On 9 June, H. E. Mrs. Ana Maria Ribeiro da Silva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Portugal to the Republic of Bulgaria,

invited selected guests to a concert followed by a cocktail party on the occasion of the country's national holiday.

The wonderful sounds of the 12-string Portuguese guitar, performed by the talented, first and so far only woman who plays this instrument professionally, echoed in the Archaeological Museum in Sofia. Her name is Marta Pereira da Costa and she thrilled the audience with her perfect performances, together with her colleague Antonio Pinto, who played classical guitar.

It is no coincidence that Portugal and Portuguese Communities Day was celebrated with a cultural event. The Portuguese celebrate their national holiday on June 10, the date on which their great poet, Luís Vaz de Camões died. Something that reminds us that the country of great sailors, exciting fado, beautiful beaches, wonderful port, cork and what not, is also the country of great writers and poets.

In her welcoming words, H. E. Mrs. Ana Maria Ribeiro da Silva stressed the importance of the celebration and the achievements of her country, emphasizing tolerance as a value of utmost importance in today's confused and uncertain world.

Photos: Diplomatic Spectrum

Above: H. E. Mrs. Ana Maria Ribeiro da Silva, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Portugal to the Republic of Bulgaria, with her colleagues attending the concert