PORTUGAL 2005 Part 12

It's a very long time until I can reached this final part. Enjoy it!

(This story continue from Part 11 - THE INDEX of this series are HERE)

**FAREWELL TO PORTUGAL**

'How are you, P' Praphon?' I asked Mr. Phaphon right in the next morning, at the breakfast table, after half-night walk through the rain last night. 'I thought I would've to get a cold, but I wouldn't.'

'Me, too.' replied Mr. Praphon 'What time do we leave?'

'I'm not quite sure but it'll be around 10 or 10:30.'

'Hmm, then let's have fast breakfast and we'll have a bit of time to stroll around. It's good light today.' He emptied his big cup of coffee before continue 'Had you packed?'

'Already! we can spend as much time as we have this morning but let me go back and pick some additonal clothes at my room first, it might be cold outside!' I answered and hurried back to my room.

I did really want to brought out some warm clothes which I brought over 10,000 km from my home country but couldn't find a chance to use them; a Texas long sleeve polyester top and a liverpool scarf. When I came back, Mr. Praphon look amaze at me.

'What?' He started 'You did brought these from Bangkok but why on earth did you never use them?'

'Oh! Because Portugal is warmer than I was expected. These gears are for temperature at or below 5 degree celcius. But today is the last day and I thought I better use them.' I replied.

'You should think of that sooner....more sooner...'

Both of us walked from the hotel's front to hotel's back and found out that on the back of the Palacio Hotel, there is a small casino, 'Casino Estoril'. As soon as we started walking, light went out again, and the rain was going to pour. However, I got used to these type of weather and just ignore it.

After stroll around in the pouring rain, we crossed the rail to the famous Estoril beach, a golden sand beach. There is no rain here and the sand is golden. The most beautiful beach I've ever seen over 2 weeks in Portugal. 'If I be here in the summer, I will swim in this blue sea no matter what!' I thought.

We returned to Hotel's lobby just after 10:30 and found many poeple here. Joyce was also there. She was updating Nora's symptom to others. She said that Nora have to be in Portugal until the doctor allows her to fly.

When everyone's ready, Pedro drove us to the airport where we did last farewell to him and also to Nunu. A few days ago, I wanted this day to come, but now, it's getting hard to part. When I was on board, sitting silently, thinking of thinks I've learnt and how valuable they are.

The SWISS was landing softly at the Suvarnabhumi airport. I, was walking toward the baggage claim area, called my girlfriend...

'I'M BACK....'

PORTUGAL 2005 Part 11

(This story continue from Part 10 - THE INDEX of this series are HERE)

**Final almoço em Portugal - FINAL LUNCH IN PORTUGAL**

The hard day for the company was passed by. I felt better when the next daylight shone on my face. The company set out again for the last business. It was a fair daylight in late November. Joyce wasn't with us today, she went to see Nora ere the dawn came. Pedro the driver drove carefully as ever but it was like the company has been spelled - No jest nor joke as of usual.

After the morning session, Nunu's colleague, zelador da empresa (the company's caretaker) led us to a restaurant which she claimed very very good in both taste and history. It was an old restaurant stuffed with various kinds of food; from soup 'til dessert. The hi-light of the restaurant was the old-style cooking equipment with large chimney in the centre of the room. She explained that this room was once being a kitchen for high family in the old days. The environment outside the restaurant was magnificent. I did use the long lunch time shooting many pictures. The taste of food was good but I might enjoyed them better if I didn't felt 'Thai-Food-Missing-sickness-syndrome' !!!

Thus our 'Última almoço da empresa em Portugal' - last lunch of the company in Portugal.

**Lisboa durante a noite - LISBON @ NIGHT**

When the dusk came, the training session was end, and my time in Portugal is also going to end. I and Mr. Praphon agreed that we can't afford to went back without exploring the heart of Lisbon, even it's during at night, like when we did in Oporto.

I and Mr. Praphon took comboio suburbano (suburban train) from Estoril to Cais do Sodré, which cost us only around 2EUD each and took 25 minutes. Cais do Sodré is located near the Lisbon's Linha da Caravela (Green line) Metro and the ferry station of Transtejo company which offers ferries to Cacilhas, Seixal and Montijo.

: Lisbon Metro Map from WIKIPEDIA

: With suburban train we used

After struggling for some time, we found the way to the mentioned Metro and were starting to discuss which way we should go. I proposed that we should enter Lisbon's downtown because last week we did explore Lisbon's urban at Oriente. We were not sure so we decided to took off the Metro station-by-station, starting from the next, Baixa-Chiado.

We had lucky and unlucky thing at that time, Baixa-Chiado seemed to link with the centre of Lisbon but it was about to rain again. I really felt angry because it was always rain when I were free or on vacation.

'RAIN? Why you've gotta rain? please do not rain, it is my last night in Lisbon, for heaven's sakes!!' I roared. But it seemed like asking for somethings from god from Buddist like me received no answer. The rain started pouring lightly. 'We shouuld go, shouldn't we?' I asked my superior.

'It seems like we have no choice, oh...' he stopped when we stepped out of the Metro exit. 'Look!, it's the christmas lights!!! They've prepared it one month ahead'.

At that moment, we accidentally found an old strange building. 'Elevador de Santa Justa' or 'Santa Justa Elevator' was its name. Some might call it 'Elevador do Carmo' (Carmo Elevator). This lift was built by Raul Mesnier de Ponsard, Gustave Effel's apprentice engineer. The elevator was more than 100 years old and still working.

The rain was getting stronger when we left Elevador de Santa Justa. We, then, walk straight down the slope of the hill. At the street's end, I found the beautiful 'Terreiro do Paço' which its square is now decorated with the LARGEST CHRISTMAS TREE IN EUROPE!! How big it is, I cannot say.

'Whooo! How can we manage to be here?' I asked but it's like I was murmuring to myself. 'This place must be very beautiful under sunlight but with this Christmas Tree, its beauty goes on day and night. Let's too several pictures P' Praphon!' I added but Mr. Praphon was too quick, he already took a few pictures.

'Come in to the frame!!' he called.

You can see how big it is from my last picture which was taken a few hundred metres. I confirmed that it was the largest in Europe after I travelled back to my home country.

THIS STORY CONTINUES IN THE NEXT PART

PORTUGAL 2005 Part 10

INCREDIBLY, THIS SERIES HAS COME THIS LONG... THANKS FOR ALL THAT KEEP ON WAITING AND READING!!!

(This story continue from Part 9 - THE INDEX of this series are HERE)

**SICKNESS OF NORA**

In the morning, the company met at half past eight and everyone was there but there were no sign of participants from Philippines; "Joyce", Jessica Joyce N. Cirunay, and "Nora", Leonora Eco.

'It's quite amazing,' I said to Mr. Praphon. 'they never be this late. Or that because of our Chinese food late night contained too much MSG for Joyce. She might feeling ill today.'. Mr. Praphon made no answer.

After waiting for her in the bus for a while, both of them stepped in. Joyce looked well but wary. She hold her colleague's , Nora, shoulders tightly, helping her who was trying to help herself.

'Poor Nora!' she cried out loud as soon as Nora got to her seat, her eyes went red but she added nothing. Nunu went directly to her and started to ask. I saw like Joyce explained things to him twice and after Nunu left her, starting to use his phone, for a while, she contained herself better and was starting to explain things to us that already gathered round her and Nora, sitting weak in her seat.

'She felt weak on one-side.' Joyce started and told the others that things happened to Nora after showered in the early morning. She felt very weak and panicked. However, it might not as bad as we firstly thought. Joyce told us that the doctor had checked Nora and told her that it is not likely a stroke. 'She is healthy and don't have any underlying disease which related to the stoke.' We were reliefed after hearing Joyce's explanation and the company was being ready for the returning trip to Lisbon in the afternoon.

Before lunch, we visited 'The Roman Ruins of Conímbriga' - The largest Roman Ruins of Portugal - which brought us back to the third century. I took only a few pictures since I was not in the mood. Nora told us she felt better but still weak.

We took our lunch at Hotel D. Luis when Nora felt worse again. We stayed a few hours there and we received a signal from Nunu that Prof. Gaspar decided that Nora should be back to the Coimbra University Hospitol. Pedro the driver drove, faster but more gentle, us backed to Coimbra.

Hospitol staffs were ready when we arrived. Nunu and Joyce went with Nora. The rest of the company was waited in or around the bus in the parking lot. It's getting cold. More than an hour passed, Nunu came back first and told the company the bad news.

'Nora had a stroke. The doctor didn't let anyone to be with Nora but Joyce asked for his permission in order to be her friend in this foreign country. Prof. Gaspar was there too. I think doctor will allow them to be with Nora for a while.'

'How about us tonight?' someone in the company asked Nunu 'We can't wait here 'till dawn but we don't want to leave the philippines behind. We have to decide - stay here another night or heading for Lisbon.'

'I don't think we will stay here tonight.' replied Nunu, 'At the worse case, Joyce will stay here but we have to wait a bit more...'

It was around 9 p.m. when the company left the hospitol. Joyce was with us but she will come back, by train, as soon as the next light of dawn. We all waried and worried but Joyce was the worst. Nora might have to stay in Portugal for a bit longer, until doctor allow her to fly. Pedro drove steadily South to Lisbon. It was almost midnight when the company reached 'Hotel Palacio' in Estoril, Lisbon. The light of Lisbon didn't enlighten us as much as it should be.

PS. I decided to cut the other things because the fact is that in that day, I worried much about Nora and I would like to dedicate this blue chapter to her.

PS2. Nora was recovered well, I'm not sure whether it is 100% or not.

THIS STORY CONTINUES IN PART 11

PORTUGAL 2005 Part 9

(This story continue from Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 - Part 7 and Part 8)

**FAREWELL TO OPORTO**

As soon as the Tuesday sun rise, the company left Oporto, the city which I wish to spend at least 3 or 4 days exploring the historic and scenic of the city.

'The person who organised this trip must have the ability of the tour guide.' I said to Mr. Praphon. 'I think Professor Rogerio Gaspar is the one who organise this event but Why?' he asked in return.

'We have only a brief time in each city than we expected. If we want to see more, we've gotta to return here again.' I replied and started to murmured 'O OPorto old and fair, the home of world's great wine. Port wine of her is sweet but strong, carried to the town from Vale do Douro by rabelos. The autumn here is cold and gold is every corner of the town of old. I wish I could return again, to feel the more of OPorto a foz do Rio Douro (OPorto on mouth of Douro river).' (It didn't like a song as which I sang at Cabo da Roca but the expression in my heart at the time of the parting of the fair city.) I sat silence, staring out of the bus, trying to remember as much of Oporto as I could.

The company turned South-westward to 'COIMBRA', a city unforeheard by most of us but it was once the capitol of Portuguese Empire. We travelled by the straight road and didn't make any stop since we had programme to visit Coimbra hospitol before noon.

**IN THE COIMBRA, THE CITY OF HISTORY**

The historic city of Coimbra is located in central Portugal, around cem (100) kilometer south of Porto and duzentos (200) north of Lisbon. I was looking to see the Coimbra University which is claimed, as Nunu told us, to be the world's 5th oldest university.

After vsiting one of the most advanced hospitol in Portugal, Nunu let us rest after lunch, waiting for the time that we could visit the university. By this time, the company took photographs together.

: with 2 participants from Singapore: Jessica Teo & Lim Na
: with Nunu
: boys band!?

++Universidade de Coimbra (University of Coimbra)++

This university is claimed by the Portuguese that it is the 5th oldest university of the world. The university was founded, or ratified, in 1290 by King Dinis, in Lisbon. For some reasons, about 20 years later, the univeersity was moved to Coimbra. After moving to and fro between Lisbon and Coimbra for several times, the university was permanently located in Coimbra in 1537. Universidade de Coimbra is one of the most renowned university in Portugal and in European continent. I's stunned with the classic architectures which has been well reserved.

We walked through Porta Férrea (the old gate) to the main courtyard which shining againt the pale red afternoon sunlight. The statue of D. João III was standing in the courtyard.

: the old gate (source: WIKIPEDIA)
: the main courtyard (source: WIKIPEDIA)
: with king João III
: a series of pictures of Mr. Praphon, my pics are blurred again -*-

After a brief visit with the university senior staffs in the 'red room', the university allowed us to visit the famous 'Biblioteca Joanina' or The Joanina Library, a Baroque-style library from the 18th century.

One of the university staff took us to the entrance and led us in. It was dark inside because the university want to reserve the beauty of old. After the light was turned on, I was amazed of what I thought I was staring at 'um grande palácio de ouro velho e leal' (a great golden palace of old and fair). It was indeed a library because there are books everywhere, eventhough it was unlikely to pick them for reading or borrowing.

'There are more than two hunderd thousand books in these great halls,' said the university staffs 'so, this place is the pride of Portuguese knowledge and it is priceless. For us, people of Universidade de Coimbra, will reserve them the best we can. It survived many earthquakes and will survive more. You might take a picture or two but definitely do not use flash. If you do not know how to close your auto flash function, I recommend you not to shoot a picture here, okay?'

His word was definite and non-negiotiable. So, I took a picture in the dark with 'night-mode'. It's not so good but better than having nothing.

The Sun was gone when we left Universidade de Coimbra. We stayed at TRYP Coimbra Hotel nearby the hospitol. That night was the last night for me in Coimbra and we had only a few days left in Portugal. We invited Nunu, the care taker, and Pedro, the driver, to have a dinner with us in a chinese restaurant in Coimbra.

Pedro was not familiar with chopsticks and he asked for a fork after trying to use them for a while and felt that he couldn't catch up with our speed ^_^. Nunu was skillful, or might be better than some of us. We tried to tell him how to use the chopsticks nicely and I thought he can use them very good now.

We were planned to travelled back to Lisbon tomorrow but a sad thing happened...

THIS STORY CONTINUES IN PART 10 (Oh my God! this series is getting too long!)

PORTUGAL 2005 Part 8

(This story continue from Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3 - Part 4 - Part 5 - Part 6 and Part 7)

**A TRIP TO OPORTO** (Cont.)

After visiting the Santa Maria da Vitória na Batalha (Batalha Monastery), the bus took off again, heading north. It took us a brief of time until we reached the Sanctuary of Fatima.

++Santuário de Fátima++

One hundred and forty-two kilometres (88 miles) North of Lisbon located Fátima, one of the most important shrines of the world dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This Sanctuary welcomes millions of pilgrims and tourists from all over the world. The fame of this place is the result of the Apparitions of 'Our Lady of the Rosary' to three shepherd children Lúcia and her cousins, Francisco and Jacinta that, between May and October of 1917, witnessed successive apparitions. The last one, on October 13th, was confirmed by a miracle witnessed by 70,000 people "on the day the sun danced". (source: PORTUGALVIRTUAL)

This sacred place is known as the most sacred in Portugal for the Virgin Mary. It was a bit sad for me since the rain again was fallen. I'm sure this place looks brighter and fairer in the full sunlight.

After a wet visit, the bus took off again, our company was heading north toward OPorto, the main city in the north of Portugal. Eventhough we took only one brief halt to find some refreshments, we arrived our hotel, Le Meridien Park Atlantic Porto, late and too tired to go out.

**OPORTO AT NIGHT**

I was spending 2 nights in Oporto, a city on the Rio Douro (Douro river), in the cosy hotel, Le Meridien Park Atlantic Porto. Our hotel was very nice eventhough there was no interesting place nearby. I had a chance to shoot some pictures on my first day training when our bus stopped. It was the nice pictures with the 'rabelos', the flat-bottom boats which was the vehicle used to transport 'PORT WINE' wine downriver from Vale do Douro (Douro valley), to be stored in barrels in cellars in Vila Nova de Gaia, just across the river from OPorto, one of the six bridges and the magnificent view of Oporto herself.

Later that night, and the last night in Oporto, I and Mr. Praphon agreed that, even though we were tired, we have to explore OPorto's city, by night was better than none. So, we leave the hotel, heading to the nearest Metro station (newly open) which took us around 20 minutes walk. After trying to understand how to use the system for a while, we took off to a station which we assumed to be the central part of the city.

I, somehow, was in a part of the city but I hardly noticed where I was. The Oporto @ night was quite peaceful; not many people walking to and fro. The air was chill but since I was walking continuously, I wasn't felt too cold. If you can recognise the place in the pictures, please let me know by commenting this post.

: a very beautiful scene of Oporto

: Mr. Praphon and golden leaves (My picture is blur -*-)

: a church

: in the train station

: Mapa da Cidade do Porto (Map of City of Porto)

Thus conclude my nights in Oporto. It was magnificent!!! However, I had to leave this beautiful scenic city and heading South-East to Coimbra. I wish I could come and visit Oporto once again.

THIS STORY CONTINUES IN PART 9