Saturday was not a family day because some of us had to work. No, I don’t mean me. This time is was A. who had to work the saturday all day long. The rest of the weekend (today!) was spent doing family stuff, trying to compensate.
So, the plan was to visit the latest exhibit by the “Pavilhão do Conhecimento” (Pavilion of Knowledge). With a fancy name, “Space, The Final Frontier” exposition shows some of the latest achievments of ESA. Hanging from the ceiling a 1:10 model of the International Space Station shows the complexity of that man-made structure. The visitor’s ability to land a space shuttle or the command rendevouz operations between two spacecrafts is put to the test. Amongst these and another lot of other experiments, I enjoyed controlling the Mars rover from “earth” while he was discovering the surface of Mars. The small robot vehicle was actually a few meters aways but it was cool!
It was a nice time spent learning about (some of them) new stuff!
For those of you how are interested, the exhibit is avaliable until August 30th 2009, but don’t miss it.
It may look be a little rough around the hedges, in fact it shouldn’t have any edges, but it tasted very nice.
Yesterday, after a quick travel to buy some products in a place called Martim Moniz, Lisbon’s very own “china town”, it was time to have our first sushi only homemade dinner. It was risky, but it was worth it.
Being the first we ever tried to prepare sushi, even after searching the whole internet for Sushi recipes the lack of experience resulted in huge amounts of left-overs. The dinner preparations were for three, but it could have been for five or six… and food would still be too much.
I was coming home after enjoying the after lunch coffee when I heard a cat “meowing” like crazy. At first I didn’t understood where it was coming from, but after a while it became clear that the cry for help came from the bottom of an abandoned well.
Using some of the available tools (boards and tubes that were covering the well) didn’t help to rescue the drowning kitten, so, I had to run home for a bucket and some cord. After a while, with the help of a passing neighbor, the little kitten was inside the bucket and free from the sludgy depth. The kitten was in miserable shape after that forced “swimming lesson”, at it seemed more like a ball of tar and sludge than any living thing.
After a quick wash in warn water and some serious shivering, the kitten was still scared but much better looking. And, because this story ends with a happy ending, “Lucky” is now the newest family member.
The long time since the last post doesn’t mean that the work is taking all my time… it just means that I’m on a well deserved vacations!
The first week was spent near the beach. Although the weather was usually cloudy during the morning, the afternoon always brought a very good hot sun. An excellent weather to enjoy the beach.
After the beach comes some rest, maybe interrupted with an occasional trip to an attraction nearby. I really need the rest… but, essencially it’s time for the family.
After a failed first attempt, yesterday was concert day. Tokio Hotel played (this time for real) in Pavilhão Atlântico for a two hours show. The crowd, composed almost only by teenage girls, went completely crazy during the entire time.
My expectations for the event were so low that, in the end, they were largely exceeded. The only real problem had to do with the pitch. No, not the sound quality or any other technical problem. The major problem was the pitch of the voices screaming all around me for more than two hours. Most of then won’t be able to speak for weeks after singing so much loud during every music of the concert.
I choose the word singing, but I could’ve used a more simple concept: screaming… I think most of them were simply screaming , and at least one of then (yes, the one sitting - or should I say standing - just behind me) was producing more of a grunt.
After an evening like that, I just want to say “I Want My Hearing Back”. I’m almost certain I still hear ringing…
For those how don’t know, Rock in Rio is a music festival originally designed in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil (which explains the name of the event). However, it has become an international phenomena capable to move crowds of people in Brazil, Portugal and also Spain.
The last event was in Lisbon, with a well known slogan “Eu Vou” which means “I’ll Go”. So, what I have to say is… I Went!
A. bought the tickets and dragged me and [the little] A. with her. We didn’t stay to the end, because it would be late for [the little] A., but it was a very good experience.
The place was stacked with people, but the sound was good and the stage had huge side screens for the shorter ones [little A.]. I hope to repeat the experience as soon has possible.
This week has been just me and my daughter. Everything is going well and I think we could manage for another week without mom… before the house simply collapsed into itself.
I’m sure that mom has heard the distant cries of “Come back, we miss you so much!”… yes, from the other side of the Atlantic, all well long…
Also, I found a video that I would like to share with you. Very funny! Enjoy!
For those how don’t know, Rock in Rio is a music festival originally designed in Rio de Janeiro - Brazil (which explains the name of the event). However, it has become an international phenomena capable to move crowds of people in Brazil, Portugal and also Spain.