Portugal - The land of Fado / 法多的故乡 - 葡萄牙
Besides the melodious sound of Molinhuur in the northern land of my homeland, Fado is the only music that can really touch my nerve ever since I was born. I remembered that many years ago I heard for the first time a song which was quite strange to me. The song seemed to be quite sad, just like someone was talking about her dolorous feelings, or someone telling you about her calamitous life. The graceful melody seemed to be a sound of nature ringing around my ears and touching my heart… And that was a Fado sung by Ms. Maria Rodrigues. Up to now I still believe that to listen to Fado quietly in Lisbon is the only way to feel the real spirit of it.
Around the corner of the cross road near the statue of Arrois in Lisbon , there was an old bench, same as those dilapidated buildings in the city. Everyday an old Portuguese man would set up a little stall near the bench to sell some small commodities as well as cheap souvenirs. When I was living in Lisbon, I often went there after having a cup of coffee and two egg tarts. In the sun light and no matter happy or sad I felt , I would shared the bench with a couple of old people and sit there for a while, watching those dilapidated ancient architectures with different colors around.
To Lisbon, I have a strange love which can not be easily explained. It is maybe because of my love for Fado or maybe because of that the city had brought me some kind of abstract intimacy. I’m sincerely grateful to this city for its special tolerance in accepting a man like me who had been wandering in Europe for years.
