25th of April 1974 is a very important date in Portuguese history. It was the day when 48 years of dictatorship ended and democracy began! The revolution was peaceful and is also know as the red carnation revolution.

For those who don’t know what I’m talking about and don’t have the patience to read much, here it is in a nut shell:

(for those who want to know more, click here)

Portugal was under a dictatorial regime for 48 years. The dictator was Salazar. Things were not easy, especially for the ‘lower’ classes. I’m sure I don’t need to explain how bad a dictatorship is…

One of the things that came with it was a horrible war with our colonies of the time that wanted independence. Many lives were lost and it got completely out of hand.

A revolution was planned by military people. The April Captains, are they are remembered. The plan was to abolish the dictatorship, begin a democracy and end the war.

On the morning of the 25th April 1974, the signal that everything was ready was sent: A song played on the national radio. And troops began marching to Lisbon.

And after a few hours of tension they did it. The dictator at the time (no longer Salazar) gave in.

The revolution was peaceful, only 4 people were killed (by the regime), and the reason why it’s called the red carnation revolution is because soldiers had carnations on their guns.

And freedom came We are now a democracy!!

This is a very special date for me personally (as it must be for many other people). If it wasn’t for this day, I would possibly not be here!

My father was arrested a few times for conspiring against the dictatorship. My parents fell in love during the time he was in prison and my mother visited him frequently so that he wouldn’t give in to the torture and psychological pressure. They fell in love and started dating when my father got out. At the time of the revolution my father was in prison again.This time he would stay there for a long time Two days after the revolution all political prisoners were released. Including my father. If it wasn’t for that he would probably still be in jail (or worse) and I wouldn’t be here!

So for you all Feliz dia da Liberdade!!!!

While still in Portugal we went to see a football game of my team, the great Sporting. Russ as been wanting to see a Portuguese match live so my dad took us. Dan also loves football so we invited him. The game was a bit slow but in the end we won 2-0 just as Russ had predicted

Russ and I were supposed to meet some of my friends for some drinks later. Because the match ended a bit late, we wouldn’t have the time to take Dan home (my house in Almada where they stayed), have dinner, and meet my friends. So my dad invited Dan to have dinner with us and then he could take Dan home while we met my friends.

Unfortunately, I received a phone call from my friends cancelling the drink so we would have time for everything.

Dan’s immediate concern was, as he said: ‘Does that mean I still get fed or will I be taken back to Almada?’ LOL

Of course we would still feed him!!

I translated it to my dad. He laughed and said that because Dan cheered for our team he deserved dinner. Eh eh eh

Hope you liked it Dan!

I managed to download a few pics I took when we went to Sintra. I will still add some more on my images page when I get them. These are just a few that I took with my phone. Not really a pic person…

This is the view to Palácio da Pena, on top of the mountain. Seen from a stone throne built so that the Queen could admire the palace.

Below is the entrance of the palace.

We then went to the most western place of continetal Europe, Cabo da Roca. No picture of that yet but you can see it at the website I refered to earlier.

After that we had a few minute at Guincho Beach. where we can see Russ having his first contact with an Ocean!!

We ended the day at Cascais. No pictures again. Been there so many time it didn’t make sense to take them. But it’s a nice place with a very famous beach.

Lovely day! Great weather and the views were amazing!!!!

I am proud to say that the ‘Yes’ won in Portugal! The minus 500 point are due to the fact that the majority of people did not vote. Although I’m speaking against myself (not allowed to vote in England), democracy always looses when people don’t vote. As a result the referendum is not ‘valid’. However, the people spoke and the government says they are going to change the law anyway because it is obvious that it is what the people want. So abortion up to 10 weeks pregnancy will not longer be a crime in Portugal! There is a lot of work to be done now and it will probably take some time. But the important thing has been done already

Mãos à obra senhores ministros que foi para isso que foram eleitos!

EDIT Just adding a link to the BBC page on this subject for the English. But I’m sure most of you has seen it as it has been on the news all weekend

It can also be good for the Portuguese if you a curious on how another country saw it.

Still haven’t figured out which public medical service is worse

In England, abortion is legal(!) under certain circumstances-with practical effects similar to the ones the ‘Yes’ movement is fighting for in Portugal.

In Portugal it seems like the ‘no’ on the referendum will win again, and women will continue risking their health and their lives, and with the fear that at any moment they can be arrested and humiliated.

I don’t know about you, but I have no doubt which mentality I prefer!

Before posting about Christmas and New Year, I decided I should post about something very important that happened in my life: I stopped smoking!

After 12 years of addiction and slavery, I finally stopped! Last Tuesday, January, 2nd (you can ask Russ for the precise hour and minute) I smoked my last cigarette. New years resolution you may say. Not really… That was just a coincidence. How did I do it then? You probably won’t believe me, as some of my friends and family didn’t. The truth is: I read a book! I will explain and try not to write the longest post in history. I was in Derby for Christmas with Russ and at some point Phil came to visit. We went shopping and a book store was in our route. At some point I lost Russ. After looking for him in three floors I found him sitting on the floor in a hidden corner looking at a book. I later realised it was the only one left and that Russ found it by chance in a dark corner. The book was called (and most of my English friends probably heard of it) ‘Allen Carr’s easy way to stop smoking’. I looked at Russ as if asking: ‘ Do you really think I believe a book is going to make me stop?’ He said: ‘I heard from a friend that this actually worked with him and with other people he knows. It’s only £10 and you have nothing to loose in reading it’. Then, this random woman looking at some books nearby starts talking to us saying: ‘I used to smoke 40 a day before I read the book. It worked for me and for a lot of people who work with me. You should try it.’ And I took the book home.

As many of you, I really don’t believe in these crappy books on ‘how to do this in 10 steps’ and ‘how to do that the easy way’. But I had an open mind and decided to try. As soon as I read the first pages I realised this was different. The guy actually used to be a heavy smoker and knew exactly how smokers think and act (that is one of his secrets of success). I said to Russ that he should read the book with me to understand how we think and to realise that he was having the wrong approach with me.He was actually having the opposite effect when he tried to convince me to stop. I won’t tell you the details here but I can tell you that soon after we started I realised there was a strong possibility of working. And in the end it did! I stopped! And it didn’t hurt. It was actually so much easier than I thought! And I feel great! I am so happy I stopped it is impossible to describe. It was not as easy as he claims but a lot easier than I imagined. NOTE: Obviously you have to be motivated and actually want to stop for it to work.

I felt the need for the nicotine several times (now most of it as left my body) so I decided I should read the book again just to be sure. I realised I didn’t need to read the book. The part where he tells you how to think to make you feel happy instead of miserable when you want a cigarette was working. But I have scientific brain (and it’s getting worse each day) and I started dissecting the book and analysing the techniques he uses. They are actually very clever. He must have had help from someone who knows how the human brain acts because the way it is written is actually genius. That is why it works! If you want to know more about my conclusions ask me. If i write them here it WILL be the longest post in history.

Finally I just want to say something about people’s reactions. Russ was absolutely fantastic. He supported me all the way and actually believed a lot more than I did. I was quite sad however that my mother didn’t believe me when I said I stopped (she a heavy smoker as well). A friend told me that it was all a bunch of crap and that these books don’t work and that people are idiots to buy them and make the people who write them rich. I was so happy that I stopped that I thought my friends would be happy for me as well and would support me and I was disappointed when people not only didn’t believe me but they also thought I was silly. The truth is: I did stop! I never want to smoke again! It was actually easy! Even when I was craving for a cigarette because I was still addicted, it wasn’t difficult not to smoke. It was easy and I actually felt happy about it. Happy that I didn’t need to smoke! And to be honest, I would gladly ask for a loan and give the man all the money I would spend on cigarettes for the rest of my life! I would still be winning because I did stop and I’m getting my health back. And if that makes me silly then I’m a happy silly woman. And the truth is, people’s negative reactions won’t put me down, but it would be so much better that my friends were happy with my happiness and trusted me when I said I did stop. I’m not saying you should buy the book. I’m not saying all my friends should stop smoking. You do what you want, I’m not trying to convince you to do anything. If you want to stop use your own methods. If not then don’t. If you ask my advice I’ll give it to you. As simple as that.

And here is the reason why I’m also posting this in the category ‘The English people and I’: The reaction of my English friends was completely different. They found it quite normal it was just a book that made me stop. They believed me and congratulated me and were very happy about it. Interesting bit is: All my English friends are non-smokers. All my Portuguese friends are or were until recently heavy smokers. Is their reaction a coincidence? Is it a matter of culture? Is it a matter of how smokers and non smokers think? I’ll be waiting for your opinions.

I will continue writing posts on how my life changed since I stopped. It’s up to you if you want to read them or if you find them boring or stupid. But I AM happy I stopped and I think I should share that