Nikki

Is Saint Martin's Summer a warm period in the fall? What we would call Indian Summer in the US?

lobo_mau

It's the same thing. It's called Saint Martin's Summer because on average, it's centered on 11th November (Saint Martin's day)
11 th November is the day when all restaurants have complimentary chestnuts to offer to clients and it's the day to taste the new wine (the wine of the current season).
The legend of Saint Martin of Tours has some local variations, according the most popular here when Saint Martin cut his vests in half and delivered them to the beggar, immediatly a miraculous sun started to shine in the sky and a off season Summer immediatly appeared. This is consistent with the permanence of Indian Summer in and around 11th November in this part of the world.

lobo_mau

Christmas lights are already lit since last week end in Rua Augusta. I notice a change in style. 20 years ago the light was intense and the ideia was to turn the night into day. Nowadays, the illumination is much more subtle. I think that a lot of low energy lamps is used, but the effect is nice nevertheless.

lobo_mau

Portuguese Post Office issued a series of 230,000 postage stamps made in cork.
This series has 2 features:
- is the 1st in the world produced in this material
- like the finger prints, each one of the stamps is different from all other.
IMHO they look beautiful. The picture represents the rolling hills of the Alentejo. Take a look at http://www2.ctt.pt/fewcm/wcmservlet/...mprensa61.html

GoAway

Oh, that is soooo cool!

I picked up a cork postcard when I was in Portugal and it's one of my favorite souveniers.

I also want to say that you are an absolutely marvelous salesperson for your country. All of these wonderful little tidbits of what happens in Portugal. You really make me want to return.

Maybe next year.

Therese

Very pretty. I saw wallets and similar items made of cork when I was in Portugal last year, and they are reportedly quite durable.

Is the cork industry looking for new ways to use their product in light of increasing use of plastic corks and screw-top closures for bottles? Cork floors are supposed to be very comfortable and very durable.

lobo_mau

Cork has applications that many are unaware of http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpag...e/Topics/Space
And relating to the plastic screw-top closures I believe cork is not giving up without striking back.

Encantadora

Thank you lobo_mau for the tip on those unique cork stamps! It will be my first purchase when we arrive in Lisbon this Sunday (Dec. 2) for 11 days (followed by three weeks in other areas of Portugal). My DH surely won't give me a hard time with this souvenir since they are inexpensive, won't take up much room in our suitcases and are so light! And thank you for all your other tips over the past ten months I have been lurking on this website. We will be putting them to good use so very soon.So excited!!

lreynold1

For those heading to Lisbon this month, keep an eye out for posters announcing the City's program of Christmas musical concerts throughout the city. Assuming this series is still going on, they are all free, and some are held inside spaces that aren't regularly open to the public. In 2004, we were lucky enough to attend a concert in a convent (can't remember the name) near the Principe Real square, as well as in the church in the Alfama in the square where the big palm tree is (Sao Miguel?).

We saw notices posted in the metro, and I'm sure the tourist offices have the information as well.

tdyls

Will there be any of these on Christmas Day?

lobo_mau

Concerts in Lisbon Churches: Mártires (9 Dec and 13 Jan); Madalena (16 Dec); Saint Nicolau (6 Dec), Conceição Velha (8 Dec) and Encarnação (6 Jan).
------
Missa solemnis in Belem: midnight 00h00m from 24th to 25th.

lobo_mau

On the 30th November 1807 the French army entered in Lisbon. On 13th December a riot followed the raise of the tricolor flag in Saint George's Castle. On 15th September 1808 Junot and his men left the city for good.
This brief period was the last time in History the Portuguese capital was held by foreigner hands.
The Portuguese royal family went to exile in Brazil, being the 1st European rulers ever to cross the equador. This period of 5 or 6 years is known as the Peninsular War, and during this period, Portuguese, Spanish, French and British armies made from Hispania a huge battle field. This turmoil was instrumental in the independence of the former Portuguese and Spanish Latin-American colonies.
My suggestion for a light readind about this subject is a delicious historical novel from CS Forester called "The Gun"

lobo_mau

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/sp...mp;oref=slogin

lobo_mau

Manoel de Oliveira, the most known of Portuguese directors, celebrates today his 99th aniversary. He is he the oldest director in the world who is still active. When asked about his career, he said "the past is not interesting to me, I only care about my future plans".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manoel_de_Oliveira

lobo_mau

Museums (except Coches) and public transports are free in Lisbon today to commemorate the signature of Lisbon Treaty, between the 27 countries of European Union.
The formal act will be held in Jeronimos Monastery and the lunch in the Museum of Coches, both in Belem area. The few hundreds of meters ride between the 2 locations will be done in a tram painted in blue, instead of the usual yellow. The tram will carry the 27 "crowned" heads of Europe (either kings or presidents) offering, I'm sure, excellent photo opps that will cross the globe in today's news.
Tonight in the Nations Park (former expo98) there will be a concert of classical music synchronized with a display of fire works to be offered to the distinguished guests and opened to the general population.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reform_Treaty

lobo_mau

The metro rides in Lisbon's metro system are free today to commemorate the birth of 2 brand new stations in the southern end of Blue line. Terreiro do Paço and Santa Apolonia are the new members of family. With this all major train stations (Oriente, Santa Apolonia, Cais do Sodre, Entre Campos, Rossio and Sete Rios) are connected by the metro system. The 2 major ferry stations are in the system (Cais do Sodre and Terreiro do Paço). Only the airport is out, but that’s another story.
The 2 new stations and the new line surround Alfama and the Castle hill by south, just following Tagus right bank.

Therese

Great news, lobo, and further evidence that Lisbon's got a really fantastic public transit system.

Do the new stations put any tourist sites in ready walking distance of the metro? Seems like the tile museum was over on that side of things, and at the time of my visit accessible only by bus or taxi.

lobo_mau

The new line doesn’t go that east. To get to water and tiles museums there is still a lot to walk, and that’s not a nice area to walk anyway.
The spots which are favored by the new stations are alfama, fado museum and alfama’s fado clubs and restaurants.
PS: Outside my window it’s windy, rainy and cold. There is a conspiracy of the elements to make lisbonites feel miserable today.

Nikki

Based on the novels I have read set in Lisbon, that conspiracy is of long standing.

lobo_mau

Mariza and Dulce Pontes got international recognition but the Portuguese voice of 21st century is Ana Moura.