ABC WEDNESDAY # 39 (H)

(Photo by Sailor Girl, of a mural painting at Horta, Azores)

«H» is for «HUMAN», by The Killers, now playing at Radio Atlântico Azul. A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

ABC WEDNESDAY # 38 (G)

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

«G» is for «Greek Pilot Boat» (and for «Gorillaz», now playing at Radio Atlântico Azul)!!! A contribution to ABC Wednesday!!!

ABC WEDNESDAY # 37 (W)

Our Christmas tree at... WORK!

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

«W» is for «WORK», a place where I finally feel at home... A contribution to ABC Wednesday, with a special thank you to all my friends for their patience.

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 36 (I)

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

«I» is for «INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE» at Ceuta in today's photo! A contribution to ABC Wednesday. For more posts regarding Infante Dom Henrique, click on the respective label. * Monumento ao Infante Dom Henrique em Ceuta.

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 35 (H)

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

«H» is for «HOLIDAYS» away from the computer and the internet, which I really needed... A contribution automatically posted to ABC Wednesday, now on its Round 5!!!!...

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 34 (G)

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

«G» is for «GULL... SEAGULL» (in Portuguese, «GAIVOTA»)!... A contribution automatically posted to ABC Wednesday. * Publicado automaticamente hoje.

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 33 (F)

(The official plane of Atlantic Blue)

«F» is for «FARAWAY», which in fact is where I am right now! A contribution prepared on August 23rd and automatically posted today to ABC Wednesday, now on its Round 5!!!!... * Este post foi preparado no dia 23 de Agosto e publicado automaticamente hoje, com os truques mágicos do Blogger!!!...

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 32 (E)

(First Photo by Sailor Girl. The other photos and information were kindly sent by the Tagus Navy)

«E» is for an «EXTRAORDINARY EVENT» held last Saturday, during the Race of «Atlântico Azul»: the Municipality of Moita invaded the Municipality of Lisbon at the Quay of the Columns («Cais das Colunas»)!!! This is a Portuguese private joke and I hope we shall not be sued or anything or otherwise misunderstood!!! A contribution to ABC Wednesday, now on its Round 5, of which I am a proud team member!!!!... Dear DENISE, I am sorry for not having been able to do my job, but I really haven't been having time!!...

Amigos! Não é só o blogue «31 da Armada» que consegue feitos invulgares, como a recente [Restauração da Monarquia] por um dia! Também o blogue Atlântico Azul apoia e divulga feitos ainda mais EXTRAORDINÁRIOS E INÉDITOS!!! Factos que ficam para a HISTÓRIA DE PORTUGAL!!!...

Assim, no passado Sábado, 15 de Agosto de 2009, em plena Regata, o Presidente da Câmara Municipal da Moita, com o auxílio do Presidente do INEM, da Sailor Mum e do Presidente da Assembleia Geral do Centro Náutico Moitense (acompanhados por um agente que, por trabalhar na Nato, operou undercover), utilizando a Regata «Atlântico Azul» como manobra de diversão, saltaram da canoa onde iam embarcados e tomaram Lisboa aos Mouros!!! Depois do acto pousaram para esta magnífica fotografia!!!

Entretanto, o arrais e demais tripulantes da canoa permaneceram nela de vigília, muito especialmente o Presidente do Grupo Optivisão e o Ribau Teixeira (da Gafanha da Nazaré), que veio expressamente da Praia de Santa Cruz para assistir a esta histórica tomada de Lisboa!...

E as saudades que aquela argola do Cais das Colunas tinha de ver um arrais e de ter nela amarrada uma Canoa... As saudades que ela tinha!!!...

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 31 (D)

(Photo by Sailor Girl. Click to better view)

«D» is for «DEMOCRACY» and for Portuguese King «D. Carlos I», also an important Portuguese oceanographic navy ship (in the above photo, with the traditional sailing barge of the Tagus «OLIVEIRA E BATISTA», from Sarilhos Pequenos, built in 1955 and also member of the Tagus Navy and registered to participate at the Race of Atlântico Azul). A contribution to ABC Wednesday, now on its Round 5, of which I am a proud (but a bit absent) team member!!!!... And thus... «D» is also for «DENISE» (the ABC Wednesday's mentor)!!! And for «DINA» (from Jerusalem)!!! And for Leif's «DISLEXY» as he never catches up with us!! How 'bout that, huh?!...

Com a autorização do respectivo autor, reproduzo o post [REALEZA NAVAL], de Luís Miguel Correia, que em 6 de Fevereiro de 2008, a propósito deste navio, referiu o seguinte:

«Sistema político que caracterizou Portugal durante quase 800 anos, a Monarquia está presente em detalhes diversos de navios actuais. O nome do malogrado Rei D. Carlos está atribuído ao navio oceanográfico NRP D. CARLOS I, homenageando a vertente oceanográfica de homem de ciência que foi o penúltimo Rei português. (...) Entretanto, na proa da Fragata D. FERNANDO SEGUNDO E GLÓRIA, o avô de D. Carlos contempla o largo de Cacilhas, pois o navio encontra-se desde Novembro na doca seca da Parry & Son para reparação.»

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 30 (C)

(«Courage», in Chinese Calligraphy. Image downloaded from the internet)

«C» is for «COURAGE» and for «Commander José Botelho de Carvalho Araújo», who bravely died in combat 90 years ago, in the Bridge of «August Castilho», while escorting the steamship “São Miguel” in the Azores sea. His courage and enormous heart saved 206 civilians who were aboard the steamship. He is definitelly one of my Heroes. A contribution to ABC Wednesday, now on its Round 5, of which I am a proud (but a bit absent) team member!!!!...

Homenagem ao Comandante José Botelho de Carvalho Araújo, que faleceu no dia 14 de Outubro de 1918, no seu posto em combate, na Ponte do Caça - Minas «Augusto Castilho», que nesse dia e em plena 1ª Guerra Mundial escoltava o vapor «São Miguel» no mar dos Açores. A sua coragem, o seu sacrifício e amor ao próximo permitiram que se salvassem 206 pessoas que iam a bordo do vapor. Lamenta-se que, 90 anos depois, o seu heroísmo tenha praticamente caído no esquecimento.

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 29 (B)

(Fotografia retirada [DAQUI] * Photo downloaded from [HERE])

«B» is for «BARRACUDA», our fabulous Portuguese Submarine. This photo was taken on July 3rd, 2009, during Naval Operations held in Tróia and Pinheiro da Cruz, to which the President of the Portuguese Republic attended. A contribution to ABC Wednesday, now on its Round 5, of which I am a proud team member!!!!... Thank you to Leif Hagen, for reminding me that today is Wednesday!!... * No passado dia 3 de Julho o Senhor Presidente da República visitou a Marinha e assistiu a uma demonstração naval em Tróia e Pinheiro da Cruz. Vejam todas as fotografias registadas nesse evento no link indicado na legenda da fotografia de hoje.

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 28 (A)

«A» is for «ATLÂNTICO AZUL» (in english, «ATLANTIC BLUE») and its fabulous Race, held on August 15th every year, a great honnour made to this blog by the Tagus Navy (Marinha do Tejo), as it was the day I met them in Cascais, back in 2005!!! Put it down on your callendar!!!...

A contribution to ABC Wednesday, now beginning its Round 5, of which I am a proud team member!!!!...

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 27 (Z)

(Photo by Sailor Girl... who else?)

«Z» is for «ZÉZITO» (in english it could be «LIL' JOE»), my beloved beautiful portuguese Tug!!! Isn't he a cuty or what??? I wonder how he managed to cross the Atlantic Ocean, from Canada (where he was built) to Lisbon!!! A contribution to ABC Wednesday, looking forward to Round 5 at ABC WEDNESDAY, of which I am a proud team member!!!!...

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 26 (Y)

(Photo «Yes, of course! With a little help from the Armed Forces!!!», by Sailor Girl)

«Y» is for «YES», my answer to Ms. Nesbitt's question regarding the coming Round 5 at ABC Wednesday!!! A contribution to ABC Wednesday, wishing you a really Happy Mid-Week!!!!...

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 25 (X)

(Photos downloaded from the internet)

«X» is for «XANADU», another fabulous cruise ship that unfortunatelly was laid up and is «EMPTY»....

A double contribution both to ABC Wednesday and to July's Theme Day at CDPB, the City Daily Photo Blog Community, where the Theme is «EMPTY»! Click here to view thumbnails for all participants at July's Theme Day.

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 24 (W)

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

«W» is for «WEEKEND», and next weekend the Tagus Navy (Marinha do Tejo) will celebrate its first anniversary with another exciting Race, organised this time with the Portuguese Navy. A contribution to ABC Wednesday. * Brevemente disponibilizarei mais informações acerca da Regata da Marinha do Tejo que se realiza já no próximo Sábado, comemorativa do seu primeiro aniversário desde a formalização da sua criação por despacho do Senhor Secretário de Estado da Defesa Nacional e dos Assuntos do Mar.

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 23 (V)

Photo by Brian McMorrow (downloaded from [HERE]) of the Tomb of [Vasco da Gama] at the Monastery of Jeronimos (Belém, Lisbon). Vasco da Gama was one of the greatest Portuguese explorers, and one of the most successful in the World since the Age of the Discoveries. He was also the commander of the first ships to sail directly from Europe to India. Please check the label «Vasco da Gama» to view more posts about this great heroe.

«V» is also for «VASCO DA GAMA», former «INFANTE DOM HENRIQUE», the first ship I cruised on, back in 1972. A contribution to ABC Wednesday.

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 22 (U)

(All images downloaded from the internet)

«U» is for «U-HU!!!!!!», because today is PORTUGAL DAY («Day of Portugal, Camões and the Portuguese Communities»)!!!!

Portugal, a beautiful country right at the centre of the World Map, with lots of Sea but with almost no ships to sail in it.

«U» is also for «UÍGE», one of the hundreds of Portuguese Ships already gone and built on a time when Portugal really cared for its Ships and was aware of their importance both for the economy and also for the leisure of the people. This one in particular was named after a beautiful city in Angola and was deadly scrapped by [Batistas S.A.]. I hope they earned a lot of money doing it and that the IRS charged them a fortune!

Another fabulous, extraordinary and, some will even say, UNIQUE contribution to ABC Wednesday!...

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 21 (T)

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

«T» is for «TRAFARIA PRAIA», one of our beautiful Lisbon Ferries, formerly German, owned and manned by TRANSTEJO. Another fabulous and, some will say, sassy contribution to ABC Wednesday!... LOL!...

«T» is also for Silver Cloud cruising on «THAMES» and passing under London's «TOWER BRIDGE», with the help of a London «TUG»!! This photo was taken and kindly sent by my friend David Trevor Jones, and it was the first time in his life he saw a cruise ship pass beneath Tower Bridge, albeit backwards!!! He is immensely lucky! I never saw one there!!...

ABC WEDNESDAY - # 20 (S)

(Photo by Sailor Girl)

«S» is for a «SAGRES», one of our beautiful Portuguese Tall Ships, owned and manned by the Portuguese Navy. Another fabulous contribution to ABC Wednesday!... LOL!...