There’s so much to write about, and with our growing social opportunities, there’s so little time. I’ve been stockpiling some images from Setubal that may help me tell some stories more easily than relying 100% on written words. Let’s see how that goes.
This architectural relic, part of a doorway to what was probably a public building, adorns a city park. So much nicer than adding it to a landfill.I spotted this old public fountain on a small street. It was attached to a building that currently houses a tattoo parlor. It offers a glimpse into life in an earlier time, as one imagines women gathering with buckets and jars to collect their daily water and gossip. If I ever forget we live by the sea, these ubiquitous signs are a reminder. They point the way to safety in case a tsunami is headed inlandThis, and the photo below are also reminders of a seaside life. Above, the slabs of salted cod (“bacalhau”) available in every grocery store. Each one is about one meter long. (Just under three feet.) Below, octopus tentacles fill freezer space in the stores
In previous posts, I’ve shown you the typical “modern” apartment blocks that provide most of the housing in Setubal. Above, and below, you’ll see two examples of a different style of housing, found in the older sections of town. Notice the intricate detail on these beauties.
Check out the grand lobby of City Hall (know as “camera” in Portuguese). This is the interior of the beautifully restored purple building I’ve shown before.This mosaic portrait stands about 12 feet high and adorns a wall adjacent to the Museum of Work. I believe it depicts a fisherman of earlier times.These calla lilies frame the pathways through our favorite park. When I recall how much we paid for each calla lily stem for our daughter’s wedding, I wonder if anyone here has thought of raising them as a cash crop.While watching the children’s carnival celebration in the town square, we enjoyed seeing kids dressed in all kinds of costumes. This little girl was decked out as a police officer, complete with a painted on beard. Just as she and her family crossed over to the square, a city police car pulled up onto the sidewalk. A young bearded officer leapt from the cruiser with a big grin on his handsome face. He spoke with the little girl, and holding his door open for her, ushered her into the front seat of the cruiser. She proudly sat there while her family took photos. All the while, the four officers were smiling and laughing in good fun.
Well, I feel like I’ve caught up a little. I’ll add more in the near future. Thanks for reading.
