portugal

This is: my favourite travel memory.

I couldn't possible narrow it down to one single memory, I'm not sure I could even narrow it down to a city or country, I've loved so many of my travels, but for the purpose of Hila's "this is" theme this week I've chosen to share Portugal!

While other travel memories I have are moments, feelings, people, culture, ambience, etc, Portugal still holds thick in my visual memory. It's literally coated in pattern, everywhere your eyes come to rest; from the patterned footpaths, to the colourfully tiled houses, and painted tile murals. It's like no other place I've ever been.

Whether it be ornate decoration, or decaying paint or stonework, there's pattern to be found at all ends of the spectrum. The beauty does not favour the rich over the poor, it spreads itself equally and generously among all. Whether it be new and carefully laid out, or ancient and haphazard, the colours still shine bright.

Of course I still hold many unique moments from our time there fondly...
- Coming across a small pet market. No not a small market of pet things, a largish market selling only small pets.
- Old women sitting on every corner every Thursday selling small posies of wilted handpicked wildflowers, wrapped in a bit a tin foil.
- And the day I stood looking closely at the mountain of Christian souvenir paraphernalia in this stall for a good minute before I realised there was a live woman tucked in amongst it.


All I can say is no wonder there is such beautiful art and craft coming from the bloggers of Portugal!