Photographs

These misty, Northern Californian mornings, fit my being perfectly.

A view from an upstairs window, showing a very misty morning as I look over a rooftop and chimney pipe

Hike to the bluff and there are three chairs waiting for you to take a rest, and take in the ocean views.

Three chairs sitting on a bluff overlooking the ocean

The Northern Californian coast at Sea Ranch.

Waves breaking into a small cove near the end of the day at Sea Ranch, Northern California

A path running through a tunnel of Cyprus trees on the Northern California coast

My grandson roasting a marshmallow at dusk, in PoliPoli Springs Recreation Area, Maui. (Photo credit, my son-in-law).

A boy roasting a marshmallow over an open fire at dusk in PoliPoli Springs Recreation Area, Maui

Now. View over Maui from PoliPoli Springs Recreational Area. The island of Lana’i in the distance.

View from PoliPoli Springs Recreational Area with the island of Lana’i in the distance.

This afternoon my wife and I took a two and a half mile walk in Upcountry Maui. The cloudy weather created just the right conditions for walking.

A lot of the land that we were walking by belongs to Oprah. Indeed most (all?) that is in this photograph belongs to her.

Upcountry Maui. A single track, twisty road winds between hilly fields with low lava rock walls

I stopped on the return leg to take a photograph looking across to West Maui, the Pacific Ocean and the island of Lana’i.

Looking across Maui to West Maui, the Pacific Ocean and the island of Lana’i

Reupholstering a couch today. Learning as I go. Patience is one of those lessons!

Strips of cloth and the side of a couch. The strips of cloth will go to replace the current cloth in couch’s side. It is weaves into place

Going in…looking to retrieve some images off of my step-daughter’s old computer. 🫣

Dismantling an old white Apple laptop on the floor. The keyboard is off, the hard drive out, the keyboard lies at an angle. Screws, screwdrivers and other bits and pieces lie around

Current mood, after a day with a lot of driving.

Sitting outside next to a table with my Kindle in it, along with sun glasses, a can of beer, and a soft glasses case. Laundry is hanging on a clothes horse, just out of focus.

Out for a walk.

Old man wearing a white cardigan and black shorts, out for a walk in the narrow streets of Lisbon, steadying himself with a cane. Stationary traffic clogs the single lane road.

I’m sitting in an Uber ride and Walking On Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves plays on the radio. My spirits immediately feel lifted. That never fails to happen with this song.

Setting the mood for a Sunday Morning…
Sunday Morning Jazz by Gillie Meyer

I spotted a Micro.blog sticker in Lisbon today. That brought a smile to my face. 😊 @jean

A Micro.blog sticker on a post in Príncipe Real

Keeping an eye on you, in Lisbon.

A very large mural of a dog, on a wall in Lisbon

A large painting of knight on a wall in Lisbon

A lunchtime well spent.

Empty lunch plates and beer glasses at Momento restaurant in Alcácer do Sal

Freedom Day Celebrations

Today, 25th April, is Freedom Day here in Portugal. Last night Alcácer do Sal held a concert with Marisa Liz, a fireworks display at midnight, and then a DJ after that. We showed up for Marisa’s concert, but her music wasn’t to our taste and so we walked back home and got into bed (the concert had started about 10:30pm). Just before midnight, I went back out and waited by the river for the fireworks.

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I’m playing around with a new, for me, photo editing app. RNI Films: Photo & RAW Editor offers filters mimicking real film. I like the results so far.

House in Comporta, Portugal

Current mood.

Alcácer fire place

Out for a walk yesterday evening at sunset, we saw a stage being set up in the square outside of the Municipal Building. Maybe preparing for celebrations in and around Liberation Day, on 25th April? It looks as though events are planned.

Outside stage set up outside the Municipal Building in Alcácer do Sal. View from the pedestrian bridge.

Outside stage set up outside the Municipal Building in Alcácer do Sal

Hiding under foot on the streets of Lisbon.

Stencil of a “spy.” A black image of hat, black glasses and the top of a coat. Or is it a man in a hat reading a book?

A day of unexpected twists and turns. We set off to explore the hills, beaches and restaurants west of Setúbal. However, the hot weather brought people out in droves, parking was in short supply and roads were closed.

So a change of plans saw us at the market in Setúbal.

Setúbal market

We needed to do some grocery shopping and so used the opportunity.

Man at meat counter in Setúbal market

People at vegetable counter in Setúbal market

This rather foreboding butcher watched over the proceedings.

Big model of a butcher, with a bloodied clever and apron, at Setúbal market

From there we took the ferry across to Tróia and drove back to Alcácer via Comporta.

On the ferry from Setúbal to Tróia

This evening after a walk, we sat and cooled down with a drink as the sun set.

Black & white photo of a table with beer bottle, sunglasses and ordinary glasses on

French Kiwi Juice by FKJ - Songlink

I was happy today to find the Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Center, Thubten Phuntsog Gephel Ling, about 20 minutes drive from Alcácer do Sal.

On its grounds is the 16 meter high Tashi Gomang Stupa.

Tashi Gomang Stupa at a Tibetan Buddhist Retreat Center in Portugal

Small Buddha statue next to a Mani stone (a piece of stone, with the mantra Om Mani Padme Hung carved on it)

Hat on hooks. Baseball hat hanging on wooden hooks attached to a plaster wall

I’m sure that there will be more of these, but a couple of photos of the Lisbon, Micro.blog Meetup with @jean, @maique, @Portufraise & @helgeg (& friends from the conference Jean was attending). A wonderful afternoon, and lovely to meet more of the Micro.blog family.

Jean, Maique, Ana & Helgeg on the Lisbon waterfront

Grabbing a drink in Príncipe Real after the Micro.blog Meetup walk

Cais Palafítico da Carrasqueira - a place of old fishing piers and huts, near Comporta and the Atlantic coast, Portugal.

Old fishing piers and huts at Cais Palafítico da Carrasqueira, Portugal

Cais Palafítico da Carrasqueira - a place of old fishing piers and huts, Portugal

Wonky window on a ruined building. Wonky, ruined window on an old building

A beach scene from Easter Sunday. The beach at Comporta, Portugal on a sunny day with a cool wind

Moon rise in the house last night.

Davide Groppi moon lamp shade hanging in a house

Evening light.

Evening light in Alcácer do Sal, setting sunlight reflected on the hill of an upturned rowing boat by the river