Wien

While in Milano, I had the opportunity to go to Wien, Austria, on a car trip, for a weekend. I remember I was quite apprehensive to do so for some reasons (one, for we were 11 people and I only kew one of them!, second, it was a 18h round trip!), but guess what, it's now one of the most beautiful memories I have in my entire life!
Winter time, Christmas mood all on with Christmas markets and mulled wine, Wien is such a peaceful, clean, small, organized and classy city (there were moments I truly felt I was in other epoch), the music everywhere!, the Staatsoper (State Opera), the Musikverein (place for the dreamy New Year's Concert of the Wien Philharmonic), well... everything went perfect in that trip!

More photos from Wien here & here.

Note to self

Life is either daring adventure or nothing at all.

Helen Keller

- How do you explain the things you love?

- You can't. You just do.

Books in general, Cosmos in particular

Until one year ago, the majority of books I read were poetry, and, of course, despite one or another non-poetry I didn't consider I had a long list of books read in my life - not at all. On the other hand, I've always been passionate with cinema and I thought it was good replacement (way too short/incomplete list here).

The turning point of this situation though happened one year ago, when I went to Milano for 6 months of studies and for the 1st time in school years most of my final evaluations would be based on books to read during the semester. And that's how it happened: during this year I read more books than in my entire life! Both on academic and "personal" sides. Something my mom herself has been tried to persuade me for a long time, she is an avid reader and an avid writer, happened very easily when I myself felt needed.

With that I said, I'd like to present one of the books that, for several reasons, meant the most to me so far. I've reading it for a while now, interleaving with more urgent readings, and although at a first sight is appears a technical or hard reading, it isn't. I think in fact that there has to be an interior predisposition to read it. I felt it needed when for the 1st time in life* I start questioning and doubting about, well, let's make it simple: our existence (ad infinitum ... here) and, not so evident but also important, because I'm a proud atheist.

Cosmos, from Carl Sagan, that is.

*a) it could (and probably it may) never happen for most people life time; b) there are of course people who naturally born with that curiosity; c) or it might come a time in one's life that, as I said, for one reason or another, or a sum of several events (my experience in Milano included), we simply become aware of the outside of the bubble we living in...

FYI, complementary to the book, and from the responsability of Carl Sagan and his wife Ann Druyan, there's a 13 episodes serie named Cosmos too.

And just for the record, two of my favorite cosmologic-poetry moments were already shared here and here (portuguese).

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!

do Tempo II

Não tenhamos pressa, mas não percamos tempo.*

José Saramago

Foto: Mafalda**

*À Teresa, que em boa hora me escreveu esta frase.

**Já partilhada aqui.

The Holiday

And sure enough, this post with Christina's photos just reminded of this 'sweet' movie (can we call a movie sweet?!), but better! Part of it is also spent in an english cottage, but during the winter. 

Well, you know, one of those sweet christmassy winter movies! :)

Count Basie

The Golden Years, Vol. 1, 2, 3, 4

Cottage life

I'm kinda speechless with this post by Christine about her holidays at the english countryside (in Costwolds).

As you may (not) remember, I've already share my dream about being there and these pictures do make justice of my deep wishes.

The pictures I'm sharing below are such a pure delight with the most beautiful atmosphere. 

Photos: Fash n Chips

Her

"He found her most beautiful not when she was all fancied up,
but when she wasn’t. 
When she was lying on the carpet, her hair all over the place
(you could say it was a cute mess)
laughing about something that had happened years ago. 
When she wasn’t trying to impress anyone,
at that moment when she was just her.
When all her high, hard to clim over,
walls that she had built for most people were down,
that was when he really couldn’t take his eyes off of her."