Well the time is here. Let me start off by saying that I entertained more than one theme for this year’s challenge. I found content for each letter of the alphabet. I even noted down bullet points explaining the reasons for choosing that theme.
It will be about the rich characters and jaw dropping stories behind the historical facts. And it starts April 1st.
<keep reading for more>
I began light research on one of them. Then I admitted to myself that the best theme for me to write about is the one that I really know stuff about – not an expert – but have a pretty good idea what it is about.
Last year my theme was Lessons From Behind The Lectern – all about tips and tricks to speaking in public. This came easily to me because I’ve been a Toastmaster since 1997.
The themes I considered this year were:
- Female superhero alter egos – many superhero characters weren’t born so, and we often forget the person behind the character. The “female” part came from the knowledge that everyone knows that Clark Kent is Superman but does everyone know that Isis is really Andrea Thomas, or most recently Adrianna Tomaz? I love comic books and it is a constant source of amazement how characters change – good characters become bad and vice versa. They are reborn, recast and go from one universe to another. I love it. So why is this not the theme this year? Simply because the superhero and comic book world is so complex and vast that I needed to start writing my posts (and reading the comic book series) last year already. I may still do this series on this blog as a stand alone feature.
- A to Z of South African towns – I want to do this but only after I’ve visited them all. What better research than my own. I have homework to do.
- A to Z of poetic devices, structures and techniques – I enjoy poetry and I got cold feet when I realised that I bit off more than I could chew when I realised that for the series to work I had to write my own verse, or providing other poets’ examples of each technique. Again, I would’ve needed to have started this last year.
Which leads me to this year’s theme. It is a big theme. I know a lot about it, some of it off the top of my head because I studied it for many years at Portuguese school. For those stories that are fuzzy, I have my Mom to help – it’s her speciality as an academic specialising in Portuguese History and Literature. She’s already given me some ideas, and reminded me of others.
And now for this year’s theme…
****DRUM ROLL PLEASE****
Myths, stories and legends of Portugal’s History.
I promise that the ride will be exciting – there will be many battles, some love stories, a disappearing king and many rich characters – and how they contributed to shape contemporary Portuguese culture and identity.
It will be about the rich characters and jaw dropping stories behind the historical facts.
And it starts April 1st.
See you then.
I think that South African A to Z would be quite a challenge. Imagine doing it live!! Albetrina… Beaufort West… Cradock… or Cape Town, then… you’ll have to fly to Durban… Estcourt… F for??
I could well plan an April tour for somebody!! 😉
Yes it would be challenging indeed. Gives me an excuse to visit all these places. F could be Ficksburg, but what about X?
Myths and history…you have me interested. I look forward to learning new stories. Thanks.
Thanks 🙂
Oh I love history and legends but I’m sad to say I know very little about Portugal!! I’ll definitely be back to read your posts! Enjoy the Challenge 🙂
~Jen
Thanks 🙂
BIG history (and myth, and legend) buff here, so you’ll probably be seeing a lot of me 🙂 Success with the challenge!
Guilie @ Life In Dogs
Guilie Castillo recently posted…#atozchallenge 2016 Theme Reveal: The A to Z of #Dog Rescuing
Many thanks! I hope I can do them justice, they’re so rich and the characters so interesting.
Sounds so fun! I don’t know many of Portugal’s stories.
I hope I can do them justice in the telling 🙂
I’m looking forward to it.
I look forward to visiting your blog in April! I remember in kindergarten being taught counting to 10 in German, Spanish and Portuguese. Funny how your topic gave me that recall. 🙂
I can count in Spanish as the language is close to the Portuguese language.
I’m looking forward to sharing this info.
See you here soon 🙂
That is a very interesting theme. This is my 4th year doing the challenge and I don’t think I have ever encountered a blog with Portugal as a theme; sounds like it could be fun to read about. Have fun with the challenge!
betty
http://viewsfrombenches.blogspot.com/
A lot of the blogs with Portugal as a theme are in Portuguese. Since I am fully bilingual, I thought this would be a great opportunity to share this theme in English 🙂
Very cool!
Looking forward to this.
—
Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
2015 A to Z of Adventure!
http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/
Timothy S Brannan recently posted…A to Z Blog Challenge 2016 Theme Reveal – Participation Asked!
Thank you! I’m really excited about the theme this year.
I love history so I’m really looking forward to your posts, that one of a disappering king which sounds really interesting.
That one is my all time favourite of the Portuguese legends. I can’t wait to share it 🙂