Portugal Day 3

Tour to visit lovely Sintra. A drive around the forests surrounding it to see the cork trees and our guide told us how the bark is stripped every 9 years from trees for cork. Portugal largest producers of cork in the world.

My Intermittent Introversion Syndrome kicked in (sometimes I need to withdraw from people - I am quite fond of my own company) and while the group made their way to the Royal Summer Palace I snuk away and visited this gem

https://www.newsmuseum.pt/

and it did not disappoint. The history of journalism showing the hardware (recording machines, cameras, fax, ticker tape etc.) to the ideals and ethics; to Superman and Tintin.

Then war reporters (can they be impartial when they are embedded on one side etc); sports reporting; politics of the media; and then deep fake news…. Looking at e.g. USS Maine, Cambridge Analytica etc. bots, A1; Hilary’s emails, Trump in 2016

It was the best 2 hours I have spent in a long time.

Then I rejoined the crew suitably refreshed and fired up about the power of the media and social construct. And they were fired up about seeing a 4 poster bed some queen slept in.

Then a drive along the coast to look at the surfing beaches south of Estoril. Holy Moly. And I brought my swimsuit with me. No sir.

Main blip is beach. Extra is 6 projects explored on large screen in museum showing how major world events could be initiated and driven by vested interest manipulating world forces and political agenda. I need to watch Network (with Peter Finch perfectly cast) when I get home. I tried to download it to my iPad but it wouldn’t let me. I desperately want to see it again.

https://youtu.be/ZwMVMbmQBug?si=UM3wORq2hiLMVXCu

I had lovely food today and some great chats.