NOT IN A TIN, NOT FRESH BUT PORCELAIN MADE

June brings the ideal time to eat grilled sardines which in the past were often sold from baskets that were carried on the head of female fishmongers who walked up and down the hilly streets of Lisbon. Yesterday I happened to see a partial revival of such iconic scenes of the city. These sardines were on display at a shop of  Vista Alegre, Portugal's most prestigious porcelain factory that was created in the 19th century. 

~~ Have a nice day ~~

A TOWN THAT HAS NEVER WANTED TO BE UPGRADED TO CITY STATUS

Ponte de Lima is so proud of its history, traditions, gastronomy and landscape that has never wanted to become a city.

 A few weeks ago, I revisited it. Once again, I loved strolling throughout its streets, walking along its bridge that was built by the Romans who inhabited the region many centuries ago. 

 The Past becomes Present at every corner, while the Future is hidden somewhere...

You usually need to be both famous and dead in order to be immortalised in metal or stone but not in this region. If you come to Ponte de Lima you will find this metal cast of traditional dancers and musicians just on one of the river banks. This piece of art isn't  of long forgotten dead folk: instead it celebrates a vibrant, living tradition.

Stone sculpture that honours the pilgrims who take the Portuguese Way of St. James. Ponte de Lima is a must stop.

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~~ Have a great start of the week ~~

HAPPY EASTER TO YOU ALL...

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SNOW, SUN AND SKY.....

Yesterday, I came across the probably last snow on top of a mountain. It was something very powerful about finding snow at this time of the year. Seeing snow made me recall one of my favourite children's book titled Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  I didn't see the Snow White and any single Dwarf, either. Even though, I encountered joy in looking and looking at that huge white blanket....

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~~ Have a wonderful weekend --

'I'M YOUR MIRROR'.....

Reconnecting art and real life has been a commitment of the Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos, polemical somehow as she addresses complex issues, with wit and humor. I'm Your Mirror is her latest exhibition, since last month on show in Oporto. Although I'm not an enthusiast of her artworks, I had the opportunity to visit it a few weeks ago.

The mirror that Vasconcelos' oeuvre puts together is a critical one inspiring a will to change the society it reflects, while the monumental work titled Finisterra is a piece using volumes of fabric stitched to create multi-coloured abstract images that are gold-framed and hung on walls like paintings.

Animal-shaped faience covered with Azores crocheted lace 

Have you ever had a ride on a helicopter such as the so-called Lillicoptère (ostrich feathers, Swarovski branded crystals, gold-leaf industrial paint, dyed leather, upholstery embossed with fine gold,  walnut wood, woodgrain painting and passementerie)??? I guess not...

After the ride, let's go outdoors and see a few monumental scale works.

Solitario mounted on an iron and steel structure consists of a seven-metre-tall ring made with golden wheel rims topped with a huge diamond formed with crystal whisky glasses

An enormous structure in wrought-iron - a teapot -,  imposes its monumental presence. There is a subtle historical allusion present in the piece that regards the leading role taken on by the Portuguese in the introduction of tea in European habits of consumption after their arrival in the East, having brought back to Portugal shiploads of tea which would then be exported to several European ports; or the example of Catherine of Braganza (1638-1705), Portuguese Infanta and Queen Consort of England and Scotland, to whom is also attributed the role of having introduced the custom of drinking tea into the English court.  

Tea-time is over and let's walk further and stop at Marilyn. ..

Yes, you read right. It takes the form of an elegant pair of high-heeled sandals, whose enlarged scale results from the use of saucepans and their respective lids. 

Intentionally, I left the Red Independent Heart to mark the end of this blog post. It presents itself in the shape of an enormous 'heart of Viana', the iconic piece of Portuguese filigree,

 patiently filled in with individual pieces of plastic cutlery, each painstakingly bent by hand....

We will meet again, soon!
In the meantime, stay well...
~~Thanks for joining me~~