Lisbon Blog

Of all the cities in Europe, none could hope to steal the crown of the capital of melancholy from Lisbon, a sad city to rival all others which appears to confront the end of the world on a daily basis with its disturbing, quiet beauty. These days it is somewhat difficult to talk about melancholy. According to some dictionaries, it is to do with a kind of hazy, deep, and endless sadness which means that the sufferer is unable to find pleasure or enjoyment in anything. Or an obsession with all things to do with sadness, as confirmed by the laconic styles of the bewitching, disappearing language employed by Robert Burton, who spoke of it during the first half of the 17th century, emotionally crippled as the the victim of what modern medicine has come to term as clinical depression.

Burton was a modest professor, and librarian at Christ College in Oxford, who passed his sedentary, silent and solitary life of books, devoted to the study of magic, medicine, theology, mathematics, astrology and literature. Like a considerable number of his contemporaries, he suffered from “melancholy“, which according to the theories of physics (according to whom, each natural humour corresponded with the ascendance of a mysterious planet), was attributed to a predominance of black bile, ruled by Saturn. Burton proposed various different types of melancholy, each one expressing itself and manifesting in different ways. His causes were also diverse – from religion, to love, and much more besides; like desire, spells, charms; an overactive imagination, the movement and position of the stars, loneliness, indolence, work, lack of or too much sleep, too much studying, vanity, the death of a loved one, or bad diet.

Burton scrutinized all of these causes in one of the most lively, memorable books ever written. Anatomy of Melancholy, is a wonderfully chaotic, incoherent masterpiece, which challenges all of the conventional genders, being at once a critical book and a literary creation; a book about medicine, and philosophy, about theology, and mythology – as well as a seductive, fascinating compendium of ancient knowledge, which through various digressions, brilliantly draws in the reader to each page, each paragraph and each line.

It is perhaps also, above all – like all good books – a self-help book. Burton himself confessed that he wrote it hoping to find a cure for what had tortured him so relentlessly throughout his life (“I write about melancholy so as to try and avoid melancholy“) – and Samuel Johnson, compiler of the enormously influential dictionary of the English language which appeared in 1755, and sufferer of a depression which he had inherited from his father, declared that the book was an incomparable source of consolation – and the only book capable of getting him out of bed two hours earlier than usual.

Paul Oilzum

You’ll find few books such a perfect travel companion when you rent Lisbon accommodation It’s deep melancholy is like that of the Portuguese capital. Both inspire, confound, and paradoxically, cure.

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Translated by: Poppy
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Between the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th July the Super Bock Super Rock festival will be held on in Herdade do Cabeco de Flauta, next to Praia do Meco in Sesimbra, on the coast surrounding Lisbon. The feast of rock and heavy metal is an event that has been calling for music lovers since 1994, when it was organized by the beer brand that bears its name.

Summer and music festival is one only thing, that’s why Super Bock Super Rock has not a special concept, it’s just a meeting where dancing and summer debauchery and rock in all its forms, are central elements to gather fans for three days. In this seventeenth version of the festival, it will meet with its proposal: to bring the best rock bands of the moment.

The lineup is leaded by British band of indie rock, Arctic Monkeys. This band was born in 2002 in the suburb of Scheffield and is formed by Alex Turner, lead guitarist and vocalist, Jamie Cook, guitar, Matt Helders, drummer and Nick O’Malley who performs on bass. While their career has been meteoric in the pop punk revival scene, their beginning was through the web and using direct marketing formulas. Today, their appearances on television and the nominations for the Brit Awards has positioned them as one of the most popular bands, till the point of being mentioned by more than a politician to show their empathy with alternative rock.

The Kooks is another high point of the festival. The English rock band that takes its name from the title track by David Bowie, was formed in 2004 in Brighton and is composed of Luke Pritchard, lead singer and guitar, Hugh Harris, second voice and guitar, Paul Garred, drummer, and Peter Denton performing the bass. This band that mixes sounds of The Police, The Beatles and other great stars of English rock, will perform the best songs from their albums.

No doubt, the band that will take the fans to the festival will be The Walkman. Born in New York, it’s a post-punk band that excelled in the international scene for their interesting dub and American funk sounds. Now they bring their new album Lisboa, which was launched a year ago as a tribute to the city and the charm they found in their penultimate tour.

In addition to these bands, there will be about 32 groups of different expressions of indie and rock bands including major Portuguese bands such as Sean Riley & The Slowriders, Glockenwise, X-Wife and B Fachada, among several other bands that are ready to conquer the international stage.

As in any festival that is respected, there will be free camping areas for those with tickets that cover all three days. They will have access to all the services and special waste places, including bars and Internet. It also has parking areas for those traveling by car.

For further info: http://www.superbocksuperrock.pt/pt/sbsr/17-sbsr-meco.aspx

Nancy Guzman

If independent rock is your thing, make sure you head down to Praia Do Meco in Sesimbra if you are renting apartments in Lisbon You’ll find not only some of the best bands, but a beautiful beach surrounded by pine trees.

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Translated by: Poppy
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This is the second celebration of the Portuguese Gothic festival and this time, not two, but three days of great music in the beautiful castle of Leiria is awaiting you. The new event is scheduled for the 29th, 30th and 31st of July  and the bands … well, I will share that information later.

In 2010, the debut of Entremuralhas took the city by surprise and the truth is that it came as a very positive shocker to the dark & gothic followers, not only because of the bands performing, which was outstanding in all aspects, but also because of the excellent organization and the place chosen for its celebration, the Leiria castle, a magical and historical place in Portugal, due to its location and perfectly adapted atmosphere making it  the ideal place for a festival of this kin. The result of this first  two-day festival received great reviews by attendees. The bands played on the 27 and 28th of August, were: Project Pitchfork, Covenant, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Ataraxia, Collection O ‘Arnell Andrea and Ashram.

The excellent organization of the festival is all work of Fade in, a cultural action association that work hard to keep the gothic scene alive and active with an array of concerts and festivals throughout the year. recently Swans and Diamanda Galas perfromed with huge success but now it’s time for Entremuralhas.

Daily shows of the festival programming is as follows: Friday 29th July: Nitzer ebb, Sol Invictus and Irfan. Saturday 30th: Suicide Commando, Rosa Crvx and Sieben. Sunday 31st: Diary of Dreams, Love Is Colder Than Death and the Spanish formation Trobar de Morte. The price for three days is 60 €, if you are a member of Fade In you get a 10% discount and pay € 50. The price per day is 25 €  for the general public and fade in members pay  € 20.

Waste no more time and  book tickets for  the number of attendees per day is 700 and it sells out fast.. Tickets are on sale now!.

More Info: http://www.fadeinfestival.com

Luz Obscura

Reserve your ticket and your Lisbon accommodation for the Entremuralhas 2011, remember that tickets are limited. Put on your coolest Gothic clothing’s and everything needed to enjoy these three days in one of the most beautiful castles in Portugal!.

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Translated by: Marc
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For Tantra, sex does not necessarily involve only the physical part but also the mental one, thus ensuring that the experience reaches a  larger extent of satisfaction for the couple. And to get mind and body involved in sexual life despite the many distractions and problems we face in everyday life, Tantrism proposes a series of exercises that will help us very much. One exercise is called “twisted eroticism”, an excellent way to start having sex.

To  begin  the twisted erotic exercise, it is necessary that the couple dress in loose clothings, preferably transparent, pink for women and blue for men. For starters, the couple should sit cross-legged, facing each other, with eyes closed and breathing quietly, not touching. This first stage of tantric practice is to idealize the partner, imagine how he/she is the best lover, imagining his touch, his kisses, the positions they enjoy, remembering  the times that sex together has been fantastic.

Then he should join hands, eye contact and breath at the same rhythm: six seconds to inhale, hold breath for eight and four to  exhale.  This should be repeated nine times. Then she will place  her legs on his  and continue for another nine repetitions.

Then, it’s time to undress and lovers to come closer, still sitting face to face, the genitals should be touch but there must not be penetration. The couple could be embraced and must have their lips together and visualizing each other having sex together. Then she will lay on her  back on the bed and he will caress her and kiss her slowly. The caresses she should pay attention to her spine

Finally, he should penetrate her but both parties will remain motionless, concentrating all the attention on the genitals and the erotic and emotional charge that has been generated, the stored energy begins to flow between both of them, the desire they have to start with rhythm of penetration increases. The more time you spend wishing for intercourse, the intensity of sex will be higher.

For Tantra this exercise of twisted eroticism ends without having intercourse, orgasm is sought without the stimulation of the genitals However, you can continue the exercise as you and your partner wish, for many, the best way to end this exercise is a slow but intense erotic sex session privileging the emotions rather than physical aspect. But each couple should find the best pleasant way to end.

Remember you do not need all the Tantric philosophy to revitalize sex.

Miruton

If your sex life needs a new impulse, get Lisbon accommodation and give yourself a passionate vacation with your spouse, bohemian Lisbon and its splendid views can be very stimulating for both.

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Translated by: Marc
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Until the 25th of June, contemporary art gallery Cristina Guerra in Lisbon is exhibiting the work of Austrian conceptual artist Erwin Wurm, who is famous for his minute and a half sculptures. The Cristina Guerra Gallery was founded ten years ago, and is specially dedicated to showcasing the work of both national and international conceptual artists.

Erwin Wurm was born in Bruck an der Mur, Austria in 1954. He studied at Vienna’s Academy of Applied Arts, and the Academy of Fine Arts in the same city, and currently is professor at the University of Vienna. Since his beginnings in art, Wurm placed himself in the vanguard, making an impression with his complex approach to art, and the idea of the temporary and the transcendental and the material.

From these reflections grew the interesting work with the sculptures of a minute and a half, which have helped place him in the higher ranks of contemporary sculpture.

With these very unique works, Wurm has developed an interesting aesthetic theory about the material reality of sculpted work. If these pieces have been the subject of various ironic comments and criticism, the other camp of critics have celebrated his conceptual revolution of sculpture, which is still one the most conservative spheres of art.

What are these minute and a half sculptures all about? It’s very simple; Wurm photographed his own body, or that of somebody else’s, as it was transformed in an installation using different daily objects. This union of photography and object was a kind clear aesthetic and conceptual criterium – whereby the person would assume absurd poses, in a spoof of the traditional style of sculpture; poses which can only be maintained for a couple of minutes. This was how Wurm achieved his minute and a half sculpture, as it is the period of time of both the photographing process, and the posturing of the person.

The interesting thing is that Wurm, as with any ordinary sculpture work, takes into consideration the weight of the object (which in this case is the human body) – as well as the volume, the shape, the balance, and all the classic criteria for sculpture, in order to create his parodies, which often appear as grotesque caricatures of reality.

This revision of the concept of sculpture re-positions objects in order to humanise them, and to objectify the human body in order to denaturalise it. It’s an interesting, and subversive form of placing ourselves inside of art; particularly when the values of postmodernism has stopped being radical in terms of the business of confronting the intangible. Under these settings, Wurm uses photography and video as a way of demonstrating the instantaneity of creation, and ephemeral life.

For more information http://www.cristinaguerra.com/

Nancy Guzman

In any case, if you want to make your own minute and a half sculpture, each of Wurm’s comes with an instruction manual, so head down to this exhibition if you happen to be renting Lisbon accommodation and discover conceptual sculpture.

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Translated by: Poppy
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One may think that women do not need to use spells or magical potions any more to attract a sentimental or sexual partner by, but that is not true, the notorious prayers to Saint Anthony continue to be a motivation that attracts every year hundreds of females to Lisbon, where on the 12th and 13th of June, the city celebrates its Patron Saint’s day.

During two days the streets of Lisbon fill with multicolored balloons, proclaims, parades and the voices of thousands of women that have arrived from all over the world to sing and to beg Saint Anthony to please find them a husband. This is a unique festival where people guarantee that this wish is granted to those who truly believe in him. Praying becomes massive and thousands of small figures are sold as effective lucky charms against being single. That is why this festivity is anxiously awaited by the single women who perform their rituals and hope to find their soul mate

Folklore recommends to buy on the 13th of June a Saint Anthony figure and place him upside down until the miracle in form of a male body appears asking the women to marry him, and even if you don’t believe it, it is said this is the best way to find a man to spend your whole life with, at least this is what the women of Alfama believe, where Saint Anthony’s festivity blazes with life surrounding you with Fado, dances, fried sardines and the enveloping smell of basil and sensuality that can make you lose your mind. As the song says “Ask Saint Anthony for a husband and rumble through the city streets.

Saint Anthony was a theologian and a Franciscan pastor born in Lisbon whose name was Fernando de Bulhoes and passed away in Padua, that being the reason why they added this city to his saint name “San Antonio de Padua” He was one of the fastest beatified saints by the Vatican for numerous miracles are accredited to him, like a ability to communicate with fish or carry baby Jesus during one full night. Beside these stories, he was attributed with the capacity to perform miracles of fertility in women and protect travelers, bakers and poor people

This festivity that commemorates his birth has transformed into a cultural activity that little has to do with Catholic religion. During the 60′s and 70′s his festival was sponsored by the storekeepers  , but later was transformed in a international touristic celebration which the City Hall takes care of

More Info: http://www.fiestastradicionales.com/fiestas-populares/celebracion-de-san-antonio-en-lisboa

Nancy Guzman

If you enjoy popular festivities, this is the perfect moment to come and enjoy the summer charm in Lisbon accommodation and roam the streets packed with single women looking for a husband

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Translated by: Marc
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Crowley is probably one of the most controversial and misunderstood men of the twentieth century.

For many his name is synonym of magic, occultism, spiritualism and witchcraft. Few people know that behind this image, there is a great writer, essayist and poet. He was indeed, a very eccentric man, but with an inimitable artistic legacy.

Known as the Great Beast, the Beast 666 or the most evil man in the world (among many other derogatory names), Crowley is the author of essays like “The Lost Continent”, poetry books as “Rodin in Rime” (named after the sculptor for whom Crowley felt genuine admiration), fiction as “The Stratagem and other stories”, (in which he relates his experiences with drugs), and multiple books of magic as the “Book of the Law” which describes his philosophy of life.

Crowley was a misunderstood man of his time, a visionary, a person that was ahead of his time and never received the recognition he deserved as a poet and writer. Son of an English millionaire, from his youth he entered in different orders of magic and occultism as the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, in which he met writers such as Bram Stoker, Arthur Machen and William Butler Yeats. During this time, Crowley published in the journal The Equinox. Later he became a member of the Order of Oriental Templars, as the head of the English branch. In this order, the law of Thelema was practiced, which primarily suggested to “Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law”, this doctrine, by François Rabelais, began in the sixteenth century and was popularized and updated by our great magician and writer.

He was into Tantra, Occultism and Esotericism from a very young age.

Crowley, founded the Abbey of Thelema in Cefalù (Palermo), Sicily, a place that today is practically destroyed and abandoned, but where it is still possible to admire some of his paintings, (inspired by Gauguin, whom he also admired) and the rooms where they performed their rituals. It is a place of pilgrimage for its loyal followers despite the fact that the islanders have never accepted its presence. Here, his followers could experience a mixture of sexual freedom, consumption of drugs, meditation, and an interesting mix of Eastern and Western religions. People hated Crowley because, according to them, he performed black magic rituals in which children were sacrificed, he was bisexuality and consumed drugs regularly.

Another person who deeply influenced Crowley was Pessoa, who was another lover of occultism. They kept for several years an extensive correspondence. In 1930 Crowley visited Lisbon to meet the poet and writer, who translated into Portuguese his famous poem “Hymn to Pan”. Crowley concealed by Pessoa, faked his suicide in Boca do Inferno, near Sintra. Today there is a plaque that reminds us of their practical joke.

Without doubt, there is no country that we can associate with Crowley, because he was an intense traveler, but certainly Lisbon and its surroundings were a perfect place to develop what we now call “performance”.

Ara

Lisbon and Portugal have always been full of magic, and it is not surprising that someone as visionary as Crowley was seduced by this city and its surroundings. If you visit the city or its surroundings, rent Lisbon accommodation

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Translated by: Hans
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Around the end of the 1980s and the beginning of the 90s, a band called the Divinyls released a sexually provocative song called “I touch myself,” which went “I don’t want anybody else, when I think about you, I touch myself.”

I was a teenager at the time, and I remember I was fascinated: it always made me dance when I heard it. It made me feel sexy – even though the truth was, I hadn’t paid much attention the actual wording of the famous song. The group disbanded a few years ago, but the song remains for many as a kind of “anthem” for masturbation. Why am I telling you about the Divinyls? Because pleasuring oneself should never be a taboo or uncomfortable topic – and what’s more, it is a necessary part if physical and mental health. Masturbation teaches us about ourselves, and about pleasure – which is a fundamental aspect of a healthy sex life.

How do we benefit from a good session of masturbation? Well, putting to one side any feelings of guilt or inhibition, or any religious education which demonised desire and pleasure, the first thing we ought to know is that masturbation is the first step to having good sex – how we learn about our sexual and erotic sides, and how we learn to love our bodies. It also keeps our sexual system in good working order; it relaxes us, helps reduce stress levels, strengthens our nervous systems – and if that weren’t enough, it helps build self-esteem, because through sexual independence, we can learn to love ourselves, which generates more secure relations with others.

Our bodies are a whole universe to explore – a world to discover; and as my friend from the Divinyls said” “I love myself.” Discover the joys of self-satisfaction!



Luz Obscura

It’s nothing to do with egotism – but the old saying: “To love somebody else, you have to love yourself.” Another great way of relaxing, loving ourselves and being happy is travelling. If you fancy renting Lisbon accommodation , you don’t need to meet anybody special – explore the beautiful Portuguese city for yourself.

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Translated by: Poppy
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‘Paloma Blanca’, ‘Por Ella, Por Ella’, or ‘For All the Girls I’ve Loved Before’ are just three of the numerous successes of Julio Iglesias. The Spanish singer has conquered over the years the title of a true planetary star, and has also established some records in terms of record sales. By the mid-80s, he was the first artist to be awarded the Diamond Disc, for sales of more than 100 million copies of his records, a distinction delivered by the Guinness Book of World Records. Iglesias also has more than two thousand gold and platinum records, and has even conquered the right to a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His recognition and fame were first limited to the Spanish borders, but soon enough he got to be a star on countries like the United States, Japan or even on some Arab countries. For some, Iglesias was the first Latin Pop star in the world, another title that offers him a truly pioneering part on the world of music.

Julio Iglesias songs are easily recognized for their romantic aura. The singer has said on several occasions that he loves all people, and the he loves all those that surround him, and that is why he does his best to offer all songs about love and about giving back relationship that he likes to have with the world. This constant feeling of sharing is surely associated to the fact that Iglesias is a survivor. The singer, who also studied Law, and that later played as the goalkeeper for Real Madrid football club, suffered a serious car accident it the beginning of the 60s. At the time, Iglesias thought he was going to die, but the truth is that he managed to overcome all those difficult circumstances, even if he had to definitely quit his football career. But the truth is that the limitations and all the suffering he went through opened new doors for his future.

Starting at the end of the 60s, Julio Iglesias built a solid path in music, first in Spain, and then in Europe and all over the world. ‘La Vida Sigue Igual’ was the first song written by him, and which also granted him with the first victory on a music Spanish festival. Since then, the rest is history. Willie Nelson, Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder are among the several dozens of artists with whom Julio Iglesias recorded his songs. The Spanish singer is also well-known for singing in several languages, from English to French, from Portuguese to German, or even in Japanese. After a course of more almost 50 years, Julio Iglesias recently revealed that he intends to put a term to his path in music in June 2011, after ending his ongoing and current tour.

Get to know more about Julio Iglesias show in Lisbon at the Pavilhão Atlântico, on May 28th, on its official website: http://www.pavilhaoatlantico.pt

thecultureman

Julio Iglesias is a real and unique pop star. Do not lose the chance to see him perform in the Portuguese capital. Book your Lisbon accommodation and take the chance to visit this great city at the same time.

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The Ramones was the band that invented Punk Rock, there is no doubt about that. Punk Rock as it is known nowadays was created by this band from Queens in New York and all the members that have played in the group are worldwide honored punk rock icons in the history of rock and roll.

Marky, who substituted Tommy (one of the original band founders) on the drums is one of those icons, who retired in 1982 when on the 10 of October of 1981 he missed a concert and it had to be cancelled. That concert was the only Ramones show that was programmed and never happened. Later on, Marky started other musical projects, some more successful than others. .

Marky was substituted by Ritchie, but returned to the formation the 4th of September of 1987 and remained seated as the drummer until 1996 when the decided to disband with a humongous farewell show in Argentina.

Not long ago, in 2006 the 30th anniversary of the recording of their first album called “The Ramones” was celebrated with a huge party and Marky organized a tour all over the world playing classics like “Blitzkrieg bop” “Judy is Punk Rocker” and “I remember you” among many other.

More info: http://www.santiagoalquimista.com/agenda.php

MiLK

Nowadays Marky is on tour around the world with his new band called Marky Ramone’s Blitzkrieg and this time they’ll perform on the 8th of June at the Santiago Alquimista, so if you want to attend the show and enjoy of one of the most important persons of the punk culture, you can rent apartments in Lisbon and not miss the chance!

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Translated by: Marc
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