It makes you wonder

The Athens Paralimpic Games have just finished. It the these the Portuguese athletes won 12 medals, some of them of gold.
Was funny to see the Bocia BC1 finals where a Portuguese athlete was wearing a cap with the symbol of my scout association. In the end, had just won it, he thanked his family, his friends, and is scout group. And kept talking about them and the support they give to him. I should also say, that he was in a wheelchair and had a severe mental problem.
This time I got the real feeling that these where true heroes.
Well... maybe not!!!

Family weekend

It has been a long time since the last going out family weekend. In spite of spending summer holidays together, I can't remember the last weekend out.
So this time we choose Oporto. He have passed through several times but never stopped by, so it sounded a good option.
I liked it a lot. The stone from that region is totally different from where I live and I find very interesting the buildings made with it so its like charming. Besides Lisbon was totally destroyed by an earthquake in the 18th century, so you find more old traditional and characteristic neighborhoods there.
One of the things is the very funny accent of local people that can be very funny. And we were able to also enjoy some of the famous things from there: the francesinha (a traditional dish), and Porto wine (have you heard speaking of that?). We visited the Ferreira company cellar and wondered throughout the city. Definitively worth's returning again. I'll leave you some pictures to open your appetite...


Clérigos Tower (Oporto ex-libris)




A traditional neighborhood


The sun going, the moon appearing in the Ribeira.


The Porto wine cellars in Gaia.


The traditional boats which carried the wine from the production area to Oporto.

Well... maybe not!!!

New House IV

And the night came.

Good night everyone... if it is night there where you are....
Well... maybe not!!!

Working

Well the hard work has returnned and I had to start exactelly by the most demandind: Purifying!!!! I still had a considerable quantify of sample frozen but we need to test a few bacteria growing conditions and here I am again. Its a whole month of very hard work but it usually pays at the end.
Well at least we have something to keep us, at least, happy: the view from the windows its just great! We can the the Pena Palace (Sintra) in very clear days and the sea its just there. You doubt? here is a sample...

Well maybe not

I hate when doctor is right...

For those who only know me recently, I had a knee surgery a few years ago. I had injured myself playing futsal with some friends and to go to the "knife".
By then they solved the worse part of it but found out there was a little thing which had to be checked a few years later because I was still growing that time.
I didn't gave much importance to it because after the physiotherapy I was just fine, stronger than ever...
I noticed once or twice a funny feeling in it when I did very large efforts like walking for long distances, but I just thought it was of being tired.
Recently I made and resonance to the knee just as precaution and there was a small quist in it. Its nothing serious but I have to repeat an ecography in a year. I hope I don't have to have a "knife" visit to my knee again but who knows. Maybe it is for the best, but I don't have any complaints about it so I hope not.
Well... maybe not!!!

Life isn't fair

Your first question would be, just found it out today?
Well not exactly but today I had that feeling. I had to go to Oeiras (just outside Lisbon), to an investigation institution for a service and I took the road near the Tagus river end. Its sea in one side and buildings on the other. Today was a clear sky day with 25ºC of temperature, calm sea and people on the beach. YES PEOPLE ON THE BEACH!!!! Do you think its fair? I had to be work and some people just lying there at the sun...
Life definitively not fair
Well... maybe not!!!

Small changes

Did you ever noticed how small things make the whole difference?
Of course there some details which make huge differences in your life. Sometimes they are very direct. Due to this, that is impossible do to be done.
What I mean is that small detail which makes some things different that you're not expecting. Like a snow ball: this detail affects that which influences the other... And when you notice everything is influenced by that detail.
You're probably thinking what am I talking of. What I mean is how an important decision affects things you aren't expecting! Things which were easy not aren't. And your life makes a big turn.
But that's life....
Well... maybe not!!!

Back to work

The first week back to work almost up. Not that did a lot of work, but other things are also important. Everybody was back from holidays and it was a very slow start. It was good to meet some people back again and very odd so find some others.
Well you September, that month when everybody is full of energy and willing to do a lot.
Well... maybe not!!!

New House III

take 2

New House II

My window. Same place, different time of day...

New house

Yesterday was my first night at my "new" appartment in Lisbon. Some lamps were still missing and 1 or 2 things aren't ready yet. There will be a lot things that will come with time. Most of the really necessary ones are already there so the rest I leave for some friends who don't know what to give me in my birthday or Christmas. Who knows?!!!!
Sunday I'll return. Monday its "back to work" day and holidays are over. But its not that bad. I'll be back working, I've got a great view to the sea from my laboratory, my work group is great and so far I'm feeling really great there. And now I've a bonus: I'm getting paid!!!
In the mean while, until you got yourself a visit to my new residence I leave you a night view from one of the windows...

Well... maybe not!!!