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My friends ask me why do I surf?

My friends ask me why do I surf? I do not have a proper answer! I do it because I like it. Makes me feel good. I love the sea. Sea is freedom. Sea if fear. Sea if passing your limits. Sea is respect. Sea is challenge. I feel that surf is one of those things that won't leave us indifferent. Surf is not just that thing you do! On the contrary, surf gets under the skin if not in your blood. Surfing become part of you. Surfing, like everything else in life, is filled with immense difficulty and unpredictability where the keyword is "perseverance". Maybe that's why it's so attractive. I really like the connection between man and nature. I like the fact that a tinny small moment (seconds on a wave) can enrich your live so much and give you so much pleasure. The truth is, for that small moments you do a lot. You wake up early, you drive to the beach, you change from your comfortable clothes for a bad smelly wet suit no matter where! Most of the days, you put yourself in a frizzing cold water…just for that amazing seconds. After that, nothing really matters, just that amazing seconds. You fell so grateful after doing it. W. Somerset Maughan is correct “Nothing in the world is permanent, and we’re foolish when we ask anything to last, but surely we’re still more foolish not to take delight in it while we have it.“. I just surf. Thanks Nuno Santos for the pictures. You made those moments even more special.

Unveiled Corsica. Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano. Couvent St-Francois

In my trip to inland Corsica I was attracted by Sainte-Lucie-de-Tallano. Sainte-Lucie de Tallano is an small mountain village, perched high above the Rizzanese Valley in Corsica's Alta Rocca, famous for the charming view of its stone houses with red tiled roofs set against the mountains. I get there and I that it has a pleasant village square with a fountain, lined with a handful of good restaurants where you can watch the locals play petanque, whilst soaking up the quintessentially Corsican atmosphere. In my search for a good picture of the village I went to the Couvent of St-Francois it looks to be Sainte-Lucie's famous viewpoint over its rooftops. But, I was lucky, and some locals just open the old green door and let me in. The convent cannot be visited for the moment because is in restoration works. The works are being planed, and soon will start. I appreciated this opportunity and we said good buy with promise that I will return one day to see it done. Besides this, it’s still an amazing place, full of story and charisma.

Corsica. France. The land of geographical diversity.

Part of the spirit of traveling is discovering and be surprised. This feeling is even more fascinating when you can do it so close from your one country. I just arrived from Corsica, and I’m was amazed with the diversity of this island. Corsica resembles a miniature continent, with astounding geographical diversity. Within half an hour, the landscape morphs from glittering bays, glitzy coastal cities and fabulous beaches to sawtooth peaks, breathtaking valleys, dense forests and enigmatic hilltop villages. Holidays in Corsica will therefore be incredibly varied: from hiking and canyoning to working your tan, enjoying a leisurely cruise, delving into the island’s rich history and sampling local specialties. Shamelessly seductive and fashionable, Porto-Vecchio is dubbed the Corsican St-Tropez, and it’s no wonder. Sitting in a marvellous bay, it’s the kind of place that lures French A-listers and wealthy tourists. Its picturesque backstreets, lined with restaurant terraces and designer shops, have charm in spades, and are presided over with grace by the photogenic ruins of an old Genoese citadel. Although there is no beach in the town proper, some of the island’s best, and most famous, beaches are close by. With its glittering harbour, dramatic perch atop creamy white cliffs, and stout citadel above the cornflower-blue waters of the Bouches de Bonifacio, this dazzling port is an essential stop. With a Sardinia neighbor Bonifacio has a distinctly Italianate feel: sun-bleached townhouses, dangling washing lines and murky chapels cram the web of alleyways of the old citadel; down below on the harbourside, brasseries and boat kiosks tout their wares to the droves of day trippers. Bonifacio’s also perfectly positioned for exploring the island’s southerly beaches and the Îles Lavezzi. But if you go to Corsica, do not miss the Col de Bavella (Bavella Pass) is overlooked by the imposing silhouette of one of the most striking and beautiful landscape features in the south of Corsica: the sharp points of Aiguilles de Bavella, also called the Bavella Needles. And food, yess, food. Please do not miss the Brocciu cheese. Mild, crumbly and white, not a million miles from ricotta, Brocciu made from the petit-lait of either goat’s or ewe’s milk. Brocciu can be eaten fresh, as a creamy fromage frais, baked with the zest of oranges or cédrat (a sweeter type of lemon) in a fiadone cheesecake, or drained, salted and aged for use in savoury dishes. Be sure to try an omelette of Brocciu with some Pains des morts (Bread of the dead!)…. its amazing!

Is great to be back. Praia da Consolação. Peniche. Portugal.

I’ve been spending my holidays here for the past 46 years. My first child memories are from this place, and probably the best ones. Long summers with my family, going to the sea with my uncle, endless beach days, learning how to swim. The first surf steps, skimming all day! Things that I will never forget and shaped who I’m today. I’ve grown up here; I had my best and crazy young experiences here. I’m linked to this place forever. I had to go for a wile, see the Word, discover, learn, experience other things. But now, I feel that this is my place, my refuge. Is great to be back.

TOP 5 MADRID. Spain

 

1. VRL Paco Varela - www.paco-varela.com - Fashion and stylist based in Madrid, which is a mixture of classics and the latest trends. Very good taste and t-shirts full of inspiration. Paco Varela is the most hipster you can find.

2. Eduardo Rivera - www.eduardorivera.es -Very elegant clothes, a super stylish look current. Trendy looks, for men and women, who enjoy  the perfect weekend.

3. KIKEKELLER - www.kikekeller.com  - Exhibitions, factory and coffee, all in one with an incredible modernity. Unusual pieces that altogether make up a harmony hard to explain.

4. La Bicicleta – “Cycling café and workplace” at MALASANA - www.labicicletacafe.com - "Our space is born from the passion for bikes, art and coffee to equal parts. From here our intention is to be a place with personality, concept and soul. We want to be a site to which want to enter. And stay (long). And back (often) " they say.

5.Grand Via! Always. This "calle" never sleeps says my dear friend Juanjo. Gran Via is one of the main avenues of the city of Madrid. Starts at Alcalá Street and ends at Plaza de Spain. Important commerce area and the entry for MALASAÑA neighborhood the place where all seams to happen nowadays. MALASAÑA is the place to be!

The Lisbon Connection. Figaros Barbershop. Lisbon. Portugal

The Lisbon Connection is done, but the best is yet to come. It was amazing to work with (all of) you guys. We visit fantastic places, but the Figaros Barbershop in Lisbon just get into my skin in seconds. Our memory is a fantastic thing. A detail or a smell can bring you to your past in seconds, and create you immediately a very comfortable sensation. Shooting the “The Lisbon Connection” was fantastic for a lot of reasons, with a lot of lessons learned in between. But what I confirmed the most, is that, in the end, is all about persons, emotions and get to know each other in life.  This is the most important add-value: the true connection off all the persons involved, definitely “The Lisbon Connection”.  It was a pleasure to have you here “mates”! I can’t wait to see it done and publish by the two talented boys: Tim and Sven.

Expect the unexpectable. #0 Gliding Barnacles. Figueira da Foz

Guess what! Gliding Barnacles! August was almost gone, but the best was yet to come: the Gliding Barnacles festival at Figueira da Foz in the last days of the month. The prompt idea is the promotion of Figueira da Foz as destination of the world surf through the interaction between artistic culture and surf, with the city as background. A big program was design having has the event headquarters the old car Garage of Auto-peninsular, transformed into a multifunctional artistic display. From a shaping room to a rock star gig, we had a bit of it all. The surf was up scaled with the presence of renamed longboarders:  James Parry came along all from California; Michael Lay from England and Matteo Fabbri from Italy. Take it back to the roots was the major statement of these days. Amazing surfers and fantastic classic boards from BING surfboards had to prove their resistance and good trimming in the perfect wave sets of Buarcos and Cabedelo beach.  Tree days of fun, fantastic atmosphere, high level surf (sub)culture, surrounded by friendship, free spirits and rock and roll, in the celebration of what is gathering us, the passion for surfing. From the Barnacle Boys…. just expect the unexpectable! Well done boys.

Mr. Brock, Fenny Compton, England

 

I wake up at 3.45! I couldn’t understand why that song was playing in my phone in the middle of the night. A sleepy voice next to me said “is your phone". I realized then that it was time to wake up. Today is the London shooting day for #project60. I was excited; after all, I do love traveling. I just need a good reason and I had one. Is good to go to a city where you already know your way. Less surprise factor, but less risk factor too. You move faster and you know where to go. My destination, however, was not the city, but Fenny Compton, a small village one hour north of London by train, near Banbury. It will be my first time. The surprise factor!  Even knowing my way I couldn’t avoid spending good part of my morning in different queues waiting for tickets: train to Vitoria station, metro, and another train to Banbury. And there I was, sitting on the train, curious to finally meet Mr Elbank in person after all the social media interactions. I let Noiserv play in my iPod meanwhile I was looking over the window to the green British landscape. I couldn’t avoid laughing with the name of the song "this is maybe the place where trains are going to sleep at night". What a name for a song!  Mr Elbank arrived just like I imagined him. I had this strange impression. Do I know this guy already? In that moment I had the feeling that I did know him since ever. Maybe my friend Jesus Villar has a point: reincarnation does exist. A good start makes all the difference. We went to the village's Pub The Merrie Lion for a snack, and, of course, for a beer, make it two; after all we are in England. It is funny to get into people’s worlds so quickly. Brock presents me to everybody in the pub. I was imagining what they may think....Hum... another Brock’s beard guys. I think that at this point they are used to it. The shooting was fun, Brock knows what he wants. That makes things a lot easier. In a second I had all my things around the house, transformed temporally at Elbank Village Studio, and more important, I felt at home. We practice the new “Elbank look” over and over. It seems to work. A big full day where we reached our goal, where we exchanged ideas and projects, where we learned things from each other, where we became richer persons. Brock was happy with the result. I was happy too, for me and for him. Sarah and the kids arrived. Another dynamic start. The kids are lovely Elkie and Olive, and the ice was broken easily with a simple tool. How to make elastic bracelets? Sarah cooked a magnificent risotto, and I was invited for dinner. The red wine and the Portuguese cheese from São Jorge Island came into the table.  What a wonderful time. The project 60 seemed to be just a detail of the day. In the end it was all about people, experiences and relations. The perfect ingredients to ensure that our journey (in life) is really worth it. I give a big goodbye hug to Brock. I promise him that I will be back for the exhibition. I took the train back to London. I felt that small knot in my stomach. I know myself! I left something in Fenny Compton today. I definitely brought something too from that amazing family. Thank you Mr Elbank.

“Living in” – 10th Angkor Photo Festival - 2014

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia and one of the largest archaeological sites in operation in the world. Visiting Angkor complex is a lifetime experience, for its beauty and for the history. Tourism seams to appear in all forms! In a back of an elephant, in a tuck-tuck ride, crowds expecting the wonder of the sunset, sleeping face admiring the sunrise over the stupas. But! Are we paying attention to all the details? Do we really see everything? What about people who lived within the Angkor Wat enclosure? Do we think about their feelings? Many people may not know that when the French first began to do research and conservation at Angkor Wat that there were Buddhist monks living very close to the main temple entrance. In fact, there are actually two Buddhist Wats within the Angkor Wat enclosure, called Wat Cheung and Wat Tbong. In my visit to Angkor in September 2013, while admiring this important archaeological site, I realize the importance that those faces had to me. No meter the fact that they are the workers working on the restoration of the site or just children playing, or making a living for a few dollars from the tourists, they were the true meaning of “my” Angkor Vat. Of course, having people live close to heritage sights can create many tricky issues. But they are part of this magnificent place, and we must respect that. This is the experience I wanted to share with “Living in” photo work.  

Phu Quoc Island. Vietnam.

This peaceful tropical paradise, floats in the warm turquoise waters in the Gulf of Thailand, 50kms from the Vietnamese mainland and a 50 minute flight from Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Open year round with a peak season from November to March, Phu Quoc is becoming well known for stunning beaches, untouched natural environment, the easy going and relaxed atmosphere, friendly locals, and fantastic food. The majority of Phu Quoc Island is dedicated to National Park and protected marine environment, providing a memorable experience, with plenty of exciting activities and places to visit. For the best down to earth shopping and life style experience, visiting the local markets on the island is highly recommended. While western style goods are very limited, the local markets offer a colourful range of fruit, vegetables, seafood’s and much much more. Duong Dong market located in the centre of town along the river is the islands largest and most exciting local market. At most times of the day this can be a busy place with the local traffic running along the road and boats coming and going, loading and unloading their goods, and it is here you will find lovely ladies in conical hats selling everything from tropical fruits to unusual fishing equipment. If enjoying a colorful decent crowd is your thing, I strongly recommend Duong Dong market when cruise ships arrive (usually once a week) at the pier, bringing thousands of travellers, who fill the town and market place. I you have luck, you will shot a nice photo like this one.

“Still living in”. Angkor Vat. Cambodia.

Angkor is one of the most important archaeological sites in South-East Asia. Stretching over some 400 km2, including forested area, Angkor Archaeological Park contains the magnificent remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, from the 9th to the 15th century. They include the famous Temple of Angkor Wat and, at Angkor Thom, the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. The Angkor complex encompasses all major architectural buildings and hydrological engineering systems from the Khmer period and most of these “barays” and canals still exist today. All the individual aspects illustrate the intactness of the site very much reflecting the splendor of the cities that once were. Angkor is one of the largest archaeological sites in operation in the world and UNESCO has set up a wide-ranging programme to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings. Tourism represents an enormous economic potential but it can also generate irreparable destructions of the tangible as well as intangible cultural heritage. Visiting Angkor complex is a life time experience, for its beauty and for the history. Tourism seams to appear in all forms! In a back of an elephant, in a tuck-tuck ride, crowds expecting the wonder of the sunset, sleeping face admiring the sunrise over the stupas. But! Are we paying attention to all the details? Do we really see everything? What about people who lived within the Angkor Wat enclosure. Do we think about their feellings? Many people may not know that when the French first began to do research and conservation at Angkor Wat that there were Buddhist monks living very close to the main temple entrance. In fact, there are actually two Buddhist Wats within the Angkor Wat enclosure, called Wat Cheung (northern wat) and Wat Tbong (southern wat). In my visit to Angkor in 2013, while admiring this important archaeological site, I realize the importance that those faces had to me. No meter the fact that they are the workers working on the restoration of the site or just children playing, or making a living for a few dollars from the tourists, they were the true meaning of “my” Angkor Vat. Of course, having people live close to heritage sights can create many tricky issues. But they are part of this magnificent place, and we must respect that. This is the experience I wanted to share with my photos too.

In the laps of the days. Istanbul. Turkey.

I decided to publish a photo from Istanbul today. Just because I like it or I have a very good reason to do it. I felt that this photo is a part of me. This photo was taken in Istanbul, during the winter. I love Istanbul. I like this photo a lot: the city, the river, the human presence at the corner. It looks a little dirty, but still beautiful, a bit like Istanbul, itself. Istanbul is the city at the crossroads between Europe and Asia. Istanbul has lived through several empires and has a character that is marked by many layers of history – in this black-and-white image, the city’s melancholy aesthetic oscillates between tradition and modernity too. Sometimes we met in the chance of life, than we exchanged the laps of the days, we lose ourselves in the hours, we waited minutes senses, we lost the sense time. It’s a good feeling. Then, unexpectedly, we are touched by the word “missing”. A word difficult to define, but easy to feel. I think it is the most overwhelming feelings that exist. Is like a strong void. The silence. The absence. Like a piece that was taken from us. Time helped me to see the picture in perspective, explore the good parts of it, and keep it my memory.

People moves in the airport

People moves in the airport. They own their own destiny. I imagine the stories that terminate their lives. Passes a couple with holiday costume, tan, happy, certainly arriving from a warm place somewhere in the world. A group of executives are discussing serious themes nearby. Two young children play in the distance distract from everything around them. It seems to me that they are honest. Like them, I would be faithful to the truth that I know and that I believe. In life it may be ever so. Sincerity saved from us. If I am writing these words is because I am alive. Boarding begins. I enter into the plane. The plane takes off. I change the song. I choose "step", from Vampire Weekend. Happier. I relax a bit. I try to change to my book of José Luís Peixoto, who calls "inside the secret". Is the story of a secret trip to North Korea lived by him. I use it has an excuse to get in to track. I see in the distance a huge city by the window of the plane. I notice the coincidence - the title of the book – “Inside the secret” and I sketch a smile just for myself.

Portugal at the sea II

you don’t have to travel very far to find a quiet corner to enjoy the best surf and the harmony between man and nature just to yourself

Portugal at the sea

Somewhere in Portugal. In the traquility of a book, wainting for the waves.

Maximum Respect. Porters of Kilimanjaro. Tanzania

Anyone who has climbed Kilimanjaro will know what a huge role the porters played in the climb. About 20,000 climbers attempt to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania each year, the highest peak in Africa. Around 70 % of them succeed. Climbing high peaks can make people famous and admired. They get their names and photo in media. It also makes them admired among friends and colleagues. But who are the really heroes in this story? In all of my travelling experiences around the world, I have never experienced such enormous support to fulfill the final goal like in Kilimanjaro. I’ve always been impressed by guides and carriers for their strength, endurance and dedication. I’ve been assisted in jungles, deserts, some very hot valleys but nothing when compared with the porters at Kilimanjaro. These are the real heroes of Kilimanjaro, the ones that makes the magic appear in the summit night. When I reach the top on the 30^th June 2011, I remember standing on top of Kilimanjaro in a sea of clouds and snow and watching curious but in a funny way the porters who had accompanied us to the top muscled in on summit photos, grabbing cameras to record our happy moment. These guys do this as a job. They spend six days on the mountain, climbing in ragged clothes and shoes with 25 kg on their head and back. After you set out in the morning they pack up your tent and all the other equipment, they race past you to set everything up again at the next camp (for lunch also), they help the cook, do the dishes, serve your dinner, carry all the water from the nearest stream, boil it so you can have a hot wash and fill your bottles for the next day. Each day on the mountain is a struggle for life. Porters also carry another big task: they take care of the climbers` life, the big responsibility among all. So, the thing is…If we get to top is because this guys are hard workers and are there to help us. Symbolically I pray here my best respect to them all and loudly I say: MAXIMUM RESPECT.