Seven Super Shots of Portugal
Having been tagged by Fiona at Scribbler in Seville to take part in HostelBookers 7 Super Shots photography challenge, I’ve spent many happy hours browsing my photo collection. However, rather than go through the thousands of photos I’ve collected over years of travelling and living abroad, I decided to limit myself to photos of Portugal. I hope you enjoy them.
A photo that takes my breath away
I’m in total awe of Olive Tree Dance, a Portuguese band who I first experienced in a small venue in Coimbra. I had seen a couple of their you tube videos but nothing could have prepared me for the way that they filled the room with pulsating sound from just a tiny drum box and a digeridoo. Renato Oliveira, the digeridoo player, worked pure magic using incredible energy and breath control to create music that had me dancing like a loon for hours.
I’ve been to a few of their gigs and now that they’re becoming more widely-known, they play bigger venues and involve more musicians and instruments. They’re still amazing but I prefer their more intimate, simple gigs like this unscheduled performance on the beach at Cortegaça at the 2011 Surf at Night festival.
A photo that makes me laugh or smile
I had lots of contenders for this category but this “Slow Down, School Ahead” road sign in São Miguel de Poiares never fails to make me chuckle every time I drive past it. I just love the way this little girl is gaily skipping across the road on her way to school, flashing her knickers without a care in the world.
A photo that makes me dream
This was another tricky one to choose but ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to live in a castle. Despite the Disney colours of Pena National Palace in Sintra, I can easily imagine living here, without the tourists, of course. While it was being built in the 19th century, the reigning king and queen of Portugal insisted on incorporating elements of Islamic architecture, which I adore, as well as medieval features and Manueline trimmings. It’s a bit over the top, granted, but the grounds and views are gorgeous. And mine, in my dreams.
A photo that makes me think
The ruins of Monsanto castle sit on top of a hill in the Beira Baixa, a part of Portugal which is strewn with granite boulders. Being resourceful folk, the townspeople of Monsanto made full use of what nature had supplied them with and built their homes around the gigantic piles of stone. I can’t help thinking that I’d be worried about them shifting somehow. Can you imagine this roof falling down? I’m not sure how soundly I’d sleep at night in that house.
A photo that makes my mouth water
I’ve just come back from the chocolate festival in Óbidos and as well as sampling some very yummy treats while I was there, I’ve got a lasting reminder in the form of this photo of chocolate Johnny Depp. Enough to make my mouth water for more than one reason.
A photo that tells a story
I spent a few hours in Ponte da Lima last year and was intrigued by the legend of the river. Apparently, when the Roman army arrived there, long before the bridge, they were so struck by the natural beauty of the place that they became convinced that they had reached the mythical River Lethe. The soldiers believed that the river had the power to erase their memories and refused to cross it.
Their general, who you can just make out on his horse on the other side of the water, needed to get his men across so he went first and called them over by name from the opposite bank. The soldiers were amazed but reassured that he could remember their names and followed him to the other side.
A photo that I am most proud of (aka my worthy of National Geographic shot)
I don’t think this photo is quite that worthy but I do really like it. I took this shot through a hole in the walls of the hilltop castle of Marvão, looking back across its manicured garden hedges and over the whitewashed buildings of the beautiful ancient village.
Now I’d like to see what these bloggers make of the 7 Super Shot challenge:
For more of my Portugal-related photography, check out these Weekly Photo Challenges:
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Night Surfing and Human Chains at Cortegaça Beach
It took about an hour and a lot of coaxing from the DJs and coordinators but the human chain was finally formed at Cortegaça beach, just north of Aveiro at about 7pm on Sunday, 14th August.
Bikinied bodies of all shapes and sizes stood hand in hand with weekend surfers and residents in a bid to raise awareness of the danger of coastal erosion and hopefully persuade the authorities to put their hands in their pockets and do something to combat it before the beach disappears into the Atlantic.
They’ll have to hurry; it looks as though a giant digger has been munching away at the land and only a few metres of grass and a flimsy fence appear to be preventing the campsite from falling into its mouth.
It’s not just property owners who are concerned; Cortegaça beach is popular with surfers and home to the annual Surf at Night festival. With spotlights beaming onto the waves from the jetty adding to the effect of the full moon, surfers don’t need to hang up their wetsuits at sunset during the three nights of the festival. DJs and beer stands keep surfing spectators happy while the warm up bands do their thing on the main stage. 
A three-day pass is only 25€ and includes free camping but if you’re not staying the night and not used to festival timings in Portugal, be warned – the headline band don’t start until around midnight and it was almost 3am before Olive Tree Dance made their appearance on Sunday. Luckily for us, they made an impromptu appearance on the beach earlier in the evening.
As festivals go, this is small-scale and aside from a few artisan stalls there’s not a lot going on but who needs it when you’ve got the beach to catch up on sleep and while away the day on?
Hi, I'm Julie, a British expat living in central Portugal. I blog about my experiences of living in Portugal and travelling around this diverse and beautiful country. Whether you're thinking about moving to Portugal, looking for some out-of-the-ordinary trips within Portugal or just fancy a spot of armchair travelling, read on and enjoy.
