Summer 2010 II - Portugal

For the second stage of my holidays I went 10 days to Portugal to be with my family and friends. The days in Portugal were wonderful. My family’s Summer house is in front of the sea in a town called Praia do Pedrogao, not far from where my parents live (around 11km). The house is small but gorgeous. It has been in the family for four generations – it belonged to my great grand uncle, then my grand uncle, then it was inherited by my grandparents and now is owned by my mother and her brothers/sisters. The house is the ‘meeting point’ for the whole family (uncles, aunties, cousins) so it is always quite busy during the day.

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Beautiful sunset I

Beautiful sunset II

My mum's rice pudding - the best one in the world (guaranteed!)

This year I was lucky that the sea was good so the fishing boats went out to sea virtually everyday. That means fresh fish! One day I went to buy it from the fishermen at 11am, and by 1pm it was in our plate! It can’t be fresher than that!

The boat is about to be launched on to the sea

On the water...

Arriving...

The net is pulled

The two sides of the net are closed when the 'bag' is about to arrive - excitement grows

The net's bag has arrived!

Fish market on the beach - all the fish has to be sold on the beach staright after being caught

'Jaquinzinhos' / Carapau (Small horse-mackerel)

My mum cooking the 'Jaquinzinhos'

Look how small they are!

Me eating the 'jaquinzinho'. You eat them in one go (only the tail is not eaten). They are best eaten fried with tomato rice and lettuce salad.

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During my stay there was also the annual the local fete. The house faces the main square, where the entertainment takes place. In fact, the stage is right next to the house! While we have a privileged view, we also have to endure with loud music from 10am to 2am… not the best thing when you want to have some rest! This year there were four days of entertainment, with live music in the evening. During the weekend there is also day entertainment and the celebrations finish with fireworks on the Beach. I did not see this year’s fireworks, but a couple years ago I did and it is very beautiful. And because they are just in front of the house, we have a prime view of it.

View from the balcony: the crowd dancing

View from the balcony: singer 'Flor' and her Dancers Ines Gomes (Blond) and Eden Ricco (Brunette).

Summer 2010 III - Brazil

In September I travelled to Brazil to attend two conferences in Sao Paulo. The first one was the VII Annual Conference of the Brazilian Association of Tourism Researchers held at Anhembi Morumbi University. I participated in a round table about the Internationalisation of Brazilian Tourism Researchers and Higher Education Institutions. The 90 minute session, chaired by Professor Jose Gandara from Parana Federal University, featured four other academics from foreign institutions: Dr. Julio Mendes (Algarve University, Portugal), Dr. Jose Fraiz (Vigo University, Spain), Dr. Mario Passos Ascensao (Hagga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Finland) and Guilherme Lhoman (Southern Cross University, Australia). Around 100 academics and post-graduate students attended the session.

Sorry, no pictures of ANPTUR yet...

In the second part of the week, I attended AMFORHT’s Annual Forum (World Association of Tourism and Hospitality Education), organised by SENAC (a public body responsible for tourism and hospitality education). The Forum involved a series of keynote speeches, parallel academic presentations and workshops/case studies. The theme of the Forum was ‘tourism experience’. I presented a case study on the Salvador Carnival. Twenty eight delegates attended the lively presentation. Although all were familiar with the event/experience, I think they appreciated the view that I brought about the experience of the event.

Getting ready to do my presentation

First day of the conference

The company 'Melhor da Vida', which focuses on experiential marketing, organised an entertainment activity for the Forum guests. It involved bringing in a Samba band who performed for us. They also brought large quantities of two instruments (one of them is in the picture - Tamborim). After a crsh course and a bit of training, we had to play the instruments. Very interesting indeed! Picture by Dani Fernandes!

Before going to Sao Paulo, I took a week off to rest and visit some friends in Brazil. After a day in Rio, I travelled to Salvador da Bahia, where I spent 5 days. From there, I went to Sao Jose do Rio Preto in Sao Paulo state to attend CarnaRioPreto, one of the many ‘Micaretas’ (or off-season carnivals) that take place in Brazil. Two of my favourite bands were playing there: Chiclete com Banana and Batom na Cueca. In fact, I had the privilege of enjoying Batom na Cueca’s show from the top of the truck as I know Darlan, the percussionist of the Band. It is quite a different perspective from there, as you have a bird’s eye view of the crowd.

First day. In Niteroi with Alessandra and her friend, Paula and Rodrigo




In Salvador, with some of my good friends: Me, Tati, Cynthia, Pati, Tom, Pati's Father and partner, Davina and her 'paquera'

With some of the fellow 'micareteiros' during Saturday's barbeque in CarnaRioPreto

'Em cima do Trio' (on the top of the truck) with my friend Darlan in the back totally focused on his job!

Me and Renata, my guest on the top of the truck. Renata is a 'professional' Micareteira, but this was her first time enjoying it from the top of the truck (for me it was the second)

Bird's eye view of the Micareta - a different experience from the one on the ground

Another view from the top - this one over the VIP box (yes, no special effects, it was dawn!)

With Diego, Renato and Tais. These guys are simply amazing: they laugh and make everyone laugh from beginning till the end.

Me with Bell Marques performing - Chiiiii-cleeeee-teeeeee

Bell Marques and Chiclete com Banana

Bell Marques from chiclete com Banana very close to the fans

After the week in Sao Paulo, I returned to Rio de Janeiro. First, I met my friends Carol e Mariana in Leblon (a neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro city). We met at a ‘boteco’ in the afternoon (Boteco is relaxed bar which also serves food). After a pizza for dinner, we went out to Barra da Tijuca (an affluent neighbourhood in the south of the city) to a nighclube (can’t remember the name…). It was great to see them. We always have a great time.

With Mariana and Carol during the 'esquenta' (i.e. warm up drink before you go out)

The 'trio' at the nighclube

Not sure what this face is about... intriguing... I think they call it the 'absolut' face :-)

The next day I went to Niteroi (neighbour borough of Rio de Janeiro - on the other side of Guanabara Bay), where I attended the Bridal show of Paula, my Brazilian ‘sister’. Around 70 people attended the party, which not surprisingly involved a lot of food and drink. Guests had to bring a little present for the kitchen. Then, before opening the wrapped present the bride and the groom need to figure out what it is. If they fail to guess what it is, they there is a ‘punishment’ (e.g. to say what they think of their mother in law LOL).

Paula doing something after not guessing what the present was (I think she was singing! ouch...)

Paula and Rodrigo dancing Funk after not guessing what the present was. Thank God they decided to be dentists and not Funk dancers!

All the single girls pulling the string to see who would get the one with the ring attached. The symbolism is similar to the grabbing the flower bouquet - the one who gets it is the next to get married. at the end there was one very happy face and several jealous ones!!

Me, rodrigo-the-groom (in green) and some of the guests attending the Bridal Shower

Me and Paula

Cherries for charity - 2nd edition

I have just returned from a long weekend in Portugal. Similar to last year, I went to my uncle’s cherry farm to pick (and eat) some cherries. This year I could not stay for long since I had other things to do a many friends and family that I wanted to visit. I still managed to stay there for 24 hours and pick around 70kg of cherries (yes I am a fairly good picker). Like last year, I brought with me a suitcase full of cherries, which I have sold to colleagues and friends for charity. The money raised – £80 – has been donated to Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, which also benefited last year receiving half of the money raised in 2009. This year my uncle suggested this charity to be the beneficiary because the grandson of one of his good friends was diagnosed with leukaemia. On behalf of the charity, thank you to all who have bought the cherries, as well my uncle Manuel Antunes Rodrigues (aka Necas) who kindly donated them.

Picking cherries

My uncle Necas looking at the cherries he was taking to the market

The boot of the car full of cherries - Some of these were to be 'exported' to the UK - all for a good cause!

F1 in Monaco

This year I travelled to Monaco with six friends to watch the Grand Prix. This was not the first time I watched Formula 1 live. Many years ago the Estoril track hosted the Formula 1 (1994 to 96). At that time I was still a student and I had the chance to work for one of the F1 contractors for three years in a row. Many years after I was keen to watch it live again as it is a different experience from watching it on TV.

The famous 5 at Gatwick Airport

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We booked this trip well in advance (I think November) to ensure that we could get cheap flights and hotel, as well as good places to watch the race. We arrived in Nice on Saturday afternoon. Nice, which is where most people who come to watch the GP stay, is 20min away from Monaco by train. Kevin booked the accommodation before me and when I went to book the same hotel, it was not available anymore. I then booked another one just a stones’ throw from their place. When we arrived at the hotel, I went to mine and Mike, Kevin, Dave and Nathan went to theirs (Richard and Daniela were stuck in the middle of nowhere after Richard booked a hotel 32km away from Nice!!!).

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A few minutes later they call me to say that their hotel… had closed!!! They did not let this affect their spirits and off they went to… the nearest café for a beer while trying to sort out alternative accommodation. As you can imagine, in GP weekend there are not many rooms available, specially in a popular GP like Monaco. Luckily there were a few places still available and they managed to book two rooms (at outrageous prices though…). As we sat outside the café, we hear a big bang! Just in front of us, a car had crashed against the back of another car!! What an eventful first few hours!! Having sorted out accommodation we went to ours rooms to get ready to go out for dinner.

Opps.... no hotel... no worries it's just GP and Cannes Festival weekend... I am sure you'll find accommodation easily... what about a Presidential suite for €2500 a night?

Nice is quite a pleasant city (except the taxi drivers who are there to rip you off!). The city is very pedestrian friendly and features a good range of restaurants. We headed to the old town where there are plenty of restaurants in the same square. As you would expect on a Saturday night on GP weekend, the place was very busy. Most restaurants serve seafood and they display it outside the restaurant to persuade passing people to select their restaurant. The night was a bit cold so we ensured that we selected one who had heaters. After a bit of hesitation, we finally sat and ordered our meal. I ordered oysters for a starter and a seafood kebab for main course. Both were quite delicious. The meal was accompanied by plenty of wine and with Mike making the choice, needless to say the wine was of a high standard.

Delicious Oysters

Saturday night dinner. All smiling... no wonder, after can't-remember-how-many bottles of wine...

The next day – Grand Prix day – we headed off to Monaco. The best way to get there is by train. I must say I was surprised by how efficient the system was. There are plenty of trains running all morning and each train has probably about 12 double deck wagons. As we arrived in Monaco mid morning, we headed to our stand. We had tickets for stand B, which is located in front of the Casino. We ‘checked in’ at about 11am, just before the Formula Renault started. Formula Renault (also known as Formula 3000) is the competition that provides access to Formula 1. A lot of the current F1 pilots are previous champions of F3000. The race was eventless… except where we were!!! We saw a spin, and two crashes.

Arriving in Monaco - View from the train station

Sortie pour la tribune B - this way please...

After a short break that we used for lunch, it was time for the F1 drivers parade. All drivers are put in the back of a truck and paraded through the circuit while they wave to the crowd. There was another break before the race begun and it was time for a Hagen Daz ice cream (which was delicious by the way). While enjoying our ice cream we could hear the cars travelling to the starting grid. The noise is loud, believe me. But this is what makes watching F1 live so different from the TV. As the race approached, excitement grew. I could not wait to see all the cars coming through at high speed.

Lunch time...

The drivers parade

At 2pm the race begun, first with the formation lap and then 78 laps of competitive racing. There were a few crashes and overtakes, but none was in front of us. We almost saw one – Barrichelo crashed after the starting grid and before the place where we were. We could still see the dust and the car being taken from the track, but the accident itself we could only see it in the big screen in front of us. The pace car had to step in a few times, making any time advantage redundant. However, since it is very difficult to overtake in Monaco, this did not lead to any overtaking… And that was it, the Red Bulls appeared to have ‘wings’ and managed to get the two first spots.

The dust from Barrichelo's crash... a few meters farther and we would have seen it!

Barrichelo's car being pulled

View from the stand

At the end - winners receiving the trophy in the big screen

By the end of the race, we hanged around for a while visiting other parts of Monte Carlo. We headed to the marina area to see all the boats that come to Monaco for the race. On our way there, we had the chance to see some of the dozens of luxury cars that exist in Monaco – Ferrari, Bentley and Rolls Royce just to name a few. We saw so many Ferraris that by the time we went through the Ferrari Garage we were not excited anymore… we had seen it all in the streets before. On race day the many Monte Carlo's bars and cafés are buzzing. Just before the Marina, where many restaurants and cafes are located, there was a party going on, with a band playing live music. They were quite good, playing from traditional bands like U2, Queen and Simple Minds to more recent hits. The party kept going for quite a while, but this was not a surprise given that most who were there were…. Brazilians! If Brazilians are around, you bet they will be partying. And Brazilians did not even do well in the race, so imagine if they had done! After emptying a number of bottles of wine, we headed to the starting grid area of the track and then to the Marina.

Spectacular views on our way to the Marina area

The street party

Everyone having a good time

The party full of Brazilians (otherwise there would be no party...)

Me and my Ferrary - the only way to fit in...

Another (beautiful) Ferrari

The pit stops area was busy with all the teams packing. This is a good opportunity to take a few pictures next to the shinning trucks. It is also an opportunity to look at the ‘behind the scenes’. This was not new for me as during the Estoril races in the nineties I had the chance of walking around the pit stops after the race, including entering the areas where they work on the cars. Still it is interesting to watch some of it again. We also managed to access the podium area and take a few pictures where the drivers had received their trophies a little earlier.

The winners! @ Monaco GP podium

One of the Ferrari's trucks

Although this weekend is about cars, there is a second show going on at the Marina. The number of large yachts is impressive. There are more like mini cruise liners to be honest. Apparently one of the boats there cost 25 million USD. These boats are use for VIP after race parties. They are owned either by sponsors or team owners. While we were there guests started to arrive and we kind of wanted to join in… if anything just to see how those boats look like inside. We hanged around for a while, took a few more pictures and then headed back to the train station to return to Nice. We selected a Vietnamese restaurant in the city centre for dinner. We were pretty knackered after such a long day, but we still had time for a good laugh when one of us (not me) asked Nathan how his 'Pecking dick' was (it was 'Pecking duck'!!!). That made it for the night…

One of the 'small' boats

and another one...

And another one...

On monday our return flight was in the afternoonon so we just chilled out in Nice, first enjoying a nice long breakfast at a café on the seafront and then lunch in the main restaurant area. The flight back was quiet and quick and by 10pm I was back home. A bit tired but satisfied after a wonderful weekend in Côte-D’azur - something to repeat in the near future for sure.