Bach's "Bist du bei mir" by Marilyn Horne

Porto

Foz

Igreja dos Grilos...

... and the view from its impossibly romantic miradouro

Where Douro meets the sea

The spectacular cloister of Serra do Pilar Monastery

Clérigos Tower, the city's landmark

In 1809, during the second French invasion, people from Porto drowned in the Douro river when trying to flee the troops, when the bridge known as Ponte das Barcas collapsed under the weight of the crowds. A small landmark indicates the place of the tragedy. More than two centuries later, you still find candles there lit by old ladies for the alminhas (little souls).



Seen in Porto, Portugal

"Welcome to the centre of your life - Dolce Vita Shopping Porto". Dolce Vita is the name of the shopping mall.

Seen recently in...

... Paris underground

... Paris street

 

... Paris Centre Pompidou

... Nice

... Monaco

 

Aharon Appelfeld

Only the right words can construct a literary text, not subject matter.

Aharon Appelfeld

Almaz's story (BBC)

BBC News published a disturbing illustrated story about maids in Saudi Arabia, based on the interview of an Ethiopian girl, Almaz (name changed). How many Almaz are out there in the Gulf countries, with absolutely no help or assistance?

Pina Bausch, como el musguito en la piedra

A couple of hours ago I saw, at the Tanztheater Wuppertal, “Como el musguito en la piedra, ay si, si, si…”, by Pina Bausch, and I’m still speechless.

 

So far I knew Pina’s work through TV, interviews or movies such as Wim Wenders’ famous documentary. It was the first time I watched one of her shows live, at the very place where she used to work.

It felt… ethereal, magical, like a dream. It was full of joy and humour, in contrast to other works of Pina’s vast portfolio, such as "Vollmond" or "Le sacre du Printemps", also magnificient but darker. I found it poetic that she created a work so full of light without knowing it would be her last (she died in 2009 after a short illness).

I didn’t know, but the name of this work is taken from a song by Mercedes Sosa.

 

 

 

An Iranian journey: 77 beautiful pictures of Iran by Hossein Fatemi

An Iranian Journey

Seen last January on the boat from Siem Riep to Battambang, Cambodia

Love ever after

Lauren Fleishman published a photographic series of NY couples who have been married for more than 50 years: Love ever after.

Azulejos from the Azulejo National Museum, Lisbon

"Macacaria - the chicken's wedding"

Fernando Pessoa by Júlio Pomar

Detail from the church

Luísa

Luísa, a friend of mine, died today. I took these pictures of the sunset on the last day of her life.

Seen on a sidewalk in Lyon last Saturday

Wonderful Maya Angelou talks to BBC (1998)

Globalbility

An interesting postcard project: Globalbility

On thanking

What I suddenly understood was that a thank-you note isn't the price you pay for receiving a gift, as so many children think it is, a kind of minimum tribute or toll, but an opportunity to count your blessings. And gratitude isn't what you give in exchange for something, it's what you feel when you are blessed - blessed to have family and friends who care about you, and who want to see you happy. Hence the joy from thanking.

 

Will Schwalbe, in The End of Your Life Book Club

Making friends when you're over 30

I liked this article by Alex Williams published a couple of months ago in the NYTimes: Friends of a certain age.

Apology to roadkill (Shaun Gladwell), Museum of Contemporary Art, Australia

World Press Photo 2014 picture

Amir Parmand won the 3rd prize singles in the General News category with this picture taken in Iran: "Just before a noose is put on his neck, Alireza Mafiha, 23, lays his head on an executioner's shoulder".  

http://www.worldpressphoto.org/awards/2014/general-news/amir-pourmand