Recently, I went to a restaurant called "Sabores do Mar" to celebrate my certificate of portuguese culture and language with a few members of my family. Located right in front of the beach near the capital of Portugal, Lisbon. There is a balcony-terrrase on the first floor of the restaurant which provides the clients with a marvellous view on the beach and the ocean where the fishing boats were fishing in the horizon. This lookout gives also the opportunity of eating al fresco. Moreover, the air is fulfilled with the delicate and traditional scent of sea.
The interior of the place is decorated with nautic motives without exageration. Wood is privileged over other materials and ropes and nets, reminding the ones used in fishing boats, are hung here and there. However, what surprised me the most was this immense aquarium situated in a corner of the restaurant containing the a wide array of fresh fish used in the meals. The setting of the tables is elegant in a casual way which endows the place with a touch of portuguese traditions and conviviality. The result of this is not only a warm atmosphere, but also a peaceful ambiance where people can make themselves at ease.
The menu is sophisticatedly written in Portuguese, but also in English offering a great selection of local meals based on fresh seafood like crabs, shellfishes, clams, prawns, etc. Obviously, the restaurant proposes especially for the young a variety of easy and more basic dishes. Furthermore, the customers can see the workers coming directly from the beach with the still alive fish to supply the restaurant. It can seem a little bit startling for some people, but personally I loved the fact of seeing the provenance of the products and I was certain that the food was not only fresh, but local and traditionally made on the spot. The servings are generous and enticingly presented. I was more than satiated at the end of the dinner with an exquisite home made meal. The dessserts are also made in the restaurant I could not find " Movenpick" ice cream, instead I could taste a well-known Portuguese dessert that my grandma used to make when I was a child. Moreover, the food is full of flavour bringing back memories of authentic meals cooked in my childhood.
The service is professional and friendly, attentive to the customers without being constantly intrusive during the dinner which allowed me to appreciate fully. One thing that I found myself delighted was that the waiting staff is knowledgeable about the menu and can help the client in its choices. In addition, they are efficient, I did not grew impatient since the waiting time between the different servings is not too long.
To sum up, I recommend this restaurant without any hesitation. Nevertheless, I have to point out that it is a little bit expensive. However, it stays affordable. Considering the quality of the ingredients and the aromas which emanate from the food and whet the appetite, in addition to the incredible taste, it is definetely worth it.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Noosa "Public Transport"
I have been in Noosa for nearly five months and I have really been appreciating the area, however I have an unique objection to that: the so called public transport of Noosa. Personally, I have had some misadventures with whatever related to these transports. I am sure that I am not the only one, at least it has provided my friends and myself with a topic of conversation. I spent hours debating on the total incompetence of the public transport.
We all know that we have to pay a careful attention to the timetables knowing that a bus comes every half an hour for the luckiest of ourselves, but most of the time we have to wait for another hour. Honestly, I think that this timetable is completely useless, bus drivers do as they please. I remember walking in direction to the busstop at least ten minutes before it was supposed to arrive and it was on the verge of leaving the busstop I could run as fast as possible to catch it, but it was already too late or sometimes the bus does not come at all. Why do I have to make an effort with the public transport if instead of spending thirty minutes and more to reach a destination, I can be in ten minutes exactly wherever I want with a car? We do not have to forget that the buses do not lead us to the spot that we really want we have to count an extra ten to fifteen minutes of walk. Well, I suppose this is what people call to be environmentally friendly, but it can get truly on my nerves. In addition, it really sets me back in my budget because the price of the ticket is exorbitantly expensive. But what put me down once, was that a bus driver made me to get off the bus because I had only fifty dollars and no change for the ticket. Why should I be obstinate to use the public transport if there are only drawbacks to it? and what about the fact that the last bus going from my house to the town centre is at six in the evenning? How can I do if I want to drink something in the evening or simply go out in a nightclub? Do all local teenagers have a car at their disposal?
Nevertheless, the main problem is situated somewhere else. How come that Noosa's translink is so backwards compared to other small towns where the buses come more frequently and are definitely cheaper? The council of the Sunshine Coast is oblivious about the matter and has been turning a deaf ear to the several complaints ro develop the network of the public transport. In the meantime, willing people as myself endeavour to use the deficient public trasnports of Noosa.
We all know that we have to pay a careful attention to the timetables knowing that a bus comes every half an hour for the luckiest of ourselves, but most of the time we have to wait for another hour. Honestly, I think that this timetable is completely useless, bus drivers do as they please. I remember walking in direction to the busstop at least ten minutes before it was supposed to arrive and it was on the verge of leaving the busstop I could run as fast as possible to catch it, but it was already too late or sometimes the bus does not come at all. Why do I have to make an effort with the public transport if instead of spending thirty minutes and more to reach a destination, I can be in ten minutes exactly wherever I want with a car? We do not have to forget that the buses do not lead us to the spot that we really want we have to count an extra ten to fifteen minutes of walk. Well, I suppose this is what people call to be environmentally friendly, but it can get truly on my nerves. In addition, it really sets me back in my budget because the price of the ticket is exorbitantly expensive. But what put me down once, was that a bus driver made me to get off the bus because I had only fifty dollars and no change for the ticket. Why should I be obstinate to use the public transport if there are only drawbacks to it? and what about the fact that the last bus going from my house to the town centre is at six in the evenning? How can I do if I want to drink something in the evening or simply go out in a nightclub? Do all local teenagers have a car at their disposal?
Nevertheless, the main problem is situated somewhere else. How come that Noosa's translink is so backwards compared to other small towns where the buses come more frequently and are definitely cheaper? The council of the Sunshine Coast is oblivious about the matter and has been turning a deaf ear to the several complaints ro develop the network of the public transport. In the meantime, willing people as myself endeavour to use the deficient public trasnports of Noosa.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Things I want to achieve in the next ten years
I often think of the future as something blurred and unknown completely out of reach which I am afraid of. However, to counter this fear I tend to plan what I want to achieve in a certain time in outlining the most essential points. Obviously, it is a subjective point of view, but everyone has more or less the same aspirations and ambitions with slight differences.
In the next ten years, there are so many things that I would like to have accomplished to be blossomed. For instance, I want to undertake a humanitarian trip to a developing country to be really aware of another culture and way of life than mine, living in a developed country without having had a lack of any vital need. It is natural for me to have three square meals a day or water whenever I want. It can seem a cliche, but it is crucial to contribute for a better world or at least try to do something useful. It is a personal achievement to devote myself to the needs of others for once in my life and everyone should do the same. The awareness that an experience like that can bring is immense, advertisements and documentaries about global issues are no longer efficient because we have become immune to this bombardment of the media.
In ten years and in a more selfish way, I want to achieve success in my own life. Nonetheless, that does not mean that I have to do it at all costs in letting or pushing down people that are on my way. Success is self-challenging all the time and is the smiliest thing ever. For me it means to have a career that will allow me to sustain the needs of a probable family that I would like to form. " It is a platitude", you would say. You have to observe deeper what this actually means. The achievement and the challenge in having a family that you have to take care of and protect is self-rewarding. It is easy to be happy, but share your happiness with others and sometimes making sacrifices and still be cheerful, this is the hardest part of the challenge.
In ten years, I want above all to be knowledgeable and curious about things as I am now. I realised that people tend to lose their interest and passion when they are getting older. They take everything for granted and their lives are a mere routine. Passions maintain my interests and force me in a positive way to keep up my brain learning. It does not only lighten up my life, but it is also self-satisfying. Did you know that being interested all the time prevent you from contracting neuro-degenerative diseases?
In ten years I willl be 29 and I am already working on these abstract achievements that I want to carry off successfully. What about you?
In the next ten years, there are so many things that I would like to have accomplished to be blossomed. For instance, I want to undertake a humanitarian trip to a developing country to be really aware of another culture and way of life than mine, living in a developed country without having had a lack of any vital need. It is natural for me to have three square meals a day or water whenever I want. It can seem a cliche, but it is crucial to contribute for a better world or at least try to do something useful. It is a personal achievement to devote myself to the needs of others for once in my life and everyone should do the same. The awareness that an experience like that can bring is immense, advertisements and documentaries about global issues are no longer efficient because we have become immune to this bombardment of the media.
In ten years and in a more selfish way, I want to achieve success in my own life. Nonetheless, that does not mean that I have to do it at all costs in letting or pushing down people that are on my way. Success is self-challenging all the time and is the smiliest thing ever. For me it means to have a career that will allow me to sustain the needs of a probable family that I would like to form. " It is a platitude", you would say. You have to observe deeper what this actually means. The achievement and the challenge in having a family that you have to take care of and protect is self-rewarding. It is easy to be happy, but share your happiness with others and sometimes making sacrifices and still be cheerful, this is the hardest part of the challenge.
In ten years, I want above all to be knowledgeable and curious about things as I am now. I realised that people tend to lose their interest and passion when they are getting older. They take everything for granted and their lives are a mere routine. Passions maintain my interests and force me in a positive way to keep up my brain learning. It does not only lighten up my life, but it is also self-satisfying. Did you know that being interested all the time prevent you from contracting neuro-degenerative diseases?
In ten years I willl be 29 and I am already working on these abstract achievements that I want to carry off successfully. What about you?
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