Guimarães, Portugal - On the way to the historic centre - the Church and Monastery of S. Domingos; the main square - The 1st of November 2019

It was raining quite heavily as I left the hotel, but I was nevertheless determined to make my way to the historic centre. Soon after walking up the street that led to the main square I came across a Church facade that I later identified as pertaining to the Church and  Monastery of São Domingos.

 

Upon entering the religious temple I realised a mess was just about to finish, so I patiently waited so as to have the opportunity of  visiting the 14th century Gothic church and get a glimpse of its 18th century altar piece, I found to be very interesting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main square was almost empty but there was an Autumn-like atmosphere I was drawn to. I approached a sculpture that stood in the further distance and soon noticed it was the result of a project called " Art will try to fix you", in which discarded wheelchairs and other objects associated or previously used by people with mobility disabilities were utilized. I must say I was impressed by both the idea behind the Art piece but also its final result - two different faces on either side of it.

 

 

 

 

Guimarães, Portugal - Mestre de Avis Hotel - 31st of October and 1st of November 2019

I reached Guimarães in the late evening and  despite the severe rain and darkness I came across as I left the train station I managed to walk my way towards the Hotel I had selected to spend my three days at, which was fairly close to the centre of the city.

 

 

I had not imagined I would fall in love with it so quickly but the fact that wherever I looked I was surrounded by art, (whether in the form of paintings covering the walls as I made my way up to the third floor or metal and wooden sculptures my eyes were drawn to), definitely dictated my initial positive judgement.

 

 

Porto Santo island - The Refresher courses and the long wait to go back home - The 23rd of October 2019

The Refresher courses always bring the opportunity of getting to reconnect with students I have not regularly seen though in this case it wasn't quite like that.

 

Once the last Refresher course was finished I walked back and forth around the airport outside area to make time for the afternoon flight to Madeira. I ended up concentrating my attention on the plants and the rather exquisite statue that stood right in front of the terminal before boarding the flight unaware that as from Madeira airport onwards everything would start going wrong in regards to delays added to delays that seemed to only be communicated right before the presupposed boarding. 

By the time I landed at Lisbon airport it was early morning and I was not only tired but equally upset because lately whenever I board any flight from the Portuguese carrier there seems to be some sort of problem.