One Monday morning, earlier this year, I was wandering in the sleepy back streets of Sáo Brás de Alportel. In a ruin mostly used for car parking I stopped to examine the remnants of old photos pasted onto the walls. This is a town rich in tradition, where paper flowers are liberally used to decorate the streets at Easter time. The scenes feature a quiet nearby street, the bombeiros or fire brigade, a local dance, and a lorry load of cork. A museum in the town is dedicated to the cork industry, and piles of cork can often be seen drying in the surrounding hills. The use of Monochrome can make a scene look ancient, but in Sáo Brás the past never seems very far away.
Until the council decided a change of image was needed. New fountains on slick marble squares, and metal animal sculptures now grace the centre of town. It’s surprising what a game changer this is. The whole mood of the place is altered.
In the same way, replacing the colour in a photo with monochrome creates a change of mood.
It’s a gentle palette in Sáo Bras. Washing adorns the wall as it must always have done. Azulejo panels softly crown each doorway, predominately blue and white. Modern art blends with old and crumbling buildings. And in the countryside, bleached fields patiently await a turn in the season.
But it will take more than a few sculptures to separate Sáo Brás from its claim to antiquity. You can follow a Roman road through the back streets of town. And where better to savour that most traditional of Portuguese tarts?
My walk today isn’t at all what I intended, but I was having far too much fun on Saturday and left my camera and phone at a party. I hadn’t downloaded my photos from last week’s adventure in Seville, so that will have to wait. Not half so famous and a fraction of its size, but I think this little town in the Algarve hills has its own brand of charm. I hope Patti will accept my contribution to the Lens-Artists Photo Challenge this week.
Not too many shares this week, so please take the time to visit if you can. Many thanks to all who participate. Contributions are always welcome here on Jo’s Monday walk. Have a great week everybody!
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I love a leafy hollow in the woods. Drake takes us speeding through :
Natalie takes us through some very different woods to a beach :
Lots of leaves about this week. Good to share a smile with Lady Lee :
And linger a while with Irene :
A healthy splash of colour from Eunice this week :
And a city I’d love to revisit. West coast with Alice :
San Diego Waterfront- Seaport Village
How much do you know about Waterloo? Denzil takes us through some of the history :
Walking the Battlefield of Waterloo
While Cathy is still on the Camino, but the end is in sight :
(Camino day 41) Triacastela to Sarria
Who doesn’t like to end on a high? Thanks so much, Gilly 🙂
I’m easing off this week after a slightly manic time. Many thanks to all of you for following along and for your good wishes.
restlessjo 
Love your ‘compare and contrast’ b & w and colour versions. The monochrome with the washing is especially striking. Not only mood changing. I think one looks at the images differently too.
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You always get to the hub of things, Tish! 🙂 🙂 It worked better than I could have hoped with this theme. Seville next time!
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Exciting!
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Portuguese towns lend themselves so well to monochrome. Because of the peeling buildings and the laundry, the tiled roofs and wrought iron balcony, the monochrome transports us right back to the past. Yet the modern color photos remind us of modernity. Great juxtaposition of old and new, Jo. And I love those old photos.
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Thanks, Cathy! I started out on a completely different track with this post, but then Lens-Artist’s theme just seemed to work for it. Glad you liked it 🙂 🙂
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I like to see monochrome pictures, but I love color more; I keep intending to do a monochrome post, but never can tear myself away from the color. Portugal, however, does lend itself so well to monochrome. I loved it.
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I love your “experiments” here, Jo. Converting the images to b & w really works to convey the “old world” feel of the place. The shot of the clothes on the line is one of my favorites. It reminds me so much of the towns in Europe where time stands still. Glad you joined us!
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I love that washing shot too, Patti, in both its versions. Some things are equally good, aren’t they? And it depends how you see things. It was a grey day here but that sun is finally peeping out, which always improves my view of the world. Thanks for hosting, hon. 🙂 🙂
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This looks like a peaceful place. Maybe too quiet for you? Is it far from the sea? Love the black and white photos too, not something that you do often. Have a lovely week Jo, however you decide to celebrate.
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It’s about half hour inland, by car, on a lovely windy road, Jude. I love the view going up the valley. The town is somewhere I like to visit now and again- especially for the Easter festivities- but too far from shore for me to live. And thanks! 🙂 🙂
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That must have been some party Jo 🙂 🙂 This looks like a charming town, and I love the metal animals – and a good cake shop too, what’s not to like?! 🙂
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It’s called living life to the full, Eunice. I seem to overspill the edges sometimes 🙂 🙂
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Hope you’ve got your camera and phone back,Jo! What an interesting little place you have shown here
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Yesterday, Sue, but I still haven’t had time to download Seville. On my way to Portuguese class now. This place would be good for you cos it’s flat, not cobbled 😘💕
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Ooh, sounds good!
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Wonderful Jo 😀
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Cheers, darlin 🙂 🙂
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😁😘
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This is a lovely post, so different from your usual sunny celebrations. I can’t wait for your account of Seville. I love that city!
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I suspect it will cover a couple of posts, Margaret. I do get carried away 🙂 🙂 Thanks, hon!
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Reblogged this on LIVING THE DREAM.
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GREAT POST JO, YOU SEE SOME INTERESTING THINGS ON YOUR WALKS, CHINA
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Thanks a lot, China! There are always things to see when you look 🙂 🙂
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Great walk, Jo. I love the old photos.
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The cork industry fascinates me, Jill, and I always love looking at old photos. Thanks, darlin! 🙂 🙂
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Love those photos of the square Jo, really good. And the old photos at the start are so interesting. You get to visit so many fascinating places don’t you?
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I was killing time that morning while Mick was playing tennis, Jonno. There’s always somewhere good for a wander. You don’t do so bad yourself 🙂 🙂
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I always get the impression that Portuguese municipality authorities have a sense of fun! Thanks for the link to my post. Have a good week Jo
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I didn’t know the change was imminent, Denzil, so it came as a bit of a surprise, but it does make me smile. 🙂 🙂 And that’s always a good thing. Thanks a lot, and you’re very welcome.
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It’s always fascinating to see “before and now” pictures. If you live permanently somewhere, you can easily forget to pay attention to the “continuous change”. If you don’t know the place so it is fascinating to see how changes have happened. Excellent work, dear friend. 🙂
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Thanks a lot, Drake. It’s a nice little town (with a fabulous cake shop 🙂 🙂 )
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PS sending hugs and Birthday cheer for the walk this week xxx
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Hoping it stays dry enough to do the walk for Bobby. Bit changeable at the minute but yesterday was glorious so you never know. 🙂 🙂 Thanks!
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Fingers crossed for you xxxx
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We’re tempted to move here!
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I can see why. 🙂 🙂 It has a very nice arts community too.
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It’s such a great small town. We’ll just keep looking at places to rent!
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Looks such a charming place Jo – full of history and tradition. I love the way you have juxtaposed the colour and black and white photos very effective! Hope you’ve retrieved your camera now and have a relaxing week after your visitors xx
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Thanks, hon! A friend kindly brought them to our walk yesterday morning. I especially needed my sunglasses, which had been left behind too. It was a good party 🙂 🙂
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Yes I can’t manage without my sunglasses either Jo! Glad you got both your camera and sunglasses back safely – sounds like you had a great party too! 🙂
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The place looks amazing. Thanks for sharing your photos and your report.
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Small town Portugal. There’s often a surprise or two. Many thanks for your company 🙂 🙂
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