tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post1343821812615980272..comments2023-08-25T16:13:51.356+01:00Comments on Martin In The Margins: What we did (and who we saw) on our holidaysMartinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15608932251584881007noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post-26311099916133337762010-08-26T18:36:39.026+01:002010-08-26T18:36:39.026+01:00Realised between us we have come up with 3 differe...Realised between us we have come up with 3 different spellings of Baltasar (that, it turns out, being the correct spelling).bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post-57351820076689562642010-08-26T17:54:10.736+01:002010-08-26T17:54:10.736+01:00Just imagining what it would be like if I were Mic...Just imagining what it would be like if I were Michael Gove....<br /><br />On second thoughts...bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post-37955158474023411782010-08-26T17:53:26.111+01:002010-08-26T17:53:26.111+01:00I loved Baltasta and Blimunda. It's like nothi...I loved Baltasta and Blimunda. It's like nothing I've read before. I guess Garcia Marquez and John Berger are the nearest reference points, but they're so far off. There were a few bits I found it hard going (one sentence that went on, I think, 6 pages, defeated me repeatedly). I will now, having gotten through it, have another go at Ricardo Reis, which defeated me last time. <br /><br />Cascais was a not bad place to stay - for its many eateries and easy access to Lisbon and to beaches. We stayed just to the west of the tourist zone, in an old house on a quiet tree-lined avenida, so were able to avoid the British pubs! We also stayed for a few days in another seaside town, Sesimbra, which was a far more proletarian town, with lots of Communist posters behind the ice cream vans on the front. <br /><br />On your question on the carnation revolution, by the way, some good stuff at Libcom, including Maurice Brinton's diary: http://libcom.org/tags/portuguese-revolution It's a kind of gap in my knowledge too, so if you come up with anything, let me know.bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post-49817544109440493422010-08-26T15:58:54.147+01:002010-08-26T15:58:54.147+01:00That's an amazing coincidence, Bob. (You'r...That's an amazing coincidence, Bob. (You're not really Michael Gove, are you?) <br /><br />We were staying ten minutes north of Cascais and made two visits - once to explore the town (had lunch in a nice Italian restaurant) and walk along the Marginal to Estoril, and the other to catch the train along the scenic route to Lisbon.<br /><br />There are countless locations along the route between Cascais and Lisbon mentioned in Wilson's book. The murder takes place - and the detective lives - in Praco de Arcos, near Oeiras.<br /><br />Did you enjoy the Saramago book? It's the only one of his I've finished since 'Ricardo Reis'. A thought: the author's vision of human nature is as grimly pessimistic as that of the religious fanatics he satirises. But I enjoyed the book tremendously. Difficult to step out of Rossio station into the square without thinking of the Inquisition...Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15608932251584881007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4318375667051435937.post-21915743764615026302010-08-26T15:31:16.162+01:002010-08-26T15:31:16.162+01:00I can't believe this Martin, but I was in Port...I can't believe this Martin, but I was in Portugal at more or less exactly the same time as you, staying mainly in Cascais and Lisbon. Had a wonderful time. Possibly we even passed in the street!<br /><br />And, even more bizarre, what was my holiday reading? Baltasar and Blimunda. (My last year holiday reading, while in France, was A Small Death in Lisbon, and while around Cascais and Sintra, I tried to remember the place where the book's denouement took place.)bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15439386754907203808noreply@blogger.com