Travelling to… Puerto Rico

♥ Even at the end of this month, I couldn’t forget to add one more place…
And this time my choise is… Puerto Rico!

For most of us, Puerto Rico means Sun, summer, beaches, nature, vacations… and several of other relaxing words.
P.R. is located in the caribean sea, where is summer during almost whole year, and San Juan is, it most important city. To discover more interesting topics about this Island, you only need to travel through the next movie.
Enjoy it once again…

Travelling to… Easter Island

♥ The main reason which I chose the Eater Island, it was simple…
First of all, because April, as this year, use to be the Easter’s month, and secondly because this Island was discovered on Easter’s day, on April 5th in 1722, by the ducth sailor Jacob Roggenveen.

Info. Easter Island or Ilha de Páscoa

Travelling to… Rio de Janeiro

♥ This month, I’m remembering my time at Rio the Janeiro…
I miss that February…
Rio is a beautiful place where at this time of the year is overjoyed… with people dancing Samba all the time, wonderful beaches with amazing blue water, a very warm weather and great gastronomy too.
If you want to know more…
Be my guest and travel with me again…

Dakar Argentina-Chile Started Today…

♥ Today, was the D-day, or… the first Dakar day in Argentina, to the 500 crews who are participating on this competition.
This First stage started in Buenos Aires, and at 17:15, local time, most of the crews (421), had already arrived to Santa Rosa de La Pampa, where thousands of people was waiting to see their arrivals.

Link:
http://www.dakar.com/

January's Picture

Atacama Desert - Chile (From Internet Pic's)

♥ After tomorrow, this will be one of the several landscapes that the Dakar's Pilots will gonna find during their journey between Argentina and Chile lands.

Travelling to… Costa Rica

♥ Located between Pacific and the Caribean Cost, Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful Islands in Central America. To make you sure of that, play the video and see what this country have to offer you.
Bon voyage…

Rali Dakar: Argentina - Chile

♥ Sempre que o assunto é America do Sul, cá estou eu para relatar mais algumas novidades.

E desta vez, tal como ocorreu o início desde ano, o tema volta a ser o Dakar.

Pois bem, tal como se suspeitava, em 2009 a prova não será realizada entre a Penísula Ibérica e o Norte de África, mas sim na América do Sul, ou seja em território Argentino e Chileno.

Apesar da partida já estar agendada para o próximo dia 3 de Janeiro na cidade de Buenos Aires - Argentina, no passado dia 23 de Novembro em Lisboa, já foi realizada uma partida símbolica junto do Padrão dos Descobrimentos, que teve como intuito dar a conhecer algumas das equipas que irão participar nesta prova.
Dois dos Pilotos em prova serão, a já bem conhecida Elisabete Jacinto, a piloto de camiões do Team Oleoban MAN Portugal, que participará nesta prova pela décima vez, e Ricardo Leal dos Santos, que em 2006 triunfou na categoria Solo-Automóveis pela Pioneer Solo Desert Team.

A rota traçada pela organização, que visa atravessar estes dois países, terá como principais pontos de passagem após a partida da Capital Federal de Buenos Aires, a Província de Buenos Aires, La Pampa, Rio Negro, Chubut, Neuquén e Mendoza (na Argentina), Valparaíso, Coquimbo e Atacama (no Chile), e Catamarca, La Rioja, Córdoba e Santa Fé (novamente na Argentina).

Para a obtenção de informações mais detalhadas sobre a prova, consultar o site oficial do Dakar.

Percurso da Prova Argentina-Chile
Fonte: Site Oficial Dakar

Links:
http://www.dakar.com/
Dakar 2009 - Percurso
Dakar 2009 - Fotos

Travelling to… Atacama Desert

♥ Following the landscape of the last 007 movie, “Quantum of Solace”, this month we will travel along the Atacama Desert.

Located in Northern Chile, Atacama Desert is considered as a virtually rainless Plateau in South America, which covers 966 km strip of land on the Pacific Coast, west of the Andes Mountains. Occupies an area of 181.300 square kilometers of the Chilean North and is composed mostly of salt basin (Los Salares), sand and lava flows.

This Andean Desert has over 20 millions years old desert, and is one of the driest places on Earth (is fifty times drier than California’s Death Valley, and is the second driest desert in the world, after McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica). The average rainfall in Chilean Region of Antofagasta is just 1mm per year. Atacama is so arid that mountains that reach as high as 6.885 metres are free of glaciers, and the soil use to be compared with the soil of Mars.

Atacama Desert is, today, considered as region unique on Earth.
Have a nice journey again…

More Information:
Atacama Desert

"Quantum Of Solace"

♥ Here I am again talking about the “Quantum of Solace”…

Finally, it’s today!!!
Today, the last 007 movie arrive to the Portugueses cinemas, and since March I've been very anxious to see the final result.
Not because I’m a great fan of Daniel Craig, I’m not, but specially for the beautiful places where the movie was filmed, like Latin America (Atacama – Chile and Panama) and Italy.

This will be the first time that I’m going to see a 007 movie into the cinema.
That landscape really must be seen in a big screen. Ok, and also because the 007 movies used to be great movies too.
So, I only can say… I’m going, and I’ll be there. :P

Travelling to… Machu Picchu

♥ This time, we’ll go to Machu Picchu in Cuzco – Peru.
Considered as “The Lost City of Incas”, Machu Picchu was lost for over three centuries, and was rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.
And since last year, this mysterious city, it also became as one of the New7 Wonders of the World…
Enjoy this trip again!!!

Travelling to... Patagonia

♥ Since last year, and every single month, I've been adding here one picture which I consider as a "Picture of the Month". After now, i'll go also add a video with some of the best places in the world...
For "My" first trip, I chose Patagonia, one of the most beautiful places in the world.
I hope you also enjoy this trip!!!

A Night in the Life of the VLT

♥ Welcome aboard on VLT

Link:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=EeXEcsZZLPQ

VLT's 10th Anniversary!

♥ The Perfect Science Machine
“Today marks the 10th anniversary since announcing First Light with ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), the most advanced optical telescope in the world.
Since then, the VLT has evolved into a unique suite of four 8.2-m Unit Telescopes (UTs) equipped with no fewer than 13 state-of-the-art instruments, and four 1.8-m moveable Auxiliary Telescopes (ATs). The telescopes can work individually, and they can also be linked together in groups of two or three to form a giant 'interferometer' (VLTI), allowing astronomers to see details corresponding to those from a much larger telescope.”
By ESO’s

A great progress in Astronomy.

Links:

More Info: http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2008/pr-16-08.html
Photos and Videos: http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2008/phot-16-08.html

‘Quantum of Solace’ Set Visit

♥ A visit to the set of the new James Bond movie 'Quantum of Solace' in Paranal – Chile, and interviews with the main actors Daniel Craig and Olga Kurylenko, and the director Marc Forster.

Vulcão Chaitén Continua em Actividade

♥ Desde do passado dia 2 de Maio que o Vulcão Chaitén, com 960 metros de altitude, e localizado na Província de Palena, na Região dos Lagos, na Patagónia Chilena, tem estado em forte actividade. Depois de ter permanecido inactivo durante cerca de 9.000 anos, o vulcão “despertou” com uma forte explosão de cinzas e uma constante actividade sísmica, ao ponto de terem sido instalados novos instrumentos que assegurem uma vigilância intensiva.

A forte explosão de fumo e cinzas que tem atingido cerca de dois km de altura, já fez com que o governo ordenasse a evacuação total dos moradores num perímetro de 50 km do vulcão, levando cerca de 6.000 pessoas a abandonarem as suas casas. As cinzas destas fortes explosões, terão mesmo tingido Buenos Aires, a capital argentina.

Segundo o Globo Online, a presidente Chilena, Michelle Bachelet terá mesmo afirmado que: “o povo chileno poderia ser dizimado em poucos minutos se a enorme coluna de cinzas que emanam do vulcão entrar em colapso.”

Entretanto, durante estes nove dias, cinzas com mais de 30 centímetros, têm coberto as regiões de Chaitén e Futaleufú, e já atigiram uma vasta área de 200 mil hectares, o que está a provocar um grave desastre ecológico, numa zona que é considerada rica em vegetação nativa e cursos de água, sendo o parque Pumalín (uma grande reserva natural do americano Douglas Tompkins), uma das mais afectadas.

Segundo o agrónomo Wilfredo Vera, da Universidade do Chile, "Teremos que esperar um longo tempo, talvez décadas, para que as espécies naturais voltem a colonizar o local".

Também a biodiversidade aquática está a correr riscos irremediáveis, devido ao grau de acidez nos cursos de água.

Enquanto isto, quem parece estar a lucrar com o sucedido são alguns argentinos, que segundo o site Folha Online, já estão a fazer negócio com as cinzas do vulcão, pois decidiram vender as mesmas via Internet por 10 pesos.

Info:
Vulcão Chaitén provoca desastre ecológico no Chile
Vulcão Chaitén-Chile 20080502 – Centro de Vulcanologia dos Açores
Chile intensifica monitoramento de vulcão Chaitén
Chile acelera retirada de moradores por vulcão; cinzas chegam a Buenos Aires
Atividade de vulcão acelera remoção de moradores no Chile

James Bond in Paranal

ESO's Paranal Observatory

♥ Last week, my friend Carla told me that Cerro Paranal, the 2600m high mountain in the Chilean Atacama Desert, would be (on 26 to 28 - today), the stage for scenes in the next James Bond movie, "Quantum of Solace", the 22nd in the series.

"Looking akin to Mars, with its red sand and lack of vegetation, the Atacama Desert is thought to be the driest place on Earth. Cerro Paranal is home to ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT), which, with its array of four giant 8.2-m individual telescopes, is the world's most advanced optical observatory. The high-altitude site and extreme dryness make excellent conditions for astronomical observations." And like ESO, the Bond Productions team also chose this place for some of the new movie scenes.

The ESO’s hotel or "Residencia" was the unique building served as the backdrop for the James Bond filming.

"QUANTUM OF SOLACE producer, Michael G. Wilson said: "The Residencia of Paranal Observatory caught the attention of our director, Marc Forster and production designer, Dennis Gassner, both for its exceptional design and its remote location in the Atacama desert. It is a true oasis and the perfect hide-out for Dominic Greene, our villain, whom 007 is tracking in our new James Bond film."

Andreas Kaufer, ESO's Paranal Director, said "We are very excited that the Bond production team have also chosen this location."

“In addition to the shooting at the Residencia, further action will take place at the Paranal airstrip.

The film crew present on Paranal includes Englishman Daniel Craig, taking again the role of James Bond, French actor Mathieu Amalric, leading lady Olga Kurylenko, from the Ukraine, as well as acclaimed Mexican actors, Joaquin Cosio and Jesus Ochoa. This cast from across Europe and Latin America mirrors the international staff that works for ESO at Paranal.

After leaving Paranal at the end of the week, the film crew will shoot in other locations close to Antofagasta. Other sequences have been filmed in Panama and, following the Chilean locations, the unit will be travelling to Italy and Austria before returning to Pinewood Studios near London in May.

QUANTUM OF SOLACE will be released in the UK on 31 October 2008, and in the US and internationally on 7 November 2008."

ESO's Residencia

ESO's Inside Residencia - Swimming poll

Links:
new Bond at Paranal web site
http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/press-rel/pr-2008/pr-07-08.html

Patagonia’s Glaciers

♥ Every year this situation is repeated.
The global warming is destroying Patagonia’s Glaciers, the Antarctic and Arctic Seas…
That’s a fact!!!

This time, the news is around the Patagonia’s Giant Glaciers which year by year are decreasing in an alarming scale, losing every day a great part of the ice.

The Argentines scientists are very worried about this situation and warned that in the next 60 years the third largest plate of ice on the planet may have disappeared.

The time runs too fast and it’s time to do something...

To see the vídeo: click Here

Fidel Castro Renuncia a Presidência Cubana

♥ Hoje, o mundo inteiro comenta o que há muito já se esperava, a renúncia de Fidel Castro ao cargo de chefia da Presidência do Conselho de Estado Cubano.
Fidel Castro, ocupou esta posição de chefia durante 49 anos, mas por motivos de saúde, desde Julho de 2006 encontrava-se afastado do comando do país, tendo como substituto o seu irmão Raul Castro.

E hoje, segundo a mensagem publicada no jornal estatal Granma, Fidel Castro de 81 anos, terá escrito que:
"Não aspiro, nem aceitarei - repito - não aspiro, nem aceitarei o cargo de Presidente do Conselho de Estado e de comandante-em-chefe", e com esta afirmação declarou o seu estado de renuncia.

Após a divulgação desta informação, foram vários os dirigentes políticos que se pronunciaram. Entre os quais destacam-se afirmações como as de:
Francisco Louça, líder português do Bloco de Esquerda, que chegou mesmo a afirmar que:
"A grande reforma é necessária no que diz respeito à liberdade de imprensa, à liberdade de opção política que permita o pluralismo e o reforço da vida democrática".
Enquanto que Lula da Silva, o Presidente Brasileiro considerou que:
“O grande mito continua. Fidel é o único mito vivo da História da Humanidade. Ele construiu isso à custa de muita competência, muito carácter, muita força de vontade e também de muita polémica”.

ESO Helps Antofagasta Region after the Earthquake

Salt Lake - Atacama Desert

♥ This month, it seems that I nominated Chile as a Country month. Once more, I’m here to tell you some news from there… I would like to have better news… But I think, it’s very important to know what is happening all around the world and how important is to help people when they need it!

ESO Information:
“On November 14 at 12:41 local time, a major earthquake with magnitude 7.7 on the Richter scale affected the north of Chile. The epicentre was located 35 km from the city of Tocopilla and 170 km of Antofagasta.
Two persons died and tens were injured, while buildings were damaged in several cities. In the Maria Elena-Tocopilla area, several thousand homes were destroyed or damaged.
In an act of solidarity with the local community and its authorities, ESO immediately announced a donation of 30 millions Chilean pesos (around 40,000 euros) to Antofagasta's Regional Government to support reconstruction in the Region II.
ESO and its staff have been shocked by the earthquake and its impact on local communities, especially on the people of Tocopilla. The ESO Representation in Chile formally contacted the regional authorities to explore with them possible ways to collaborate in this difficult moment. In addition, many of ESO staff are personally cooperating with the victims, under the coordination of Cruz Roja, the organisation currently in charge of implementing individual efforts.”

For those who don’t know, “ESO is the intergovernmental European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere.”

ESO 51/07 - ESO Helps Antofagasta Region after the Earthquake

Presidente Português Visita o CHILE

♥ Na 3ªF, começou a viagem oficial de Cavaco Silva ao Chile. Esta visita de 3 dias, surgiu de um encontro bilateral com a Presidente do Chile, Michelle Bachelet, na última Cimeira Iberoamericana, em que a Presidente chilena manifestou o desejo de explorar as afinidades entre os dois países.

Esta viagem, terá também a finalidade de estreitar as relações económicas entre os dois países, e para isso C. Silva faz-se acompanhar por uma comitiva de 28 empresários, de diversos sectores de actividade (entre eles encontram-se os presidentes da Portugal Telecom, do Millenium BCP, dos CTT, da GALP Energia, do Grupo Amorim, e do grupo Pestana) que durante dois dias participaram no III Encontro Empresarial Iberoamericano.

A nível cultural, C. Silva assiste ainda à inauguração da exposição - "Oceano de Cultura" - na Casa-Museu do poeta Pablo Neruda, em Isla Negra. E ainda nesse dia, ao final da tarde, participa no acto inaugural da XVII Cimeira Iberoamericana de chefes de Estado e de Governo, que decorre até dia 10 de Novembro em Santiago do Chile, cujo o tema central é a inclusão social e o combate à pobreza. Esta Cimeira Iberoamericana, conta ainda com a participação do primeiro-ministro Português, José Sócrates.

No último dia desta visita, Sócrates e Cavaco Silva irão participar na criação do Parque Iberoamericano: onde juntamente com os restantes chefes de Estado e de Governo presentes, cada um plantará uma árvore nativa do Chile no Parque Metropolitano da cidade.

Em 2009, será a vez de Portugal organizar esta Cimeira, já que em 2008, a mesma será realizada em El Salvador.