No Pants

Flashmobs are fun! This sunday, if all goes as planned I'm taking off my pants for a metro ride and completing item # 49 - participate in a flashmob. It's No Pants!!

I know I have the guts to do it and I don't know if I can keep a straight face!

Ventura Terra

Photos: Manuel Correia; Arquivo Fotográfico de Lisboa

This building was designed in 1902 by Miguel Ventura Terra and is one of the very few still standing from early republican Lisbon and one of the few correctly attributed to this architect. It is still in good condition and has beautiful interiors. Unfortunately, city officials must have serious problems with historical buildings; they seem to bother them in many ways that when private owners request permission to demolish them, city hall authorizes it even when the area is protected by heritage laws. Interesting? I honestly don’t understand how this is still happening.

Greed is an ugly thing…

Day Zero

January 1st 2010 is Day Zero! I have a list to finish (still half way through) and a list to accomplish! Today I'm starting my piggy bank which will only be opened on the 6th of June 2012. I'm searching for a decent hairdresser and I'm taking parachuting into consideration, even though I have unresolved issues when it comes to jumping from high places...

In the next few days I'm going shopping so I'll be looking for the perfect black dress and  I already have an album to keep all museum and concert tickets.

So, I'm getting settle in and started.

This was Christmas.

A proud grandfather

A cheerful family

Aunts in the kitchen

Cabbage, patatoes, cod and sauce

A long and cosy dinning room table

It's almost Christmas

Karl Blossfelt

Have a beautiful Christmas

The LIST

So, as you can see, I started my list of stuff to do before 30! Not the most original idea, but a fun one! I figured, in 3 years I'll be 30 (not nice) so I might as well get everything off my chest and set my mind to accomplish this "very hard to come up with" list. I'm not big on planning but it helps me to set my mind and constantly remind me of all the different things I truely want to do before 30. It's not finished yet but I'm getting there.

What will I do after 30? I don't care, like I said, I'm not big on planning.

Red and white Christmas

Guess what Sandra brought from across the Atlantic?

Oh holy night

This is going to be a very special Christmas.

At first I thought it would be hard to convince my matriarchal family about the idea, but in fact, I was wrong! Everyone is excited and pitching in to make it magical!

After 30 years with the Atlantic separating us, we are finally going to be all together at the same table for Christmas dinner. We are 19 family members and a Brazilian couple. (Helena's roommates living in Portugal and have nowhere else to go...)

As was 30 years ago, Christmas will be at my grandparent’s house. There will be a real pine tree (we haven't cut one down in decades, so this year we are excused from an environmentally friendly tree) and instead of plastic balls, we are hanging up chocolates and there is no such thing as Santa... its Baby Jesus who's handing out presents. And the best thing is that each family member only has to buy one gift for another member, so this means no crazy Christmas shopping to worry about!

But since I can’t resist, I’m preparing a little special something for everyone… I’m sure they’ll treasure it!

In the mail

From Lamberto in Italy. A painting of a mountain village scenery in Montagne.

The walk