Frustrating Cobblestones
Another Language Misadventure
I wrote before about the cobblestones in Portugal. There are the downsides of slipperiness, unevenness, and inconsiderate dog owners. But there is also beauty.
This week as we walked through the streets of Setúbal once again, we happened upon a few lines which had been lovingly installed. I took a photo because after the first line, “Faz frio”, “It is cold” I was at a loss. I share it with you now having just spent the better part of an hour trying to decipher the meaning. First, as you will note below, the photo is not the clearest and it can be difficult to determine where one word ends and the other begins. Also if you miss an accent sign, the word can have an entirely different meaning. And just like in English a word may have different meanings based on context. But here goes….
Translation: It’s cold. Squatting in a line the cobblers walk side by side down the long street. If you would like to learn more about cobblestones and those that lay them, head over to our friend Mike and Mary’s blog. Mike and Mary moved to Portugal a few months ago and currently reside in Porto.
Next Week: I learned about aqueducts, from dirt and trash, and in search of paradise.
That phrase was written by a Portuguese poet Cesario Verde, who lived in the late 19th century, and in a few words he explains how the cobblestone is done. It’s hard work and an art. Nowadays there are very few left who know how to do it and sometimes it is the reason why it has holes on the sidewalks.You have to be careful….