TB-a-calhau

This travelbug was on a TRAVEL BUG RACE previously. Besides trying to travel the biggest distance, all travel bugs shared another objective, which was to divulge a typical portuguese handicraft stone pavement commonly known as “Calçada Portuguesa”.
The race is now over, the mission is to keep it travelling, so please share your pictures of the travel bug along with exquisite floor pavements.

The “Calçada Portuguesa” floor coverings consist of laying stone cobbles (white, grey, black and less commonly red) in such a way to draw geometric patterns, pictures and inscriptions on the floor. This travel bug consists of a piece of calcareous rock. It is roughly the same size as some white stone cobbles you would find on a typical “Calçada Portuguesa”. One of the things that makes it so famous and unique is the difficult task of breaking these pieces of stone up to an exact shape and laying them together very tight. The patterns and drawings formed by these stone artisans are often ignored by the millions of people that step on it everyday, but nevertheless it’s a remarkable form of art and expression.

As you can see from the photos, there are clearly many ways to look at this particular art. If you position yourself far from it, you’ll notice the calibre of the whole drawing and pattern. These drawings and patterns often cover large spaces seamlessly. Could you imagine that this pavement you’re staring at was made using little pieces of rock like the one the travel bug represents? What about looking closely at the pavement you stepping in? Can you notice the forms and figures the rocks are often shaped in individually, even without making use of the chromatic difference?

Isn’t it amazing?

This travelbug has a secondary mission, which can also be achieved while racing. He wants to visit Macau, which once was Portuguese territory and is currently one of the few places (besides, obviously, Portugal) where the the art of the “Calçada Portuguesa” can still be found.

Calçada Portuguesa - Cais do Sodré - Lisboa (PT) Foto de Carlos Marques da Silva	Calçada Portuguesa - Cais do Sodré - Lisboa (PT) Foto de Carlos Marques da Silva
Calçada Portuguesa - Parque das Nações - Lisboa (PT) Foto de Bruno Tiago Rodrigues	Calçada Portuguesa - Parque das Nações - Lisboa (PT) Foto de Bruno Tiago Rodrigues
Calçada Portuguesa - Parque das Nações - Lisboa (PT) Foto de Bruno Tiago Rodrigues	Calçada Portuguesa - Parque das Nações - Lisboa (PT) Foto de Bruno Tiago Rodrigues