Lisbon –
Fado, Delicatessen and Flamingos

Picturesque alleys, magnificent palaces and always a fresh breeze from the Atlantic. The seafaring has made Lisbon prosperous.

Innovation in Cans

Colorful variety of oil sardines: Tiago Ferreira is launching a Lisbon small shop of canned fish. Portugal’s capital, located at the mouth of the river Tejo, is cosmopolitan and traditional at the same time: Tiago Ferreira, for example, is the third generation to run the small shop for canned fish in this old town. The sardine from the Büchse is currently experiencing a revival. In the past, canned fish was poor people’s food, today they represent the good old times. Tiago has to be inventive and plan new, unusual varieties. His good friend and Chef Leopoldo Calhau is helping him innovate in the cans.

Script and Direction: Maria-Christina Degen
Camera: Ralf Biehler
Editor: Stefan Canham
Sound: Johannes Rudolph
Editorial Management: Ralf Quibeldey
Producer: Nonfictionplanet Film & Television GmbH

Picturesque alleys, magnificent palaces and always a fresh breeze from the Atlantic. The seafaring has made Lisbon prosperous.

Innovation in Cans

Colorful variety of oil sardines: Tiago Ferreira is launching a Lisbon small shop of canned fish. Portugal’s capital, located at the mouth of the river Tejo, is cosmopolitan and traditional at the same time: Tiago Ferreira, for example, is the third generation to run the small shop for canned fish in this old town. The sardine from the Büchse is currently experiencing a revival. In the past, canned fish was poor people’s food, today they represent the good old times. Tiago has to be inventive and plan new, unusual varieties. His good friend and Chef Leopoldo Calhau is helping him innovate in the cans.

A Breath of Fresh Air in the Fado Scene

The famous singer Ana Moura brings a breath of fresh air to the Fado scene. She interprets the traditional chant of the Portuguese, expressing their attitude towards life full of melancholy and longing, creative in their own way. Ana Moura is already standing with stars like the Rolling Stones, Herbie Hancock and Prince on stage. She is looking to do a new music video in Lisbon with an unusual backdrop.

200 Species of Birds Live in a Nature Reserve.

Ornithologist Carlos Cruz goes with his mother and her friends on tour at the mouth of the Sado. South of Lisbon, in contrast to the urban flair: a Nature reserve with 200 species of birds. Even one of the few Flamingo colonies in Europe live in the fish-rich biotope. Carlos Cruz is in this paradise at the mouth of the Raised River Sado. The 28-year-old offers boat tours for nature lovers. He also registers the smallest changes in the behavior of migratory birds. Carlos fears that climate change will drive away the animals and it could endanger their existence. Carlos also helps his mother look for worms to use as fishing lures. The ladies are seated up to their hips for hours in the swamp and dig the so-called poliquetas by hand out of the silt.

Mecca for Surfers

The Portuguese west coast is a Mecca for surfers, but the rough Atlantic with its “Big Waves” is only for absolute top surfers. Ricardo Carrajola and his relaxed surf buddies have discovered a casual alternative: the “Gasoline;” a wave up to 400 meters long that flows from the fast ferries. Ricardo teaches beginners so they use the “Gasoline,” and master surfing safely. Today a whole school class came by, a lot of responsibility for Ricardo, because the wind and the current were strong.

Declare War on the Clam Mafia

Daily inspection on the Tagus: the naval police from Lisbon have declared war on the clam mafia. The Tagus is the area where the Naval Police operate in Lisbon. João Caló goes hunting daily with the rubber dinghy with illegal fishermen. They fetch the Japanese carpet shell from the river. Dangerous, because this species filters up to 20 liters River water every day, toxic residues build up from the Industry in their flesh. Then the highly stressed carpet clams are sold as expensive cockles all over the world. It is getting more and more difficult for João Caló and the other fishermen, because it has been a long time since they have been professionally organized.