N is for “não faz mal”

404322_287595227969825_100001580503329_842365_806400363_nIt seems ages since I was in Portugal, though in fact it was only in July.  In the words of a little Portuguese phrase, “não faz mal”- it doesn’t really matter.  Não faz mal is a bit like de nada in Spanish, but said with a Portuguese shrug of the shoulders, meaning “It’s ok!”

Portugal will still be there waiting for me, but I can’t help feeling a bit regretful.  Autumn is a lovely time to be there.  My walking group will be back in action after the Summer heat.  So many things I miss.

Liquid gold skies on our rooftop

Like the liquid gold skies on our rooftop

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My mind drifts back over times and places I’ve shared with you, and maybe some I haven’t.  Like my favourite island Armona.

A pretty beach house on Armona
And another!
And another!
The caraval “Bom Sucesso” which sails from Olhao
The beautiful brickwork in the town gate, Faro
Displays in the Maritime museum
The tidal mill at Quinta de Marim
Columbus Bar- a cool place to chill in F aro

Não faz mal!  It really doesn’t matter. Click on a photo to see the gallery.  I’m nostalgic today but who knows what tomorrow might bring?

Evening falls on Fabrica

Fabrica as the evening falls

Grateful thanks to Julie Dawn Fox for inspiring my Personal A-Z series, and to Frizz, who always welcomes people to his world.  The links will take you there.

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75 comments

  5. Hi Jo, glad to see you’re back in full alphabet swing. I really must finish my own 😉 By the way, love your slideshow – they’re a great way of showing off loads of photos. You’ve probably noticed how much I like them on my blog 😀

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    1. It’s thanks to Frizz really, Julie (no offence 🙂 ) Because he posts his A-Z weekly I have to go at a certain pace, and it’s getting me there. I like the freedom of this kind of challenge. Some of them are very wearing and you just feel like you’re jumping through hoops to reach a bigger audience. At least with these I know the readership are interested in what I’m sharing.
      I’m overdue a change of blog appearance, Julie. One of the great things about WP is the range of galleries and styles.

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  6. Jo, Thanks so much for adding another wonderful phrase to my vocabulary. When we lived in Sudan we learned the Arabic word “Malish” for the same sentiment. It comes in so handy … and now I have another. 🙂 ~Terri

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  7. Pingback: N is for “Não faz mal” | My A to Z Blogging Challenge

  8. Yes we never know what tomorrow will bring! Your photos are so lovely and it’s wonderful to see as I will probably never get there in real life!

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      2. How long have you got? It’ll be a once in a lifetime (my 65th- I’d never get Mick there otherwise) so in 5 days I have to see everything, and I’m hoping to spend a day in Girona but I may have to sacrifice that. Any recommendations, apart from the obvious?

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      3. My top tip – Do not sacrifice the day in Girona, it is wonderful and quite close by train. Anything Gaudi obviously and I recommend the city bus tours for getting around. Hang on to your purse and beware of pickpockets, I was robbed in Barcelona and wasted a whole afternoon at the police station and the British Embassy.

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      4. I did that in Lisbon! Cities! No wonder I love the Algarve. Glad you said that about Girona. I really want to see somewhere beyond Barca for contrast and it really appeals. Cheers, Andrew 🙂

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  14. Looks like a lovely place so I can well understand why you look forward to going back. Really like that last photo Jo. It just got even better when I clicked on it to make it bigger. Really lovely.

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    1. There is a cruise along the Portuguese coast from Portimao to Vila Real de S. Antonio, and you can take a smaller boat up the River Guadiana at the Spanish border. Food for thought? 🙂 Many thanks.

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      1. Could be to Jo. I know we would both like to see Spain and Portugal as we’ve been told it’s all very pretty.But would you be better to go by bus or boat do you think?

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      2. I thought you prefered cruises, which is why I suggested these, but in the main you would need to travel overland. The buses and trains are both good and extremely cheap, or you could join an organised trip with someone like Inntravel. 🙂

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  15. Hmmm… in Spanish, “de nada” means “you’re welcome”.
    “No pasa nada” means “it doesn’t really matter”.
    Aw, that rooftop pic 🙂 Sucker for sunsets. But you know that.

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    1. I knew you’d jump on me 🙂 I did say “a bit like” and contextually it can sometimes be the same, but many thanks for the translation. I can use that in the future. (good job you don’t speak Polish- I’d be regularly shot down in flames 🙂 )

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      1. I’m still in the process of figuring it all out… was useful coming across the Portuguese version, so thanks for that 😉
        No way am I EVER going to butt in on the Polish, you’re 100% safe there 😉

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  16. No wonder you’re feeling nostalgic and restless, what a beautiful looking place….especially those beautiful liquid gold sunsets. Would love to be there now too, but it’s really quite warm here for October in Scotland. Yesterday it was 17 degrees…..positively balmy 🙂

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    1. Very strange isn’t it? I’ve been high on the moors this morning and it was warm but unfortunately overcast, which ruins a good picture. Not a problem I often have in the Algarve- part of the attraction, of course 🙂

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  17. Have only been to Portugal once and in Lisboa. Can’t say that I was taken by the city – the old town I loved, the rest was just one big buildning site. Your photos here make me go back and maybe I should when you’re down there, would love to stay by the ocean …. your photos are so fantastic, love the roof top one and the bus stop shot.
    I think I need to take the thinking cap on. *smile

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    1. Did you recognise that curtain from the black and white shot I posted on Sonel’s challenge a while ago, Viveka? I included it just for you. 🙂
      Porto is more my kind of city than Lisbon, but the warmth and the outdoors nature of the Algarve wins hands down. Yes- dust that thinking cap off! 🙂

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      1. No I missed that photo … in the slide show – fantastic photo … can feel how the breeze in the photo. So sorry that I missed it.
        Algrave sound good enough for me .. when are we going. *smile

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      2. Probably not till after Christmas, which is why I’m feeling so nostalgic 🙂 But you can’t have everything- I’m very lucky with what I do have.

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