15.1.16 - Amsterdam

Is there anything to add to Amsterdam, something that has never been written ?!

Toda a Esperança do Mundo

A sunny Saturday afternoon in Porto, I shove me in an old house or warehouse, near Campanhã, in the street Miraflor; Mira space.
With a sunny afternoon, in time to take this sun glimmer, this gift, I went to a book presentation.
Saturday, world day of mourning for the sad events of Paris, went to see photographs from Alfredo Cunha and listen to the stories that make up the life story of Luis Pedro Nunes, Fernando Nobre and all who work with AMI.
What a beautiful Saturday afternoon.
A life lesson, a lesson of history, recalling that it is alive, which is n`t enclosed in books. Paris is reflection of this or what our interlocutors lived of "All the World Hope" in Niger, Bangladesh, Romania or Nepal.
During the presentation, I thrilled me several times. I heard Luis Pedro and I remembered that I lived in a hospital in Aswan or the joy of the poor children of Maputo.
I remembered hundreds of people from Porto, Lisbon, Oliveira de Azeméis, a little everywhere, who lives miserably.
I heard Luis Pedro, Alfredo Cunha and Fernando Nobre and arouse, even more, why I like to travel: to see the world, new people, cultures, ways of being and living. It is to study without being in the books is to burn the skin and mind knowledge.
I read it from one end to the other, eager for knowledge, to see and read more and more. Each point on the map, each conversation with a person who lives, works, dreams in another corner of the world.
The book, a brilliant edition of Porto Editora with a quality able to mirror the eye Alfredo Cunha, is strong in feeling, powerful writing and chilling in the image.
It is a lesson and we must thank the AMI his work over 30 years.
We are coming to Christmas; season is traditionally offer themselves present. Put it on top of your preferences; worth and helps to help.

23.10.15 - Alexandria | Giza

Yesterday didn`t wrote, just put a photo on Facebook during the launching ceremony of the Cross Egypt Challenge.What a party, so much emotion, so many people, so many fans. Once again the Cross Egypt Challenge organization  made a fantastic job to present the bikers of the 5th edition. The venue and the presentation to the people of Alexandria worthy it: pyrotechnic shows, music, media and many thousands of people.Me and the Egyptian adventurer Omar Mansour, were called to the stage to talk about the second participation in the Cross Egypt Challenge. What could he say ?! I love being here, people are very nice and in return for their sympathy, I offered my Nau helmet to the rally-raid organization.The rest of the day, except for a heated discussion with the front desk of Hilton Hotel, was enough common ground between various meetings and administrative checks.Today was the first step, connecting Alexandria to Giza. The rally route has changed because the events of the last month and, therefore, the steps will end in different destinations from those initially planned.The stage was straight with good tread, the green delta of the Nile, and as a "company" we had the motorcycle and scooter clubs either Alexandria and Cairo over the 240 km to give us moral support. I felt good!The trickiest part was the arrival in Cairo, in the middle of a sandstorm. First the sky became overcast and "asking for thunderstorm," then came the wind; the birds couldn`t fly, there was sand, paper, plastic, everything imaginable in the air.It was with this weather that we arrived at the Hilton Pyramides, near the three great pyramids. Fortunately subsided and I gave a dip in the pool.We have sense, and today, on the road, intensified, missed the third Musketeer - Dave Marshall - and our Juliet Jazmin. You are always with me, Drew and Chell.Right now I'm in the hotel lobby, in the middle of a wedding. Will can go dancing with the bride?

21.10.15 - Cairo | Alexandria

At this moment I`m at the Hilton Alexandria, fighting with the internet to speak with you.
This morning I left Cairo and, after several hours, with a compact and steady traffic, it reached the city that contained the lighthouse and the portico, which still inhabits the mind of a lot of people, including mine, as one of the wonders of the classic world.
Unfortunately the reality of today isn`t the former but the grandeur of Alexandria will return, as well as from all over Egypt.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love cats. Are independent, devious, shiny eyes like flashlights trying to dazzle us and at the same time, they are spins, play and do unimaginable things.
I read the Asterix books that Egypt was the land of cats and therefore shouldn`t bring Obelix Dogmatix when they came to aid  Cleopatra.
This is really the cat´s land!
There are at the dozens, small, slender, feinting everything and everyone like Eusebius. So cute!

20.10.15 - Cairo

Cairo is still hot, until the Egyptians complain about the weather because at this time of year, should be fresher.So it was with effort that I wore a pair of jeans to go to the center of Cairo. Because? Halfway through the route outlined was a mosque and couldn`t enter in shorts.Thus, the mid-morning I and Drew went to the Grand Bazaar - Khan el-Khalili. It was all a fun: we seemed two women to litter the stores and didn`t buy anything, haggling prices with the vehemence of a dispute between Arabs and Jews, to have fun with what we said, speaking Arabic with the merchants; an entire party!From scarves to perfumes, through spices and pieces of copper, we experience a little of everything. The bazaars, in these parts, have the mystique of the fairs of our towns, mixed with bright and smely products, that are exotic to Westerners. The color of the goods and the music of the words, it is a joy.In Khan el-Khalili entered a mosque and outside, made a public collection to help the conservation of the same. I didn´t give money because I had spent it all in the few purchases that I did; Drew contributed. Then the olitical joke of the day show it self: that was they said to Bush father, it was just to the mosque.We had lunch there, in an koshari and kebab restaurant. We eat kebab along with other Egyptian working class; spicy as he was, knew well a beer ... but there is here also; feather!For dessert, a long walk from the Islamic part of the city to the citadel.The citadel is up there, serving the great walls to protect a beautiful Turkish Mosque, alabaster, sent to the king Mohammad Ali and completed by his grandson Farouk, the last king of Egypt before the 1952 revolution.At the citadel we see the whole city, the whole mess is a vibrant city with 22 million people. WOW!

29.8.15 - Chão da Velha (Nisa)

Yesterday i travel to the Alentejo, following the stars towards the south, with the sun setting in the west.Down by Penela towards Figueiró dos Vinhos, Serãa; after cross Fratel dam, a score welcomes us, Alentejo welcomes us.I woke up in Chão da Velha, near Nisa. Yesterday, in addition to travel, as reporting Pedro`s welcome - no longer seen each other since the presentation of Armas de Papel,a book from Pacheco Pereira. We talk about life, the present and the past, we talk about history, fans that populate the mountains, the existing parties and the past, from the ML to "reviralho". With a glass of red wine, with the heat of the night not differentiate much from the day's heat, we walked for centuries, ending in sec. XX the people century.This morning, awakened by the sun rays that insist on going through the shutters, the will to go to Tejo river was the driving force that made me get out of bed.Monte Campo at the back, equipped indeed, all way down from Rua Principal. At the end of the paved after the corrals, begins the steep descent and a dirt track that leads me to the main river of the peninsula.Two kilometers down, through small gardens, eucalyptus, strawberry. Some bees and other insects accompany the past; I had told that, with luck, might see a deer or other; if it were night had foxes. No luck.Reached the Tejo the black water mirror reflecting the mountains and the train went on the other side, the side of Vila Velha de Ródão.Always going down to the river, always climb back to the village, two kilometers. It was done PR 2 of the walking paths of Nisa - Discover the Tagus.Before lunch, there was time to go to PR 4 - Conhal rails.The village of Arneiro, towards the river, they come up huge stones that make the Alentejo countryside in a Martian landscape. Through millenary stones are born olive trees, isolated and strong, as are the robust trees.Lunch? In Arneiro, at Tulio: carp, pike and perch fried. After some migas with fisheggs, olive oil ,pennyroyal, baked fish and water from his cooked do the rest. Divine.Three in the afternoon and a full stomach. Like any self-respecting Alentejo - in Rome be a Roman - I was napping; and slept and slept and slept.I woke up in time to take a dip in the municipal swimming pools of Nisa, before returning to Rua Principal and get-together with the neighbors, with the empty glass to refill, talk of life.

17.8.15 - Singapore

Australia stayed behind and, on the plane, we race with the sun to see who arrive first to Singapore.It was the sun. It was there, lovely and warm to cheer us.Then came the storm and a tropical rain that flooded everything in minutes. Thankfully, the heat was smashing us.In Singapore we saw what hadn`t seen in the first time.Started by the Little India: some art-décor houses painted with lush colors, Hindu temples and some Muslims, shops that sell everything from carpets to knives, antiques, appliances, souvenirs from around the world, MP3 for $ 4, crowns flowers for the temples, spices and almost everything what our imagination wants. It was the first clean Indian neighborhood that I saw. And maybe by that, it doens´t have the mystique of others.From there we walking, under a lot of heat to the area of ​​Orchard, through fabulous School of Arts building, before entering a street with luxury shopping.Whipped rain and the tight schedule, we climb the hill to the fort where the city began. It is a quiet place amid the bustle of the city/ state.This was followed by a stroll through at Marina Bay Gardens, the new Babylon, given the height and spectacular where vegetation is located, and ending the trip at the top of Marina Bay.Upstairs, on top of the restaurant, overlooking the city, the port, the sea, we saw the extent of the buildings, the F1 GP path; drink gin, eat some snacks prepared by the chef, we laugh, we remember stories that make up the story of the journey; took selfies, we promise to return. When ?! We don`t  known. But the will is with us.

7.8.15 - Ayeres Rock | Kings Canyon

Fisrt of all, i start this chronicle by saying that I'm a day late in writing. The desert has these things, despite the modern times we live in, there wireless isn`t every were, electricity either.Uluru was so magical that I don´t tell you the rest.We were sleeping at Outback Pioneer Lodge, a hostel prepared for walkers and people crossing the desert, very military style: houses with tin ceiling, hot tub and barbeque.Thankfully, the bathroom was scalding because the temperature was down to 3 ° C!The barbeque was community; ie, each bought their meat and would grill it. The monitoring was included with the meat but the beer was apart. I bought crocodile; It was not as good as one that I ate at Sony Platz in Berlin and later in Tasquinha Alentejana in Cucujães but it was good and I was the man of my barbecue.Rooms at the hostel were 4 people and therefore, João was with the Chicas and I was making new friends. It happened to me a German couple with a child of 13 or 14 years. They snored all night and the kid woke in the night talking. Not sleep at all, to top the dawn was early.At 6:30 am we were on the road to watch the sunrise in the mountains of Kata Tjuta, also considered sacred by the natives.Among Uluro and Kata Tjuca there are highs and despite 40 kilometers away from each other, are clearly visible. After sunrise on the mountain, we walked a bit around it, the path of Karu in the Valley of the Winds.From Ayeres Rock to Kings Canyon, our destination, were more or less 300 km in full Australian desert. With expectations at most to seeing kangaroos, camels and snakes to cross us ahead, we put the road. Wild life here we go.
After about 100 km from our departure, a gas station, I talked with couple biker, from Melbourne, crossing the country in two Harleys. It is the first time they go to Uluru, having shown them pictures from yesterday. They were between 50 and 60 years; yesterday at sunset in Uluru, another couple of Melbourn, older than this, also mentioned to me that it was the first time we were there; travel in Australia is expensive, not everyone can do it. It is in these moments, to hear this, which I think is worth enjoying, enjoy the trip, focus on me in the landscapes, the places that I know, gastronomy, culture; I'm lucky to be here; and that luke has a lot of work.The trip went peacefully and in three hours we reached the destination.If Uluru is magical, Kings Canyon is the true work of God. Like any fault, like any disaster of nature, creates unique, brutal and beautiful surroundings.We walked for 5 hours by 6 km of paths allowed in the Canyon, where we saw the tectonic plates above and below; I looked into the abyss and feel vertigo to sit on it, with nothing between me and the ground, hundreds of meters below.If Uluru is magical for the sanctification that local gave him, Kings Canyon overwhelms us with its size and the orange rock that acts as a real cell.At night, looking at the sky, with the Milky Way and its 1000 constellations, I saw once again how tiny and our reality.

6.8.15 - Sydney | Ayeres Rock

Yesterday, after written you, booking dives to Cairns and have a nice nap, we went out to say goodbye to Sydney.Destination: Darling Harbour. A fancy spot, just across the harbor which has the Opera House and Rocks.Walked arround Chinatown - the garden was already closed - and went to the port. Several yatchs, good atmosphere and many restaurants and bars. An Italian bar with a bella ragazza indicating the tables and how Happy Hour work, drink several gins at half price. After that was the goodbye and return home to cook dinner packing for today.Today everything was running as usual; it's not like we do on purpose to always walk in the nick of time.So after we left home, there is a blurring whether or not to load the metro card - don`t recharge it - when we got to Central, on the sound system: "Emergency, emergency: please evacuate the station. All passangers "and everyone ran out of the station."- Let's take a taxi?- Where's a taxi?- Are we entering on the station!- Let's go by underground ".Off we went running to take the metro to the airport.The flight, internal, full of Spanish, some Portuguese as well as we, French, German, Chinese and some Australians, had several windy shake that made it very interesting from the point of view of adrenaline. The landing was with the plane unbalanced due to the wind, on a track that seemed the lunar surface. Love it!Ayeres Rock has a smaller airport that the bus stop at Batalha. But that's not important, the important thing was to land in the desert to see Uluru, the sacred mountain.Carry the Mitsubishi, decorate with the logos of fluidotrónica, Norfer, eni, Arax Gazzo, Roadgalaxy, Agência Paraíso, Hama, Monte Campo, Vida Económica,

Alpinestars, Nau Helmets and Konica Minolta spent at the hostel to leave bags - there gone are the hotels and apartments luxury - change clothes - put the Monte Campo leggins to be able to walk freely in the middle of vegetation without me poking and without the bugs sting me - and headed to Uluru.20 km of asphalt road in the middle of a red surface, reminiscent of Mars, with some low vegetation and few trees. Signs of reptiles and other wildlife. All towards the mountain worshiped by the natives.In the middle of everything, like a giant ship or a meteorite if erge from the flat land a red mountain without vegetation.Walk around - you can not go up, it is disrespectful towards local - took pictures and saw the setting of the sun on it.Beautiful, wonderful. A peace, an atmosphere, a feeling that can match what I lived in Abu Simbel; those things that I will remember forever.The trip was worth it.So much so that it's not worth writing anything ... See you tomorrow.

5.8.15 - Sydney

Last official day in Sydney and the sun woke up to cheer us. To Palmamaníacos like me and João have been, was almost "Acorda Menina Linda" (almost because he can sing it ... I can`t.).Sunny, with everyone awake, went by bus to Bondi Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world.Down straight to the sea, between houses of the first part of the twentieth century begins to sight the Pacific. Beautiful, not for the beach or the sand or something fancy to appear; beautiful for being the Pacific, to be, for me, "one check", evil were near the beach, despite the cold, have taken the shoes, rolled up his trousers and was getting his feet wet. The water was warm.Bondi Beach is a beach old-fashioned, with the homes of vacationers, the typical hotels, a marginal where many people do sport, painted murals and a blue-green sea with some waves to remember Furadouro, or Espinho, or Povoa de Varzim, or Santa Cruz, or Maçãs or other typical beach from our Portugal.Bondi Beach followed by a wooden walkway, leading us through the cliffs to Tamarama and Bronte. A lot of people walking dogs, jogging, enjoying the scenery. Along the coast several sea pools, reminding our travel partners that one of the most famous in the world is in Leça da Palmeira and the architect, Portuguese, is Siza Vieira who won, among others, the Pritzker.In addition to the pools, the surf spots and superb houses the architecture and privileged location overlooking the sea and the cliffs, numerous bowling clubs; It is that here practicing the first part of bowling, namely the grass.Between Tamarama and Bronte, in a scenario of peace and the deep, lies a cemetery. Celtic crosses, Roman or right arms, classical statues, columns and Masonic brackets, to which are added Irish, English, Italian names. At this cemetery we have the perception that who came and built Australia: from fleeing or forced, from various faiths and social life, having in common the desire to leave a life behind and start another.This was the last day in Sydney because tomorrow morning we`ll travel to the center of the country, for Ayeres Rock and Uluru.Sydney is a fantastic city, with the major attraction poles of the Opera House and the bridge, and everything is very close.Talk about Sidney is talking about the new world verses the old world; is London versus New York; It is Lisbon vs Rio de Janeiro. It is a vibrant city that can not - or want to - hide their maternal influence but that the buildings, the people, clearly points to the contemporary, a very cosmopolitan way and open-minded.A rock that was the fate of British prisoners has become the great nation it is today.