“One day with Zélia Évora” is part of a joint idea to take a guided tour so that we can explore the spaces we usually make known to our tourists and in return the maker took us to enjoy some of their favorite places.
And that’s how a unique morning was spent on the streets of Caldas da Rainha.
We started at Local Café, where between an espresso we got to know Ricardo and Matilde who explore this café located right next to the vibrant Praça da Fruta (Largo Dr. José Barbosa).
This recently opened space has a solid concept in a trilogy that allows us to buy wine and cheese from a selection made with the best in mind for you and still drink an espresso where the coffee is not chosen at random.
At the counter or sitting at one of the tables you can “mix” the trilogy by ordering a glass of wine with a cheese board, but you can also order one of the natural juices where the fresh fruit of the square (Praça da Fruta) is the queen. As a matter of fact we felt like staying for lunch, but time does not stop and we have to shiver our way.
We continue to the mythical Fruit Square (Praça da Fruta). This is the heart of the city, where every day of the week local vendors sell their produce. Between tomatoes, sprouts, onions, apples, pears we were toasted by the sympathy of all.
We went right to the Sr. Jacinto’s shop with time enough to cross the most popular street of Caldas da Rainha. Rua das Montras street is closed to traffic and every morning is the target of pilgrimage by the local population, which between shopping and loose talk the street almost serves for local meeting point.
The street Miguel Bombarda houses a unique store – Sr. Jacinto. This 120 year old building awaits our entrance.
The business that started as a grocery store went into haberdashery. This renowned space right in the center of Caldas has closed for refurbishment and has opened again with a unique offer in the city. A concept of arts and crafts full of works where many of the artists develop their work locally.
In this conversation with Samuel and Claudia (the owners of the shop) and Zélia we talk about how important it is to have a space in the city center dedicated to the promotion and sale of works made by local makers.
Between woodwork or illustration we can find a little of everything, in a curatorship that shows everyone’s affection in this whole process.
Zélia has abandoned her career of numbers to devote herself to this incredible world of makers. Hats, wallets, clothes or even writing books are some of the many creations of the artist who was born in Canada but today spends her time at the streets of this western city.
Lina Cruz (@photocracy) is shooting the last few shoots looking for the best angles, trying to capture the disorderly order in which Zélia’s atelier is plunged.
From this conversation came ideas that we will certainly explore. So be aware that Zélia Évora will return to the street with us.