Get ready for the Euro 2008!

We're almost one week away from the Euro 2008 start! Go Portugal! Hooray!

The football fever is already in the air. Everyone discusses about their favorites, their hopes, planning when and where to watch the games.

I still have good memories from last Euro Cup, in 2004. Well... good memories regarding friends, celebrations and all the joy. Unfortunately I can't say the same regarding the result from the final game, againt Greece.
Even if I wanted to forget that "small detail", now it's almost impossible. Most of the guys I work with are constantly picking up that subject! Poor me! eheheh

But in revenge, all city of Paris is dressed in red and green, like the portuguese flag! eheh And I have to thank the americans! :P Why? Because Nike is the equipment supplier for many teams in Europe, and all Nike stores are "dressed up" accordingly. But France still has Adidas has its supplier... until 2011. Until then, Nike uses their most popular teams for marketing... like Netherlands, Russia and Portugal (of course!)

I'll let you see by yourselves. It feels like home ;)

I got the yellow fever virus!

It's magic! I haven't started yet my trip to the Amazon jungle and I managed to get infected by a tropical virus! eheheh

In order to follow the recommendations, today I took the yellow fever vaccine. It's not mandatory if you travel to the Amazon, but since the beginning of 2008 the risk level has increased. :P

So I paid a visit to the Institute Pasteur in Paris, in order to get ready for all kinds of virus and diseases. They gave me a list of all vaccines I should take: hepatitis A and B, dengue fever, rage, yellow fever, etc and etc. About 8 recommended vaccines! Thank you, but no thank you! eheh

I decided then to have the most recommended one, for yellow fever. Not that I fear needles, but the price for each vaccine scared me! eheh I think it was an allergy! ;)

How did I get the virus? Well, every time you get a vaccine you are being deliberately infected with a weak form of a virus. That's how I made a new friend: the yellow fever virus.
Now my immune system will recognize the vaccine agents as foreign, destroy them, and 'remember' them.... so I hope! eheheh

The list of possible side effects and reactions is big: fever, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle pain, swelling, difficulty breathing, skin rashes and spasms.
For the moment, I just don't feel my left arm quite well! eheheh

Oh yes... the next few days will be very funny! :P

Indiana Jones is back... almost!

Everything was ready to make a great night. I left early from work, switched off my mobile, went directly to the movie theater, grabbed some popcorns, waited 30 minutes in the queue... after waiting for almost 20 years for a new Indiana Jones movie.

Was it worth all the wait? Well, I'm still trying to decide how I feel about the film: sad, disappointed, angry, happy, nostalgic, satisfied... uff!

Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull... remember when I said that I didn't like the title... well, that was just the beginning.
But don't worry, I won't write any spoilers!

I was hoping to post here: I loved/liked the film! But unfortunately I can't.
It's been more than 24 hours since I saw the movie... and my opinion didn't changed: the 4th movie is a mess of ideas, some empty characters, too much CGI... and some scenes that are a complete joke (in a bad way).
Sure I still recommend you to see it for yourselves, so you can have your opinion.

There are good things in the movie, of course. I loved to see my favorite hero again, with the famous fedora hat, some links with previous movies, some good jokes (yes, there are bad/tasteless jokes), the musical score (including the Raiders-"ta ta ta ta"-March), some actions scenes, exotic locations and historical facts.

I would like to write more about the film, but I promised not to spoil the movie for you. Cate Blanchet is a decent villain (not a bad villain), Shia LaBeouf plays his character as expected, John Hurt... well, if John Hurt plays the role that was supposed to be Sean Connery's, I now understand why he refused! :P

I think that George Lucas is the one to blame regarding some wild ideas for the script, and Spielberg who accepted them.
The first script for Indy 4 by the writer of "Raiders of the Lost Ark", the one Spielberg and Ford loved, was refused by Lucas. I still consider Spielberg creative without "going nuts"... but lately Lucas has been more "show off".

Nevertheless, I respect Lucas, Spielberg and Ford. They are great great movie icons and I thank them for all the magic they brought to me and everyone else, even if I was disappointed with Indiana Jones and The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (yes, like Star Wars).
The number one will always be "Raiders of the Lost Ark"

Maybe I'll post again in a few days, so I can share with you the best and worst of Indy 4 :)

I invite you all to send your opinions. Let me know your reactions. Post your likes and dislikes. Just do it! Now get out and watch the movie!

Ta ta ta ta ....

ps: do you know what was the title that George Lucas REALLY wanted for this movie? ah ah ah ah If I tell, you won't even dare to buy the ticket! ;)

Indy! Today! Cannes!

Do you know when the world is really going mad? When there's a world premiere very very near me and I'm not there! :P

So today is the long awaited premiere of Indiana Jones at Cannes, but I've to wait until next Tuesday night... midnight to be more exact ;)
Some special screenings will be held in selected theathers at midnight from Tuesday May 20th to Wednesday 21st.

Until then, I leave you with these pictures from Cannes... plus the famous theme .... ta ta ta ta ... ta ta ta ...

 

Cannes is on!

Crazy cars, private parties, huge yachts, expensive restaurants, excentric dresses, crowded beaches... and movies of course. The Cannes Film Festival is all this and more. :)

The official opening is today, without big surprises but with one very big highlight: the fourth Indiana Jones movie! :P
After living for two years in Côte d'Azur they had to pick this movie now! :P Life's not fair.
Well, no photos from Hollywood stars this year! eheheh

One curiosity about the opening movie "Blindeness": the director is brazilian, the script is based on a book from a portuguese author, the cast is american and spanish and the premiere is in France. That's what I call a real international movie :P

... and action!

Next stop: Amazon Rainforest

Last time I had a long vacation (for real!) was back in 2004, when I had the opportunity to visit Japan for two weeks. Since then, no more long trips neither far away adventures.

Well, after moving to France in 2006 I've been delighted to travel around this country and its "neighbours" like Italy or Switzerland.
But I'm like that Depeche Mode song from the 80's... because "I just can't get enough" :P

This year I've decided to make my premiere in the south american continent: Brazil. But don't you think that sun, sand and samba will be the highlights. Beach is not my thing, specially after living two years in Côte d'Azur ;)

Do you know when you promise yourself a treat, a special gift or a trip? Well, this year I'll offer myself one long waited trip: the heart of the Amazon rainforest.
Maybe the timming was not the best one, with all those mosquitoes and yellow fever striking in some parts of Brazil. Who cares about some small insects? :P

For one week I'll be in survival mode, hiking on the jungle and travelling along the huge Amazon river, like... like.... like Indiana Jones O:)

The second part of my south american tour includes visiting some brazilian cities, with a special highlight at Campina Grande.
What's so special about this town? Well, the Saint John feast on June 2th is very typical here (here's my magic word), and I want to see the similarities and differences with my favorite Saint John's celebration: the feast and party which are held in my beloved hometown of Porto (or Oporto if you prefer). :P

I'm one month away from D-Day and now I need to check the vaccines required againt tropical diseases and weird bugs! ;)
It's important to visit the tropical rainforest while it exists, because it won't last for too long! (damn you, global warning!)

Watch out Anacondas, here I come! :D

The war is over

France is one of the few countries in Europe that celebrates the end of World War II with a public holiday, on 8th May.

The weather was nice today, so everyone enjoyed one day off work/school. The streets in Paris were crowded as usual, so the decision was to have a walk in the park and imagine how was the city back in 1948.

There is a small park... well, it's more like a square at Place des Vosges, which is the oldest square in Paris. Although isn't big as other parks and gardens from here, it's quiet and always a wise decision if you just want lay down a little bit or read a book (like Greek Philosophy for Dummies! eheh).

One other reason is that Place des Vosges is surrounded by the ancient palace of King Henry IV in 1605, which gives a interesting contrast with the park.
If you like literature, maybe you know that the french writer Victor Hugo also lived at this palace some centuries later.
If you like modern art... well, you'll be delighted with the art galleries and the insanely expensive paintings! :P

The important is the war is over! Bring the crazy painters and the green parks! :)

Sephora, the night club

Do you know Sephora? That chain of beauty products stores? Well, in case you don't know they... sell beauty products, like creams, lotions, powders, perfumes, lipsticks, blah blah blah! :P

They were founded in France in 1969 and maybe they're searching for new techniques to appeal their customers. Maybe...

Why the hell am I talking about this girly stuff? :P Because I wasn't prepared for the unexpected (like in the Twilight Zone)!
I was at the big Sephora store at Champs Élysées and, all of a sudden, the background music becomes the foreground music! eheheh They pumped up the volume, some of the employees jumped on the counter... et voilá!

Still wondering if that was something improvised or not. I just think they smell to many perfumes ;)