Saturday 31 December 2016

Bye bye December...




And here we are, at the final day of the year, full of excitement for the brand new year that is almost here. December, as usual, ended in a flash with all the holidays preparations and festivities taking a lot of our attention and time. Still have the time to enjoy the city (Lisbon) and to celebrate my friendship with some special people in my life. The posts on the blog revolve much around the season and even the collaboration posts have the sweet taste of this special time of the year.

The visits to the blog and our followers on social media have grown consistently along this last month (specially on Facebook and Instagram), and I could not be more thankful for your presence and support here and in all the other channels.

May you all have a fantastic 2017 with as many happy travels as you can!

These nine photos are the Top 9 for December on our Instagram account. You can follow us there for daily photos and tips.

Wednesday 28 December 2016

The Wanderer's Chronicles | 2016 Year Review





2016 began with a huge change. After 5 years living abroad, we returned to Portugal!

2016 was, therefore, another year of adaptation to a new place. Is so truth that a place you return to, after some time, is not the same place anymore. And neither are you the same person that, a few years before, has left for some foreign adventure.

And here I was, getting reacquainted with my city and with my country. The first months were spent reorganizing things around home and revisiting so many places in the city that I missed.


JANUARY to MARCH

Love to walk around this beautiful city, always so full of light. Do you know that, in average, Lisbon has almost 300 days a year without rain?


January - Parque das Nações, Lisbon

February - Alfama, Lisbon

March - Bairro Alto, Lisbon


APRIL

April was time to return to Brazil for a while and to visit friends and family there. Although it was Autumn, the temperatures were high and it never rained during the month we where there (and that is something really rare!). I always miss that exuberant nature and the beautiful misty mornings.


April - São Paulo, Brazil


MAY


Back to Europe we welcomed a new member in the family. Let me introduce you to Atila, the cat, a lovely and sweet boy that warms our hearts every day.





JUNE


Summer is here, the weather is great and is time to move around. A day visit to Monsaraz took us to this beautiful medieval village. Placed on a hill, overlooking the Alqueva's lake, Monsaraz is absolutely stunning and a place that everyone should visit if have the chance.



June - Monsaraz

June - Monsaraz


JULY


A week in Barcelona that I've visited years ago was so rewarding. I've been there before I was a mother and now returned with my son, and we had such a great time! He is a great companion always willing to go further and to look for the next great place.


July - Barcelona

July - Barcelona

July - Barcelona


AUGUST

After Barcelona we drive south to Alentejo (Portugal) for relaxation (and great food!). The temperatures are high but enjoying the company of family and old friends make those days special. Lazy afternoons on the countryside, dinners on our house's terrace (with lots of sangria!) will stay on our memories for a long time.


August - Alentejo


The Summer months are synonymous of days passed by the sea and 2016 was a year to revisit some of the beaches of my past days. Praia Morena is always one of my favorites, but going back to Portinho da Arrábida was a great idea. The small bay at the feet of the mountain is a true gem.


August - Praia Morena

August - Portinho da Arrábida


SEPTEMBER

I love September! The temperature has dropped a little but is still Summer, the days are long and the feeling of holidays is still there. We went to the top of Cristo Rei, which I've last visited as a child. The view from the top of the monument is amazing and Lisbon looks like a beautiful island emerging from the water.


September - Cristo Rei, Almada

September - View of Lisbon from Cristo Rei, Almada

The weather was great throughout the month and afternoons in the beach were constant. By the end of September we've find São João da Caparica beach and we simply love it. 2017 will see us there more often.


September - S. João da Caparica (beach)


OCTOBER

This year, Summer forget to go away and October was divine just until the end. Walking around Lisbon, visiting museums or enjoying the sun by the sea were great ways to spend the time.


October - Carmo Museum, Lisbon

October - View from Sta. Justa's Lift

October - Belém, Lisbon

October - Praia Morena (Indian Summer)


NOVEMBER


In November, the leafs started to fall but the days continued sunny and beautiful. That's the time when is so good to walk around the gardens or having a drink on a terrace facing the river.


November - Jardim da Estrela, Lisbon

November - Jardim da Estrela, Lisbon

November - LX Factory, Lisbon


DECEMBER


And (so quickly) we came to the last month of the year, with all the Christmas activities piling over  and the days shrinking in front of our eyes. Having lunch or tea with friends, preparing or buying some gifts, the days go by with almost not noticing them. Today, three days before the end of the year, I'm here writing this review and it seem impossible that 2016 is almost gone. Like every year, it had good things and sad things. But now, that I look over my shoulder to the times passed, I think it will be remembered as a year of returning and a time of sunny days.



December - Jardim Príncipe Real, Lisbon

December - Terreiro do Paço, Lisbon

December - Terreiro do Paço, Lisbon







Monday 26 December 2016

Your 10 Favorite Wanderer's Blog Posts from 2016




The year is coming to an end and this 9 months of Chronicles couldn't be more rewarding. I'm grateful for your visits and feedback and could not finish the year without highlighting your favorite posts. So, lets hear the drums for the 10 most visited posts of 2016.



1. JARDIN DU LUXEMBOURG (PARIS)





Situated between Saint-Germain-des-Prés and the Latin Quarter, the Luxembourg Gardens are a haven of peace and tranquility in the middle of the city's bustle. Inspired by the Boboli Gardens and by the Pitti Palace in Florence, the Gardens and the Palace of Luxembourg were created for Queen Marie de Medici in 1612, allowing her to remember her native city. (Keep reading here)



2. STREET ART AT LX FACTORY (LISBON)





Lisbon is well known for its street art, presenting allover the city great examples of the work of both Portuguese and foreigner artists. If you appreciate street art, maybe the names of Vihls and Bordalo II are familiar to you, as they have works all over the world. While Vihls is particularly known for carving faces on building facades, Bordalo II creates amazing works of art from trash. (Keep reading here)



3. GIFT IDEAS FOR TRAVELERS





We are a week away from Christmas and for those of you that have been procrastinating gift shopping or that have run out of ideas for that friend that also loves traveling, here is some help.
Actually this is my list to Santa (hope you are reading my post dear Santa!) but I'm sharing it with you just in case it can be of any help. There are more budget friendly suggestions and some that are a little more expensive, but I'm sure that in this 10 suggestions you will find something that will make your friend or loved one really happy. (Keep reading here)



4. PLACE DES VOSGES (PARIS)





Once a swamp, the Marais (french word for marshland) district grow in importance on the fourteenth century due to its proximity to the Louvre Palace. In the seventeenth century became the favorite living place for the richest families in Paris, who built sumptuous mansions characteristic of the neighborhood. Today the Marais is a dynamic part of the city, with modern boutiques, great art galleries, upscale hotels and restaurants. (Keep reading here)



5. THE INFERNO MOVIE TOUR (FLORENCE)





In 2013, shortly after the release of Dan Brown's novel, Inferno, I visited Florence. Can't remember anymore if I read the novel before or after visiting the city, but now, that the film, based on the novel, as been released, occurred to me that could be a good idea to have a post on the main Florence locations of the movie. (Keep reading here)



6. LAS RAMBLAS (BARCELONA)





Las Ramblas is one of the main streets of Barcelona and, often, one of the first landmarks that most visitors identify with the city. This central boulevard, which cuts through the heart of the city centre,   is a vibrant and agreeable promenade of approximately 1,3 kilometers, connecting Plaza Catalunya  to Port Vell harbor. To the west it borders with El Raval area and east of Las Ramblas you can find the Barri Gòtic. (Keep reading here)



7. PALÁCIO FRONTEIRA (LISBOA)





Built in seventeenth century, as a hunting lodge, for the first Marquis de Fronteira, D. João de Mascarenhas, a hero of the Portuguese War of Restoration, this beautiful palace is located on the edge of Parque Florestal de Monsanto, in Largo de São Domingos de Benfica. The Palace was enlarged in the eighteenth century,  in a "rocaille"  style, and remains in the family to the present days. Currently, is the residence of the 13th Marquis de Fronteira, and is possible to visit some of the rooms, the library and the garden. (Keep reading here)



8. MONTMARTRE (PARIS)





A trip to Paris is not complete without a stroll through Montmartre. From the Sacré-Coeur basilica to the typical streets, reminiscent of a provincial village, it is simply lovely. The artists on the streets, the shops, the art galleries, the numerous restaurants and bistros (do not forget to eat some Moules Marinières!), the hustle and bustle of tourists (yes is a bit overcrowded!), the color and the animation, transport us to a less sophisticated Paris, to a bohemian and more irreverent city that captivates you at the first look. (Keep reading here)



9. ÎLE DE LA CITÉ (PARIS)





The history of Paris is strongly connected to the Île de la Cité, usually referred to be the original site of the Parisii tribes. In fact, when Julius Ceasar arrived there in 53 BC he only found a primitive village of fisherman. The Roman presence expanded the settlement to the left bank of the Seine. Later, the Francs conquered the city, named it Paris and made it the capital of their realm. The rest is history. (Keep reading here)



10. CASA MILÁ (BARCELONA)





In Eixample district we find Casa Milà, also known as La Pedrera, a true architectural landmark of Barcelona and one of the must see attractions of the city. Casa Milà is an apartment block designed by Antoni Gaudì and built between 1906 and 1912. This modernist building, inspired by nature and its organic forms, integrates the fantastic vision of Gaudi with the functional demands and comfort expectations of a rich family of the beginning of the twentieth century. Since 1984 Casa Milà  was declared an Unesco World Heritage Site due to its outstanding universal value. (Keep reading here)









Saturday 24 December 2016

Lisbon Chronicles | Xmas LX




Lisbon is all dressed up for Christmas! Lights, flowers and decorations. Christmas Markets, Merry-go-Rounds and Santas all contributing for the joy of the young ones and the good disposition of all the others. Well, there are always those people that are continually  stressed up with something, but I must confess, seeing a Xmas Elf running for work, in full costume, in the middle of the street, makes my day!

This week I walk the city after some of the Xmas events and get some pics to share with you. Also, if you're in the city should not miss the markets. You can find three markets in the center of Lisbon: Mercado de Natal, at Praça do Município (until today), Wonderland Lisboa, at Parque Eduardo VII (until December, 30th) and the Rossio Christmas Market, at Rossio (until December, 30th). You can eat, drink and shop and if you have kids, they can find several fun activities to do there.

Hope you enjoy the photos and wish you all a Merry, Merry Christmas!























Premium Flexible Related Post Widget for Blogger – Blogspot