Lisbon / May 2016

I really like Lisbon…it combines old and new:

It was part of our epic trip in May 2016.

Pantenao Nacional

Lisbon tram

Lisbon street

Lisbon street

Lisbon street

Lisbon street

Lisbon street

Lisbon street

Lisbon street

Lisbon street

View on the castle

Santa Justa Elevator

Lisbon streets

Lisbon streets

Lisbon streets

Lisbon streets

Lisbon streets

Dom Jose I

Comerce Square

Comerce Square

Lisbon streets

And my favourite Belem Tower :

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Albufeira, Algarve / May 2016

Albufeira is a city in south Portugal, Algarve which is quite british 😛 Wherever you go, you can hear English, there are lots of english pubs, english radio station and many adverts are in English. Albufeira is just favourite place for British holiday makers.

However, it is still Portugal !

I like the city, sea front and Archeological Museum. It was our stop place to wait for rainy clouds to go away. They finally did not go and we went sightseeing in a shower. Sea looks great in every weather anyway 😛

I loved the little streets climbing up and then going down:

Just click the photo to enlarge 🙂

Archeological Museum is small but has great exhibition of history of Albufeira and lovely paintings/photographs of the city changing over the years.

Worth to visit ! Admission just 1 Euro.

International Sand Sculpture Festival FIESA/ Pera, Algarve, May 2016

FIESA is the largest sand sculpture exhibition ever built, held annually since 2003 in Pêra, Algarve, attracting thousands of visitors every year.

The sand is hand-carved by a group of sculptors, of various nationalities, exploring different sculpting techniques, producing original pieces that stand out by their magnitude, technique and aesthetics.

FIESA is regarded as the largest event of its kind in the world as it uses 40,000 tonnes of sand, covering 15,000m², with some sculptures reaching 12 metres in height, reproducing in amazing detail representations of people, objects and different scenarios.

In this 14th edition visitors can see around hundred different sand scenes, inventively depicting, musicians, instruments and musical cultures from around the world.

Source: http://fiesa.org/en/

We have visited this place when going around Algarve and Albufeira trip in May 2016 as a part of our Epic trip 2016 (when we visited 4 countries on 2 continents)  #epictrip2016

Theme changes every year and all sculptures were Music related when we have been there.

We spent two hours in the park. It is huge !

Lisbon Oceanarium / May 2016

Lisbon Oceanarium

The Lisbon Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa) is the second largest aquarium in Europe, after L’Oceanogràfic in Valencia. More than 15,000 living creatures of more than 450 different species coexist in its habitat.

Its building is one of the most eye-catching in the Park of the Nations. It is “floating” in the water, and can be accessed by crossing a footbridge. During the Expo it was called the Oceans Pavilion (Pavilhão dos Oceanos), and was one of the most popular attractions.

The Oceanarium has two floors, and everything rotates around a huge central aquarium. If you go round it in the specified order you’ll see marine species from different oceans. On the upper floor you’ll see surface animals and plants, while on the lower floor you’ll find the marine species from the depths.

The central aquarium is probably the one that most catches the eye in the Oceanarium, as here there are hundreds of species living together: sharks, stingrays, manta rays, and tropical fish are some of the inhabitants. (source: http://www.lisbon.net/oceanarium)

It was the first attraction we visited in Lisbon 🙂 I just loved it ! Large tank, many oceans, marine life, exhibitions. Fun for kids and adults xd

Just click the photo to enlarge. 

You could go across the rainforest as well 🙂 It was so warm in there 😛

Besides the permanent exhibition – the tank in the floating building – there is a temporary exhibition called Forestas, created by Takashi Amano features tropical forests inside a magnificent aquarium. Nature is just relaxing, I would spend a day in there and enjoy the underwater species in the aquarium. Amazing exhibition !

more information: https://www.oceanario.pt/en/exhibitions/temporary-exhibition/

Ponta da Piedade / Nature photography

Ponta da Piedade is a group of rocks formations on south Portugal,  near Lagos on the coastline of Algarve.

Consisting of yellow-golden clifflike rocks up to 20 meters high, they are one of the most famous touristic attractions of Portugal. Several grottos in Ponta da Piedade can be visited by boat.

Lagos and Meia Praia / May 2016

Our Epic trip 2016 when we visited 4 countries on 2 continents started in South Portugal, in the West of Algarve. I already posted about Portimao and Sagres. Today Lagos 🙂

Lagos population was 31,049 in 2011. It is one of the most visited cities on Algarve, due to rocks, cliffs (Ponta da Piedade), great beaches and vibrant summer nightlife. It is also historic centre of the Portuguese Age of Discovery home of Henry the Navigator, historical shipyard and, at one time, centre of the European slave trade.

Meia Praia:

Is the most popular tourist beach. Well-known for soft, white sand and calm ocean. It is also one of the largest open bays in Europe ! ! !

Sagres – End of the (Old) World / May 2016

Sagres is a town in South Portugal, located on the most Southwestern point of Europe.

A place rich in history that began at a time when exploring the great unknown was a life-long pursuit. A place in which Henry the Navigator (responsible for initiating European world explorations) spent the remaining years of his life. Before his death (1394-1460), the great explorer stood atop these cliffs, arm outstretched to the sea, and proclaimed Sagres “the end of the [Old] World.” [HubPages, August 27, 2010.]

Sagres with its cliffs, strong winds, great waves and 16th century fortress (pt. Fortaleza de Sagres) ia an unique and awe-inspiring travel destination.

Praia dos Careanos

Praia dos Careanos is the third beach we have visited. It is located on west from Praia da Rocha and Praia dos Tres Castelos in Portimao, Algarve. Rocks there conceal secret caves, chambers and passageways.

If you click the picture it will blow up and redirect you to slideshow.

Camera: Sony a58 + 18-55 and 50mm

Sunrise @ paradise :) / May 2016

I do not take to many shots of sunrises 🙂 But hopefully you will like those taken on Algarve from our balcony.

Sony a58 + Sony 18-55mm + tripod

Photos merged in Photoshop.

18mm f11 ISO 800 10s

18mm f20 ISO 100 2s

18mm f20 ISO 100 2s

18mm f20 ISO 100 2s

18mm f20 ISO 100 2s

My lovely followers which is your favourite ?

Sunset @ Praia dos Tres Castelos / May 2016

Place: Praia dos Tres Castelos in Portimao, Alrgarve.

Sony A58 + Sony 18-55 + tripod

Long exposure shots: