packed with people and we hung around there and also in another corner for a few hours. There is a great atmoshpere there so many yound and beautiful people out in the street drinking and having fun. The only problem as always was that every night I am SOOO tired from the very long day I had....
We walked home from there.
And that's day 3.
Lisboa - day 2
So on Thu I woke up and R and A both had stuff to do. Su was still in Algarve.
So following A's advice I took the tram 15 to Belem from praca da Figueira (btw - if I didn't mention it of course I am very settled with a local mobile phone a public transportation ticket. We got everything on day 1).
Belem is a really really beautiful place. Again following advice I immediately went to eat pasteis de Belem which are kind of cream cakes that are very very famous. So two cakes and a coffee and I was good to go. I went up a very high monument shaped like a ship commemorating the great portuguese expeditions that started in Belem. it's really high and you get great view from there of the city and "the golden gate" bridge. afterwards I went to the chuch and monestary of Jeronimos that are really interesting architectually. Vasco de Gama and Camoes the poet are put to rest there and the whole place is made of carved stone, the ceilings are really high all in the 16th century manueline style.
Later I went to the museum of modern art where I saw a photo exhibition by a friend of Ana's - Daniel. There is some nice surreal exhibition. Of course there were a lot of kids there. I climbed the tower of belem which also gives good view and a perspective about life here 500 years ago nad then I took the tram back to have lunch with Rui
We had lunch in a hip cafe called Noo Bai in a very nice neighborhood. it was really tasty and the company was great as always. I think we talked mainly politics that day... after lunch we went to Chiado to see an exhibition by a friend of Rui. it's interactive art - a really cool thing - this guy built the Pong video game using a camera, some printer cartridges, a hair dryer and all kinds of stuff. really cool. So Rui and I played against each other.
From there we walked to R's place which is also in a very beautiful neighborhood and is really really beautiful, amazing view. They do know how to live our friends here in Lisbon. We hung out a bit and then met Ana at her place. They had to work a bit so I just read and stuff. then afterwards we had dinner together at Ana's and went to sleep since we were so tired!!!!
And that was day 2.
So following A's advice I took the tram 15 to Belem from praca da Figueira (btw - if I didn't mention it of course I am very settled with a local mobile phone a public transportation ticket. We got everything on day 1).
Belem is a really really beautiful place. Again following advice I immediately went to eat pasteis de Belem which are kind of cream cakes that are very very famous. So two cakes and a coffee and I was good to go. I went up a very high monument shaped like a ship commemorating the great portuguese expeditions that started in Belem. it's really high and you get great view from there of the city and "the golden gate" bridge. afterwards I went to the chuch and monestary of Jeronimos that are really interesting architectually. Vasco de Gama and Camoes the poet are put to rest there and the whole place is made of carved stone, the ceilings are really high all in the 16th century manueline style.
Later I went to the museum of modern art where I saw a photo exhibition by a friend of Ana's - Daniel. There is some nice surreal exhibition. Of course there were a lot of kids there. I climbed the tower of belem which also gives good view and a perspective about life here 500 years ago nad then I took the tram back to have lunch with Rui
We had lunch in a hip cafe called Noo Bai in a very nice neighborhood. it was really tasty and the company was great as always. I think we talked mainly politics that day... after lunch we went to Chiado to see an exhibition by a friend of Rui. it's interactive art - a really cool thing - this guy built the Pong video game using a camera, some printer cartridges, a hair dryer and all kinds of stuff. really cool. So Rui and I played against each other.
From there we walked to R's place which is also in a very beautiful neighborhood and is really really beautiful, amazing view. They do know how to live our friends here in Lisbon. We hung out a bit and then met Ana at her place. They had to work a bit so I just read and stuff. then afterwards we had dinner together at Ana's and went to sleep since we were so tired!!!!
And that was day 2.
Lisboa - day 1
I thought I would like to remember my days here, and Rui suggested I would do it on the blog, so hey why not? I will be not very elaborate though. sorry....
I landed in Lisbon on Tuesday night. Not very surprisingly S, R and A were there to welcome me. Su got a new haircut, very movie star from the 20's looks great on her. R on the other hand grew her on the front of his head and not just the back of his head and is not homo-hairyus - a very intelligent but still wild form of life.
So you know we don't like to waste time and we immediately went for a drive in Lisbon to a few observation points from which we saw the river, the bridges the nice neighborhood of Alfama and some more I don't remember the names of, the center etc. Lisbon is kind of a hilly chaotic maze on hills with a river a lot of tiled roofs etc. very beautiful.
I am staying at A's place. which a gorgeous apartment here in the center, everything about the place is so Ana. it's just beautiful. On Wed Su had to go to Algarve to teach untul Fri. A had to go to a meeting at uni so I walked with her and she left me at the Galubenkian foundation where I went to a museum with quite an impressive collection of art from all periods. I liked the Egyptian and European rooms.
At noon I met Rui for lunch at the patio of the museum. It has a really nice garden and it was such a sunny and glorious day and we sat and talk endlessly (which is our most prominent talent undoubtedly). An hour later R had to leave but A took his place and we kept on talking. As always I had desert before the meal. Yes!
When we were done with sitting in the warming sun of the garden A and I went to the modertnart museum which had some nice exhibitions, noth video and paintings. There were many kids at the museum. I find it marvelous that there are so many young children taken to all these cultural activities. I find Portuguese people quite cultural. later A and I took a walk in Lisbon, sadly I can' t remember the names of all the places but we started more or less in a monument for the 70's revolution, walked down the gardens until Avenida de Liberdade, went through Baixa until the Praca do Comercio, and got to the river. We had a great ice cream and visited Chiado which is a fancy place where we picked up our Adriana Calcanhotto tickets. woohoo!!!!!
We kept walking home and I took a nap. then we went out for dinner downtown in this big old building like an old palace that serves food from alentego! it was really great! very nice atmoshpere and food.
After that R joined us and we went to Maxime to see a concert by Walter Benjamin a yound Portugeuse underground artist. the place is really nice (it is also a Cabaret some nights) and we sat in a booth. the music was kind of American, David Bowey, Lou Reed vibe to it. it was really a very authentic experience.
Then we went home to sleep!
And that was day 1.
I landed in Lisbon on Tuesday night. Not very surprisingly S, R and A were there to welcome me. Su got a new haircut, very movie star from the 20's looks great on her. R on the other hand grew her on the front of his head and not just the back of his head and is not homo-hairyus - a very intelligent but still wild form of life.
So you know we don't like to waste time and we immediately went for a drive in Lisbon to a few observation points from which we saw the river, the bridges the nice neighborhood of Alfama and some more I don't remember the names of, the center etc. Lisbon is kind of a hilly chaotic maze on hills with a river a lot of tiled roofs etc. very beautiful.
I am staying at A's place. which a gorgeous apartment here in the center, everything about the place is so Ana. it's just beautiful. On Wed Su had to go to Algarve to teach untul Fri. A had to go to a meeting at uni so I walked with her and she left me at the Galubenkian foundation where I went to a museum with quite an impressive collection of art from all periods. I liked the Egyptian and European rooms.
At noon I met Rui for lunch at the patio of the museum. It has a really nice garden and it was such a sunny and glorious day and we sat and talk endlessly (which is our most prominent talent undoubtedly). An hour later R had to leave but A took his place and we kept on talking. As always I had desert before the meal. Yes!
When we were done with sitting in the warming sun of the garden A and I went to the modertnart museum which had some nice exhibitions, noth video and paintings. There were many kids at the museum. I find it marvelous that there are so many young children taken to all these cultural activities. I find Portuguese people quite cultural. later A and I took a walk in Lisbon, sadly I can' t remember the names of all the places but we started more or less in a monument for the 70's revolution, walked down the gardens until Avenida de Liberdade, went through Baixa until the Praca do Comercio, and got to the river. We had a great ice cream and visited Chiado which is a fancy place where we picked up our Adriana Calcanhotto tickets. woohoo!!!!!
We kept walking home and I took a nap. then we went out for dinner downtown in this big old building like an old palace that serves food from alentego! it was really great! very nice atmoshpere and food.
After that R joined us and we went to Maxime to see a concert by Walter Benjamin a yound Portugeuse underground artist. the place is really nice (it is also a Cabaret some nights) and we sat in a booth. the music was kind of American, David Bowey, Lou Reed vibe to it. it was really a very authentic experience.
Then we went home to sleep!
And that was day 1.
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