TAWOMG - Time to Say Goodbye - Again!

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I flew from Bordeaux to Lisbon. This is my last visit to Portugal on a business trip, at least for a long while. On 1 September I will start working in a new project, this time in France.

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In the past two and a half years I came regularly to Portugal. I stayed here over many weekends and therefore had the opportunity to visit a lot of places. Today it is one of the countries that I know best in Europe. After all what I saw, people that I met and experiences that I collected, I fell for the place. It had not been the case when I lived here in 1993. I am glad I had this second chance and could find out why Portugal is such an enjoyable country.

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Although many times I flew into and out of Lisbon in the past 23 years, I think I had never had such a nice flight as yesterday. The weather was perfect: the day was sunny and bright. From the airplane we had a clear view of the areas that we overflew. Just before landing I could recognise the Castelo do Bode reservoir, Tomar crossed by Nabão river, the Zêzere river and the Tagus. I could see when the Tagus opens up, as if it were a lake, near Vila Franca de Xira. Then we had the view of the new Vasco da Gama bridge, the entire city, 25 de Abril bridge until the river flowed into the ocean. Before the plane made a curve on top of Carcavelos I could see the Costa da Caparica and Arrábida, up to its end in Cabo do Espichel. Then there was a gorgeous view of Sintra. I think I had never seen it as clear and as beautiful as yesterday.

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Certainly the fact that I have extensively travelled all these places by car and visited so much of it helped not only to recognise them, but also to look for references. The view from the air was mixed up with memories of the places where I had been, like Tomar and its Monastery Covent of Christ, from the Order of the Knights Templar, or the city of Constância, on the corner where the Zêzere flows into the Tagus and where Camões supposedly lived for some time. Not to mention Sintra and Cascais, where I spent so many weekends and that I consider among my favourite places not only in Portugal, but in Europe.

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And then there is Lisbon. Yesterday I stayed at the same hotel, on Avenida da Liberdade, where I stayed 23 years ago, when I first visited the city. In my opinion Lisbon has only improved since then. From the hotel I walked down to Praça do Comércio and stayed for a long time enjoying the view of the river and the city. I am glad that I read so many history books and today I understand how the city developed over the centuries. I recognise the marks of the past and the places that played a key role, both on Portuguese and Brazilian history. Lisbon is just fascinating. At the end of the day I went to the bar at the terrace on the roof of the hotel. What a fantastic view from there! And what a great memory to bring with me to my new home!

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It is very sad that Portugal is trapped into so many old ideas dating back to 1974 and the old days of the carnation revolution. They hold the country back and offer no real opportunities for the younger generations. I wish the current crisis will help Portugal get rid of all things that hinder its economic development and very soon the future will seem bright again. As bright as the view that I had from my flight yesterday.

Wish you a nice week,

Maurício