Umbada (the colour can be blue as Jorge Fernando's 80's suit)

Sometimes when writing papers I need more than classic music to inspire me. Recently while browsing for Vasco Palmeirim satiric songs to listen to, I found the movement "Umbada Never Forget" which tried to resurrect a pearl of the 80's Portuguese music Umbada. I decided to make my own piano version, and thus also pay my homage to Jorge Fernando, a Portuguese Fado composer and singer I like a lot. Of course, I still need to tune it properly, but here it is my first attempt!

É umbadá, umbadeó-umbadá

É umbadá, umbadeó-umbadá

É umbadá, umbadeó-umbadá

É umbadá, umbadeó-umbadá

É umbadá, umbadeó-umbadá 

Original is here: Umbada 

Newlands valley (Lake distrcit) and its Scottish colours

The Scottish people have to forgive me but the truth is that, I think there is a bit of Scotland in England. From thinking that England was a boring place for mountain walking, I am now almost convinced that it can have also spectacular views and quiet places (without or with few people around) to walk. This is the Newlands valley in the Lake District and if before what I encountered in this region of England was loads of tourists surrounded by beautiful landscapes, this time what I found, in a 7 hour walk, was great mountains, colours and nice people that occasionally stopped me for a little chat. Ok, I am definitely ready to explore more of the natural landscapes England has to offer!

Greenish sea in New Aberlour

In the winter, when the weather is not good for the mountains we have the sea. This is what it means to leave in Scotland. There is always a choice. New Aberlour in the north coast is an example of a great place for a coastal walk with its secluded beaches, rock pools and caves. Sometimes dolphins swim in the horizon and even whales. Yes, I have seen already a whale jumping in the water just in front of me. And that is just an amazing sight. If the whales decide to be shy, beach combing is another possible activity.

Reds

This is Aberdeen FC playing Celtic Glasgow at Pittodrie Stadium in January. And this was a game who got us, a bunch of foreigners, screaming, singing and supporting Aberdeen FC. The energy felt in a football field is just amazing and able of shadowing any worries. Aberdeen FC was never again a team at the international level since Sir Alex Ferguson left to Manchester United in 1986. But this game was special, as Aberdeen FC was second in the Scottish league after Celtic. As the score was 2-0 until minute 91' we all sang: to Celtic's manager "We're going to be sacked in the morning".

Many flags, many colours



This sculpture placed at the James D. Wolfensohn Atrium is a "call for attention" about a disease that affects several people in Africa. It is called river blindness and it is caused by the bites of infected black flies that breed in fast-flowing rivers. According to the World Health Organization, 99% of the infected people live in 31 African countries. The World Bank, in partnership with WHO, African governments and pharmaceutical firms is contributing to protect millions of people from river blindness.

The World Bank is a cooperative founded in 1944 with 188 member countries. The WB claims poverty reduction as the overarching goal of their work.

After the storm the good weather: blue sky and white snow

If the previous big snowstorm in Washington DC was called Snowmaggedon this one received the name of Snowzilla. The consequences of such storms were big, so the economists said: thousands of flights cancelled, closed shops, no traffic circulation, accidents...But the economists forgot to give a value to the amusement that people were having: from snowball fighting, to sledge races, to simply enjoying walking in the middle of the empty roads. And, the value of extra holidays, which for US citizens, should not definitely be  dismissed.  

BUT, it is a pity the storm description took over my post because there was so much to say about DC's history: the civil rights movement and the 14th street and Shaw neighbourhood, the "Revolution should not be televised" and Scott-Heron, the organic food supermarkets, the blueberry pancakes for breakfast, Georgetown and the Waterfront, the interesting books at the WB bookshop and more and more...

Multi colour mosaic picture

This picture was taken in the mosaic kiosk at the Smithsonian Castle. I found nice that visitors could choose the topic of the pictures that were going to be put together to build our photo. Mine was an easy choice: Art and music! And this is how I look like!

The Smithsonian is a complex of several (19) museums in Washington DC. One of its founders was James Smithson, a British Scientist who left his estate to the United States to found the "diffusion of knowledge".  I went for a first recognition on a Wednesday thinking I would have the time to visit on the weekend. Of course this was again evidence that supports the Portuguese saying: "Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today"!



Purple sunset

This picture was taken in early January in Cambelas. Walking up and down the cliffs in the late afternoon was a great opportunity to capture images like this one. Unfortunately not everything was perfect. The rough sea brought lots of litter to the sand...And this is a problem no official entity wants to be responsible for so far...