SKYDIVE – Accelerated Freefall

Skydive is a skydive school, based in Évora, Portugal, that provides training in Accelerated Freefall (AFF). Accelerated Freefall is a method of skydiving training. This method of skydiving training is called “accelerated” because the progression is the fastest way to experience solo freefall, normally from 10,000 to 14,500 feet “Above Ground Level” (AGL).

Two instructors jump with the student during their first three AFF jumps. On the initial levels, the instructors hold on to the student until the student deploys their own parachute. The AFF instructors have no physical connection to the student other than their grip on the student, so once the student’s parachute is deployed the instructors fly away and deploy their own canopies.

Deployment of the main canopy for students in an AFF program is generally 5500 ft AGL.

Once the student has proven they can deploy their own parachute on the first few jumps, the student will be released on subsequent levels and will have the opportunity to prove to their instructors that they have the basic flying skills required to skydive without assistance. On release skydives there is a possibility the instructor may not be able to dock and assist at pull time, so it is important that the student has already learned the skills required to pull on their own.

As the instructors freefall with the student, they are able to correct the student’s body position and other problems during freefall by communicating with the student with hand signals in freefall and debriefing the student and conducting corrective training after the jump. Later levels only require one instructor and involve the student learning to perform aerial maneuvers such as turns, forward movement, flips, and fall rate control. The purpose of the maneuvers are to prove to the student and instructor that the student can perform a disorienting maneuver causing intentional instability followed by regaining control.

The instructors determine when the student has passed the requirements or “Targeted Learning Objectives (TLOs)” for each level. During the AFF jumps, the student may have radio contact with ground personnel who direct the student’s maneuvers under their parachute; However the student must have the skills for a solo landing in case the radio fails.

Commemoration of the Independence of Portugal

The Battle of Alcazarquivir in 1578 saw both the death of the young king Sebastian and the end of the House of Aviz. Sebastian’s successor, the Cardinal Henry of Portugal, was 70 years old. Henry’s death was followed by a dynastical crisis, with three grandchildren of Manuel I claiming the throne: Catherine, Duchess of Braganza, married to John, 6th Duke of Braganza, António, Prior of Crato and Philip II of Spain. António had been acclaimed King of Portugal by the people of Santaém on July 24, 1580 and then in many cities and towns throughout the country. However, Philip II marched into Portugal and defeated the troops loyal to the Prior of Crato in the Battle of Alcântara. Philip II was crowned Philip I of Portugal in 1580 (recognized as official king by the Cortes of Tomar in 1581) and the Portuguese House of Habsburg (also called the Philippine Dynasty) began.

Portugal’s status was maintained under the first two kings of the Iberian Union, Philip I and his son Philip II of Portugal and III of Spain. Both monarchs gave excellent positions to Portuguese nobles in the Spanish courts, and Portugal maintained an independent law, currency, and government. It was even proposed to move the Spanish capital to Lisbon. However, the joining of the two crowns deprived Portugal of a separate foreign policy, and Spain’s enemies became Portugal’s. The war with England led to a deterioration of the relations with Portugal’s oldest ally (since the Treaty of Windsor in 1386) and the loss of Hormuz. War with the Dutch led to invasions of many countries in Asia, including Ceylon (today’s Sri Lanka), and commercial interests in Japan, Africa (Mina), and South America. Even though Portuguese were unable to capture the entire island of Ceylon, they were able to keep the coastal regions of Ceylon under their control for a considerable time. Brazil was partially conquered by both France and the Seventeen Provinces. The Dutch intrusion into Brazil was longer lasting and more troublesome to Portugal. The Seventeen Provinces captured a large portion of the Brazilian coast including Bahia, Salvador, Recife, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, and Sergipe, while Dutch privateers sacked Portuguese ships in both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

When Philip II died, he was succeeded by Philip III (and IV of Spain) who had a different approach on Portuguese issues. Taxes raised affected mainly the Portuguese merchants (Carmo Reis 1987). Portuguese nobility began to lose its importance at the Spanish Cortes, and government posts in Portugal were occupied by Spaniards. Ultimately, Philip III tried to make Portugal a Spanish province and Portuguese nobles lost all of their power.

This situation culminated in a revolution by the nobility and high bourgeoisie on December 1, 1640, 60 years after the crowning of Philip I. The revolution was planned by Antão Vaz de Armada, Miguel de Almeida and João Pinto Ribeiro. They, together with several associates, killed Secretary of State Miguel de Vasconcelos and imprisoned the king’s cousin, the Duchess of Mantua, who had governed Portugal in his name. The moment was well chosen, as Spain was at the time fighting the Thirty Years’ War and also facing a revolution in Catalonia.

The support of the people became apparent almost immediately and soon John, 8th Duke of Braganza, was acclaimed King of Portugal throughout the country as John IV. By December 2, 1640, John was already sending a letter as sovereign of the country to the Town Hall of Évora. In Wikipedia

Hindu Community of Portugal – Blood Donation

Every year during the commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi anniversary, the Hindu Community of Portugal together with the Portuguese Red Cross promotes a blood donation among its associates. This year the blood donation took place at the same time of the celebration of Sharad Purnima; the harvest festival.

Chefchaouen (Morocco)

Chefchaouen or Chaouen is a city in northwest Morocco. It is the chief town of the province of the same name, and is noted for its buildings in shades of blue.

Chefchaouen is situated in the Rif Mountains, just inland from Tangier and Tetouan. The city was founded in 1471, as a small fortress which still exists to this day, by Moorish exiles from Spain led by Moulay Ali Ben Moussa Ben Rached El Alami to fight the Portuguese invasions of northern Morocco.

It was known as one of the main concentrations of Moriscos and Jews who sought refuge in this mountainous city after the Spanish Reconquista in medieval times.

Chefchaouen or Chaouen, as it is often called by Moroccans, is a popular tourist destination because of its proximity to Tangier and Ceuta. The name refers to the shape of the mountain tops above the town that look like the two horns (chaoua) of a goat. “Chef Chaouen” literally means “look at the horns”. There are approximately two hundred hotels catering to the summer influx of European tourists. One distinction possessed by Chefchaouen is its blue-rinsed houses and buildings, a tradition that comes from the town’s former Jewish population.

Chefchaouen is a popular shopping destination as well, as it offers many native handicrafts that are not available elsewhere in Morocco, such as wool garments and woven blankets. The goat cheese native to the area is also popular with tourists.

The countryside around it has a reputation for being a prolific source of kif (marijuana). The Chefchaouen region is one of the main producers of cannabis in Morocco. Hashish is subsequently sold all over town, but is mostly the domain of native Chaouenis.

The growing tourist industry is geared especially towards Spanish tourists, who are especially numerous during great Catholic feasts like Seminar Santa and Christmas.

There are a number of distinct mosques in the town. Aside from the mosque at Place Uta Hammam in the medina, there is also a mosque dedicated to the patron saint of Northern Morocco’s Jebalah region, Moulay Abdeslam Ben Mchich Alami. His tomb and the village surrounding it is by the way an hour’s drive or so from Chefchaouen on the old road to Larache.

Chefchaouen is home to the only octagonal minaret in Islam. There is also a ruined mosque built by the Spanish, with stairs still in the tower. In Wikipedia

Chapel of Bones

The Capela dos Ossos (English: Chapel of Bones) is one of the best known monuments in Évora, Portugal. It is a small interior chapel located next to the entrance of the Church of St. Francis.

The Capela dos Ossos was built in the 16th century by a Franciscan monk who, in the Counter-Reformation spirit of that era, wanted to prod his fellow brothers into contemplation and transmit the message of life being transitory. This is clearly shown in the famous warning at the entrance “Nós ossos que aqui estamos pelos vossos esperamos” (“We, bones that lie here, for yours await”).

The lugubrious chapel is formed by three spans 18.7 meters long and 11 meters wide. Light enters through three small openings on the left. Its walls and eight pillars are “decorated” in carefully arranged bones and skulls held together by cement. The ceiling is made of white painted brick and is painted with death motifs. The number of skeletons of monks was calculated to be about 5000, coming from the cemeteries that were situated inside several dozen churches. Some of these skulls have been scribbled with graffiti. Two desiccated corpses, one of which is a child, dangle from a chain.

CoolJazzFest 2009

Cool Jazz is a great mix of styles for outdoor summer evenings in magical places – living memories of Portugal’s cultural heritage.

Every year since its first edition Cool Jazz Festival has been surprising its audience with new venue locations. This year was no exception. During the 6th edition the artists assembled in the centre of Cascais, at the Manuel Possolo Hippodrome, the Marechal Carmona Park and at the town fortress. Mafra also hosted Cool Jazz concerts in the Jardim do Cerco.

Given the success reached over the last years, the Cascais City Council and the Mafra City Council have this year decided to create their own editions aimed at their own specific audiences. Therefore the Cooljazz 6th edition was be presented as Cascais Cooljazz and Mafra Cooljazz, each with their own independent programmes and dynamics, staying faithful to the CoolJazzFest Great Mix brand.

Diwali in Sikh Community of Portugal

Diwali or Dīpāvali is a significant festival in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, and Jainism, and an official holiday in India and Nepal.  Adherents of these religions celebrate Diwali as the Festival of Lights. They light diyas—cotton string wicks inserted in small clay pots filled with oil—to signify victory of good over the evil within an individual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sharad Purnima in the Hindu Community of Portugal

“The Sharad Purnima or Kojaagari Purnima is a harvest festival celebrated on the full moon day of the Hindu lunar month of Ashwin (September-October). The rainy season is over and the brightness of the full moon brings special joy. This is a traditional celebration of the moon and is also called the Kaumudi celebration, Kaumudi meaning moonlight.

At night, goddess Laxmi is worshiped and night vigil is observed. According to a folk-tale, once a king fell on evil days, and was in great financial straits, but then his queen observed this fast and night vigil, and worshiped the goddess of wealth, Laxmi. Consequently, they were blessed by the goddess and they regained their prosperity.” in Wikipedia

Work in progress

See my PHOTO GALLERIES in Photocritq and Pbase.

In Photocritiq gallery you will find photos of my last journey to Chefchaouen (Morocco) and in Pbase you will find the photos of CoolJazzFest 2009 assigment.