Tuetego - Alex

Alex › New article
8 years ago

The Castle of Leiria is a medieval castle belonging to the municipality of Leiria, Portugal! My city ???
It has been listed as a National monument since 1910.

The architecture clearly indicates the medieval origins of this city. 
The construction was ordered by the 1st king of Portugal D. Afonso Henriques, a way of establish a defensive line against the Moors?. But still, they took over Leiria twice?
He ordered a small chapel to be built in honour of Our Lady of Mercy before handing over this military stronghold to Paio Guterres, the first governor of Leiria.

In 1142, after re-conquering definetly Leiria, D. Afonso Henriques ordered the reinforcement of the Castle’s defences.

Towards the end of the century, around the year 1195, the castle walls were reinforced by king Sancho I. After that, the region was finally secured by the Christian crusaders.

The importance of the town soon became the stage to some important events, such as the 1st reunion of the courts, and it was the residence to King D. Dinis and Queen Saint Isabel, and also to the marriage of king’s D. João I son (D. Afonso).

An inscription on the Keep reveals it was built at the same time as the Royal Palaces on the initiative of king Dinis in 1324 who also ordered the reconstruction of the Church.

Far removed from it's original role, the Castle again took on a prominent role in the city’s history at the beginning of the 20th century. It was innovatively restored by Ernesto Korrodi and the Liga dos Amigos do Castelo (League of Castle Friends). Together, they did much to improve Leiria’s urban landscape.

Throughout the centuries, the Castle progressively started loosing it's military value and during the French invasions it was damaged. Only in the end of the 19th century, remodelling works were initiated and already in the 20th century it was classified as National Monument. ??

The Castle was built over a irregular polygonal plan, with solid walls and towers. So if you're interested of visiting the castle, I'll suggest you to enter by The Albacara Gateway, it's inside a defensive bastion.
Currently, the walled enclosure is ideal for a historical stroll and a centre-piece of Leiria providing a vantage point for looking out over the city’s development and countryside ??

In the last few years, in August, it host a Gothic Festival Entremuralhas! This festival has a truly eclectic programme and always has amazing music shows to enjoy the darkness!

Hope you enjoyed it.??
Alex

Cancel

The Castle of Leiria is a medieval castle belonging to the municipality of Leiria, Portugal! My city ??? It has been listed as a National monument since 1910. The architecture clearly indicates the medieval origins of this city. The construction was ordered by the 1st king of Portugal D. Afons... Read more

.

8 years

LiaF7 › Love this castle. Leiria, Obidos, Guimarães, Sta Maria da Feira and Almourol are places with wonderful castles. Torres Vedras has a Castle in ruins. Suffered too many battles. Last year went again to Leiria's castle, they do so many events there :)

8 years

Alex › Sim.. o festival gótico por exemplo

8 years

6 years

viktorija64 › very nice article

6 years

Alex › Thanks @viktorija64

6 years

4 years

Explorer2017 › Very nice article

4 years

Alex › New article
8 years ago

Hello everyone ?

I'm going to share a bit of me in this article. I didn't forget about the followings articles about meditation ??? I'm just being very busy at work.. I'll put it soon?

Ok, so I'm a very nervous and stressed woman! I've noticed that things go much more smoothly when I give up control!

Although I’m much better than I used to be. I often use perfectly good energy trying to plan, predict, and prevent things that I cannot possibly plan, predict, or prevent.????

For an example, I love to choose my children's clothes everyday at night because we're always rushing in the morning and after or the baby decides to put his dirty hands full of butter or Nutella on his clothes or the big one saying he doesn't want to wear this but something else ??? so... what's the point on preparing everything at night??,???

Like most humans I know, I spend a lot of time in business that’s not mine. The baby’s/big boy businesses, my friend's business, Mother Nature’s business, etc..

Tjere are 3 things I know for sure about trying to control things:

1. We try to control things because of what we think will happen if we don’t.

In other words, control is rooted in fear.

2. Control is also a result of being attached to a specific outcome—an outcome we’re sure is best for us, as if we always know what’s best.

3. The energy of surrender accomplishes much more than the energy of control.

I suspect it’s slightly different for everyone, but here’s what control mode looks and feels like for me: My vision gets very narrow and focused, my breath is shallow, adrenaline is pumping and my heart rate increases.

My mind shifts from topic to topic and from past to future very quickly, and I have poor memory, and stress easily?

In surrender mode, I’m calm, peaceful. Breathing deeply, present in the moment. I see clearly and my vision extends out around me, allowing me to (literally) see the bigger picture.

So the great irony is that attempting to control things actually feels less in control.

Thanks for reading.. Please, share your experiences with me or your thoughts.

Have a lovely evening everyone ??

Cancel

Hello everyone ? I'm going to share a bit of me in this article. I didn't forget about the followings articles about meditation ??? I'm just being very busy at work.. I'll put it soon? Ok, so I'm a very nervous and stressed woman! I've noticed that things go much more smoothly when I give up c... Read more

.

8 years

ze2000 › At work I am VERY organised. When I am at home I just "let it flow" XD

8 years

Flutterbydee › Not a control type here. If people ask me how I want things done, like say in making something, I say you do it your way. I learn new things then as everyone has a different way of doing :)

8 years

stepinsidee › Great read Alex!

8 years

Alex › Thanks @stepinsidee?

8 years

Alex › I like to plan everything... it's good in many things but sometimes when something happens that wasn't in my plans... oh dear... I stress straight...

8 years

Flutterbydee › Must be in your nature Alex

8 years

Alex › I think so ?

8 years

Alex › New article
8 years ago

Hi guys! ??? Sorry for my silence but I'm really busy lately with birthdays, family, work....???Anyway... A quick article about using relaxation depending on your mood ? How you're feeling may influence the relaxation technique that works best for you! Relaxation for different types of emot... Read more

.

8 years

Alex › Do you like my photo @Bilston? ???

8 years

Bilston › Great

8 years

Alex › New article
8 years ago

Hello everyone. The first question I ask my big boy when I pick him up from school is "How was your day today? " and I know I'm not the only one doing that.. so instead of that... let's show them that we're busy but we still have time for them...?? What made you smile today? What was the ... Read more

.

8 years

Smokey2017 › Have you got any energy left for a trip to the park for a ice cream

8 years

Smokey2017 › My boy is 22 and works
I ask him how was work td
Anc he replies busy busy busy
And my reply is at least day goes fast

8 years

Alex › I don't have always time or energy for them but I try my best to be there for them ?

8 years

Smokey2017 › You have to find time and energy
There is notjung then bern silly with
Your kids
Mine are 22 and 26 and I am always silly with them still have a good laugh
It is what makes memories
Still love to play tennis on the park with my son
And love shopping with my daughter and going to girly movies
Also love playing table tennis with my son
One year we had one day marthom played from early morning to past midnight and still I won

8 years

Smokey2017 › I love spending time with each of my children and of course with my husband
But most of all love having a good laugh with them and acting silly

8 years

7 years

Fesalvia › Very good, children need a lot of attention and affection from parents.

7 years

Alex › @Fesalvia thanks. But sometimes it's not easy.. I'm always rushing between work, school runs, shopping, etc.. not easy nowadays to be parents.. but it's the best thing in the world ???

7 years

Fesalvia › @Alex I understand the routines are tight, but it is always possible to have a quality time with the children.

7 years

Alex › @Fesalvia Yes it is ??

7 years

Alex › New article
8 years ago

Hi everyone. After publishing about meditation, I thought about a few tips for you to learn (if you still don't know or didn't try)how to relax after a stressful day ? Start with short relaxation sessions, around five minutes. With more experience it will be easier for you to be able to r... Read more

.

8 years

HappyLady › I agree that learning to relax is a life skill. Without seeing your article I just wrote about dealing with stress as being a life skill too. We must be on the same page.

8 years

Alex › Yes.... I think so... I'm going to read it now ?

8 years

JasonJRogers › Meditation apps on my tablet relaxes me, helps me sleep.

8 years

Alex › New article
8 years ago

Hello guys..

For many of us, relaxation means lying out in front of the television, posting on Tuetego? at the end of a stressful day or having a couple of glasses of wine ???

However this does little to reduce the damaging effects that emotional distress has on us both mentally and physically. The best way to effectively reduce emotional distress is to activate the body’s natural relaxation response. This can be achieved by practicing relaxation techniques that you enjoy such as deep breathing, meditation, visualisation, mindfulness, rhythmic exercise or yoga.

Emotional distress is a normal part of life, and at certain times throughout our lives we will all experience it. When we feel under pressure, a part of our brain sets off an alarm bell which triggers our “fight/flight” response of our nervous system making us ready to respond. Our blood is flooded with adrenaline and cortisol, which in turn increases our heart rate and blood pressure. This allows us to transport energy to our muscles quickly, which prepares our body to deal with danger quickly, either by running away – flight (anxiety) – or tackling the danger head on – fight (anger). This is sometimes referred to as the stress response.?

Our bodies evolved during a time when it was essential to react quickly to danger in order to survive. Short bursts of energy can be useful. A certain degree of pressure can be useful in improving our memory and enhancing our performance, for example in an important interview it could help us stay alert.?

However long-term distress can have a major impact on our mental and physical health, as it’s not giving the body and mind a chance to recover and so it begins to wear us down.?

Fortunately we can learn to combat these negatives effects on our well-being through some basic techniques.

Relaxation techniques help by bringing our bodies back into a calm balanced state by producing the relaxation response, a state of calmness which is the complete opposite to the fight/flight response.

The heightened state of alertness causes our bodies to work hard, which can be tiring. This can also affect our immune system.?

‪So... after all this reading, my advice for a healthier and happier life: meditate, exercise, eat real food, spend more time in nature and let go of what you can't control‬. ????

Everytime you feel you're stressed, tired, etc.. stop everything you're doing even for a minute, close your eyes and make deep breaths.☺

How to practice deep breathing ??

Sit comfortably with your back straight.

Breathe in through your nose.

Exhale through your mouth, pushing out as much air as you can while contracting your abdominal muscles.

Continue to breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth.

Cancel

Hello guys.. For many of us, relaxation means lying out in front of the television, posting on Tuetego? at the end of a stressful day or having a couple of glasses of wine ??? However this does little to reduce the damaging effects that emotional distress has on us both mentally and physically... Read more

.

8 years

ze2000 › It does help a lot, I can confirm this.

8 years

Alex › Me too.. it's very useful ?

8 years

NatashaT1994 › I always mean to meditate because of my head. It gets so full sometimes (I can't help that) that I can feel my brain beating. So meditation would help me in my circumstances that I have. Relaxation to me isn't always in front of the TV. I like to just lye on my bed, in the dark, in complete silence. Also I find drawing and colouring in a good way to relax yourself if your stressed.

8 years

Alex › The best medication ever

8 years

NatashaT1994 › I don't know about you but I find art very relaxing for my mind.

8 years

Alex › Cool.. keep doing it if it helps you.. everyone needs to find his own way to relax..

8 years

NatashaT1994 › Yeah. I have a few ways. Depends on what is bothering me and how I am acting.

8 years

stepinsidee › I have started meditation just before I got to sleep, it works wonders! I used to thing what will it do really? But it helps a lot!

8 years

Alex › New article
8 years ago

Hello guys!

Because I lived a few years in London ( I already left 8 months ago ??) I feel part of the English family.. ??

I'm going to talk a bit about 2 countries that I'll have forever in my heart ❤

The history of the relationship between Portugal and Britain dates back to the Middle Ages?.

English Crusaders aided Portugal in the Reconquista, and after taking the city in 1147, the first King of Portugal Afonso Henriques made the Englishman Gilbert of Hastings the Bishop of Lisbon??.

In 1373, the Kingdom of England signed the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, the oldest alliance in the world still in force???. The alliance was formalised by the Treaty of Windsor in 1386, and in 1387 Philippa of Lancaster, the daughter of John of Gaunt, 1st Duke of Lancaster, was married to John I of Portugal.

During the late 16th century England found itself fighting against Spain which at this time was in personal union with Portugal. The English Armada was launched as part of this conflict in an attempt to restore Portuguese independence, to fight against both Spanish and Portuguese military ships which formed the Invincible Armada which lost 1/3 of its fleet during a storm and had to go around the British Islands and was unable to get the support of the Scots and Irish in their fight against the English.?

A further marriage between the Portuguese and English royal families occurred with the Marriage Treaty in 1662 when Charles II of England married Catherine of Braganza, daughter of King John IV of Portugal. Her dowry gave Britain Tangiers and Bombay, plus free trade to Portuguese colonies in Brazil and Asia. In return Charles raised a brigade of troops to serve in Portugal's war of independence against Spain. Catherine is credited with popularising tea, which is now seen as a key part of British culture. ( I'm sure you didn't know that ??)

In 1703, Portugal joined an alliance of England and the Netherlands in the War of the Spanish Succession against France and Spain. That same year, Portugal and England signed the Methuen Treaty. In the 18th century, the two nations were allies in the War of the Spanish Succession and the Seven Years' War.?

The 19th century saw the alliance between Portugal and the United Kingdom come into effect once more when Napoleon Bonaparte built the Continental System, which Portugal refused to join, leading Napoleon to invade. In 1807 Napoleon's army attacked Lisbon, forcing the Portuguese royal family to flee to Brazil under the protection of the British Royal Navy. In the later half of the century, as Portugal's imperial power declined following Brazil's independence, there were disputes between itself and the United Kingdom in southern Africa, which was a great embarrassment for the Portuguese monarchy and colonial prestige.????

Portugal was one of the Allies of World War I along with Britain. While officially neutral in World War II, Portugal remained friendly to the British, a counterpart to Spain's cooperation with the Axis.

Hope you liked it and wasn't too boring ??? regards ?

Cancel

Hello guys! Because I lived a few years in London ( I already left 8 months ago ??) I feel part of the English family.. ?? I'm going to talk a bit about 2 countries that I'll have forever in my heart ❤ The history of the relationship between Portugal and Britain dates back to the Middle ... Read more

.

8 years

Bilston › Very interesting.

8 years

Alex › New article
8 years ago

Hello again??

Lisbon is Portugal’s capital. 
From São Jorge Castle, the view encompasses the old city’s pastel-colored buildings, Tagus Estuary and Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. Nearby, the National Azulejo Museum displays 5 centuries of decorative ceramic tiles. Just outside Lisbon is a string of Atlantic beaches, from Cascais to Estoril. ☉☉☉
 
Lisbon’s history dates back to 300,000 years ago. However, it emerged as a nation state in the early 12th century and ranks as one of the world's longest founded cities ?

As the legend tells, history of Lisbon was a battlefield for Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians, however it was Romans who started their two-century reign in Lisbon in 205 BC. During Romans period, Lisbon became one of the most significant cities in Iberian Peninsula and renamed Felicitas Julia.???

In 714, the Moors arrived to Peninsula and resisted against Christian attacks for 400 years. When the Christians finally recaptured the city, it took one more century to repel all the Moors from the peninsula.??

The 15th century was the point of departure for the Portuguese Discoveries, an era during which Portugal enjoyed abundant wealth and prosperity through its newly discovered off shore colonies in Atlantic islands, the shores of Africa, the Americas and Asia.?

Vasco da Gama's famous discovery of the sea route to India marked this century.
Lisbon was then world's most prosperous trading centre. Furthermore, many attractions of the city at present such as Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and Torre de Belém, both classified by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites, were built during this period. ??????

However, this era didn’t take long, unfortunately the earthquake of 1755 destroyed nearly entire city. ???

The city was rebuilt by the Marques de Pombal, who created the Baixa Pombalina, a commercial area that still attains attraction.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the city spread progressively to the North and areas such as the Avenidas Novas (New Avenues).?

Today, Lisbon is one of the most beautiful capitals of Europe while still maintaining the marks of its early glorious history. ??

Cancel

Hello again?? Lisbon is Portugal’s capital. From São Jorge Castle, the view encompasses the old city’s pastel-colored buildings, Tagus Estuary and Ponte 25 de Abril suspension bridge. Nearby, the National Azulejo Museum displays 5 centuries of decorative ceramic tiles. Just outside Lisbon ... Read more

.

8 years

Smokey2017 › Algarve is beautful
Priara de rocha smokey been many many years ago had beautful time

8 years

Smokey2017 › But I love turkey bern every year so many times beautful coast
Loveky people beautful history and culture
Loveky food getting hungry

8 years

Bilston › Lisbon is one of the places to visit that I have in my agenda.

8 years

Alex › Great @Bilston ?

8 years

KimJohnson › Beautiful photograph, and rich history!

8 years

Alex › New article
8 years ago

Hi everyone... Just a little bit of history about my country. Hope you like it... I never wrote an article... so I'll see if it's something you're interested in or not... The history of Portugal dates back to the Early Middle Ages. In the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal had the status of a w... Read more

.

8 years

Alex › Finally.. it worked ???

8 years

ze2000 › nice!

8 years

ze2000 › I like history, post more of these ok?

8 years

Alex › Really ze?? Because it's almost English or Spanish in here... loool.. I was thinking it's boring for you ?

8 years

Bilston › I like history too.

8 years

jessica › me too

8 years

bee › I like history too

8 years

Alex › Thanks everyone for your support ?

8 years

Borderline › ai caralho

8 years

Alex › Only you @borderline ???

8 years

Smokey2017 › Smokey loves history thks for sharing

8 years

6 years

indexer › Some interesting material here.

6 years

Alex › Thanks @indexer

6 years

Alex

12 photos

Recent articles See more