An outsiders view ~

Living in London has its perks.

Being a metropolis and a cultural capital of the world, you literally have everything on your doorstep.

You have theaters, shows, museums, endless pop-ups (markets, restaurants, you name it), fairs, celebrations, events, cocktails on some rooftop….

But the thing is, when you actually live here, sometimes you get so caught up in your work life and yourself that you forget this city has all this and more to offer. Yes, London is very cosmopolitan, full of vibrant people and interesting places and activities but from time to time you sort of forget. For example… when do you, that live either on a small town or village or a huge city, go sightseeing? When do you go out, for the sake of it and be a tourist in your own home place?

You are so used to it being there. So close, just outside your door that you take it for granted. And then you stop going to the city center just because technically you can go there any  time you want. However, work is on the other direction, you you just pass by while watching funny videos on Youtube on your commute and it competently passes you by.

 

This happened to me. Like it does to all of us. But then, last week my parents were week. And boy, did I miss my health app to count my steps!

It was fantastic. I forgot what was seeing this city through the eyes of someone that does not live here. My parents, albeit of some age, they are used to travel. They were born in South Africa from Portuguese emigrants. Moved back to Portugal. Their honeymoon was a road-trip through Europe. They didn’t give us a lot of expensive gifts, instead they would take us travelling. Spain, France, Africa, all through Portugal, etc,… So they are more than used to travelling. But still, they were impressed. With the size of the buildings, the size of the city. The amount of bridges. The number of people. The speed of the tube and the number of lines it has.

I forgot how beautiful Southbank is on a sunny afternoon. All the street artists. The music. The street food. The people. The vintage fairs, the shows, the energy, the love I have for it.

Yes, it is hard over here. You work way too many hours, your friends live 1 hour and a half away even though they are in the same city. But then, you have sun over St Pauls and you are in comfy shoes crossing the Millenium Bridge and suddenly, it does not seem so gloomy.

Truth is, I do have a lot to thank for here. And I have to thank my parents for reminding me that.

So go out, explore and fall in love to where you live!

 

Claudia x

On a greener note…

PORTUGAL RAN 4 DAYS ENTIRELY ON RENEWABLE ENERGY.

If that isn’t impressive I do not know what is.

It is refreshing to see that our governments are finally looking into the countries own riches and make use of them.

The main sources of Portugal’s energy is coming from biofuels and waste. Wind and hydropower and adding increasingly larger amounts, with geothermal and solar just starting to take off.

This happened from the 7th of May to the 11th of May – Saturday through to Wednesday.

But it’s not only Portugal, Germany has also been running on renewable energy and Denmark has also started.

True, it is not a common practice, we have to see this as the try-outs for the future, a greener less poluted future.

Maybe my little Iberian country will take advantage of its position and wind consumption as much as the sun and will be able not only to run efficiently and permanently on renewable energy and even export it!

Please read and know more here and here!

Let’s go people, let’s make the world a better place.

 

Claudia x

solar power plant near Serpa

 

 

My weekend in Rome

That’s right.

About two weeks before my birthday me and my boyfriend were trying to match up our days off – since I had the whole weekend of the 16th of April off.

We kept thinking about places here in UK to go and visit; like Manchester or Liverpool… You know, a weekend away.

Then we saw a fairly cheap price and guess what? Rome was the chosen city!!!

One of his bucket list things to see was the Colosseum. I had been to Rome before and loved it. Win-win!

It was a wonderful weekend full of good food – although I didn’t touch pizza, I am more of a pasta person ahah!

We stayed in a pretty hotel not very central, Eurostars Aeterna. It literally had a bus across the street that would go from there to everywhere; Colosseum, Trastevere, The Vatican…

Trastevere is still my favourite part with the smaller houses but more colourful and all the flowers and the vines and its small restaurants.

Last time I was there I did not visit a couple of things, so this time I took the chance to visit the Sistine Chapel and the Palatine Hills.

Have a look at some pictures and fall in love.

Just like I did.

Claudia x

Oops, I did it again!

I honestly do not know what is wrong with me.

Sometimes I want to have a famous international blog and work from home on the web writing about whatever crosses my mind.

Other times I don’t open this blog for two months – i.e. what happened just now.

Why is it that I have loads of ideas and then, I never go through with them. I start new projects, I forget about them.

Wanted to  start a Facebook page, never did. Wanted to take my drivers licence; got the book for the theory test; never opened it.

Started writing my story, with a cat with a great name; kind know where it is going, never bothered doing it.

Bought some canvas and oil paint; only painted once.

is this some kind of syndrome? Or am I just lazy?

Am I creative but have no ability? Maybe I’m not even creative and just decided I am better than average for some reason.

I need to find a niche. Something to love and be passionate about.

Tough life, eh?

 

Anyway, sorry about the rant but I just wanted to say – to anyone that wants to know – that I am alive.

Have a great week everyone and enjoy the cute giraffes!

Claudia x