Estoril Open

As a Tennis fanatic (which doesn't translate into skills) I couldn't miss the most important Tennis event held in Portugal: Estoril Open (April 28 to May 6). This year four ATP Top 10 Star confirmed their participation: Nikolay Davydenko (4th), Fernando Gonzalez (5th), Novak Djokovic (7th), Andy Murray (10th).

Technically, the Estádio Nacional it's not in Lisbon (it's about 3 miles of the city limit). It includes the National Football Stadium, several football fields, swimming pools, tennis courts, etc. It’s a very pleasant place to spend a Weekend morning.

update: Unfortunately the British tennis sensation, Andy Murray, didn’t recovered from a back injury and won’t be able to go to Estoril. The Spanish Tommy Robredo (ATP 5th), who reached the final in 2005 and the semifinals in 2003, has replaced Murray.



Playing with my friends Carlos Matos (who took the last picture), João and Jorge.


What do you mean “Out”?


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Jardim Botânico II

The Lisbon Botanical Garden (a section of the National Museum of Natural History) was planted between 1858 and 1878 and is currently one of the best in Europe. Right in the heart of city, with an area of 4 ha (10 acre), it's one of the most pleasant places to spend a hot afternoon. After reading an excerpt of C.N.Tavares work (Historia do Jardim Botânico da Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa), I must point out the importance of two names in its history: Count Ficalho and Prof. Andrade Corvo.






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Docas

In the 90s the Lisbon Port Authorities decided to requalify some of their riverside properties. The old warehouses were converted into some of best bars and restaurants in the city. In a privileged area, near the Bridge and the quay, the Docas (docks) are one of the most popular places in the Lisbon's extensive nightlife.






Note: After uploaded, the blogger resized pictures are a bit "burned". The enlarged versions look much better.

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Praça do Comércio

The Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) is located near the Tagus River and is commonly known as Terreiro do Paço (Palace Square), because it was the location of the Royal Ribeira Palace. In 1755 the great Lisbon Earthquake followed by tsunami and fire destroyed most of the city including the Palace. King José I's Prime Minister, the Marquês de Pombal, coordinated a massive rebuild that gave the square a regular rational arrangement in line with the new Pombaline Downtown (Baixa).
The Augusta Street Arch was only finished in the 19th century. In the top there are sculptures by Calmels representing Glory crowning Genius and Value. The lower, by Vitor Bastos, are Nuno Álvares Pereira, Viriato, Vasco da Gama and Marquês de Pombal.


The bronze statue of King José I was the first monumental statue dedicated to a King in Lisbon and was designed by Joaquim Machado de Castro, Portugal's most important sculptor of the time.




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