Back on the Portuguese track!

After a family week in The Netherlands

(PORTUGUÊS) (NEDERLANDS)

Old school hatha yoga at Quinta dos Chões

Sometimes I forget how perfect and harmonious it can be to do yoga with a select and experienced group. In just one language, with few words and slow movements that are felt to the bone. The energy and life force that then starts to flow is unprecedentedly powerful and beautiful.

It was wonderful to feel the warmth after a week in the Netherlands and to spend an hour doing no-fuss hatha yoga with just these three friends outside, in the middle of the olive grove. 

Normally I teach in Portuguese and English and I didn't have to now. The silence that ensues, because of no translations, contributes to awareness. Being aware of everything you do, think and say.

After the lesson, all four of us were silent and only after a while did the conversation start in the shade of the pergola with tea and mini Dutch biscuits. And no I don't do sugar-, gluten- and lactose-free. 

These after-class conversations are about all sorts of things and today about this: 

The barbaric mammogram bus arrived in the village, so all women are summoned to have their breasts killed, except for me. Who ever invented that! I am an outspoken hundred per cent opponent of that nonsense! So I've had my say on that. There is an excellent alternative. So ask about it. Never get your breasts crushed again. There is no need for it. 

English Jacqui talked about wonderful interview she heard on BBC Sounds in the series This Cultural Life with Antony Gormley, an artist, about his creativity and his life-changing experience with vipassana meditation. And if Jacqui finds that, it must be good, so I'm going to listen to that tonight. 

Of course, my experiences in The Hague last week came up.

The Hague, Mauritskade

Granddaughter Noa's eighteenth birthday.

Granddaughter Noa with her dad Alex (my oldest son)

On the back of the motorbike with son Alex the adventurer, a visit to Museum Voorlinden (I couldn't resist).

A delicious Indonesian dinner tête-à-tête with grandson Manu and no one else.

Shopping and having lunch with the granddaughter.

Restaurant Bogor, The Hague, dinner with grandson Manu

The opening of the RATHPACK exhibition.

My sister photographer Patricia Steur is part of this artist collective. It was so crowded that almost nothing of the art could be seen and we bumped into many old acquaintances, old lovers, wacky friends and more. Even Vision Magazine publisher Lorenzo Ledel, for whom I write a column, was there. It was a beautiful reunion. That's how it felt to me.

Well, that was an average Wednesday morning. Marvão is glittering on the mountain and I am back in the campo writing. 

Portugal o meu amor! Happy to be back.

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