domingo, 8 de janeiro de 2012

I fully blame my nationality for both my literature and travelling craves.

And no, I am actually not kidding.

Having been born and raised in Portugal is, I tell you, the main reason why I got to grow an interest in both travelling and literature.

I mean, tales of sailors who fearlessly departed from Belém to reach the exotic lands of Africa, India and Brazil are immensely absorbing - and also very easy to get should you happen to be portuguese.

In fact, I do believe it gets to be hard to ignore the discoveries era and its symbology. Teachers mention it, and so do relatives, friends, books, museums or tiles. It is even included in our national flag.

And then, should this not be enough, as a portuguese person one learns from a very young age about poetry and writers in general. We come accross authors Gil Vicente, Sophia de Mello Breyner or Eça de Queiroz before we reach 15.

Additionally, should you happen to grow up in Lisbon, you get used to meeting up at Largo Camões, to pass by Fernando Pessoa every time you go to Chiado, or to come accross poetry while cycling along the margins of the Tagus River.

I would consider the possibility of this being slightly exaggerated. I honestly would.
Was it, of course, not for the fact that I realized yesterday that the portuguese passport depicts either Fernando Pessoa or Luís de Camões in every single page. And scanned my own passport to prove it (check out the attached images).

Being portuguese is, I am beyond sure now, one of the main reasons why I am departing on an Europe / Asia / South America trip.

I'll keep you posted.

Departure time: Tomorrow, 7PM.
Destination: Paris.

- Teresa Lima

1 comentário:

  1. Hmm it appearѕ like your blog ate my fіrst comment (it was extremely long) so I gueѕs Ι'll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I'm thoroughly enјoying your
    blog. I as well am an aspiring blog bloggeг but I'm still new to everything. Do you have any helpful hints for novice blog writers? I'd сertainly apprecіate it.



    Feel free to viѕit my webpage ... keep reading

    ResponderEliminar