Examples abound in the streets of key trend for this spring and summer, the neo-romanticism attack in force.

The floral prints have never been so in fashion like this year. The style and bucolic countryside of rural English stormed the catwalks and the streets in our country. A trend inspired by the eighteenth century that rescues the aesthetics of romanticism post-industrial revolution. Income clear, very colorful ribbons and flowers in the hair are clearly the must-have accessory this season. A look that can be supplemented with long dress almost ethereal, that allowed Portuguese woman to look more delicate, more longitudinal as a whole. We can even say that we should dig the closet of our grandparents in search of that small net that we can apply in our less showy skirts or dresses. A recycling of older pieces, which with a small gesture became so fashionable without losing their sensuality. The pastels are other details that mark the season. The old pink, brown and beige flood the catwalks a garment you use to seduce slightly more than provoke. The bonds are another addition to this trend. Whether the belts, the headband or the shoes, they give your toilet a more sophisticated and retro look. Dare to be and above all be a romantic.

2000 or 2011. In the case of Mafalda Veiga, the dates do not matter. With a fabulous message of life, her music - especially live - is timeless.

Talking about Mafalda Veiga is talking about stories. Feelings. Take, for example, 'Live', a compendium of the best-known songs. Platinum, includes songs that represent various career stages. True storyteller, this extraordinary singer makes music a mirror of your emotions. Who had the privilege of attending one of his concerts knows what we said. Unforgettable voice of the great contact with the public, Mafalda Veiga is even more genuine live. An intoxication of the senses.

What makes this sublime album. Especially chosen for the splendid music. As the 'Stubble'. With a surprisingly simple lyrics, describes brilliantly the essence of life. Because 'life is not to exist like nothing else'. Or the 'old'. With a gentle melody and words full of lightness, she portrays such complex issues as is old age. And loneliness. But above all, Mafalda Veiga enjoys playing with words. In her songs, are common themes as the sea. Happiness. The warm. Or love. For example, in 'Tattoo', she sings a fantastic duet with the always memorable Jorge Palma.
More than a compilation, 'Live' is a story of 'soul cries. " A celebration of life through music.

http://www.mafaldaveiga.sapo.pt/

Alyona Fedorchuk is a promising young designer living in Portugal. A name to remember, even if it is hard to pronounce, and that will set the national trends in the future catwalks.

The brand Alyona Fedorchuck, bets on a classic style with touches of modernity it applies in its own collections as she outlined in the "production of creative and stylish clothing that stands out in any circumstance." This young designer who came to our country from Ukraine, with only thirteen years old, plans to imprint her name on the fashion world in Portugal with her own collections, a wage she took on her first vision entitled, "desert wind". Alyona explains about these closes "this collection was presented at the end of the course, the theme is the desert, I used a color palette that alluded to the sand and bushes, the dresses are fluttering and undulating as the sand dunes. I used materials such as silks and muslins that gave a sense of texture. It was all designed and created by me. Molded, cut and saw the pieces myself because I had time to do so. "
Coordinates that will be reset for next autumn-winter season by presenting a wider range of more structured jackets, dresses for ceremonies and bodices in this context says, "I know that Portuguese women are still wary of the bodice, but it is a piece that  accompanied and elongated  the female waist and can hide some less desirable fats. Creates a more feminine silhouette, defined and sexy. " A work that will be presented "in September or October at the Casino Royal in Expo Park, because I feel the need to present a collection of my own that can be sold" as highlights. A step towards the future in a very restricted world and despite the fact that it’s difficult to succeed in our country, she does not fear the challenge, because "this is what I always wanted to do. I had the opportunity to talk with Joao Rôlo, which is one of my favorite designers in this profession and he told me that was tough and had to fight hard to even be recognized as a creative fashion designer”. A professional track that this young designer, brought by the east winds of change to a new home, is going to pursue safely.

http://www.alyonafedorchuk.com/

The donkey milk was used as anti-aging treatment for women in antiquity. A very popular cosmetic treatment that returns from the past in order to preserve the Mirandese asinine.

The donkey mirandese is a specimen endangered in our country; it is an asinine from the region of Miranda do Douro, northern Portugal. In the past, this native breed was used as a beast of burden and all sorts of jobs linked to agriculture. With the increasing abandonment of rural areas due to the emigration and the displacement of populations for coastal zones in search of better opportunities, the donkey of Miranda was being progressively put in the background of rural life. An exodus that almost ruled the death of this unique friendly breed. The remaining specimens are the result of the affection that some Mirandeses reserve this animal and the tireless work of the Association for the Study and Preservation of Cattle donkeys (AEPGA) to maintain the breed pure.

Currently, it is estimated that there are 1,000 breeding females and 40 breeding males available in Miranda do Douro. A number that is likely to grow through sustainable development of measures to their conservation in rural areas. One of such initiative was the use of donkey milk to manufacture natural soaps, whose proceeds will go towards the preservation of this animal. And before the expressions of horror, let me clarify this particular measure, in ancient times donkey milk was considered a luxury item, widely used as a cosmetic treatment to moisturize and prevent skin aging. One of the most famous advocates of this method was the Queen Cleopatra who delight herself in a bath with this milk. After this historical clarification, these soaps do not endanger the females, since "is a limited production taking advantage of the second strict standards of animal welfare and without prejudice to the suckling offspring's, which is not intended to use a commercial activity, but the preserving the asinine of Miranda do Douro. "

If you dislike the idea of ​​the soaps, AEPGA also suggest the donkey rides by several existing trails in North of Portugal. An unforgettable experience for discovering the natural beauty of Tras-os-Montes, riding such friendly and docile animals. Will simply love it and they'll thank despite the weight! Another facet of this preservation project is the therapy. The introduction of donkeys as a healing process started in 70 years, with satisfactory results in several European countries. The recreational and therapeutic activities assisted with Mirandese donkeys for people with special needs, here they have a dual role, firstly, to stimulate their cognitive levels, physical, motor and emotional, on the other promote ecotourism, encouraging moments of pleasure and leisure with these populations.

http://www.tomelo.pt

http://www.aepga.pt/

Teams of scientists and visionary entrepreneurs are betting on new technologies applied in the tissues.

In the modern world demands are endless. Women are in charge in addition to professional requirements, all aspects of daily tasks. Ironing is one of them and one of the most hated household duties. So much so that most women no longer use the iron, using a myriad of techniques to avoid creases in garments. One of these preventive measures, let us say like that, is to acquire non-wrinkled clothes after washing and also comfortable to wear.
The textile companies aware of the phenomenon are increasingly investing in research to develop innovative fabrics more environmentally friendly. In Portugal, a team led by Portuguese scientists, coordinated by Ana Manaia, researcher at the Instituto Pedro Nunes and the Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Coimbra, is carrying out a European study with the aim of developing 100% natural fabrics with hemp to be made available to the industry. The objective is to produce a fabric resistant to sudden temperature changes and capabilities with anti-bacterial from this fiber plant that grows on average four meters high.
In the domestic market there are brands that have bet on garments with innovative fabrics. One of these success stories are the perfect body pants of Ana Sousa that redefines the feminine forms recovering the original silhouette, running as an anti-cellulite, stretch marks and preventer corrector skin. Their finishes are made with natural substances like Ginkgo, Gotu Kola and Kelp, which also induces in addition to the body, beside the above qualities, a sense of physical well-being. The future is here, ladies! Now let's enjoy. And goodbye old iron!
http://www.anasousa.com/

Remixing the aesthetics of a period of fashion history  is proving that in the closet of our mothers are small treasures That can be used to highlight trends.

The 70 mark this year's fashion trends. The recycling of the revolutionary period, due to continuous experimentation of materials, which Itself has distanced from current models of the time of the hippy culture, with models most colorful, prints fabrics of Pucci and cashmere clothing from India. This new aesthetic contour won the more psychedelic, more glitter in music. A very futuristic fashion, metal, space and androgynous. Who can forget the videos of David Bowie? In the mid-seventies the disco movement with suits of bright colors for men and envelope dresses with frills  for the ladies launched by the world famous Diane Von Furstenberg, and later the punk movement. The response to the frivolity of the season that broke definitively with the other trends. Born in working class neighborhoods in suburban England in defiance of the bourgeois mentality conversationalist, this movement advocated the right to enjoyment, to freedom of expression and the garment that reflects the feeling of dysphasia well expressed by the band Fri Pistols or the Clash among others. It was, moreover, this trend launch the designer Vivienne Westwood career. Here the difference was marked by the military style, perhaps influenced by the Carnation Revolution, military style pants and jeans bell-mouth, with studs and embroidery abound. The suede boots and the platform shoes roamed the cobblestone. Crocheted purses, fringed strip lap and trinkets That I bet we can still find hidden in the closets of  our mothers. This year's fashion shows for the season of autumn-winter 2011 fabrics with hallucinating patterns. Sunglasses hoops round, inspired by Jacquie O., parading down  in Portuguese catwalks, is a must have accessory this season. The leathers are in the top and long skirts with psychedelics patterns instilled for a period of great socio-cultural creativity.

Its the regional footwear for excellence due to his current design its still a subject of fashion

From time to time, the Madeira traditional boot, yes, and the one you see on the feet of the "villains" of the folklore ensemble, returns as shoe fashion trend on the island of Madeira. In the late 80's, I still remember when it was fashionable to wear these boots, simply because everyone was using it in school. All girls, of course. This kind of collective outbreak of teenagers happens along with several time intervals, and its origin is still unknown, which transforms the traditional boot becomes for a short period of time in to a fashion icon.

An attraction that results from the simplicity of the design of this type of shoe made of tanned leather, designed to travel long distances on foot, for this reason has no jumps. The only variant that is known in the sole and reinforced rubber mainly used by drivers of baskets in Monte. The famous red ribbon is believed to be designed only to distinguish female from male boots. Although it looks fragile, doesn't let in water even in a downpour. I was conceived to resist, even in adverse weather conditions. All these factors contribute to be used by young people because they are always in the front that cast the street trends. In colder weather stations on the island, we can observe this "phenomenon" at the feet of some women, this booty, which many use with the bootleg rolling out. An interesting exercise would be modernizing this piece of footwear, serving as inspiration for a new model made in Portugal. The challenge is launched.

http://www.madeira-in-a-box.com/

http://www.feitoria.com.pt/pt/catalogo/feitoria/calcado/botas-da-madeira

It's one of the bird most admired and most respected in Portugal, for this and other reasons continue to reproduce favorably in our territory.

The white stork is one of the birds in Portugal that enjoys a very special status, is in fact very popular. Being by nature a migratory bird, this specimen hibernates in our country during a period that encompasses the months of March until July, when the flying offspring exceeded between 50-75 days of existence, allowing them to accompany their parents to Africa.
According to the V Census of 2004, conducted in our country, with the objective of making the survey the number of these birds in our territory, it was found that there was a striking overall increase of 133% over 1994. An impressive percentage that corresponds to 8205 occupied nests in Portugal as opposed to 3302, equivalent to previous censuses. Thus, placing the white stork in a top position regarding species conservation.
One factor that has contributed to the preservation of this specimen is the maintenance of some agricultural practices, such as the rain fed cereal and rice fields. In this last feeding zone, there is an even greater concentration of birds because of the red crayfish of Louisiana, an invader crustacean preyed on large quantities by white storks.
The center and south of the country are generally the areas with greatest number of occupied nests, with a greater expression in the landscape of Alentejo, to the point that these friendly birds are already part of these idyllic locations. One fact that is not stranger to the equation is the admiration that Portuguese garnered these birds in general. Very recently, a couple of white storks decided nesting for the second time on a private estate in Viana do Castelo, an unusual area even for this specimen, and for this reason alone, the couple are been protected by the local, such is the affection they feel towards the birds .
One of the greatest threats to survival of migratory species are the high voltage cables and heavy metals found in significant concentrations in the paddy fields where they feed, in particular mercury contamination of the water by the chemical, pharmaceutical and mining industries. However, according to the Red Book of Vertebrates of Portugal, the situation of the white stork is of little concern, as opposed to other world populations.

http://portal.icnb.pt/

It is one of the biggest attractions of the wonderful city and a key asset of the Brazilian woman.

Is one of the largest textile exports from Brazil in beach wear, and one of ex-libris of the city of Rio de Janeiro and also the country of samba. The Brazilian bikini was not born in this tropical nation, but has already crossed borders long ago. The most responsible of the phenomenon of popularity are certainly women. Did you know that the Brazilian always brings their bikini from Brazil? Consider it even as a key asset for Brazilian women to the point that they do not buy this two piece bath suit in other countries. It is not merely a matter related to national pride, what they do have, but because this bathing suit is much more daring, is smaller and that their quality is superior, even when dealing with a piece so tiny.
The Brazilian bikini is reduced because it helps to foster the cult of the toned and tanned body, but above all because it allows women to show the bootie, the most famous "institution" of Brazil. What never ceases to be a contradiction, much carnal exposure covered only by three little rectangles, given that it is prohibited to do topless in the beaches of Brazil. Indirectly, the famous thong also contributes to the emergence of so-called Brazilian wax. If you do not know what it is, ask. I will not explain, is a painful subject! Let's just say it is not a simple process of pulling fell from the groin.
In Portugal, the Brazilian bikini has gained status as an icon for wearing on the beach, once again thanks to the Brazilian, who brought suitcases full of bathing suits selling them to friends and acquaintances. This emphasizes once again the important and often overlooked they had in the promotion of national production. Portuguese men today thank then, because until then the bikinis were much quieter, as if it makes sense.
Nowadays, we can find this set of two pieces all over the world and its fame is such that is considered a tourist attraction in Rio de Janeiro. That is to say there is to much beauty for your own good!

The wild islands are a natural sanctuary for fauna and flora unique in the world and this year celebrates its 40th anniversary.

The islands were classified as wild nature reserve on 29 October 1971, a title which had as main objective the preservation of one of the largest nesting areas for seabirds in the North Atlantic. Due to its inhospitable reinforced by lack of drinking water and by the dangerous shoals that threatened the craft since its discovery in the fifteenth century, there were few intentions to colonize these islands. However, there are some marks on Selvagem Grande and currently has a nucleus of permanently vigilant of nature to reside in the territory. Another curiosity is that one of the islets belong to the family Zino, Paul Alexander Zino was indeed a responsible also for the preservation of  local fauna, initiated the first phase of ringing the Cagarras.
After its discovery one of the first ways to monetize this group of islands, since the settlement was difficult, was the collection of endemic plants for use in the dry cleaning industry and tanneries. The fern, a lichen that grows on the rock, was used in dyeing and paper due to his tone purple, it was exported to Flanders and England. The pastel, a glauca plant, was also widely used by garment trade, because of its leaf extract is a blue liquid, contrary to the name. Barilla, on the other hand, was one of the ingredients for making soap, a process involving the sun-drying of the plant, and then burnt and charred remains, after cooling, a hardening substance that appeared was called crude soda .
The area of ​​the Wild islands has a wide variety of species of seabirds, as mentioned previously, most notably, the famous Cagarras whose colony is the most numerous in the territory, having already 13 600 couples. The Black souls, the Petrel and the storm-petrels also nest in large numbers, making these islands a bird sanctuary.
Now enough about birds and plants, let's talk about one of the biggest myths of the island, the immense treasure of Captain William Kidd, the Bold. Yes it is true, according to legend in the year of the Lord of 1690, this famous pirate of the seas, hided a part of  his booty in jewels and Spanish gold doubloons  in the many caves in this group of islands. Unfortunately, no one has found it and despite being a very interesting story, the fact is that if there was any trace of this magnificent treasure would've been found and claimed, since there were several expeditions over the centuries. Buried was not for sure  due to the volcanic nature of this area would make the task almost impossible, but of course he would have "delegated" to someone and that effort will surely left over a few traces of the unfortunate! The name however stick, there is a cave known as Captain Kidd, at Selvagem Grande.

* Islands in Zarco

http://ilhasselvagens.blogspot.com/

http://www.madeiranature.com/