There were few sunny days in Rio de Janeiro a few weeks ago. It was still winter, relatively fresh, but quite obviously a tropical climate. It is definitely one of the most beautiful places in the world, even with the poverty of the shanty towns around the bay and the violence reported by the media. The Corcovado Christ statue didn't seem to me as impressive and massive as I thought it would be, but that wonderful view is indeed there. Very rarely have I met such happy and vibrant people as the Brazilians, though.

Sorry for my long absence once again guys... (B&B, thanks for asking where I was ;) Couldn't find time to edit and post pictures from my recent trip to Brazil, and I'm still figuring out a way to change my template and post pictures in a different way. Here I am, with my Fuji S5500, looking down at the Rio de Janeiro bay and the Santos Dumont airport (J. took this picture). No other place in the world seemed so much like home to me, in a quite strange way, as this is only my second visit and I hardly saw anything of the country... Well, I'll be passing by later with more pictures and check what you've been doing in your blogs :))

I'm still editing my Brazil pictures, but couldn't resist sharing this one with you guys. It was taken at the Corcovado hill (where that huge Jesus Christ statue is located), in Rio de Janeiro. The view from there was breathtaking...

Back to São Paulo again...

Modern windmills in the countryside... I had gone to a friends wedding near Torres Vedras when I saw these, relatively rare in Portugal.

Driving around in a warm summer night is always a delightful experience - specially when most of the crowds have migrated somewhere else for hollidays, leaving the streets empty. I wonder if the new digital cameras, with higher sensitivity or electronic stabilization systems work any better at night. I took these pictures days ago in Lisbon and Almada, where I grew up. The view in Almada, from behind my old home, hasn't changed much. There's the old factory, with it's chimney, a few eucalyptus in the horizon and the village of Cova da Piedade, the river and the lights. I also noticed that I've been (photo)blogging for a year now (not as often as I wanted or with the quality I intended). To all of you guys who've been visiting and posting comments, my sincere thank you!

My endless fascination with the Tagus... I rarely use the ferries that cross the river every ten minutes, so I took the opportunity to take some pics today. These past few days have had wonderful weather - not too fresh, not too hot, just like it should always be...

I went to see my all times favourite singer from Brazil, Maria Bethania, yesterday in Lisbon's Coliseu, with J. The discreetely taken pictures were all very blurred, but I had to mention such memorable event in my blog :)

Finally, the beach days... (Picture taken at Caparica, near Lisbon).

São Paulo, in a rainy morning, last Spring... I keep dreaming of going back...

Saturated blue sky... Took this picture leaving the supermarket...

View to a chimney... Just a picture to keep the blog active, until I start posting again.

My angry cat...

Tourist bus...

Yesterday, passing near the countryside...

Picture of one of the main churches in Chiado being restored...

More pictures from the day in Alfama...

Today is Saint Anthony's Day in Lisbon (he was born here in 1195). I spent the day with J. in Alfama, one of the capital's typical barrios, and took these pictures...

Santa Apolónia train station, Lisbon.