Open love letter to my cities

It's no surprise that the urban life - in some cities in particular - is one of my biggest sources of inspiration.

If only I believed in other past lifes, then I think I was a city. When people talk about that - you know those superstitions bla bla - I never think I could have been "something" except a city. The way some cities can thrill me, get me immediately connected to a place and its people - completely strangers - is something that is beyond me! The feeling that "I belong here and I could start living here without even think about my people and my stuff somewhere else" happened to me only in two places in this world: Lisbon/Cascais - where I lived for 4 months and Wien - where I've been only for a weekend. This intimate feeling is so immediate and intense that I can feel it from the moment I step into that place (the case of Wien yes). The more I get to know the world and myself, I begin to understand better this feeling of belong - not only to a place but with people as well. 

Nonetheless, the other way round is absolutely legitimate too. I've lived in places I've never belonged to. I remember 4 years of my life being almost completely useless living in a place I could ever call home - I knew it from the first day I got there and cried like hell hours non-stop - and from where I was ALWAYS running from.

See? Some places got me, others don't. I know me and I know how and what I feel and where I belong to and not. Some cities steal my soul and share theirs with me. Because, you know, what is the city but the people? So probably what happens in reality is that I also feel connected with the kind of people living there.

I've never been in The Netherlands but luckily I've met some great dutch fellows and its culture and lifestyle, let's say from fashion to bicycle commuting, is something that has been attracting me for awhile now.

I found the set of photos below from Keizersgracht, Amsterdam, really beautiful and inspiring! Sometimes these are the kind of pictures I have in my mind when I think of a place I'd like to live: interesting buildings that oh! make you wonder of all the cool spaces inside and around; the mix of materials; the variety of work, food and "being" styles;  the creative class - yes, the jargon from Mr. Richard Florida; the mysterious of winter and the freshness of summer along the water canals; the bicycling-way-of-life of course; and probably a lot of other things I yet don't know...

Keizersgracht - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Photos source: GreaterThanExpected

Morning walks...

It is quite possible to leave your home for a walk in the early morning air and return a different person – beguiled, enchanted.

Mary Ellen Chase 

When the BELL rings

Life has been good to me and I've been good dealing with life, that is.

Freedom - Django Unchained

Cabo Mondego.

Go green!

This is the 3rd year that I started to write down my goals for new years in a notebook and this morning, after spending some time alone at the beach doing it (lucky me!), I felt so good to see that most of the goals I settled for the past years were actually accomplished (dreaming big it's definitely not a problem for me) as well as it was funny to see how they and other priorities are changing with times and how they actually reflect the way I feel changed.
2014, you also seem so promising!...
So, to begin my blog posts this year I thought I'd start with the detox issue and a few simple steps that we can all take to make the world a better place for future generations.

Photo ?

Recycle (this should go without saying!)

Whenever you can, walk/bicycle

Save the planet, excercise, enjoy the scenery/city rather than stand in the smelly underground/bus. It’s all good.

More here & here.

Get on top of your mail

Try online subscriptions and switch to online payments whenever possible.

Shop responsibly: read the labels

Make sure you know where the food is made, how it’s was grown; is it fairtraid? Is it organic? Find out!
More here.

Buy reusable containers

It just makes sense to stop using and throwing away at least one coffee cup a day AND they’re pretty.

Go paperless: submit electronically

This is not only greener, but it will save you from running around printing, writing and mailing all sorts of forms and cheques.

Buy local

Purchasing from local farmers whenever you can not only reduces our carbon footprint but it also keeps money in the local economy.

Choose greener vacations

When you’re planning your next trip ask yourself the following questions before booking a hotel: What’s their environmental policy? What percentage of their employees are local citizens? Do they support the local community? What sort of policies have they implemented to reduce water consumption to conserve energy and recycle waste? How do they educate visitors about local natural areas, wildlife, etc.?

If you’ve never asked these questions, now may be a good time to start.

Sign up to your local library

This will save new ink and paper being used to produce new books -not to mention how much money you’ll save. Plus, 2nd hand books have more character!

 Search and support renewable energy and energy efficient technology

It can be somehting as simple as switching to efficient lightbulbs or asking your energy provider about green energy tarifs.

Keep electronics out of trash

E-waste contains mercury and other toxins and its a growing global problem, plus, you can make money from recycling or reusing your phone.

Check second hand options before you buy something new

Save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

Study upon where your food comes from

It’s important we know and understand where our food originates and to teach those around you.

Source: Urban Times

More here & here.

Why not...take a walk?

Clear Your Head

...walking remains the ultimate time for freedom of thought. It’s when I feel my tensions liberated...as the promenade of the mind follows that of the body.

 Mireille Guiliano

Had a stressful day, week or event? Get outside. Let your body take in the fresh air and release some of your built up negative energy. While the walk itself won’t solve the problems, it will allow some distance from them. Often times this separation allows you to calm down and think things through with a clear mind.

Always At The Ready

Unlike many outdoor activities that rely on the weather to cooperate, walking can be done in the rain (throw on your wellies), in the snow (don a warm scarf), or during the warmth of summer (don’t forget your sunscreen!). The luxury of knowing that a walk can take place at anytime, anywhere is calming in itself. By taking a walk, you’re often forced to slow down, ponder and take in the reality that is around you whether it be a city street or the beauty of nature.

It can be a special kind of indulgence, these moments when one becomes aware of really existing, as the images, information and the other sensations the world tries to press upon us all recede. Learning to be comfortable in that space, when it is just you, takes practice. But doing so diminishes the impulse to lie to yourself or run away. You won’t want to.

Mireille Guiliano

  

 Photo: Fash n Chips 

Chat With A Friend

 

Something I thoroughly enjoy doing with my closest girlfriends, and mother as well, is walking with them.  Despite our busy schedules, locale or time of day, we can always find time to walk, which ultimately is an excuse to chat.  But by walking, there’s an added benefit – two therapies in one!

See the Sights

  

Walking is walking no matter where it takes place, so why not take a tour of that museum or Japanese Garden you’ve been curious about? Walking really allows you to do two things at once, take in sights and burn a few calories, or enjoy someone’s company and burn calories, or as you will see next, one of my all time favorites, window shop and burn a few calories!

Retail Therapy

Shopping is a sport in and of itself. And while the exhaustion at the end of such a day is somewhat emotional, it is also very physically exhausting due to what else? All of the walking from one fabulous store to the next.

While I’m sure many of you already use this excuse, never be afraid to say you’re embarking on your exercise routine as you swiftly grab your keys, your wallet, all the while dressed in comfortable, yet stylish ballet flats and a fantastic outfit. No questions need to be asked.

Find Time To Dream

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking.

Nietzsche

I couldn’t agree more. Since walking does allow me to clear my head, I’m able to discover things lost in my subconscious and bring them to the forefront of my to do list. All of those things you want to do, that you dream to do, – I’ll bet you’ll be able to find them on a nice leisurely stroll.

Photo: Christine

Reason For Reward 

On weekdays during my first two student years in Paris, I used to walk between the Eiffel Tower and the Sorbonne, a different route going and coming.  On the weekends, my roommate and I, both provincial girls discovering Paris with very wide eyes, would spend Saturdays walking six to eight miles, stopping only for lunch and a five o’clock ice cream – that little weekly reward.

Mireille Guiliano

And one of the benefits of engaging in a walk is the treat at the end of the journey – a reward of sorts. Whether it be sitting in one of the many les jardins in Paris or stopping by your favorite coffee shop, take a moment and savor what your eyes, ears and mind have been engaged in during your luxurious walk.

in The Simply Luxurious Life

See "Why not...ride a bike?".

Down with 4, Up with 2!

I've now just organized my Categories on the left side bar and added the "Up w/2" - that should stand for something like "Down with the 4, Up with the 2 - wheels and legs"!

I've always been a big defensor of walking everywhere, both for pleasure and running errands, as I think we were born pedestrians more than anything - and this is my biggest conflict with most of people that think were born drivers - but the big news here is my growing sensibility for the 2 wheels - bikes and motorbikes - during this last year.

Again, it's not that I don't like cars, which aesthetically I'm a big appreciator, but it's just that I finally realized that most of the car trips I've done in the past, but keep seeing around me, are simply ridiculous. Most of my friends/family move on cars for really short trips, and by short I mean short... And that frightens me out! Even more because, of course, I live in a plane village and in a plane city - both perfectly walkable and bike friendly.

You'll find here the reasons why I'm a big defensor of walking and riding bikes - environment and health mainly - and also the reasons why classic motorbikes start to gain a little of my heart with all the story, power, freedom, feelings and journeys one can be lucky enough to make with them. I think this video expresses it perfectly!

I could have done it without expressing myself here, but I do see it as a changing-minds (mine at least) moment and maybe it could inspire or work for other people to look at this issue in other way (hopefully) - in Portugal generically speaking, as in Amsterdam and other cities, they're already struggling with space for parking bicycles...

And just for the record and making it short, people who ride bicycles and walk want to see more people doing so and it actually makes you feel good and safe when a lot of people use urban (or not so urban) space in a friendly way, whereas drivers only want to see less and less drivers/cars on the streets. (!)

For more, a lot more, just click here.

This is everything: The Walking Revolution!

Going from health, sustainable and urban planning problems of a sedentary life and the car-oriented society we live in in most countries; to the enormous benefits and pleasures of walking and also some good examples of walking built infrastructures, like the High Line in NYC, this video is literally everything! It is from Everybody Walks campaign and this is what me and them lastly have to say: 

Take 30 minutes to watch the film then, take a 30 minute walk. It will be the best hour of the day.

Some of my previous insights about this theme: here & here.

Stylish bike(r)s

I just can't resist when it comes to bikes and style!

Photo: Look de Pernille

Why not...ride a bike?

Here are a few more reasons to hop on and go for a ride:

A Bike Friendly World 

In Denmark, 36 percent of the working and student population chooses biking as their main mode of transportation which has prompted the country to create 180 miles of bike paths and lanes and even traffic lights specifically for bikers (source). In my home state of Oregon*, Portland is the only city in the nation to receive the League of American Bicyclists’ top rating as it sports more than 270 miles of street biking lanes, bike corrals, and other amenities to bikers. 

The world is catching on, and I think they might be on to something.

Photo: Inhabitots

Tres en Vogue 

With Bike City (Portland, Oregon) just a few hours away, New York City recently beginning its new Citi Bike public sharing program and being surrounded by bikers in Paris as they went about their daily business, it’s hard not to find a reason to hop on and enjoy the wind in your hair. More and more people are finding that biking isn’t just for fans of the race cycling culture. Wear a dress, wear heels, it doesn’t matter – you can still hop on a bike.

Photo: ? 

Saves Money

Not only is it somewhat liberating to leave the metal cage with four wheels behind, but it saves money and reduces carbon emissions (hey, it’s the little things, right?) 

Exercise

Another benefit is the exercise it provides for the legs, abs and rear. Can’t complain about that!

Make Yourself (and others) Smile 

For those who have ridden a beach cruiser or classic vintage bike, you no doubt have noticed the smiles you put on passersby’s faces. But even better, is the smile you put on your own face. Sometimes we get caught up in the rapid pace of the day that we miss the changing of the leaves on the trees, the sound of the river as it rolls or the feel of the rustling wind rushing over your skin. By simply changing how you commute or go about your business for one day a week, you might be amazed at the positive effect it has on your mood and your mind. 

Photo: Sabrina

Whether you choose to include it in your everyday routine or rent a bike to ride on your next vacation, there’s something truly simply luxurious about peddling along, a front basket full of your necessities for the day and an appreciation for taking things a little bit slower. Enjoy the ride, and perhaps I’ll see you on the road. 

 Photo: ?

*Excuse me, I didn't do my homework this time of searching data for Portugal, but you can check more here.

in The Simply Luxurious Life

Deus Ex Machina - Milano

Looking forward to go to this place during my next visit to Milano (soooon!).

"In Benzin Veritas"*

Deus Ex Machina - Milano from Deus Customs on Vimeo.

*Not a slogan I should support, but I think this is just too cool for school!

No ridiculous car trips*

*No ridiculous car trips is an informational film about a campaign with the same name. Trying to get more people too choose riding their bike over their car in Malmo City, Sweden.

All this, just reminded me a song in Joss Stone Introducing album.

 

Change (Intro) - Vinnie Jones

You see I know change, I see change, I embody change. All we do is change. Yeah, I know change. We are born to change, we sometimes regard it as a metaphor that reflects the way things ought to be. In fact, change takes time, it exceeds all expectations, it requires both now and then. See, although the players change the song remains the same and the truth is, you gotta have the balls to change.

  

The Motorcycle Diaries

Gustavo Santaolalla - Lago Prías

It's a been a loooong time since a movie moved me so much. Tears and everything! 

The Motorcycle Diaries is truly a human journey... The movie itself is a master-piece (Gael proving once again why he is one of my favorite actors), the music by Gustavo Santaolalla, the photographic work (black&white portraits) and the story behind is simply unspeakable.

The trailler is good but only 2 min of 2 intense hours... Trust me.

And just for the record, me and my brother rockin' his 40yearold motorcycle reborn (through his hands, of course) earlier this week!

 

(Welcome to) The Ducati World

"The german quality and the italian design."

Is that what they say?

Ducati's entrance

When Italy comes to my mind, now, more than the place where I recently lived for 6 months, I know we are talking about a country of design, a big industry of luxury design (being Milano the born city of it). 

It comes easily to my mind italian fashion industry (more here), italian cars industry, italian leather and now Ducati. So, I can easily name some luxury fashion brands, like Valentino, Dolce and Gabbana, Gucci, Moschino, Fendi, ... just to name a few; I can also name some luxury cars brands, such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bugatti and Alfa Romeo; and then, we have Ducati for motorcycles.

And that's the story I want to talk about today.

As I wrote here, my brother is the most passionated person I know about motorcycles, it's not just a "like" or a hobby, it's love, it's his life, I think truly is the meaning for his life (ok, maybe that's too much information for you!)... Something that is beyond my comprehension and everyone's comprehension, unless you share the same love. From outside, you can never deeply understand that passion!

So, while in Milano, my brother came to visit me - I know his motivation was not me, but going to the Ducati factory and museum, I was just the perfect excuse, eheh! ;) Turns out that, that day we spent in Bologna, was one of my favorite days of my whole 6 months experience. Seriously, watching him so happy, so excited (like a child in a toys store, or me in the winter wonderland!) is a moment I'll keep forever in my mind. From the very moment we took the public bus towards "Via Normandia - Via Panigale", his eyes started to shine! [For those who don't know (like me!), "Panigale" is one of the ultimate models of Ducati.]

The "walking" from the bus stop to the museum was also an emotion, as we almost arrived late and literally we had to run for our lifes. But the running moment happened along with the factory walls (see picture below) - it seems an entire block just for the factory - which made it a happy running!

The visit started and as I was watching my brother completely dazzled, camera on hands, head turning all over the space, completely lost, but at the same time, completely found, because that's a world he knows so well, I was getting very moved inside... Yeppa, touching day!

We were lucky to have an incredible guide (woman!) speaking about 1h for us, showing and explaining everything! I loved the way she embraced the brand as it is her own concern, for the good and for the bad that happened in the Ducati history.

Well, enough of words, let's share some pictures and interesting discoveries I found that day.

Enjoy the ride!

In 1926 the Ducati brothers founded an electrical business (radios firstly) on the outskirts of Bologna.

 Ducati's old factory walls destroyed during the II World War.

 

Their motorcycle breakthrough came in 1946 with the Cucciolo - "and a motorcycle dinasty was born".

Bevel-gear twin cylinders bike (?!?), but what I want to write about here is the particular detail of a tennis ball cuted in the middle (on the left of the handlebar - right back where you can read "Hailwood") with a sponge inside with water and soap, that Mike Hailwood himself used to clean his helmet visor.
Also, that was the moment we discover that the red color of Ducati (nowadays more orange-ish because of the High-Quality TV - can you believe this?!) came from the sponsor Castrol.

 

 Superbike Championship motorcycles

Ducati's entrance

Arrivederci!

Too cool for school!

 This is gettin' beautiful and hard to resist!...

 

Inslee Haynes

More about her work here.

Two wheels (!)

The first motivation to write this post is my 6 months-living in Milano, where the traffic runs chaotic - a lot of cars, a lot of motos, a lot of public transports, a lot of bicycles, a lot of pedestrians, a lot of everything! And guess what? They don't really care about each other! (True fact is that I haven't seen a single accident in those streets during 6 months!). Cars don't care about bicycles, cars don't care about pedestrians, pedestrians don't care about bicycles, bicycles don't care about cars, buses don't care about pedestrians, buses don't care about cars... You got the picture.

And this is so true that a friend of mine, knowing that I'm studying Urban Planning, told me: "Ok, now you have been in a city where everything goes wrong, so I highly recommend you to go to a place where things work well!"

Nonetheless, it was my first time in a city where bicycles are one of the nr. 1 choices for most people to commute (never been in Stockholm, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, though), and despite all the Milan craziness, after some weeks, I got used to it and started changing my mind and actually asking myself why in Portugal we still don't have this culture. Why bicycles and light modes of transportation aren't taking with good eyes? I have a few answers, but considering that could be a thesis, I'll not make this long and just tell you that: we (portuguese) are a cars-oriented-society and that cars give us status.

Anyway, the city I live in, Aveiro, created, some years ago, a big project about public bicycles that people could ride very easily and for free, named BUGA. From what I heard, it's a project well known internationally, but the truth is: it doesn't really work nor it was a success. Too bad. Even more because Aveiro is a very easy city to ride - flat city - and the municipality created some specific infrastuctures for bicyles as well - seriously debatable though.

The problem here (that could be extended to other situations) is/was/and always will be, in my opinion, that no matter what you do, big or small project, it will never work until you first invest in changing minds. Before any construction, changing minds in a society (especially one like ours) is really the 1st step one have to consider and then... Well, I believe things will work out for themselves.

Now, I must admit that I've started to see a lot of people riding bicycles in Aveiro and in my university campus there are a few parked around and nothing makes more pleased to see. I can feel some changes in the air already - I think it was a matter of time and some political efforts to revive our local heritage.

With that said, here's a recent (2011) video about Aveiro Lifecycle that I only watched last week and that inspired me to write about this.

My point of view is not only centered in bicycles but motos as well. I'm not talking about moto-lovers (my brother is the most passionated person I know about motos and for 24 years I've been living with him and I never felt inspired by it and in 6 months, me, myself, want to have one (!!!) - ok, it helps to see beautiful women riding Vespas in high-heels!), but talking about the role of motos in a urban context.

Of course, in both cases, we have to consider there must not have constraints. In a pratical point of view: no problem for the weather, no problem for high-heels, no problem for men in suits, ... And this is the kind of mental changing I was talking about above, just to name a few. Needless to refer health & environmental aspects. But the changing minds paradigm has to deal also and very important with respect with each type of city user.
 

Photo: Viviana Volpicella by Garance Doré