The last time I was there, the ground floor was still full of old rusty fridges, and the stairs to the tower were closed because it was too dangerous. A stork had made a nest in the tree growing on the tower. The Monastery of Seiça has been empty for a long time It’s a […]
The Monastery of Seiça Read More »
My friend Anja is staying here for a few days. We’re going on an adventure, looking for a little lake that was recommended in the newspaper, the Diário de Coimbra. It looked like a fairytale in the photo, but on the way we suddenly see something else fairytalish. Abandoned and neglected houses are quite normal
Abandoned and neglected houses in Portugal Read More »
The building we live in is more than a hundred years old. The core was built as a bathhouse, with fifteen bathing cubicles. The water is medicinal and good for skin diseases. It was done according to good old Portuguese building traditions That building tradition is called: piecemeal. First the core, the bathing area. It
Portuguese building traditions Read More »
Did you know that there are more than 30,000 saints? I would never have thought of it, pagan that I am, if I hadn’t seen a pop-up shop in one of the small alleys in the heart of Coimbra, selling beautiful kitsch clothing. Specially for the occasion of one of those Saints birthdays, it seemed
I had already spoken to her on the phone about how to get there. “Can you please send that description by email and on the phone, because we are not very good with computers,” and of course that is possible. “I will send you the link in the confirmation email,” I answer, but no, that
Visit of a renown sculptor Read More »
The itinerary was there, the mood for it was certainly there, and so the reservation had been made. On a beautiful day in February, the following email arrived. Whether I could organize a fado evening as a surprise for her birthday “Hi Ellen,Would you like to do something for us?We will arrive at your place
Fado and in the King’s Sleeve in Coimbra Read More »
Carnival and Valentine in one week. Even better: right after each other. If you went completely crazy during Carnival, you have to go romantic the next day – perhaps with a huge hangover. Oops. In Lazarim they celebrate a special kind of carnival In Lazarim – in the north between Vila Real and Viseu –
Carnival and Valentine Read More »
I once worked for a portuguese estate agency. That was in the Dreamtime, when we were still dreaming of a better future in Portugal. Working for the agency was an excellent introduction to the portuguese culture. What I found striking then, and what has changed a lot in the 20 years that we now live
Portuguese culture: your own private junk yard Read More »
We suddenly find ourselves without a Prime Minister since Tuesday! And perhaps with a CC, a Caretaker Cabinet, starting next week! (Does that sound familiar?) António Costa resigns after being accused of corruption over a lithium mine My son, who I texted about it, found it no surprise: “Portugal scores well on the corruption index”
A fallen head over lithium Read More »
“Senhora … bom dia ….” the man is dressed in camouflage clothing, and puts out his cigarette as he steps out of his Volkswagen station. “Is the senhora going for a walk with the dog?” I nod yes, and walk back a bit because it’s just a little too far to have a normal chat.
Wild boar hunt or wild boar safari? Read More »
