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).

Marisa Liz night time outdoor concert in Alcácer do Sal

Just before midnight, I went back out and waited by the river for the fireworks. I didn’t have to wait long, they started early, and were really quite beautiful.

Fireworks over Alcácer do Sal

Initially just coming from one side of the river, as the display progressed, they also were launched from the pedestrian bridge and up by the castle (now hotel) that overlooks the town.

Fireworks display in Alcácer do Sal

Fireworks display in Alcácer do Sal

It was a lovely evening. I enjoyed seeing families out, young people laughing and running round, and restaurants staying open late, with people sitting out laughing and chatting into the night.

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

I found this rather large fly down at the coast yesterday.

Sculpture of a large fly made out of odds and ends

I’ve heard of a Christmas tree, but never an Easter tree.

A small decorative tree decorated with small Easter eggs and fairy lights. Some peach colored tulips lie at its base

March 2023 Photoblogging Challenge

Day 31: Practice, suggested by @hollie

Practicing

Kids on a skateboard half pipe

March 2023 Photoblogging Challenge

Day 30: Mirror, suggested by @Rori

Rows of Parmesan cheese mirror each other as they wait their turn to be cleaned - each cheese is picked out, polished, put back, and then the machine moves onto the next one. Scandiano, Italy.

Two rows of Parmesan cheese waiting their turn to be cleaned by an automated machine that works its way along the rows of cheeses