WTL Video 7

Footage captured with DJI Mavic Air and Canon 77D in several locations in Oliveira de Azeméis and Ovar, Aveiro, Portugal between 2018 and 2019.

[EN]

Summer nearly there, June, my favourite month nearly coming and I can't go home and, like me, many people! To fight against the boredom and depression caused by the Covid-19, I got together some footage of my visits to my parents home in Portugal. Those clips were recorded on several visits and during different seasons like Winter, Spring and Summer and in several locations around my parents place, places of my childhood and that I always go back when I'm in Portugal. 

The little park with the chapel is called "Parque de La-Sallette". It's a little park at the top of a hill in the city of Oliveira de Azeméis. It's a very popular spot for a walk and to practice exercise but it's highlight is in August when we celebrate the "Festas de La-Sallette" with concerts, 2 big processions and a large range of attractions perfect for family and friends to gather... of course now that is hard with the Covid!

I got footage in 2 different beaches also! One is the most popular one, "Furadouro" in Ovar, is where everybody goes and, the other one, "Praia dos Marretas, Torrão do Lameiro", is a bit more secret, it's a "desert beach" with only pine tree forest, sand and sea! That is were I got that beautiful time-lapse of the sunset!

But this video is really special because my boys are there! My two nephews, João "the skateboarder" and Eduardo "the drone assistant". They are growing, soon they won't be teenagers anymore and this video brings back to life my little adventures with the two of them!

I hope you enjoy and I hope this video makes you want to know a bit more about the Aveiro Disctrict!

Stay safe!

[PT]

Verão quase aí, Junho, meu mês favorito quase chegando e eu não posso ir para casa e, assim como eu, muita gente! Para combater o tédio e a depressão causados ​​pelo Covid-19, reuni algumas cenas das minhas visitas à casa dos meus pais em Portugal. Esses clipes foram gravados em várias visitas e durante diferentes estações do ano, como inverno, primavera e verão e em vários locais perto da casa dos meus pais, lugares da minha infância e que eu sempre volto quando estou em Portugal.

O pequeno parque com a capela chama-se "Parque de La-Sallette". É um pequeno parque no topo de uma colina na cidade de Oliveira de Azeméis. É um local muito popular para passear e praticar exercício, mas o destaque é em Agosto, quando celebramos as Festas de La-Sallette com concertos, 2 grandes procissões e uma grande variedade de atrações perfeitas para a família e amigos se reunirem .. Claro que agora é difícil com o Covid!

Também fiz filmagens em 2 praias diferentes! Um é o mais popular, "Furadouro" em Ovar, é onde todo mundo vai, a outra "Praia dos Marretas, Torrão do Lameiro" é um pouco mais secreta, é uma "praia deserta", com apenas pinhal, areia e mar! Nessa praia foi onde gravei o time-lapse do pôr do sol!

Mas este vídeo é realmente especial porque meus meninos estão lá! Meus dois sobrinhos, João "o skatista" e Eduardo "o assistente de drone". Eles estão crescendo, logo não serão mais adolescentes e este vídeo traz de volta à vida minhas pequenas aventuras com os dois!

Espero que gostem e que este vídeo faça você querer saber um pouco mais sobre o Distrito de Aveiro!

Manthem-se a salvo!

Shot no.22

Shot no.22 (Canon EOS M10, Fujifilm Finepix SP8200)

Photos taken in Sal Island, Cape Verde in October 2016.

Summer is long gone in Ireland and it's nearly gone in the rest of northern hemisphere. I'm not on holidays and don't have time to go over to some nice and hot southern European country to give a boost to my tan. I have no option but to look back on some summer photos and remember warm memories of sun, sea and sand. These ones are from Cape Verde, it was October but still very hot. You can check more about Cape Verde on Shot no.3 and Shot no.4.

Hope you enjoy it! :D

Shot no. 19

Shot no. 19 (Canon EOS M10)

EN

Photos taken at Mosteiro de Alcobaça, Alcobaça, Leiria District, Portugal in July 2017

OK, I know it is clickbait. I'm really sorry but I just thought it would be my only chance to call your attention to a monochromatic post. There is a reason behind this (of course there is!). The photo at the top is actually one of the last ones from that day.

I went to visit Mosteiro de Alcobaça, a very ancient and important monastery in Portuguese history. It was a grey day, for a while I thought I was in Ireland but then I realised that that couldn't be possible because it wasn't that cold! Took a few photos outside the monastery but the light was so bad that I just gave up (please understand, I don't know anything about photography, I just like to share my shots with you). But when I went into the monument, it looked so cold, so dark that it just made me imagine that I was back to medieval times and I imagined that place in black and white, so I took my camera, put it on monochromatic mode and started shooting during the guided visit. 

Spent around 4h there. The first 2h, I just enjoyed the monument and spotted some places for photos and after lunch went back and took photos the whole time! Most of the time was spent inside the monastery but when I went outside to see the cloisters, the sky was blue and the sun was shining. I couldn't help it, I had to take a few photos with colour but then returned to my black and white mission.

Hope you enjoy this black and white experience!

PT (este texto não está escrito com o novo acordo ortográfico)

Fotos tiradas no Mosteiro de Alcobaça, Alcobaça, Distrito de Leiria, Portugal em Julho de 2017
Ok, eu sei que vocês foram enganados. Sinto muito, mas pensei que seria a minha única chance de chamar a sua atenção para uma publicação monocromática. Há uma razão por trás disso (claro que existe!). A foto no topo foi na verdade uma das últimas a  serem tiradas nesse dia.
Fui visitar Mosteiro de Alcobaça, um mosteiro muito antigo e importante na história portuguesa. Era um dia cinzento, por instantes eu pensei que estava na Irlanda, mas percebi que isso não poderia ser possível porque não estava tanto frio! Tirei algumas fotos fora do mosteiro, mas a luz era tão ruim que acabei de desistir (não se esqueça, eu não sei nada sobre fotografia, eu só gosto de compartilhar minhas fotos com você). Mas quando entrei no monumento, parecia tão frio, tão escuro que só me fazia imaginar que tinha voltado à época medieval e imaginei aquele lugar em preto e branco, então peguei minha câmera, coloquei as definições no modo monocromático e comecei a fotografar durante a visita guiada.
Estive lá cerca de 4h. As primeiras 2h, eu apenas desfrutei da visita ao monumento e fui estudando alguns lugares para fotos. Depois do almoço voltei e tirei fotos o tempo todo! A maior parte do tempo foi gasto dentro do mosteiro, mas quando eu fui ver os claustros, o céu era azul e o sol estava brilhando. Não pude evitar, tive que tirar algumas fotos com cores, mas depois voltei para minha missão em preto e branco.

Espero que você aproveite esta experiência em preto e branco!

Info:

• Alcobaça and Mosteiro de Alcobaça:
• http://www.mosteiroalcobaca.gov.pt/en/index.php?s=white&pid=188&identificador=
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcoba%C3%A7a,_Portugal

Shot no. 18

Shot no. 18 (Fujifilm Finepix SP8200, Canon EOS M10, Huawei Mate 9)

Photos taken at Lisbon City, Lisbon District, Portugal in August 2017.

Lisbon, the city that I love to visit but I keep saying that I would hate to live in. The traffic kills me and driving is one of the things that gives me most pleasure.

For me, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, perfect for photographers. At each corner, one good shot between a modern city, old fashioned buildings and medieval buildings.

Normally my visits are always very quick, just a layover between Dublin and my hometown in Portugal but every now and again I'll spend the night in Lisbon and walk around the city.

This time I stayed for a day and a half, part of that day was spent on the beach (of course, my vital environment!!!). Still managed to walk around downtown (Baixa, Praça do Comércio and Rossio) and Parque das Nações for some photos, didn't have much time but got a few good shots. Visited the Arco da Rua Augusta (3rd photo from the top) and took some nice photos from the top. Also, wanted to visit Elevador de Santa Justa but about 11am on Saturday morning the queue was too big. It's an excellent spot to watch the city from a higher perspective but if you want to visit it go as early as you can... like everything else in Lisbon.

My suggestion for staying is Ibis Hotel Parque das Nações. A modern three star hotel with continental breakfast very well located, close to airport, train, metro, shopping centre and many places to eat!

Probably will never live in Lisbon but I will always return for a visit! 

Info:

• About Lisbon: 
• https://www.visitlisboa.com/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lisbon
• Parque das Nações: https://www.visitlisboa.com/lisbon/lisbon-region/parque-das-nacoes
• About Arco da Rua Augusta:
• https://www.visitlisboa.com/see-do/sightseeing-activities/museums-monuments/arco-da-rua-augusta
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rua_Augusta_Arch
• Elevador de Santa Justa: http://lisbon-portugal-guide.com/Baixa-Lisbon/Elevador-Santa-Justa-Lisbon-elevator-lift-guide.html
• Hotel Ibis Parque da Nações: https://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-8501-ibis-lisboa-parque-das-nacoes/index.shtml

Shot no. 17

Shot no. 17 (Huawei Mate 9: ISO: 200, f/2.2, S: 15s)

Photo taken at Parque das Nações, Lisbon, Portugal in August 2017.

Nearly time to go back to Ireland, will fly from Lisbon on Sunday morning. After 1 month in Portugal I have too much stuff to bring over with me so decided to spend 2 days in Lisbon to see some family and to enjoy the capital.

Arrived this afternoon and went to meet my cousin, then some shopping, then blá blá blá I'm sure you have no interest in what I've done.

It was very hot last night but a little breeze was flowing by the riverside so decided to go for a late walk. That zone of Tejo (Tagus) river is very pretty and with the lights of the night is specially pretty! I had to take a picture, it was time for photomission! Didn't have any camera with me, only my phone and a tripod. I set it up with the super night mode and walked around to find a spot. The best place was after some barrier fences to protect people from falling into the river. The tide was low so I was able to cross the fence and access some steps that normally are covered by the water. Hanging in there, afraid of having a wash before I was planned, I managed to take this beautiful picture. The funny part of this story is that a little girl, maybe 4 years old, was shouting at me saying that what I was doing was wrong, I must confess that I got very ashamed because her whole family and another bunch of people were looking at me like I commited a huge crime anyway, it was worth it! 

 Info:

• Parque das Nações: https://www.visitlisboa.com/lisbon/lisbon-region/parque-das-nacoes

Shot no.16

Shot no. 16 (Canon EOS M10, Fujifilm Finepix Sp8200, Huawei Mate 9)

Photos taken at Nazaré, Leiria District, Portugal in July 2017.

After a day in Sítio (Shot no. 15) went back to Nazaré in the Funicular rail way/cable car. It's a great option to travel between Nazaré and Sítio and has been in use since 1889 of course with modernization of the service.

Nazaré is very well known for its fishing traditions, for its sandy beach and more recently as a big wave surf spot. My main interest was of course the beach and to get back my normal colour and wash away my pale Irish colour. It was impossible to not get amazed by its tiny little streets full of life, the handcraft shops, the old ladies with the traditional skirts offering apartments or rooms to rent, the pathway by the shore, the view of that imponent cliff over the beach and listening to so many different languages!

Like the streets, the beach was crowded but still big enough for everybody. The issue was mine because I wanted to be as close as possible to the water and like me, everybody else! The water was quite cold but I can't really complain seeing as I had swam in the Irish Sea!

Nazaré is a good spot for someone that is looking to just rest and for a beach. Small town with a huge beach, close enough to historic towns like Alcobaça, Batalha and Tomar and close to the Mountains of Mira de Aire e Candeeiros where you can visit it's underground caves. I will have to visit those places in the future.

For this mini holiday I was only looking for beach and that is what I got, I'm back to my normal colour also! Although couldn't resist to hit the road and visit the monastery of Alcobaça, will do another post about that.

So, when I wasn't on the beach, I was eating. That place is like heaven for those who like fish and seafood but I'm not that person so, the challenge was to find somewhere with good food other than fish. I found some places with nice pork but nothing really impressive until one day walking on the little roads around the hotel, I found this little restaurant called Mooo Hamburgueria. Damn! Sorry for my language but I have no words to describe how delicious those hamburguers were! For sure they have the best hamburguers I ever tasted and they are not small! Strongly recommend a visit, well worth it! I visited them twice and only because I found them at the end of my holiday! For desert my suggestion is an ice cream at Gelatomania, they are big, they are huge, they are delicious and they are expensive but who cares? I was on holidays and one a day is allowed!

Info:

• About Nazaré: https://www.visitportugal.com/en/node/73770
• Nazaré's Cable Car:
• http://www.travelsignposts.com/Portugal/sightseeing/nazare-funicular-railway
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazar%C3%A9_Funicular
• Hamburgueria Mooo:
• https://www.facebook.com/hamburgueriamooo
• https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g315902-d10313014-Reviews-Hamburgueria_Mooo-Nazare_Leiria_District_Central_Portugal.html
• Gelatomania:
• https://www.facebook.com/Gelatomania/
• https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g315902-d6851888-Reviews-Gelatomania-Nazare_Leiria_District_Central_Portugal.html

Shot no.4

Shot no.4 (GoPro Silver 4)

Photo taken at salt mine of Pedra Lume, Sal Island, Cape Verde in October 2016.

Still Africa! On this day I went to visit the salt mine of Pedra Lume located in a volcano's low crater. There is a salty lake where you can swim and float like the Dead Sea and you can't drown even if you wanted to! Because it's a volcano, when you get into the water, if you touch the ground with your feet, you feel how hot it is and at some point you can't bear the heat. Water is warm but within a comfortable temperature. Salt is still extracted from the mine but in very small quantities, now a days its more of a touristic point of interest.

Info:

• About Pedra Lume: 
• http://www.capeverdeinfo.org.uk/pedra_de_lume.htm
• http://cape-verde-islands-cabo-verde.com/cabo-verde-info-facts-weather-climate-temperature-information-visa-passport-vaccine-restaurants-africa-sal-boa-vista-travel-guide/cape-verde-info-and-facts/pedra-lume-salt-mine-in-the-east-of-sal-cape-verde-islands/
• https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attraction_Review-g482847-d2014727-Reviews-Pedra_Lume_Salt_Crater-Ilha_do_Sal.html#REVIEWS

Shot no.3

Shot no.3 (Fujifilm FinePix S8200)

Photo taken in Sal Island, Cape Verde at the Meliá Dunas Beach Resort in October 2016.

Ah Africa! Cape Verde, this archipelago is a former portuguese territory and is located south of Canary Islands. Spent 7 days over there and was amazed with everything. In October it was still 30ºC, a bit windy (but can't complain when I think that I'm living in Ireland). Sea temperature is just perfect, its people are so friendly and the best thing is that it is still quiet, its not packed with tourists (yet!). It's just less than 4h flight from Lisbon and there is direct flights from London with travel agencies. Sunset was like this everyday, perfect. I imagine how beautiful people's views were in that airplane!!! Won't say anything else about Cape Verde for now because there is still more to come!

Info:

• Cape Verde: http://www.capeverde.com/
• Holidays in Cape Verde: http://www.thomson.co.uk/destinations/africa/cape-verde/holidays-cape-verde.html
• Meliá Dunas Beach Resort: https://www.melia.com/en/hotels/cabo-verde/isla-de-sal/melia-dunas/index.html