september has flown by

Although this was early September, those beachdays in Portugal seem like ages ago.

This glorious September month has flown by.

At the moment we are enjoying an Indian summer. Nothing to complain, considering tomorrow is October 1st!

crate of cheer

The last zinnias of the season. I like the florets on the flowers.

ca va, alles goe?

Ca va, alles goe? - How are you, everything okay? I really appreciate the Flemish language.

Antwerp on a sunny friday in September.
Starting with coffee in Zuid and walking the Nationalestraat with it's wonderful vintage shops is always a good way to start a daytrip in Antwerp.
I found an elegant black dress at Chambre Nationale Vintage and shop owner John Van Gestel even was so kind to open his next door photo gallery for us.
We settled on a terrace several times, because of the beautiful weather.

At the end of the afternoon we had a look at the hidden courtyard of Kavka with a small vegetable garden. Just a tiny urban jungle in the centre of Antwerp. Some women were just harvesting all kinds of special vegetables and we got some olive cumberseeds. They taste and look wonderful!

In short, another great inspiring day just across the border.

blanket from the beach

One day on the beach at the Praia do Meco, we were surprised by a visit of a trader in Indian blankets.
We were just about the only ones on the beach and the sweet and patient trader, showcased all his beautiful colorful blankets on the beach for us (at least 15 pieces)
It was a splendid sight, all those multicolored block printed fabrics in the open on the sand.
We picked two blankets, one for us and the other one for my friend Rosa.
He kissed the money and was very happy he sold two blankets, neatly folded all the other cloths again and walked on across the deserted beach.

The blue peacock blanket is showing off in our attic room. I'm sure we will always remember the special way we bought it. I love those kind of souvenirs.
The memory makes the Indian block print fabric even more beautiful.

cascais

We took a day trip by train to Cascais, during our stay in Lisbon.
It's an easy train ride along the coast.

a vida portuguesa - lisboa

#1 A Vida Portuguesa - my favorite shop in Lisbon - Rua Anchieta 11
#2 peacock tiles in Alfama
#3 caixa - interior A Vida Portuguesa
#4 figs - my favorite snack
#5 flowershop Pequeno Jardim - Rua Garrett 61
#6 chocolate pastry
#7 quiosque Ribeira das Naus - rio Tejo
#8 wool shop A. Justo, Lda. - Rua dos Franqueiros 254
#9 patchwork wall - Rua do Salitre
#10 fado print
#11 view on Almada
#12 street art Bairro Alto
#13 Ponte 25 de Abril
#14 Belém
#15 Padrão dos Descobrimentos - Belém
#16 we will never forget Lisbon!