Ainda a propósito destas sensações que o Ricardo Costa fala: há dias alguém que certamente se achava “imigrante de bem” dizia-me que Portugal tinha de pôr ordem na imigração por não tinha gostado de ver homens de turbante… …e africanos também…
Domingo a terminar em “beleza”, o mote foi a manifestação de hoje no Brasil. Uma conversa acesa com alguém a tender para o bolsominion, mas que mora cá, sobre a imigração em Portugal. A conversa teve direito aos chavões comuns, desde “eu não sou racista, mas…” a “eu até tenho um amigo preto”, mas há uma frase que me ficou na memória:
“Só uma revolução, só uma pessoa com muita firmeza para melhorar isso.”
Qual é este fascínio de muita gente numa figura messiânica, num salvador para resolver os nossos problems? Não é necessariamente um problema de esquerda ou direita, nem de se uma pessoa é religiosa ou não (se bem que neste caso…), que hoje em dia encontrarmos dogmas em tantos lados, mas faz-me pensar que é por isto que ainda vamos tendo ditadores e que não podemos baixar a guarda…
Short work trip to the Netherlands. Had a camera, as always. Shots obviously ended up happening, in between the grown up chores.
Some of last December photos, still in the Xmas rush, that were lingering in my hard drive.
January is an insanely long month, the longest of the year, so long it feels like it has been 90 days since I returned back home from another of my winter solstice trips, with so many happening in between. Without further ado, some random shots with no particular order or meaning of that lengthy month.
<h1></h1>
Feels good to get to my commute snaps after a trip, even if a rather short one. Somehow is the reminder I’m back to the routine, a good one.
“It turns us into the worst version of ourselves while convincing us that we’re at our best.” Despite travelling I’ve started to grow a kind of love/hate relationship with it, and this article kind hits the nail on many of my dilemmas. At some point I thought that travel makes us more tolerant, by having a wider perspective and experience other realities, and while that’s not wrong it isn’t as straightforward as I once believed. Often is more self-centred that people like to say (and I’m including myself in it…), both for the one who travelled or those back home: the questions usually are more in the “what have you done?” than the “what’s it like?”, and I don’t really like love talking about myself. The Case Against Travel - www.newyorker.com/culture/t…
The first weeks of the year are always a time for retreat for me, a time to lay low and look ahead. Last week was just that, after the rush of the end of year, with festivities and travels, eagerly waiting to slow down, so much that even the desire to go out and take photos was put on hold. The exception is when you get a nice view from the window. #beirabaixa #portugal
In a territory that gets emptier each year, where traditions slowly dwindle, every one of those that still thrives, or is even recovered by people that are not willing to give up yet, feels like a sign a hope that not all is lost. Really happy to finally see this red mask back to the streets of Vale de Porco, hoping to be able to see it again and again in the upcoming years. #wintersolstice #velhodevaledeporco #trasosmontes #portugal
One of the most beautiful masks of the winter traditions of Trás-Os-Montes is also one of the most challenging to photograph.. The single masked figure is constantly running from door to door, with very few breaks, and always surrounded by men who guide him through the streets, because of the very limited visibility of the heavy mask. Except when there’s something in the costume that needs some urgent repair. #wintersolstice #chocalheirodebemposta #trasosmontes #portugal
