BelaSagres.blogspot.com

Divulgar Sagres. Bem-vindos ao melhor surf, pesca, mergulho, ciclo-turismo, e às praias vicentinas. Comentar a actualidade. Debater Ambiente, cruzeiros, aviação, excursões, hospitalidade, eno-gastronomia, desportos, cultura, eventos, formação e conhecimento. Aberto a contributos e críticas.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

 
Title:
Introduction to Sagreschool.blogspot.com

Welcome to a new Portuguese blog at hotspot.com. In sagreschool bloggers may find news and opinion texts in English or Portuguese about Sagres - the southwestern point of Portugal and Continental Europe!
This was where Prince Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) established the headquarters of his historic Sea Expeditions program's, which lasted for a century and which discovered new lands and sea routes. First along the Africa's West coast and the South Atlantic, and later into the Indian Ocean after rounding the Good Hope Cape (originally named Tempest Cape). Thereby Africa's East coast and the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian Gulf Islands, Southern Asia and the Pacific Islands were connected by ocean routes to European ports. But Prince Henry had a wider view of the world's planet at the time, having challenged his team to send expeditions to the North, Central and South Atlantic's East coast, which were successfully concluded after his death. Prince Henry - son of king John the First of Portugal and queen Phillipa of Lancaster - assembled in Sagres and Lagos a school with the world's best shipbuilders, chartmakers, shipchandlers, mathematians, geographers and wisemen of the 15th century. They mastered in carrying out his mission. His quest lasted 100 years - Portugal's golden century of supremancy in international science and diplomatic affairs. Prince Henry left a priceless legacy to Mankind - the Sagres School of Advance Nautical Knowledge and International Studies.
ROUND THE WORLD
Great Portuguese sea captains commanded the world's best equipped fleets and heroic mariners discovered the still unknown routes around the world. I recall here the main feats of these Sagres School followers: Tristao Vaz and Goncalves Zarco discovered Madeira Islands in 1418. Goncalo Velho the Azores Islands in 1432. Gil Eanes turned the Bojador Cape in 1434. Dinis Dias and Antonio Nola arrived and established settlements in the Cape Verde islands in 1445 and 1460. Pedro Cintra in Sierra Leone in 1460. Pero Escobar navigated through the Equator in 1471. Diogo Cao arrived at Congo in 1483. Bartolomeu Dias rounded Good Hope Cape and established a Portuguese settlement at the Southern tip of Africa, uniting the Atlantic and Indian Oceans in 1487. Joao Corte Real arrived in Greenland in the North Atlantic in 1488. Joao Fernandes and Afonso de Barcelos arrived at Labrador Peninsula, between Quebec and Newfoundland in 1492. Vasco da Gama arrived in Calecut, India, in 1498. Diogo Dias arrived in Madagascar in 1500. Pedro Alvares Cabral arrived in Brazil in 1500. Gaspar and Miguel Corte Real arrived in North America in 1501. Jorge Alvares arrived in China in 1513. Fernao Magalhanes (Magalhaes in Portuguese) finds the mythical sea route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans through the Magallanes Strait in 1520-1521. And Cristovao Mendonca arrives in Australia in 1522.
BLOG'S PROFILE
Sagreschool blog proposes to contemplate also regular contributions in English and Portuguese about Portuguese affairs related to international and diplomatic politics, economy, culture, science, sport (under the Sportugal banner) and main business trends - having in mind the need to generate updated, frequent and reliable news about this country (dating back to 1147) and its people (still found working and travelingg all over the world - we are only 10 million at home, but there are generations who almost double the homeland population in Africa, America, Asia, Australia and all over Europe and the Midlle East).
This is a private one-man initiative - making use of the available blogsphere technology - and aimed at spreading good and useful news and experienced criticism also. Portugal pursues presently a much needed economic recovery. I feel I may help in this way, namely in the areas of Tourism and international transport, as well as in making our exceptional history and attractions better known by world bloggers. I also have plans to provide a regular Portuguese Press Analysis about the main titles published in Lisbon.
AROUND PORTUGAL
Portugal is a great - but still underdeveloped - international tourist destination. With great conditions for family holidays, week-end and other short breaks, incentive tours, mega sports and cultural events, tournments for active sport addicts, catholic pilgrimages to Fatima, Sameiro and Saint Luzia's shrines (among others), local and trade fairs, and conventions and meetings of international standard. There are regular and charter air travel to 15 airports - at Lisbon, Porto, Faro, Tires in the continental territory; Funchal and Porto Santo - the two Madeira Islands; and Ponta Delgada, Lajes, Santa Maria, Horta, Pico,flaress, Corvo, São Jorge and Graciosa - the nine Azores Islands). There are excellent ocean cruising conditions to the fascinating ports of Lisbon, Leixoes (for Oporto and the Northern Region), Portimao (for the Algarve Region), Funchal and Porto Santo for Madeira, and Ponta Delgada (for Sao Miguel Island), Horta (for Faial and Pico Islands), Angra do Heroismo or Praia Victoria (for Terceira Island). I also suggest motoring holidays in Portugal to discover delightful villages and wine, green and historic routes And try the wide choice of new and charm hotels and resorts with splendid spas, entertainment, gourmet and fresh food,or sports facilities for all ages and liking. Do not miss so many exciting opportunities for leisure, romance, or a just a break from stressing routines.
Let me entice you also with some promotional schemes available, with the best golf and surf in Europe, the adventure of a yachting or fishing offshore cruises, as well as international and local matches of football in 10 of Europe's new generation stadiums (where you may meet some of our best known players), jumping and equestrian art shows with Lusitano's horses, some of the best kept Natural Parks in Europe.
A special word for the remarkable restaurants listed in the main international guides, serving fresh cuisine from the Atlantic and from the old vegetable gardens still kept in Portuguese rural villages. Also taste our delightful wines and cheeses. And feel at home, enjoying Portuguese hospitality! Our best kept treasure over eight and a half centuries!
But a visit to Portugal today is not just for leisure. There is a modern spirit in the air, with increasing business opportunities for investors in industry, technology, energy, trade, exports and imports, agriculture, transportation and entertainment. It is our capacity to blend tradition and modernity that makes me believe that you, dear blogger, will fully enjoy your next visit to Portugal if better informed! Do not hesitate to ask questions!
PERSONAL PROFILE
Blog: http://sagreschool.blogspot.com
I was born in Lisbon (1931) and live in Lisbon, where I share my retirement availability with frequent stays in Sagres (Algarve). The purpose, besides enjoying the sun and the water, is to investigate the spell which this unique destination exercises over me and many thousands of daily visitors. The Sagres Fortress and Saint Vincent's Lighthouse are two of the most visited Portuguese monuments! Of course, I have family ties there and a small house with six generations behind it. But the main aim of this search for family traces in Sagres results from my purpose to donate the nautical, historic and tourist library either to the future Ocean Scientific and Marine Biology Studies Centre to be built in Sagres, or to another reliable organization which proves to deserve it, and to pursue further studies about the land, the sea, the history, the fishing, the agriculture, the environment and its people.
I am a retired Portuguese journalist (editor, writer and contributor of daily and weekly national press - Tempo, Tarde, Seculo - and trade publications - Publituris, Portugal Travel News, Vela, Vela Brasileira, Yachting Brasileiro, Revista da Marinha Mercante, etc.). I still write a weekly column for Portugal Travel News.
I have some specific as well as multiple experiences in the following fields:
Sea - Naval Architecture and shipbuilding, sailing and yachting.
Tuition - for 32 years lecturer and headmaster at Isla, a private university-grade Tourism Higher Studies College in Lisbon. We prepared students since 1966 to become general managers, tour managers, marketing managers and operations managers, and other staff, for official departments, airlines, tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, and promotional destination bodies.
Consultancy - of hotel and regional development tourism masterplans.
Other hobbies: aviation, sports, energy, travel and cruising (a duplicate hobby-task I have been performing since 1947 until, at least, the recent inaugural cruise of the Freedom of the Seas (RCI) in May 2006).
Hoping to arise your interest about studying further sea and history matters about Sagres and Portugal, I welcome contributions and comments.
POSTED by HUMBERTO on WED. Nov 1, 2005 at 07:16AM

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