I teach an introductory class in architecture for young students as well as adults. Recently, I was asked by someone who plans to move to Portugal to introduce her to the country through the eyes of an architect. Because of my interest in the history of Portugal and how it is reflected in architectural design, I was happy to provide her with a class. That … Continue reading A Class on the Architectural History of Portugal
There has been a long interval between posts but I was determined to finish a book by Christmas, which I did. Then I took a few weeks off to celebrate its completion along with the holiday season. I am back now with more stories as I continue on my adventures. My next stop during my visit to the Algarve is Faro, a coastal town with … Continue reading Next Stop, Faro
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Portimao is along the southern coast of Portugal with a strip of beach along a background of beautiful cliffs. It’s a quiet town relative to Lisbon and Porto but becomes extremely busy in the summer as a tourist destination and a point from where you can explore the Algarve. For that reason there is a long strip of commercial enterprise above the beaches made up … Continue reading Portimao
I have been remiss with my posts but I got busy finishing a book that I promised myself I would finish by years’ end and I accomplished that goal so now, for two weeks, I am taking a break and enjoying…writing. Now onto Alvor. Alvor, which is a short ride from Portimao, was the next stop on our tour through the Algarve. The history of … Continue reading A Day in Alvor, Portugal
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Overview of the Algarve This series on the Algarve is dedicated to my daughter for her love of archeology and history and to my grandson who loves pirates. My interest during this first exploration of the Algarve was the historical aspect and how it is reflected in the architecture of the area due to its influence by several cultures that have inhabited what is called … Continue reading The Algarve, Part 1: Sagres
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There are the wonderful buildings in Portugal that go back one, two or more centuries and there is the new which reflects on what has been built before, providing glimpses into the past but designed and built today with an eye towards the future. We will start with the past and the Casa da Alentejo. Originally built in the 1600’s, the Alverca Palace was the … Continue reading Architectural Design: The Old and the New
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The above was created by a street artist who comes from Ireland and has been living in Lisbon for 1 1/2 years. He painted “grato” which means “thankful” or “grateful” in Portuguese and has a similar meaning in old Irish. When I spoke to him about the word, we understood what it meant for both of us. Two weeks ago I enjoyed my first trip … Continue reading Spring in Lisbon: Grato
April feels like life went from black and white to color, from somber chamber music to jazz. Portugal slowly and methodically began to open again, first outdoor seating at cafes and the opening of small shops then the larger stores opened and students return to school. What was a hauntingly quiet Avenida Liberdade once again came to life with cars, bikes, scooters, motorcycles and people, … Continue reading April in Lisbon
Lost in Lisbon 