Cortes (cuts)

Cuts where the main theme during the holidays here in Portugal. I have not felt the Christmas feeling. Sometimes I saw a Santa Claus or I heard some christmas music but with 18 degrees it was not wat christmas has to be. Furthermore, I surfed with christmas, 'yes' that is possible in Lisbon. To be honest, I can not recommend to stay in Lisbon during christmas. Every erasmus student was flying back and forth. I felt a little bit lonely and that is not what it should be during christmas. Nevertheless I had three christmas dinners: one Polish, one German and a Dutch dinner. We sang christmas songs in different languages which was pretty funny. I liked the Dutch christmas dinner the most. We didn't speak English at all, pretty confident for once. But the Lisbon municipality cutted on the christmas decoration. Last year the city spent 2 million euros, this year 150.000. No christmas trees at all, all the Portuguese were complaining.

The Lisbon municipality also cutted on the fireworks for new years eve. Normally new year is celebrated in the three city centers(at Belem,Praca de commercio and Oriente). But 3 days before new year the major of Lisbon came on television with the notice that there would be no fireworks in Lisbon this year. Again, all the portuguese very dissapointed. The casino of Lisbon bought fireworks and in the end it was pretty big and nice. As a citizen it is forbidden to light fireworks, they should make that law in the Netherlands as well. In Portugal, New years eve is not a night to demolish your city. After the fireworks we went to Avenida, the large avenue in front of my house. Everywhere dj's and parties outside because it's still 15 degrees at night. With the weather that is usual overhere in winter, would be prefered in Holland during the spring or summer.

The exams have started and so far they are not too difficult. Only problem is that I have two exams in Holland and I'm going to fly back and forth. So I have to divide my energy because the exams in Tilburg have become much more important since the new law 'de harde knip'.