14.1.16 - Eindhoven

At the door of the Philips museum you can read something like "90 years of design". And Eindhoven is all that: design, mixing the history of the city with the trends of the commodities developed in the right there. One moment.. we`ll talk about that!I hadn`t traveled in these parts for a long time, so I was no longer accustomed to the humid chill that rises from the canals and cuts the bones as if it were a laser. When I left the plane, away from the aircraft and the heat emanating, the body seemed to freeze, shrinking, wasting all the energy to defend myself; Then I got used to it.From the airport to the city center I went by bus. Arriving, the usual image of the Netherlands: hundreds of bicycles - a favorite means of transport, economical and ecological - creating a static and mobile serpentine where I zigzagged to reach the other side of the street.Behind the transport, ahead the future.Eindhoven was a city heavily bombed in the War - invaded by the Germans and bombed by the Allies - and so the modernity of the Marshall Plan, reflected in the buildings: houses, offices, shops, museums, art spaces, Mixed with what remained of churches and their colorful stained glass windows and small houses that today constitute the historical and fun center par excellence: pedestrian and with a lot of life.As I said above, the history of Philips confuses itself with the history of the city and so I had lunch in a modernist restaurant, on the ground floor of the Philips building.With a hamburger and a beer was ready to cross the street and, in the first facilities of the Philips, dedicate part of the afternoon to see the museum.As I walked through the corridors of the museum and saw all the evolution of the brand I had the feeling that, years before, I had at the Mercedes museum in Stuttgart: this isn`t the Philips museum, it is the museum of an important part of the twentieth century, the Century of the people.The Philips Museum, in addition to showing how the first light bulbs were built, is a museum of commodities, household items we all had in our homes: from the shaver to the CD player, through the radios and televisions, turntables Laptops, vacuum cleaners, tape recorders. Imagine a fair of vintage but new items, and they have the Philips museum; Or if you prefer, the Jetsons or some 007 movies.The first part of the museum is a trip to the houses of the twentieth century.Then there's the rest: in the 1930s tuberculosis killed a lot of people, many people linked to Philips. Given this, the company began to apply its technology to health by creating the most sophisticated diagnostic apparatus that exists. It's business, of course; But it is research and innovation is also an important contribution to the improvement of our living conditions.Leaving Philips, I wandered through the city to the hostel. I saw lively people, drank beer, and ate French fries. I listened to music, took pictures of bronze statues and graffiti.My hostel, central, with excellent conditions, was populated by a fat cat, a nice dog, a schizophrenic turtle and a cat. In my ward, two Englishmen and one Italian; Destination: Amsterdam and all the freedoms that Holland offers.I went out for dinner when everyone is already quite "in for the night". Carpaccio, cheese fondue and an ice cream for 15 euros, in a student restaurant and attended by the friendly Claire.Before returning to the hostel I still had time to drink some more beers to the sound of a rock band playing covers from the 80's.I write from the train, in the direction of Amsterdam. Behind it was Eindhoven, a city that I advise to visit, a city that is confused with the history of a brand: Philips.Do you know what PSV Eindhoven's "P" means?

Rebelo Martins returns to Egypt

Joao Rebelo Martins, a multifaceted racing driver - winner in diverse forms - is an adventurer. In 2015, changed the tracks of the national speed for adventure travel all over the world, returning now to Egypt and Cross Egypt Challenge.Traveling with the colors of fluidotronica, Norfer, eni, Nau Helmets, Agência Paraíso, Arax Gazzo, Alpinestars, Hama Portugal, Oakley, Quinta do Estanho, Molfil, Rainha Muscle & Fitness, Konica Minolta, during 2015 has been to three continents and prepares to return to Africa.Repeating the African adventure, Rebelo Martins says that "Egypt and the Egyptians have marked me deeply last year. It was there that I became aware of the real taste for travel and that made me mount the Rebelo Martins Adventure project. After a year, to close this cycle, I will return. "The passion for travel, the challenge, the adventure: travel thousands of kilometers by car or bike, meet new people, new cultures, ways of being and be different.Of trips like to register moments: a landscape, a smell, a smile, feel the taste of a traditional dish made with what "the land gives" or playing a musical instrument with a unique sound.In October 2014, João Rebelo Martins started a new project of knowledge, travel, adventure.Bike, car, plane, boat or on foot, powered by a whopping engine or helped by a compressed air bottle when going to explore the depths of the sea, Rebelo Martins says learning more, contact more "alive the world in the first person, after which I was given to know the books and films of adventure, now I can be me to live them. "More important than learning it is "teaching is to transmit knowledge. At conferences I have given in secondary schools, love seeing the kids smile when I tell them my adventures, as I explain them that he had a dream and fought for it, worked for it. The dream is to travel "."No Longer Missing All" or "Rebelo Martins Adventure" are blogs run by João Rebelo Martins - with English and Portuguese version - where the driver and adventurer write the travel stories historie.On the 17th October, Rebelo Martins leaves for Egypt for an adventurous 15 days.The public presentation of the adventure will be in Multimoto - Rua Joaquim da Silva LandeauIndustrial area of ​​Oliveira de Azeméis, the 14th, at 17:45 and is already invited to attend.

11.8.15 - Magnetic Islands | Airlie Beach

 The Magnetic Islands are beautiful and the wake up was with the sound of huge colorful birds that populate the skies of the islands.The island, where we stayed, is a green rock, cut by bays that forms white sandy beaches. The plan was to go to that beaches.We begin by Radical Bay and barely reached the beach, went swimming. At my feet, after notice that the sand was moving too quickly, a streak. I picked up the mask to do snorkeling. Some fish around a rock and it was time to go to another beach.By dense, and green forest, where a few rays of sunshine spend, we jumped beach by beach; or bay by bay to be precise. From the middle of vegetation hears crawling and hopping noise, making the leaves move up. I don`t know if I want to know who makes these noises.With this scenario we reached Florence Bay.With vegetation to the sand, the golden strip, with the trick tide, creates a mirror of water to the blue sea.I went back to do snorkeling because a coral home-butterfly fish and parrot fish. A blue streak and a school of white Gars.The next bay was Arthur Bay.To get there we had to cross a stream with a half standing water. There were several holes that could be of snakes; I don`t know if it was the ideal place for an crocodile attack. But it had that aspect.Arthur Bay has a thicker sand that before and it was hard to walk there because we were buried. In this bay we had lunch and slept a nap.In the afternoon we went to the last beach: Alma Bay. What a let down. Direct access by road, many people - about 30 - swings for children, lawn, lifesaver.On island guide said it was the best beach for snorkeling. I saw a smaller black little fish, smaller than a sardine.In the end we return by ferry to Townsville, and took the trip to sleep.From Townville to Airlie Beach were 270 km under Milky Way
Tomorrow we go to the Whitsundays but the reservation was canceled during dinner; so we go to the port at 6.30 in the morning to see if arrange place in a boat ...

João Rebelo Martins talks about is adventure

12.4.15 - Mata Nacional do Bussaco

Travelling in the Bussaco National Forest is a complete adventure in a very small space: nature, history and gastronomy.
Rising from the N1 to Luso and then to the Bussaco, we can smell on air that something mystical will descend upon us, calmly and stillness.
The houses, the trees, take a very different format from the one we are used to, the vegetation changes profoundly and instead of Australian eucalyptus we can see what should be our forest.
A token payment to entry helps sustainability and could serve as an example to many other places scattered Portugal.
Entering the Forest by the Luso gate, the steep parallel road where the sun finds it difficult to penetrate, takes us to a fantastic and romantic world: ferns, water points, ruins. Sources flank the path and make it magical.
Chapels, shrines, trails, is a little of what there is to see until you reach the palace gardens, this mystical land where glorious battles fought against Napoleon's troops.
Designed by several architects, presents a neomanuelino mark with reasons Jeronimos and Belem Tower, inspired by the Convento de Cristo and contrasting with the gothic romantic, containing the tiles inside the great masters of XIX century and tapestries, the palace is a mystical and worthy place of Kings.
At table, a place with one of the most beautiful wine cellar of Portugal, the famous Beef Wellington, in honor of the general who spent the night over there.
To my friend Alexander and his family, a warm hug to keep alive the history of Portugal.

14.3.15 - St. Rally day

The first rally of the year traditionally is the official start of Portugal Motorsport season.
For years it has been in Ponte de Lima, in Vieira do Minho, and there is time to this part, is in Fafe.
It's the rally where everyone wants to show the news: cars, sponsors, equipment, teams with new trucks, or the grill. Day of St. Rally because it is the reunion of the lovers of motorsport, after months of waiting for the noise of the engines, the smell of burning rubber and the audacity behind the wheel; ie the first rally of the year is, after all, a convivial between friends, colleagues, opponents. People who vibrates and loves the sport and that is able to travel hundreds of miles, cold, dust or mud, to applaud and live. I greeted people who do not know the name but that in there years now, we always find the same places, creating an atmosphere and family environment.
With this spirit, I saw thousands of people in Confurco in Lameirinha and Montim. Inhospitable places and almost deserted, that the annual visit of this cluster of people gives another life to the mountains.
Despite the cold morning and the afternoon heat, my suit Alpinestars let me comfortable all day, allowing me to travel on bike, the various paths that connect the tracks.
In sport, won the Azorean Ricardo Moura, getting Miguel Campos secondly and, as we talk about friends and socializing, my friend João Barros third. It was a very good match that rally, to be attached to living, became the great day.
Even in sport, was with nostalgia that saw Vatanen and De Mevius names to the windows of cars. When I was a kid I saw running their parents, and dreamed, like them, to be a racing driver. Now I see the children, younger than me, taking the first steps in this exciting sport. And the guys who have to leave!

17.2.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | S.Jacinto | Barra | Oliveira de Azeméis

After days filled with cold, ice and snow, it feels good to return to Portugal and be bathed by our winter sun.
Tuesday Carnival and masked adventurer, rode the BMW to give a little back in the neighborhood. Hygienic back some might say!
I left home and headed to Cais do Bico, in Murtosa. People disguised as a kite surfers, disguised as the other line fishermen, were my company from the Bico to Varela Bridge. The bridge, a thin silhouette stands imperceptible on the horizon, uniting people.
I took an open Nau Helmet and the sea came to me through the nostrils and followed to the stomach: barnacles and burriés.

After the campsite and the nature reserve followed by sand dunes and then to the beach of S. Jacinto.
The deserted beach and the sea rough transmitted peace; despite the wind, it feels very good.
It was time to continue towards the goal: crossing by ferry to Aveiro and photograph the middle of Ria.

At 16:20 o'clock, the ferry slowly crossed the channel, putting bare the air base, the estuary, the lighthouse and the commercial port.



The sun, beautiful, hot, slowly lowered to the water level and so it was.

7.2.15 - Manzaneda

Life isn`t only St. Moritz and Lech - at least mine! - and I was pleased that, to remember the old days, I went to Manzaneda.
I opening a Nordica boots, green cabbage metallized, and I was excited!
Just a little over two hours away from Porto found a friendly resort for those who want a day of skiing. The accessibility is good, the difficulty is minimal and the atmosphere is familiar; inviting picnic.

There was lots of people and resources are reduced. As soon as we arrived, we purchased the skipass  and hve lunch. It would be noon and the bocadillo of jamon and caña learned for life.
Recomposed the stomach, until five in the afternoon, was a ski festival! Dropped a snowfall during the week and the snow was very good. We went up and down several times the mountain, exploring off-piste through the trees, walked quickly and slowly went to the snowpark.
Despite the little difficulty of the tracks, I felt three times and each of the three were "falls to the world championship." But guilt was not the boots, indeed!
The access to the car was for a track off that crossed a stream and reached the road. I could go down from a little way of snow, avoiding walk several hundred meters.
Since there is no aprés-ski, we stopped in a village to eat another Galician sandwiches before we drive to Porto.

20.1.15 - St. Moritz

Last day of this trip through Switzerland, Austria and Liechtenstein, passed under a melting sun and listening to David Bowie, Ena Pá 2000, Creedence Clearwater, among many others.
The initial program included a visit to the lake Boodense, the city of Bregenz and Konstanz.
However, St. Moritz also was "already there" and St. Moritz, for those who like skiing, is a mandatory spot.
St. Mortiz, for those who enjoy a certain lifestyle that is easily found in the 007 movies, or in magazines of international Jet 7, is a must.
St. Moritz, for those who like roads that go up and down around the mountain, lakes, 270º turnes, covered with snow and ice, is a real treat.
And I like a bit of all!
Since Friday I refuse to go to St. Moritz; but today I surrendered, I became the road and in good time went.

The city is the most fancy that there may be, full of boutiques with the best brands. Speaking of brands, top of the car also there are all, and tracks in the snow designed for the lucky customers can put their skills to the test on snow and ice. There is also a casino and hotels for which there is no description possible, beyond the houses of all millionaires.
The resort is brutal, with wide lanes, with a lot of slope, allowing breakneck speeds. Like yesterday it didn`t snow, the snow was compact on the slopes, helping to that effect. The off-piste are also any fantastic things.
With my Reuch equal to the Hermman Maier I was a champion of speed ... But when pass me a guy who had a Olympic Team Switzerland jacket i thought certainly he had an engine in the skis!
But as the city, everything else is outstanding: the ski lifts have an automatic shutdown, the bars serve Pommery and Mumm in icy flutes, service staff of the equipment, monitors and other people working in the office are to blush any professional.
Everything is done for the customer to return to St. Moritz.
To get an idea of ​​this holistic vision of luxury associated with the sport, I went up to the Piz Nair, the 3057 meters of altitude: a restaurant with a fantastic menu, with the best products and beverages, so that each one can take comfort from the ski day; however, barely out of the restaurant and within seconds was in Corviglia, the 2486 meters of altitude, in full Downhill track of FSI. It's unpriceless!
With all these memories, with a satisfied smile, as I am in Memmingen, to take the flight to Portugal. I want to return, not go out; but tomorrow is a day of work.

19.1.15 - Vaduz | Rapperswil | Zürich

Cold and sun at Lichtenstein to beginning a journey that, in a short space and time, would make me cross two countries, linking Vaduz - Lichenstein capital - to Zürich, Switzerland.
Some say that Vaduz is the most uninteresting capital of Europe. I fully agree. In the country - and in the capital, confusing one thing to another - breathes well-being and economic strength but it's all very grey. There is nothing apart from good homes and cars of the upper middle class.
Hill climbing to the castle by a dizzying road, close and felt like doing at high speed. "If it was Porsche," I thought ... And is not that past ten seconds had a roar of a boxer engine behind me ?! Shame not go at that Stuttgart wheel.
Then I headed to Zürich, choosing a national road: what wonder, what joy to view and mind.
The road followed the whole mountain, an up and down through icy hills, trees with ice stalactites, streams, people using the horse as a means of transportation and other with ski-background. A landscape of the more bucolic and endearing that may exist. How would say my Brazilian friends, amei.
Until Rapperswil stopped in several villages to take pictures because I wanted to keep track of everything of this.
After that the landscape has changed and came the big lake. What a feeling! All so clear, body & soul purifier.
In Rapperswil stopped the car and walked across the lake. I saw ducks, herons and woodcocks. Nature is present in the cities, not leaving invade, creating a perfect set.
The reach Zürich, the banks of the lake, I began to realize how fancy the city would be: dream homes, Ferrari stands, Porsche, Bentley, Jaguar, Aston Martin.
The town itself, after this cold and European California bath



, showed up in all its magnitude.
Zürich is a fantastic city, a bastion of European traditions in the financial world and this is reflected in the buildings, in culture, in stores, in people.
I walked by the lake and the old town. I went up to the uptown and down saw Wasserkiche.
I hope to return!

18.1.15 - Silvretta Montafon

Today the sun appear and the day had another glow.
Instead of yesterday, the Alps were opened in splendor and can observe the beauty of the mountains and valleys. Yesterday had felt but today I saw why they called "walls" to the Austrian ski resorts: the slope is such that the difference between a red or black is basically the width of the track. Blue and green tracks; whats that?
Silvretta Montafon is in the Top 10 of the best resorts. The village that hosts doesn´t have the glamour of other resorts but the tracks are top. The lift pass price and ski rentals are in the normal table of the Alps; that, in my view, the price / quality is much cheaper than other resorts.
In rental ski shop, by our faces and languages, we were the center of attention. When asked how was my ski, said "expert": they gave me a fantastic skis from Nordica, which were well explored throughout the day.
With the sun came visibility and with it the speed that can printed to ski: it was a return to the good old tight parallel, go with the hand to the floor, alternating between wide pistes with other narrower, with hooks that reminds the Turini, traded on slide heels. The snow was soft and allowed almost everything.
On returning to the car, to enjoy the most, went down the mountain by a red track. In its final, followed by an off-piste in the trees. I the middle of nothing, we found a tavern with a superb view, full of Austrians to hear a folk music and drink beer. We participate in the tasting, of course.
Then it was follow the trail out to the village center, crossing houses, backyards, and paved streets, like in a 007 movie.
Today was, as they say in my jargon, "on red line".
Do you want a day like this?! Contact Agência Parai

so and enjoy good times.

6.1.15 - Régua

Go to Régua is to see and live wine. Although can be land and can also be river - like say António Barreto - but it is, above all, wine.
The road, like the good nectar is fantastic:  carousel, coil, chained, or what you want to call. Between the river and the ledge, a unique beauty.
I will return with more time!

1.1.15 - Oliveira de Azeméis | Caramulo | Oliveira de Azeméis

First day of the year and it's time to start setting goals for the objectives of the year. In 2015 I will dedicate myself also to travel around. Bike, car, train, airplane; of whatever. I want to know new places, new people and cultures.
I got up early and tied the Monte Campo on the bike. I looked at the map and decided to take a tour of places that i didn´t for a long time.
I left Oliveira de Azeméis and headed to Vale de Cambra to enter the road of S. Pedro do Sul. Few kilometers and had the first stop of the day: The Eng. Duarte Pacheco dam, along with Roge.
Breathes tranquility that little piece of paradise. Near Serra da Freitas, could put the legend Bariloche that few would have given the difference. Wonderful, sublime, the trip had been worth it for that landscape.
Follow way to Oliveira de Frades, a cold coil that accompanies every corner of the mountain, a constant up and down. A road that passes through Cepelos, Junqueira and Arões, mythical names of rallying.
Reached Oliveira de Frades, I headed to Caramulo. Always going up!
No longer would there since my last participation on the hillclimb, in 2011. The town is so friendly and picturesque, along with the villages around them. Witn no racing, everything takes a different rhythm, much more calm and quiet.
Go up to the Cabeço de Neve and had lunch: one sandwiche. Then followed by a dirt road that connects the various electric windy towers

. I saw the Serra da Estrela, Serra da Freitas and the sea.
The way back home was by Agueda along a road with nested curves and at three in the afternoon had not yet dried. I went through several streams that after Pateira of Fermentelos, help fill the Vouga.
More than 150 km of knowledge, to revive the places where had passed. It was a good day 1 January.