When Dystopia Makes You Cherish Your Life | Blindness by José Saramago | Art of Saudade

They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them. Psalm 115:5-8  Dystopia is one … Continue reading When Dystopia Makes You Cherish Your Life | Blindness by José Saramago | Art of Saudade

More than a hero… a writer! | The Travels of Ernesto Che Guevara | Art of Saudade

“I now know, by an almost fatalistic conformity with the facts, that my destiny is to travel…” Che Guevara “This young adventurer, endowed with a thirst for knowledge and a great capacity to love, shows us how reality, if well interpreted, can move a man to the point of changing his way of thinking.”, says Che’s daughter Aleida Guevara March in the preface to The … Continue reading More than a hero… a writer! | The Travels of Ernesto Che Guevara | Art of Saudade

Epic Porto Travel Itinerary | Art of Saudade

Are you ready for a colorful summer? Porto is waiting for you with its deep blue ocean and azulejo art (a traditional form of painted tin-glazed ceramic tilework). The second-largest Portuguese city can actually be visited in a few days. Arrival You can arrive in Porto by plane, train, bus, bike… the choice is yours! The public transport in Porto is also very well organized. … Continue reading Epic Porto Travel Itinerary | Art of Saudade

Portugal – The Land Of Fado, Wine, And Poetry

When you are in Portugal, time stops. Only sensations remain. Smell the sea, hear the sound of fado, and taste the traditional wine of Porto. Not convinced yet?  Whatever they do, Portuguese people love to take their time. If you want to escape the stressful big city life, go to Portugal. The smaller the town, the higher the chance of tasting the authentic Portuguese lifestyle. … Continue reading Portugal – The Land Of Fado, Wine, And Poetry

From Żelazowa Wola To Paris | The Story Of Chopin, The Poet Of The Piano | Art of Saudade

Art will save the world… Yes, I am strongly convinced that art will save the world. I don’t need any proof. Just Chopin’s soft piano during the dark night hours.  The year is 1787. What can be left of a world ravaged by tuberculosis and wars? Art, that strong human desire to fight destruction through creation.  Nicolas Chopin, a talented flute player from France, moves … Continue reading From Żelazowa Wola To Paris | The Story Of Chopin, The Poet Of The Piano | Art of Saudade

Writing Poetry In A Minority Language: The Story Of The Occitan Poets | Art of Saudade

If life in the Middle Ages was rough, imagine being a speaker of a regional language in 20th century France, when the government banned the use of minority languages. For Occitan poets, the struggle to preserve their authentic language and culture only got harder. The Occitan language is a Romance language spoken in Southern France. However, it has no official status in France. In the … Continue reading Writing Poetry In A Minority Language: The Story Of The Occitan Poets | Art of Saudade

24 Hours In Béziers | Discover One Of France’s Oldest Towns In Only One Day | Art of Saudade

Ah, southern France… the scents of the Mediterranean, the fabulous history, and the architecture remaining its most loyal witness. Today I wonder if we can discover Béziers, one of the most beautiful historical towns in the South of France… in less than 24 hours! C’est parti ! You can arrive in Béziers by plane (yep, the town has an airport!), car, bus, or train (the … Continue reading 24 Hours In Béziers | Discover One Of France’s Oldest Towns In Only One Day | Art of Saudade

Brazilian literature: Life In The Brazilian Backlands | Vidas Secas by Graciliano Ramos | Art of Saudade

Vidas Secas is one of the greatest classics of Brazilian literature. Published in 1938, this novel tells the tragic story of a poor family living in the Northeast Region of Brazil and describes their everyday life. The cyclical way of writing that the author adopts makes it possible to read the first chapter as a continuation of the last chapter. This means that the destiny … Continue reading Brazilian literature: Life In The Brazilian Backlands | Vidas Secas by Graciliano Ramos | Art of Saudade

Fear Of The Other According To Montaigne | Art of Saudade

Only a little less than a century after the Europeans “discovered” new lands, one of the greatest French thinkers Montaigne meets someone who spent some time with the “barbarous and savage cannibals”, as they called the Indigenous people.  Where did the word ‘barbarous’ come from? The name barbarous was given by the Greeks to any people that didn’t speak their language. The term simply meant … Continue reading Fear Of The Other According To Montaigne | Art of Saudade

How To Postpone The End Of The World | Dia do Indio | Art of Saudade

Relax. This title is a provocation, says the author Ailton Krenak, activist of the socio-environmental and indigenous rights movement in Brazil. We’re not so doomed, yet. There is still a chance to reconnect with Nature. Today is the Dia do Indio (Indian Day) in Brazil and it’s a perfect occasion to remember the truth about nature told by the wise Indigenous communities. “I don’t understand … Continue reading How To Postpone The End Of The World | Dia do Indio | Art of Saudade