Good morning, Hivers!
Today I want to share with you an experience I had this past weekend
Last weekend I went to the Lisbon Book Fair for a book signing of a children's book written by a friend from my adolescence. This Fair takes place every year, and is one of the most important book showcases, both for publishers and avid readers, as the books we can buy there are marked with a discount that may vary between 10 and 50%!
Imagine what it is like to have the opportunity to acquire a book with such a considerable discount, and also to have the chance to find it in an open-air exhibition, which takes place in one of the largest and most emblematic gardens in the city of Lisbon.
To go to the Fair, I could very well have gone by car, but I preferred to add to the experience a choice of means of transport, which goes according to the transport I like to use the most and which gives more freedom .... I think I share this pleasure with many of you. Living very close to a train station, and having this opportunity to move around without motor difficulty, of course I could have no other choice.
One of the terminal stations of the Sintra Line is Rossio. And the train station alone is a "monument" that deserves a day sharing with you all its uniqueness, architecture and all its magnificence. Leaving the station, we come face to face with Avenida da Liberdade, one of the best known central avenues of the city of Lisbon... For me just the fact of being able to walk without "time to arrive" is a great pleasure that I try whenever possible to obtain in my walks.
Walking up the Avenida da Liberdade, from the Restauradores Square, all the light and the quantity of passers-by of multiple nationalities, leaves anyone with an energy and a will to just be in the street and absorb all the energy.
Street ice cream sellers are more than frequent at this time of year, despite the fact that fortunately temperatures do not yet exceed 30º Celcius. In winter these same vendors sell the traditional roasted chestnuts.
Passing the Travessa da Gloria, I could not fail to capture one of the most emblematic vehicles of our Lisbon! A tram which because it is so special (since it basically goes up and down a slope with a marked inclination) is called a lift.
At São Jorge Cinema, located on the left side of the avenue, everything was being prepared for a cinema session called "Lisbon Motorcycle Filmfest" (when I went down the avenue, already at the end of the day, the amount of motorbikes in the park was impressive... Unfortunately I couldn't take a quality photo).
Arriving at Alameda Edgar Cardoso, the imposing and green Park Eduardo VII is presented in all its splendor, today and in the coming days, dressed with small stalls, lined up side by side, and organized in 4 rows along the entire length of the central part of the Park.
Among books, booksellers, readers, and the curious, the sidewalk became practically a showcase of people, ideas, books, activities, and gastronomy. Here is the stall that I passed by, and that I felt an enormous urge to stop for a fantastic Poke Bowl, but the "mission" of getting to the point where my friend would be signing autographs could not be jeopardized!
Among books, booksellers, readers and the curious, the promenade became practically a showcase of people, ideas, books, activities and gastronomy. Large terraces organized into large spaces, small reading corners, and even little coffee tables located next to the central garden... Everything that could be needed to make the shopping and reading experience enjoyable, without hunger or tiredness making the experience less pleasant.
When I arrived at the meeting place, a considerable number of friends of mutual friends, many of whom I had not seen for over 25 years, were joining in. Impressive was the idea I was left with, that somehow I would have "stopped in time". This is because, of all the couples, I was practically the only one who is still single, and of the few who do not have children. But looking back, that cannot be my goal or meaning in life. We all have vicissitudes, tastes, characteristics, defects and qualities, we can't want that in such a heterogeneous society, a common thread, or a life option be the only and obligatory path. We all have a purpose, even if it is to show others that there are alternatives...
I hope you have enjoyed my publication.
Bem Hajam🍀
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Photographic edition with PhotoScape X
I love the idea that the Lisbon Book Fair is not only a place to buy books, but also an experience in itself. It's great that you had the opportunity to reconnect with old friends and share a day full of books, laughter and memories. It is true that we all have our own paths and purposes in life, and these can be very different. The important thing is that everyone finds what works best for them and feels happy and satisfied with their life. Thanks for sharing your experience, very nice photos.
Thank you so much for your comment, @faniaviera ! It was surely a very well passed day 😉
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When I meet my friends from school they ALWAYS ask me when I finally will have children. They somehow don't get that this doesn't need to be the meaning of life and that a person can be happy without them. They all have 2 to 3 kids and I only see them yelling at them and punishing them.. Well, no, thank you, I love my life 😂 So I can imagine how you felt when everyone was in couples having families..
So you have a famous friend! I don't know any writers.. But if I knew some I would definitely go for cheap books 😅
Well, in "my" case it's impossible (at the moment) to have children, since I'm single 😅
But, I must confess to you, Martina, that it was a experience that when I was about 20yo I thought a lot about it. To have a family. Just like you said, there is always a positive side in everything, right?
Just for "fun", the book that my friend wrote is a children's story book, and my friend was my very first girlfriend (25 year ago) 😂
I bought on book about photography initiation "Fotografia" by Joel Santos and it cost me only 15 Eur! You can see the "normal" price in Amazon... A true bargain! 😊
Thank you oso much for your comment 😃
I used to want to have children when I was younger too, but then I realized that it's not really what I want, but what my family was telling me that I want.
Well, you never know when your relationship status may change 😉
WOW! It indeed is a true bargain! So good for you! 🙂
My pleasure! Have a lovely start of the week