Ditto #267

Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

--Unknown

Caprichos #277

Mini panettone

Palavras lidas #235

Fighting churning waters, sailing as close to the wind as he dared, Elcano finally drove his ship around the Cape of Good Hope. Pigafetta wrote, with evident relief, "Finally, by God's help, we doubled that cape... at a distance of five leagues." It was only a guess, for the cape lay shrouded in fog and mist, an invisible, menacing presence now falling behind. They had survived one more ordeal, and that was enough to give thanks to a merciful Lord.

By now it was May 22, 1522, the winds had abated, and Victoria was at last able to proceed on a northerly course. Elcano led the weather beaten ship and her worn-out crew into what is now called Saldanha Bay, just north of Cape Town, where the men rested. There is no record that they thought of themselves as heroic for having outlasted the storms surrounding the Cape of Good Hope; there was no longer any boldness or swagger about them. They had suffered too much for that; the sea had not killed them, but it had humbled them, and they were simply grateful to be alive. Nothing else mattered in comparison with that singular fact.

Lawrence Bergreen, Over The Edge of the World, pp. 384-5.

_____________

Lutando contra águas agitadas, navegando tão ao sabor do vento quanto ousava, Elcano levou por fim o seu navio a passar o Cabo da Boa Esperança. Pigafetta escreve, com evidente alívio: "Finalmente, com a ajuda de Deus, dobrámos aquele cabo... a uma distância de cinco léguas." Era apenas uma conjectura, pois o cabo estava envolto em nevoeiro e neblina, numa presença invisível e ameaçadora que agora ficava para trás. Tinham sobrevivido a mais uma provação e era o suficiente para darem graças a um Senhor misericordioso.

Nesta altura estava-se a 22 de maio de 1522, os ventos tinham diminuido e o Victoria conseguiu por fim prosseguir rumo a norte. Elcano conduziu o navio moído pelo tempo e a sua tripulação esgotada até ao que hoje se chama Baía de Saldanha, mesmo a norte da Cidade do Cabo, onde os homens descansaram. Não existe qualquer registo que indique que se consideravam heróicos por terem ultrapassado as tormentas que rodeavam o Cabo da Boa Esperança; já não havia neles qualquer intrepidez ou bravata. Tinham sofrido de mais para isso; o mar não os matara, mas tornara-os humildes e estavam simplesmente gratos por estarem vivos. Nada mais contava por comparação com esse facto singular.

Lawrence Bergreen, Para além do fim do Mundo, pp. 379-80.

Coisas que não mudam #247

Swatch's Soft Sky

Coisas que não mudam #246

 Christmas desserts /  Sobremesas de Natal

Numa sala perto de mim #249

Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) shows Mandela's path to South Africa's presidency in 1994. To keep focus in the objective and mental sanity in the midst of all adversities... remarkable!

Retirado do contexto #171

Unexpected / Inesperado

Caprichos #276

Cucina per amici

Pormenores #102

Ao sol é que se está bem!

Coisas que não mudam #245

Pelas montras (originais) da Baixa ontem à tarde

Boas Festas!

Retirado do contexto #170

Smiling sheep

Parece que estou a ouvir #157

I have confidence

Julie Andrews

What will this day be like? I wonder...

What will my future be? I wonder...

It could be so exciting 

To be out in the world, to be free
My heart should be wildly rejoicing
Oh, what's the matter with me?

I've always longed for adventure
To do the things I've never dared
Now here I'm facing adventure
Then why am I so scared

A captain with seven children
What's so fearsome about that?

Oh, I must stop these doubts all these worries
If I don't I just know I'll turn back
I must dream of the things I am seeking
I am seeking the courage I lack

The courage to serve them with reliance
Face my mistakes without defiance
Show them I'm worthy
And while I show them, I'll show me

So, let them bring on all their problems
I'll do better than my best
I have confidence they'll put me to the test
But I'll make them see I have confidence in me

Somehow I will impress them
I will be firm but kind
And all those children (Heaven bless them!)
They will look up to me and mind me 

With each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

I have confidence in sunshine
I have confidence in rain
I have confidence that spring will come again
Besides which you see I have confidence in me

Strength doesn't lie in numbers
Strength doesn't lie in wealth
Strength lies in nights of peaceful slumbers
When you wake up -- Wake Up!

It tells me, all I trust I lead my heart to
All I trust becomes my own
I have confidence in confidence alone

(Oh help!)

I have confidence in confidence alone
Besides which you see 

I have confidence in me!

Numa sala perto de mim #248

La Grande Bellezza (2013) shows plenty of lives full of nothingness. Those which aren't, are simply plain. Not thinking about it is a gift. I left the theatre thinking of Bernardo Soares's disquiet.

__________

A Grande Beleza (2013) mostra muitas vidas vazias. Aquelas que não o são, são pouco interessantes. Não pensar sobre elas é um dom. Saí do cinema a pensar no desassossego de Bernardo Soares.

Parece que estou a ouvir #156

Both Sides of the Story
Phil Collins


Find yourself in the gutter in a lonely part of town
where death waits in the darkness with a weapon to cut some stranger down
sleeping with an empty bottle, he's a sad and an empty hearted man
all he needs is a job, and a little respect, so he can get out while he can

We always need to hear both sides of the story

A neighbourhood peace is shattered it's the middle of the night
young faces hide in the shadows, while they watch their mother and father fight
he says she's been unfaithful, she says her love for him has gone
and the brother shrugs to his sister and says "looks like it's just us from now on"

We always need to hear both sides of the story

And the lights are all on, the world is watching now
people looking for truth, we must not fail them now
be sure, before we close our eyes
don't walk away from here
'til you hear both sides

Here we are all gathered in what seems to be the centre of the storm
neighbours once friendly now stand each side of the line that has been drawn
they've been fighting here for years, but now there's killing on the streets
while small coffins are lined up sadly, now united in defeat

We always need to hear both sides of the story

And the lights are all on, the world is watching now
people looking for truth, we must not fail them now
be sure, before we close our eyes
don't walk away from here
'til you see both sides

White man turns the corner, finds himself within a different world
ghetto kid grabs his shoulder, throws him up against the wall
he says "would you respect me if I didn't have this gun
'cos without it, I don't get it, and that's why I carry one"

We always need to hear both sides of the story
______________

Had to smile earlier when I was able to distinguish in the restaurant's background music the following passage: he said "would you respect me if I didn't have this gun 'cos without it, I don't get it, and that's why I carry one". Quickly did the math and guessed the song should be about twenty years old... indeed that is the case!

Coisas que não mudam #244

Holiday traditions. Today, Friday the 13th, at Vanderbilt!

Coisas que não mudam #243

Árvores de Natal em praças

Largo do Senado, Macau

Ditto #266

“	Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet has free access to the sum of all human knowledge.	”
—Jimmy Wales, Founder of Wikipedia ___________ A good reason to give! Here you can see some of the contributors and learn a little bit about how it works.

Inverno #13

Pink is NOT cool on weather maps! / 

/ O cor-de-rosa NÃO é bonito em mapas meteorológicos!

Today it was cold and there was not much overall precipitation, but it looks like overnight things will be different. When I got home the car parked next to mine was in this sorrow state. It must have travelled under icy conditions for a while. Let's hope tomorrow morning the whole parking lot is not looking like this!

Hoje esteve bastante frio e a precipitação não foi nada por aí além, mas parece que durante a noite a coisa vai mudar. Quando cheguei a casa o carro do lado estava neste estado. Deve ter viajado durante bastante tempo sob chuva gelada. Esperemos que amanhã de manhã não esteja todo o parque de estacionamento assim!

Parece que estou a ouvir #155

The Black Hole
Rachel Goodrich

where did all the time go 
when nobody was looking
well I went behind their back and
took it all

where did all the time go 
when nobody was looking
well I went behind their backs and 
took it all

where did all the stars go
when everyone was sleeping
well I went behind their backs and 
took it all

where did all the world go 
while everyone was spinning 
well I went into a trance and I 
took em all

not too long ago
everything was fine
but now we're in the black hole
now we're so divine 

where did all my things go
floating up in space
I went and turned my back and
took it away, took it away

where did all the love go 
while everyone was dreaming
bout the way it should've been
well, now we're ok

not too long ago
everything was fine
but now we're in the black hole
now we're so divine

__________

Is is just me or this song sounds like it could be in an Apple commercial?

Pormenores #101

Little ice drops