https://www.visitportugal.com/en/content/visit-aveiro Archives

Get smart bikes and boats in Green Aveiro

23rd October 202423rd October 2024 funtime65

And because we know you, and our European travel commissars, love sustainability. Get smart bikes and boats in Green Aveiro.

Aveiro, the Venice of Portugal Centro, may be known best for its boats.

And its fishermen’s bawdy celebration of womenfolk on the side of their vessels.

But it’s got on its bike here to draw the attention of the European Commission.

Green for go

And it has only been shortlisted for the Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism.

Along with Baltics beauts Jurmala and Liepāja (Latvia) and Panevéžys (Lithuania), Bulgaria’s brightest Sliven and Greece’s epic Nea Propontida.

And Spanish hotspot Benidorm.

To succeed the Italian city of Grosseto.

Now all of these presentations are being made to the powers that be and we wish them all well.

As we do the candidates for the European Capital of Smart Tourism…

Brussels, Genoa, Konya (Turkiye), Lahti (Finland), Lviv (Ukraine) and another Portuguese pearl Porto.

All towns and regions which present a challenge to even the most travelled of us who visit.

The special one

The same, of course, could be said of Aveiro, until, of course, you come across super guide Jose Madomis.

With proud native of Portugal Centro Jose swearing that every major movement in the country’s history sprung from here.

He’s right about Aveiro too which we found out for ourselves while meandering through its canals, so it has a sustainable start on many of its rivals.

Of course our Portuguese pals don’t rest of their laurels and their burghers have caught the attention of the European sustainable overseers.

With the European Commission bigging them up with these observations.

The city has launched the BUGA shared bicycle system, which offers a wider network and new models of bikes with GPS for use around the city.

And boast Portugal’s first fully electric ferry, electric moliceiros (boats), and electric buses, all helping to reduce the city’s CO2 emissions.

The future is green

They also highlight the town’s waste management scheme, where residents can earn points for correct waste disposal.

Redeemable for discounts or an exchange of items they no longer need.

While as the first Portuguese Capital of Culture in 2024.

Aveiro has had a year-round cultural programme promoting its local heritage.

And it’s not just for this year either with a Municipal Climate Action Plan planned, with a direct target of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

In addition, the city is focused on monitoring air quality, providing real-time data on air quality and noise levels through an Urban Platform.

Now, not wanting to influence our European commissars but we’d advise them to get smart bikes and boats in Green Aveiro.

Africa, Countries

Holiday Pics on World Photography Day

20th August 202320th August 2023 funtime65

I’ve an advantage over everybody else… I’ve an award-winning snapper to showcase her holiday pics on World Photography Day.

And that makes it all a treat for y’all when we get the piccies out when we get home.

So without further adieu here’s a taster of what fills our albums at home.

And we’ll even throw in a photography vacation offer to tease you.

Portugal’s a picture

And you can keep your Algarve amateur poolside and beach lounger snaps this is one from Aveiro.

A stunning fishing town in Portugal Centro it is known as the Portuguese Venice.

It’s Portugal’s big secret but heck now it’s out thanks to an award-winning writer, and a snapper.

Hamburger and shots

And we did both in the Reeperbahn and further afield and photographic shots and shoots.

We’ll leave our bed pics to your imagination, though actually we have shared those Hamburg city beach bar snaps.

My Fjord Lady

And my Little Mermaid followed us from Kiel in Germany through Copenhagen and up the Norwegian fjords.

And captured it all from aboard her MSC cruise ship and on our land excursions.

Amsterdam dame

And in the City of Tulips, my photographic pal was the prettiest flower.

And when I was motioning towards their famously tall, narrow bars she was capturing the delightful Amsterdam architecture.

No pic like Rome

And with all roads famously leading to Rome it took me some time, until I was 40, to visit La Citta Eterna.

Sadie the Snapper had been here before and was excited to show me the sites, among them the Trevi Fountain.

The superstition is right and I’ve been back and we will be too.

Snap up Morocco

Sahara bumpity: Two Tuareg nomads in the Sahara

While any and all travellers can always do with Travel Department to hold our hands.

TD Active Holidays offers a guided holiday with an array of photographic opportunities.

From the impressive mosques and markets of Marrakech.

To the busy fishing port of Essaouira and the rocky, barren Agafay Desert.

Where you’ll learn to develop your documentary, street and landscape photography skills.

On this holiday, you’ll not only get to experience Moroccan culture through a camera’s lens.

But also through traditional Moroccan food and live music.

As well as an exhilarating camel ride across the dunes… I hope you get my old friend Larsson to hump you along.

You’ll be accompanied on your journey with an additional tutor from the Dublin Photography School.

They’ll provide tutorials, demonstrations and tips to your small group.

So that you get the most out of the images you capture.

This trip departs on 13^th October from €1,099pp.

Including return flights, transfers, four nights’ half-board in a three-star hotel, plus expert guide.

And when you get back your friends will be begging you to share

Countries

House about these bright homes?

30th October 20221st November 2022 funtime65

Snooty Edinburgh burghers threatening a resident with a £20,000 fine for painting her front door pink has me asking the question house about these bright homes?

The yellow, pink and blue-coloured houses that hone into view on the harbour in Greystones, Co. Wicklow remain a beacon.

For this train traveller on his way home from work in Dublin.

Maybe not the pressing need of the fishermen being able to locate their homes from the sea.

Fishermen villages have long been one of the pulling points for day outings on seaside holidays.

Where the pace of life feels unchanged, the boats just as pristine and the old women hewn from history.

Port in a storm

Aveiro, Portugal Centro: In a country like Portugal where fish is on every dish no fishermen could ever fail to find his home.

On a horizon of houses that cover the whole spectrum of the rainbow.

And where wives would wait devotedly at the shore until their guys returned.

And enlist the help of him upstairs with prayers at the handily-placed quayside church.

Anyone for Venice

Burano, Venic e:And when you’re in the most famous water city of them all everything is dictated to by the lagoon.

Burano is best known for two things, its fishermen and its lace.

So while the men are out catching those under the sea the women are embroidering back home.

Maritime Malta

Marsaxlokk, Malta: History doesn’t tell us if brightly-coloured houses guided St Paul from his shipwreck to safe land.

But let’s just say it did… and console ourselves in the knowledge that today’s Maltesers are a lot more welcome.

Marsaxlokk on the south-east of the island is the vibrant village where all the fishies hang out.

On Sundays for the fish market and a tourist market through the week.

Fairytale houses

Nyhavn, Copenhagen: And, of course, in the city of fairytales you’re bound to see, er, fairytale houses.

In bohemian Nyhavn where Hans Christian Andersen lived at No.67 and Nyhavn 18.

And you’ll find a plaque and a souvenir shop.

Cop the pigeon

Pigeon Point, Tobago: And I ought to have said something about the naming when I was out there.

In an isle where they have Lovers Beach and Nylon Pool I’d have thought they could have titled this point with a more exotic beach.

Such as Mocking Bird Point, their ubiquitous feathered flyers, the colours of which adorn the beachside huts.

Among a kaleidoscope of colours.

Something to think on then for the colourless councillors who want artistic resident Miranda Dickson.

To repaint her pink door white.