Lisbon: Anything can happen....

When you are in a same place for a longer time, you start to look away 

from the touristic highlights. There are the unexpected small things

 in the streets. Unexpected things that happen

Surprising, funny, strange...... 

A lot of people try to earn money by doing "something" like playing music,
singing, dancing, pretending to be a statue......

But then there is this pair of "lazy beggars". They have their own webside. 

Take a picture for 278 euro... (sorry, I didn't see it....). 

They even tell you how they intend to spend the money. Obviously liquid assets.

"Pelo menos sincero"..... At least straight!

Except f course for the Lazy Beggars everyone has to work. This small dog carries the plastic container to put the money in for its master. 

A giant soap bell passes over the street.....

And here is a cow sticking her head through a window. How nice he has a scarf to keep warm.



Now don't get your head in this cloud. It might be a small thundercloud according to the colour. It is made of what I would call Brillo pads; these iron scrub sponges to clean dirty pans. Already getting a bit rusty.



This bronze man has his head literally in a book. OK, it is Fernando Pessoa, the great poet. He was born here in the house of this lovely orange cow (completely inside the window).

Waiting for you in front of A Brasileira, he invites you to take the seat next to him....

You are not his first companion. The chair is extremely polished.

After some interesting discussion and a few glasses of good Portuguese wine, anything can happen.

Did I see someone flying through the air near the statue of Dom Pedro IV.......???

Sintra National Palace: “For the best” (“por bem”)

 

To get the best view of the National Palace in Sintra you have to climb the ancient ruins of the Moorish Castle on the mountain nearby. Down below, in the middle of the old town, lies the palace.

The most striking feature are two enormous chimneys, that stick out over the roof of the palace. More or less the shape of the tower of the hop kilns (a building designed for drying hops as part of the brewing process) in Kent. The chimneys are (in) the roof of the kitchen. When you look up from the kitchen you can see the hole where the fumes go out. 

Originally the palace was built as residence for the Moorish governors of Lisbon. From 1147 onward it became the residence of the Portuguese kings until the monarchy ended in 1910. It is obvious that is was a place of splendid entertainment. While there, the Swans' room was full of people. It derives its name from the painted ceiling; covered with white swans wearing little golden crowns around their necks. 

In another room the ceiling is covered with magpies. The magpies hold ribbons in their beaks with the motto of the king: "Por bem" (For the best). It is the first known private "antechamber".

Everywhere in the palace (as everywhere in Portugal) are tiles. Different rooms have different tiles with different images, mosaics, forms. The vine pattern of the tiles (in King Sebastião's room) is unique.

The palace is a result of building efforts of many kings. The Arms room represents the centralised power of Manuel I. The ceiling in its heraldic glory. From this room the fleets going to or coming back from Brazil, Africa or India could be seen.

The most strange part tough are these two towering chimneys. The wind – straight from the Atlantic Ocean - blows over the openings and makes a howling noise in the kitchen. 

Alongside the palace are small but lovely gardens. When the cold ocean winds are gone, this friendly grinning lion would love to talk with you about all the kings and queens that kept him company before.... 

Queluz….. what a light…..

If ever there is a name for a palace that is more fitting than this one. “Que luz” is Portuguese for “what a light”. There is light coming in from the outside. There is light from chandeliers. And what light there is, is reflected by mirrors everywhere.

 

Queluz is rightly called the Versailles of Portugal. It is a Barok / Rococo palace built in the 18^th century by prince Pedro and his Maria. A last dream palace before the French revolution changed the rules.

Passing through the ballroom…..

Into the throne room…..

As you walk there through these rooms you 

might even think you were back in the past. 

Two young people reflected into a door...

No it is not real. It is a mere reflection of the past. 

The kings and queens have left. 

The mirrors are worn by age. 

But what a light!