Bragas'Flashes & Snapshots

Gamboa Rainforest

2011-06-14T23:58:00.001-05:00

Two years later… just great… we have already been here in Panama for two years… The other day, we had a dinner party to celebrate it. Mom, my artistic director, came from Rio de Janeiro not only to be here celebrating it with us, as well as to help me with the bi-national decoration and menu for the evening. Our lives have settled well here and routine, whatever one calls routine, has been rolling well. Joel travels like crazy and I sometimes come with him and sometimes not. All good good.

Just over a year ago I founded a Photo Club here in Panama. We go out once a month to shoot a specific part of town and a few days later, we gather to talk about our best pictures, which are uploaded onto our blog (www.clubdefotosenpanama.blogspot.com)

May's outing was to the Gamboa Rainforest Resort. We went on a three-hour tour which was part by boat, right on the Panama Canal and part walking right through the rainforest.

Needless to say that I LOVED it!! Riding a small boat in the Canal, right next to some giant container vessels was

A M A Z I N G!!!

Went under a narrow bridge used by vehicles and the Panama Canal Railroad.

Small islands that residents are birds and monkeys, who of course, are happy to let us know they enjoy being monkeys.

Other islets where crocodile families live their day by day proliferating peacefully…

WW II ruins stuck right in the middle of the rainforest, where Americans used to base a radio station… really cool.

A toast to my own Princess and her Prince

2011-04-29T13:24:00.000-05:00

I know, I know... this posting is very much so written by a proud mother and mother in law, but then..., what can I do if they are very "proudable"?

Last night, before going to bed, I had set the alarm clock to 3 AM, Panama's time. Joel was away, so I was able to wake up and just stay in bed watching the wedding moments unfold right before my eyes. Needless to say that in a couple of moments, tears rolled down my cheeks... oh it's so good to be a woman and have all these hormones available to be used, specially not having anyone around, thus no need to explain your emotions, LOL!

Anyway, going back to my early rise. Three AM I was as awake as I could be, sitting on my bed, TV was on and although I wasn't quite dressed up for the wedding, was feeling like I was right there, in London, just like back in the years we lived there...this morning I walking into Westminster Abbey, walked down The Mall, stopped in front of Buckingham Palace, enjoyed the horses, the policemen... today I seriously went back to my routes, my English routes, after all, on my father's side, I am a cousin to HRM Prince William, I had to "attend" the wedding and so I did!

As the various moments of the morning unrolled, I couldn't help but remember my Darling young Princess's wedding, Alice, and have come to realize that Alice and William are truly cousins and I believe William and Kate were surely inspired by Alice and David's wedding ( in 2006) when they were planning theirs, LOL.

Just check out the coincidences between both weddings:
- Alice and David had their English wedding on April 30th. William and Kate on April 29th.
- David proposed Alice in Kenya. William proposed Kate also in Kenya.
- Alice and David's wedding was in Cambridge. William and Kate are now Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
- and to finalize it all, Alice and David left their wedding also on a convertible car with David driving it rather than drivers and earlier today, so did William and Kate.

Also, it was so good to have hours and hours of positive, festive and beautiful broadcasting rather than hours and hours of scenes showing mother nature and or "men nature" fury!

God bless them!

General stuff

2011-02-16T23:38:00.000-05:00

It has been a while since I last wrote you, but many small things were and are still happening, so I ended up staying away from my blog longer than I ever wished. Thus, without any further ado, let me up date you with some thoughts.

I am walking on clouds... I was asked to do my first photo job ever! Needless to say how exciting this is. The job will take the whole of February and it is for our church's web site and directory. My mother has always told her five children not to try something new when you have visitors and this goes for new recipes, new route, new software or whatever is new for you on a day when you have spectators. But, maybe with age or may be because of hormones, I don't know, I've decided to be a tiny little bit rebellious and use a brand new photo editing software with the church's pictures and madre mia madre santa... it has so many possibilities on how to change a photo that my "photo purism" has been quite shaken. I still think that at least 80% of the photo has to be ready as you shoot it and leave at the most 20% to be repaired in the computer. I've always thought our church was nice and cozy and had a wonderful atmosphere for worshiping but my friend, I have just found out that for photo taking it's too dark, LOL!! Therefore, keeping my "photo purism" has been a real challenge. Oh well, guess my learning curve just received a huge load!

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Joel saw a possibility to quickly go away for a week. For that he came to me with the idea of a mini road trip around South of Florida. He quickly put it together and off we went. We landed in Miami to what we thought, to what we intended, would be a nice romantic quick get away, ha ha ha... in reality it was not fun at all. Everything or better saying, almost everything you could think of, went wrong; bad hotel service, I broke my brand new camera, a sun-set cruise that had all ingredients to be beautiful and fun was as boring as nothing else in my life has ever been and... Joel had gall bladder crises, ended up in ER, managed to fly back to Panama pain free and had a surgery two days after landing. In actual fact, all the above was happy ending, nothing terrible, but honestly... not on a road trip, right? Surprises surprises life brings us which reminds me that we have to enjoy life at ALL TIMES.

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A week after Joel's surgery, he took off to Bangkok on a 4 flight trip and one of the flights lasted 17:50 hours. Really, after we left Asia, both os us quickly got used to the wonderful short flights, even when going to Europe we have short flights, so going back to a 18 hour flight takes a lot of breath in breath out, no? I mean, what do you do for 18 hours, even in business class? You sleep, you eat, you read, you watch movies and after checking how long you still have, you find out that although you have done loads, you still have another 8 hours to go! Ai ai ai ui ui ui. His flight took off at 10 AM Panama time and at 6:15 AM he wakes me up to ask for some help; he was not finding his Brazilian passport, the one he used to come in the Country. Ouch, that was not a cozy wake up call! We both turned this flat upside down and no passports were found. The time to leave the flat to go to the airport was long gone, we were late and still no passport. He then decided to try leaving the country with his other passport, the French one. Although he has a Panamanian ID proving he is legal in the country, he didn't have the Brazilian passport with the entry stamp and they usually like to see that too when foreigners go through immigration. I drove him to Tocumen Airport, and waited outside until he went through security. Sent Alice a bbm and together we went on a praying chain for him to go through immigration smoothly. Amen amen, it was all fine. As I was driving back home, he gives me a call to suggest it could be in XYZ place. I got home and went straight there and it wasn't right there, but next to it, so once again, happy ending, yeaahhyy!

While he was flying, I went to a concert here in Panama City that was just awesome for words. It was Yanni playing and the producer had set the stage nothing else but right among the ruins of Old Panama. So us, the spectators, were sitting around 500 something year old ruins. Just spectacular!!

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It was my birthday this past week and I invited some friends for lunch in order to help me welcome my new age. I loved having them around because, as we very well know, when we live this life outside our original comfort zone, away from family, these friends are out new family, they are the ones we run to in times of emergency or in times of fun, so many thanks for coming and for being there for me.

Some pictures taken by both of us. Enjoy them.

The bird with a polka dot tail

I sometimes call Joel " Jacare" which is Portuguese for "alligator".

Cuba through a hole

A wall with an opened and a closed window

Reading through a V

Joel looking at Cuba

Bye Bye, So Long, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu...

2011-01-08T22:01:00.001-05:00

Life can be extremely tricky at times. Sometimes, it unexpectedly brings great surprises, sometimes disappointing situations and sometimes it starts by bringing completely undesired surprises which later turns out to be quite cool. That is what we have just experienced!

After many emails back and forth, plane tickets were reserved and bought LAST AUGUST. We knew Christmas is a time of the year when everybody in the Western world goes somewhere so as we really wanted to celebrate Christmas here in Panama with the girls and David, we started it all very early. Joel and I were over the moon, it had been five whole years since we last spent Christmas together as a family of five. I had announced to all my friends that "The girls and David" were coming, Joel and I had already planned to do all sorts of things with them around the city, had made reservations to go to one of the Pacific Ocean beaches to spend New year's eve there, had made plans to spend Christmas Eve at a friend's house, had tickets to the Christmas Cantata... we thought we had it all under control and well planned. All we needed to have it happening, were the safe landings of all three of them.

However, that was not as God had in His almighty plans... thus new plans were layout before us.

The first one to land was Anna. She came from 40ºC Rio de Janeiro, so Panama's 29ºC was not bad at all. She arrived on December 14th. As she was the one to stay longer, she was to participate in a couple of year–end parties we were attending.

Then it was time for Alice to land from freezing England. She was to leave the UK on the 18th very early. Joel and I, as we always do when they are traveling, were keeping track of her whereabouts through the internet, using the "Flight Status" on the company's website or chatting using "BBM" or "WhatsApp" (amen for those, free and very useful!). It was all good, she had arrived safely at Heathrow, had checked in, was happy to have been given access to the lounge, had boarded the plane and had sent us a last BBM saying she was now seated on her seat, the plane's door was already closed and kissed us good bye, looking forward for our next chat as soon as she would land in NY after crossing "the Pond". Life was good... one daughter already here, another one on her way here and son in law closing his "to do list" before taking off on the 23rd... or so we thought...

A few minutes after Alice's last BBM to us, she comes in again to let us know that ... after reaching the "take off" point on the runway, her plane was going back to the gate for the snow that was falling had turned into a blizzard!!

Oh no, we really didn't need that... was she for real or just testing our humor at 2AM Panama time? We rushed to the company's web site and voila, the flight was indeed going back to the gate and was to wait for the blizzard to be over, therefore at that point, it was just a "delayed flight". Her connection to Panama in NY was slowly slipping away... slowly slipping away... probably was going to be missed and yes, it was missed.

My dear readers, we were just facing the beginning of an incredible long saga of a mother nature angry show of global warming with early winter blizzards in unexpected places and all the rest you can think of.

Making a VERY LONG story short, Alice and David were able to finally land in sunny Panama City, after THREE canceled flights, on December 28th. From the airport, we went straight to the beach and celebrated our Christmas on that same night. Surely, somewhere in this world of ours, it was still the 25th, right?

Their respective bosses, were very understanding and agreed to change their return dates, so oba, all good once again. It was awesome to be a family of five once again, with loads of chats and stories, loads of all reading together, cooking together... you know... just loads of togetherness.

This Christmas, we started a new tradition in our family: once a year when we are together, we will watch one of the traditional films out there. The one chosen to start this tradition was "Sound of Music". Some of us had watched it endless times (some in days when VCRs nor DVD were available, which meant actually going to the movies accountable times, ha ha ha). The next movie to be watched has not been fully decided, but "Mary Poppins" has a good chance to win the election.

The cute thing of this new tradition (apologies for not been humble about our tradition, LOL) was the fact that in the film, at a certain point, Maria taught the children a good bye song to be sung to guests at their mansion and later at the end of the movie, at the festival the family took part of. So, suddenly, when we were waving good bye to Anna, the first to leave Panama, who was at the immigration line, the four who stayed behind (Joel, myself, Alice and David) sang "Bye Bye, So Long, Auf Wiedersehen, Adieu..." for her, imitating the choreography they did in the movie. A few days later, the three of us (Joel, Alice and myself), sang it to David (also repeating the choreography) who was the second to leave Panama, and this morning, Joel and I sang it to Alice as she disappeared into immigration...

Driving back home, Joel and I were simply cherishing the memories of how it had all been so great in spite the endless negative surprises we faced. Amen amen.

The girls

The boys

Togetherness

Happy New year to you!

Revivals

2010-12-12T16:44:00.013-05:00

Joel had to go to Asia on business and our good old friends, the Appels, invited us both to participate of an old tradition they have established in Hong Kong; Thanksgiving on the Saturday that follows the real Thanksgiving in the USA. Hong Kong, of course, does not observe this American holiday, but the Appels, Americans who have been living in Asia since forever, have established the Saturday to be the day they invite friends to come and celebrate Thanksgiving. As Brazilians that we are, we did not have this habit, but after 9 years being very good friends with the Appels, we have kind of "incorporated" this holiday. Of course that for us, Joel and I, it has nothing to do with the tradition of the first British settlers in the US, but rather a time to stop and be officially thankful for the uncountable blessings we've received.

Needless to say that Joel hadn't finish his sentence and I had my bags packed. Planning was all very quick but in a way ok, because my reason for going was really to be there for Thanksgiving, to hug and kiss old friends and re-see HK, this place that we have called Home for almost a decade.

Due to Joel's other traveling schedule, we didn't fly together, therefore I had freaking 24 hours of flights and lay-over, thus loads of time to think about what would the next ten days be like for me. I confess that, although we have left HK only 1.7 year ago, I had forgotten what it's like to sit for 15 hours in a plane... ouch that was no fun... one sleeps, watches movies, reads and when you check, you still have 8 hours to go, ha ha ha.

But anyway, after so much thinking, I realized that although VERY excited to be going back for a visit, I was a bit concerned about the "revival" part of it all. Our life in HK has been very special, very blessed, very cool so half of me wished it stayed that way, sort of a "freeze the moment" type of thing. The other half was full of plans, full of excitement to have succeed in "booking" friend's rushed year end life for lunches, dinners, teas, coffees and so on.

All these thoughts came to an end when the Captain broke the silence on board announcing our descend into HK, the weather was hazy (tell me something new!) and already dark when we landed... "ouch I've really arrived", I thought... no going back now... here I'm... and voilá, BEAUTIFUL 10 days were unfolding right before me, amen!

It was easy easy to arrive, go through the "HK residents" immigration empty line, luggage came out promptly, knew exactly where to buy my express train into town ticket, which by the way, was costing the same as it has cost in the past 10 years, the journey lasted exactly what it used to last, on the HK side of the train trip, the last taxi line to the right was still the shortest line, Chinese taxi drivers were still almost rude, as only they can be, traffic organized and flowing as it always did, buildings decorated for the Christmas seasons and loads of street light... yes I had arrived in Hong Kong and the "feeling of belonging" was right there in my heart and that felt good and comfortable!

It was deliciously good to be at the Appels for Thanksgiving, thank you for the invitation and for having us over. I loved being with my scrapbooking girl friends (and their husband too) who managed to also repeat a tradition we had of going for a Christmas High Tea. I had an awesome time with my church girl friends with loads of chatting and yet another repeating habit, massages! Joel and I were taken for lunch and dinner by dear friends, coffees with loads of photography conversations, local phone call conversations... all very good!

My "revival" ten days came to an end when, yet again, the Captain announced we were descending into Panama City and as always, I looked out onto the window and the sense of belonging was there once again... the Bridge of the Americas was lit, ships lining up to enter or exiting the Canal were lit, the Causeway strip was lit... I was back to Panama City, our Home Sweet Home and that also felt very good!

So, should you be facing a revival in the near future, do not hesitate and go for it!

Eat Pray Love

2010-11-10T17:42:00.010-05:00

Have you seen the movie, Eat Pray Love? Joel and I went the other day and you know what? In spite some not so positive comments about the movie, I liked it. For sure my eyes were happy with what they were seeing; Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem, strolling on roads already traveled by me, all in the same package does make life much smoother, doesn't it? On top of that, Javier plays a Brazilian man, so yet another touch to my heart.

But in fact, these were not the reasons that really got my grip, but rather the "re-inventing her self" aspect of the movie and in that, Julia's character and myself have quite a bit in common. In this life of ours, we kind of design a path for our professional lives when we reach the age of college. In most cases, we'll carry the skills learned at university throughout life. But sometimes, life presents us innumerous challenges or opportunities to change this path and when we embrace it, life really becomes a thrill and I love it! It's not like we are loosing our original line of work, but rather gaining, adding, new skills and with them, broadening our horizons.

Our life in Panama is completely settled, amen to that and I'm gearing my time to becoming an official photographer. The only thing that is still holding me back a tiny little bit is the thought: will turning photography into a business harm my passion for it? Let's see.

October was a cool month. We went to Rio de Janeiro for my niece's wedding. Alice and David were there too, as they were both part of the wedding party and it had been a few months since the five of us were together... so all good!

Alice and I on a "Thelma & Louise moment".
Later I realized that the groom's building is reflected on my sun glasses.

Alice & David ready to accompany
the bride and groom
Rio's Botanical Garden - 1
Rio's Botanical Garden's - 2
Two generations crossing the street - mom & Alice
The cousins together.
Fernanda, the bride, is in the middle.
Actually, without any planning, they are in order
of birth, Ana, Fernanda and Alice.

Shots around Panama City

2010-09-19T21:06:00.008-05:00

Yesterday I spent many hours shooting different corners of Panama City. This meant coming back home with many shots and of course, super dupa happily exhausted! Some of the results are here. Enjoy them.

Taken at Punta Culebra right below where
Noriega used to have his library.

An iguana hanging around the
Smithsonian Institute Research Park.
Please understand that we don't share
the streets with iguanas.

Entrance to the Smithsonian Institute Research Center

The Causeway

Just a Tree with its resident.

Smithsonian Research Center

Cinta Costera Avenue

Sun-set at Punta Culebra

Photos from Cusco and Machu Picchu

2010-09-15T09:30:00.023-05:00

You know what? I am loving being back in the Americas. It's my first deep experience with the culture of my own continent. Every time I go out, I meet people from all the different nations that comprise Latin America and in meeting them, I not only have the pleasure of making new friends, but also, get to know more about my neighbors habits. I am seriously enjoying this experience! For example, in this picture below, where Peru is clearly on the right track for recyclingAnyway, some of you have been asking to see some pictures of our recent trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu, so there you have it. Repeating what I have already said, decent photo shooting at 3,000 + meters high was a huge challenge and I did not cope with the challenge at all times... learning curves of life...

... and off she went to have tea watching the sun set.
Late afternoon chat

I'm going through a phase of doors and windows.
So voila, my Cusceño version for you.

and now, my Machu Picchu version for you

windows and doors version' from
ruins around Cusco

are they cute, completely cute,
totally cute or all the above?

Snapshots at Valle Sagrado for you!

Maeasal salt pan

Gorgeous pueblo of Chinchero, the highest point
I have ever been to. 3762 m (12.342 ft) high

A colorful parade for the Virgin Carmen

chatting away while the parade was passing by

No matter where you are in the world,
grand-mothers always enjoy the
company of their grand-children.

Could this picture be more global?
I think it's a good one for UN's ads.

Colors of beautiful Peru

Flowers up at the Inca's Sacred Mountain

Stairway to heaven at the Sacred Mountain

Ladies and gentlemen, Machu Picchu for you!Sun rising right on the Inca's Sacred Mountain

How was you day?

Sun Temple near Cusco

Cusco, can you hear the bells ringing?

Cusco main square by night

A great time in Brazil

2010-08-21T15:26:00.018-05:00

Hello everybody, hope you are all doing well and thank you very much for stopping by.

It's has been a long time since I last sent you news and I apologize for that. It so happened that I looked at my diary and realized I had time to pay a good visit to Brazil, where I could hug, kiss and spend time with loved ones, so off I went. Joel had to be there on business, so it was all together very good timing.

This time I dedicated most of my time in São Paulo and Campinas, cities that I had not been in almost a decade! I just couldn't it believe when I made the maths... madre mia madre santa... such a long time!

Although it feels like it's never enough time when you are with people you love and love being around, I came back home with a comfortable feeling that I had had a one on one talk with almost everybody I had planned to. All good, very good. Unfortunately I did not have my camera on me at all times so ended up not having pictures of everybody I saw... that was a pity. Missing here pictures of many of you who I saw. I am seriously sorry about that! Thank you very much for all of you, family and friends. I really appreciate the time you made in your diaries so that we could have a one on one chat/ fun.

During my check in back in Rio, I was out in the air and managed to leave my travel wallet on the counter... ouch, only took notice of it when I went for my Panamanian ID at immigration on this side. Poor dad, had to go back to the airport in Rio to retrieve it for me... honestly, what don't parents do for their children and best of all, with a big smile on their faces... tell me tell me!! Thank you very much daddy!

Now, back in Panama life has resumed in a good way, meeting new people plus a photography course for studio shooting.

I know I am still owing you some Peruvian pictures... they are coming very soon. For the time being, enjoy these pictures shot in Brazil.

With mom and dad leaving to the airport

With our Godchild, Levi, his sister
Alanna and auntie Carmen.

Early morning with mom, dad
and my brother Kalico

Part of the family in Rio celebrating Fernanda's (in front in green) birthday.
Fernanda is getting married to Andre (front roll in the bottom) this coming October.

Eduardo, the gorgeous and
charming grand nephew.

With the bride to be, Fernanda

With Joel and Anna.

On father's day in Rio

Mom and dad with beautiful
Sugar Loaf on the back.

An outing along Parque do Flamengo with mom,
dad, Joel, my brother Kalico and his wife, Milene.

Me at Parque do Flamengo.

Joel, ecstatic at the beauty of
this world wide post card.

Doggies moment. This is "Zé" dad's dog who is,
together with "Carolina" (below), well kept and
well spoiled by my brother Mario. They are so so
gorgeous and cute, in spite their size!

Sweet Carolina, who is undergoing
chemotherapy, hence the lack of hair.

Me and the two of them.

My brother Mario, Carolina and myself.

This is "Tina" my Kerr cousins fantastic boxer...
madre mia... Carlota and her are so alike,
ha ha ha, I guess it's a boxer thing.
Loved meeting her.

With Marcia and her husband Marco. Marcia
and I have been friends since the mid 70's.

With Renato and Neusinha. That was a great
surprise. He is my third cousin and Neusa an old
friend from college. She and I used to be VERY
similar to the point that people in college would
say hello to me thinking they were saying hello
to her and vice verse. This trip I found out they
are dating. I so love the surprises life brings us!

With Steve, representing here his dear family.
They still have a farm where we used to go
weekend after weekend, where pure fun was the
name of the game! Great memories from
the days at "Pau d'alho". Loved meeting their
(Steve is married to Eva) three sons and in laws.

With some of the family in São Paulo.

A bit of beautiful Rio de Janeiro for you.

And so she became a British citizen!!

2010-07-23T21:43:00.005-05:00

The party is on at Buckingham Palace! The reason? A big fat welcome to Dr. Alice - who by the way, happens to be our older daughter, as a citizen to the kingdom! LOL... I know it was not quite like that, but that is how a mother sees it, ha ha ha.

How cool the way life gears the various situations it presents to us..., back in 2002, when it was time for her to choose where to go for college, she didn't choose to go to the UK because of my side of her roots, but eventually ended up enjoying being there and as for my parents, they were excited to see her wondering around the same grounds our ancestors once did. Back a few generations ago, an adventurous member of the House of Windsor went to Brazil, fell in love, had kids, who had more kids eventually getting to myself and a generation later, to Alice, making us cousins of her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth!!

On Wednesday, voila, she became a British citizen!
The gentleman on the left is the mayor of Bristol, the city where she lives and the gentleman on the right is the representative of the Queen.

God bless you Darling, enjoy your bi-nationality and have loads of fun with the new doors that have opened to you!

Time to go back home

2010-07-18T08:30:00.003-05:00

So, here we are, ten days later and it's time to go back home. Out time here was absolutely fabulous, full of all sorts of feelings like, cozy revivals, exhaustion, frustration, unexpected business meetings in Lima, loads of learning, beautiful weather, wonderful colonial hotels... all that topped with much fun, satisfaction and of course, excellent Pisco Sours.

I thoroughly enjoyed going back to the hotel Alice and I stayed 15 years ago, seeing some of the restaurants we went to, clicking a couple of pictures right at the same spot we did then. Cusco has grown significantly. The city now has close to 1 million people which is a third of what the whole country of Panama has.... funny how we get used to some things, no? HK, my last place of residence, has its 7.5 million people and I was comfortable then. Now, living in a much smaller Country I quickly got used to less people zanzing around me and now here in Cusco it was a bit of a "wow" seeing so many people zanzing up and down. May be because I have seen it much smaller 15 years ago and because streets are still original, therefore narrow, the 1 million people look like 5 million!

The lack of air, or should I say lack of bigger lungs, was seriously felt by both of us. Drinking water would have been a big help, but the fact that we were always on the move shooting, with trillion equipments on our back and quite a few layers of cloth due to winter temperatures, I decided that searching for bathrooms around town and ruins was not going to happen. Thus low intake of water. For Joel it was even worse, because he had to go to an unexpected meeting in Lima and had to go back in the middle of the week, leaving Machu Picchu behind. Lima is on the sea level, so this back and forth of sea level and high altitude didn't help him at all... ha ha ha that is the price we both oldies,pay, for not being fit.

The whole 10 days were filled with learning after learning of photo taking. Camera settings were checked and changed almost from photo to photo. In spite of early hours shooting, therefore in theory smooth light, shooting picture was hard as high altitude + sun (in this part of the world it hasn’t many obstacles, like buildings) equals to a scenery fully loaded, full of light that majestically light your day. Experiencing it was marvelous and magical, but shooting it was terribly difficult. We even had to send an email to a photographer friend in HK and ask for some advice. Thank you CN.

This part of the world is visited by tourists from absolutely all over. One thing I thought it was interesting was that although all languages are spoken here in all their different accents, tourists spoke to other tourists in Spanish. This comments goes specially to Americans. Is the USA really becoming a bilingual Country?

Defining what and how this awe-inspiring set of 10 days meant to me would be a bit long and philosophical, so I won’t bore you. Revivals, learning, tightening a new friendship, mis-happenings, experiencing the places and all the rest of it was AWESOME! Many thanks with loads of gratitude goes to Paul TCB, our Cusceño friend who put it al together in a very “Kodak Spot” sort of way. He knew where and at what time to be in the right places,

And for last, if you have been in this part of the world or will be sometime in the future, let me know your feelings towards the funny sensation that the tip of the plane wings’ is a bit TOO close to the Andes as you land in Cusco, ok?

Pinch me pinch me...

2010-07-10T14:55:00.004-05:00

Hello readers

Pinch me pinch me... I just can not believe it!! Guess where I am writing to you from? Any suggestions? Which continent? Which Country? Which city? Which historical treasure? Doing what? And… reviving which delicious memories?

The answers to the above questions are as follows:
- South America
- Peru
- Cuzco & Macchu Picchu
- Inca Culture
- for a photographic workshop
- a memorable trip with Alice 15 years ago

It all happened so fast, so last minute that I keep pinching myself to make sure it's really happening. By the end of today, I guess I'll all bruised, due to all the many pinching, ha ha ha.

Our Peruvian friend P, who also lives in Panama City, is not only from Peru as well as from Cuzco!! What a CV of life... just imagine... from all the million cities in this world of ours, being from Cuzco is so wow... your whereabouts around the city can't help but be surrounded by a colonial Spanish city settled right on top (literally) of Inca ruins... so involved in mystery... so marvelous!

Anyway, let me not deviate and get back to us here in Cuzco and Macchu Picchu. So, as I was saying, P is from here and is also a photography lover. Putting one and one together what do you get? A photographic workshop here! He invited the two of us, put together an itinerary, organized the train up to Macchu Picchu, suggested a specific hotel chain for us to choose the one we preferred, to which Joel did the cozy job of choosing the most boutique of the chain and voila, here we are.

The workshop will only start on Tuesday, but Joel and I came a bit early for the weekend, because one, Joel has never been here before and two, Cuzco sits nothing less than 3,300 meters (10,800 ft) above sea level... ouch Joel and I are more towards the oldie side of life rather than the younger side of things, therefore lack of air has been abundant.

We already knew this was going to happen, because it happens to everyone who comes from sea level, so they have coca leaf tea everywhere for tourist to drink freely.

Revivals are dangerous, I think. More often than not, we go for revivals, whatever type of revivals it might be and it's only normal that we take expectations with us and most usually, expectations are not fulfilled, right? But this time, this is not happening. It’s all working out just as planned! Oba!

Alice and I were here in Cuzco and Macchu Picchu 15 years ago and that was an absolutely remarkable trip. She was a W O N D E R F U L traveling companion, enjoyed all the ruins, asked her questions, chewed coca leaf with that naughty look as someone who was doing something wrong, how gorgeous, I remember well her eyes kind of asking me if it were ok to chew coca leaf to help with altitude sickness, how cute!

Anyway, Alice was not only all the above as well as a savior. Can you believe that back in 1995, after clicking my second or third photo here, my camera gave up on me and completely stopped working?? That was so not in the script of our trip! Then Alice, who had saved money to buy herself a camera in the US (our next stop), offered to buy it here in Cuzco. Poor thing... Cuzco is internationally well known for many things in life, but surely not as a camera buying paradise. At the time, we didn’t have many options and ended up getting one that worked very well. Those pictures are till this day comfortably sitting in our albums, showing evidences of the great time we had together and the camera sitting in my small camera museum. Thank you Mumu (her nickname)!

Our 1st Panama City anniversary

2010-07-05T09:14:00.003-05:00

Boarding the plane in Mexico City was easy... I was so so so light, feeling so well, so peaceful with my soul... what a great week of my life that was. I had a good and comfortable feeling of mission accomplished. There were no regrets, no "ifs" no "I wished it had been different" ... there was nothing like that, just a huge satisfaction of being there and having learned a tiny bit from the historians guides I had hired. A huge "thank you" goes to Joel for not only making this trip possible as well as for understanding my passion, not being an obstacle but rather a bridge for me to achieve it. Another big thank you goes to Alice who not only has managed not to get bored (or at least didn't show me she was bored, ha ha ha) every time I spoke about this dream of mine which was older than her own existence, as well as participating with me on my thrills about this trip. Amen.

On another totally different note, yesterday Joel and I celebrated 1 full year of Panama City, a.k.a. "PTY". I know it's quite a cliché to say things such as "where has the year gone"?" or "time flew by and I didn't see it" or "I didn't see where time went", but that is more or less my feeling right now. May be because it was a year PACKED with many different feelings, emotions, sensations, obstacles, dramas and all the rest of it... wow... so much has happened since we, meaning Joel, Myself and darling Carlota (our dog), 8 suitcases plus a huge dog crate, landed here and now, a year later, life is so settled, we both have a reasonable routine, Carlota unfortunately is no longer with us, my Spanish is not there yet but is getting there, we have a good circle of friends, we have an excellent church, we bought a property... so all in all, in spite of the settling in dramas, life is great and we are not only thankful but also loving being here, amen!

Tha face of full satisfaction 30 years on the make!!

2010-06-25T19:11:00.014-05:00

So, what does a face expressing full satisfaction look like? I have no idea to be frank with you! Is it a face that brings an air of exhaustion for the time it took to reach full satisfaction? Is it a face that looks busily excited? Is it a face that looks bored because full satisfaction was achieved therefore the person is now bored? Is it a face that invites you to hear all about it or is it a face that looks tranquil?

Well... in my case I'll stick to the last option, "a face that looks tranquil".

Having just arrived back in the car with the Dutch couple who went in the same tour, all red and sweaty from the sun.

Leaving the site and having to hold down my shirt not to burst in satisfaction.

My stay here has been just spotless. I am enjoying every single second of it all. Exhaustion is the name of the game though. I had forgotten that this freaking city is at 2.200 mts high (7.359 ft high). Being the completely not fit person that I'm, any walk or climbing huge steps takes all my breath away... a bit not impressed with myself, I must say! The weather has been very kind and it rains only when I am already back at the hotel , oba! Diners have all happened as "room service" because I forgot to bring an extra pair of legs for the evening, ha ha ha. As I walked into the Museo de Arqueologia I needed to pinch myself to make sure it was not a fake scene (you know, after 9 years in China the "fake" aspect of things still speaks out loud in my mind) but rather a REAL scene... I was there actually in person, walking into the so awaited Museum. Obviously that as I write this to you, my eyes are wettish... silly me again...

Anyway, today was the day dedicated to the Teotihuacan Pyramids...

... funny how things go in life. I’ve planned and imagined what this day would be like for the last 30 years and then it finally arrived...

Pyramid of the Sun with archeologists at work under the small tend at the bottom

Fellow archeologists working at full power in another spot.

Could this have been me some 20 odd years ago?

... I've dragged loads of photo equipment all the way from Panama, especially for this day. Last night, I didn't sleep 100% because I was so excited about today, so in the morning I grabbed a comfortable pair of pants, a comfortable pair of closed shoes and a shirt. Did not think with both my brain cells and chose a very bright white shirt. Oops, not good for photos in a harsh sunny day, in an open air place. Also, amongst other pieces of photo equipment, I brought my tripod, because using Joel’s huge zoom lenses requires one, only to be kindly told by the guide that tripods are not allowed anywhere in the vicinity of the pyramids... ai ai ai ui ui ui... that was not in the script. Could not use the lenses. Actually I did try it in a couple of photos but had to change it back again, they are very heavy for my emotional free hands, ha ha ha.

I know these guys in the pictures below have a questionable kind of job, they pest tourists to buy their stuff, but I wonder if they ever realize what their "office space" means to us!

But, it was not all bad... visitors who went there today in mid day, were lucky to see the festivities celebrating the end of a 52 year cycle that the Teotihuacan people used to celebrate . For what I understood, it would be like us celebrating the end of a century and the beginning of the next. So, as a consequence of the festivities, there were about 100 or more people dressed as what we think the Teotihuacans dressed themselves.

So, sitting at the top of the Moon Pyramid, we could see the "fake Teotihuacans" walking about which gave me a great sense that Teotihuacan every day life was going on as I watched them... ok ok ok, I know, you probably think that before going into the archeological site I had some shots of pure Tequila, not the "Reposada" one, but the rather strong one, so that all this imagination could surface, right? But no, not really, having these costume dressed people was great for a feel in the air.

Dreams, dreams, dreams... and here I'm in Mexico City!

2010-06-22T19:21:00.005-05:00

Back in the 70's when my time to apply for university came up, I only applied for History. I was pretty sure that History was my choice. I wanted to study in depth the Pre Colombian History and although I knew that I was going to have only 1 semester of Pre Colombian history in my curriculum, I was not worried, because I had a plan. The plan was to finish under-grad in Brazil and follow tout suite to Mexico City for a post graduation in Pre Colombian History. Mexico, Guatemala and Peru are Countries where one finds loads about this topic. So Mexico it would be!!

Buuutttt love came into my life and my post grad plans in Mexico City flew off the window and since then, Mexico City has remained on the very top of my DREAMS' list. For two times in the past, I almost came here, but in both times some very last minute problems stopped me from getting into the plane.

God did open several other doors for me which I have thoroughly enjoyed all of them, including new paths in my field, History. Absolutely no regrets at all!

But now that I'm living near Mexico, speaking the language (or should I say, "thinking I speak the language") and making sure to plan and execute the trip in less than three weeks (to avoid any last minute negative surprises), here I am in Mexico City ready to spend hours and hours at the Museo de Antropologia, the Teotihuacan Pyramids and surroundings, the neighboring city of Puebla and then just sip the city, just breath what has been on hold for all these decades...

Dreams... some people say it in a different way, like:
- I really would like to do ABC before I die, or
- I would love to accomplish XYZ before I die, or
- Although I've never done DEF, I have this feeling that I must do it before I die, or
- I have a passion for this and that and I have decided that I want to do it before I go from this earth...

The list with different wordings meaning the same thing goes on forever and dreams come in all sorts of sizes and costs, how great this details is, hey? ... my dream started happening right before my eyes when earlier today, the captain announced we were landing in Mexico City. Needless to say that my eyes were completely soaked in tears and I was not able to see the city properly from above having on purpose chosen a window seat.... silly me!!

Anyway, I call it DREAM and you? How are you managing yours?

True good old friends, the BRETAS in Panama!

2010-06-20T17:20:00.003-05:00

Joel and I had the big pleasure of having "The Bretas" over for 3 days visiting us. Those were fun days, with so much laughter, stories up dates, some sacrificial massages of course, tourism and a serious gastronomical galore with very good food and excellent wines... oh man... the three days felt like three weeks or even three months!!

The story behind our friendship is interesting and quite instant. Back in 1996, the girls, Joel and I were invited to a river rapids birthday weekend, up the mountains near Rio. We were all staying at a hotel who organized it all for us. We went and even took the dog we had at the time, a beautiful Old English Sheep Dog, called "Candy". She loved being part of our weekend (or better saying, she behaved as if she loved it), behaving very well and made sure we were all well licked when we got back from the rapids, cute her.

Anyway, the four of us didn't know everybody there and Cecilia, the lady on my right in the picture above, was one of them. At a certain point of the weekend, we were all sitting talking about this and that, when Joel mentioned we were going through the frustrating phase of looking for a house to buy... you know... when you see a house you love, it's location you don't love so much, when you can pay for it, it's ugly, when the location is great, the house is bad and on and on and on the story goes.

Cecilia then said that when she left her house for the weekend, she noticed her neighbor had just put their house in the market for sale and promised she would call us on Sunday night with the details of the person in charge. Being the little terrestrial angel that she is, voila, by Sunday night we had the name and number to call on Monday morning and a few days later, we made an offer, which was accepted and we moved in July 15th!!!

Cecilia introduced us to her great family and trust me, hours and hours of loads of laughter followed there after.

However, the funny side of life showed its face and exactly 13 months later we moved to South Africa and were no longer Cecilia's neighbor, sniff sniff.

In spite of this short lived neighboring, we became very good and very close friends. Cecilia has visited us in all three continents we lived after that and her brother and sister in law (the couple in the picture above) have also visited us in Jo'burg and now here in Panama.

Funny how good friends remain "in sync" no matter their geographical spots. I remember a day last year, during our passage through Angola, when I was really very completely down and the phone rang... Cecilia was on the other side! Just perfect timing!!

So, here it is for true and fun friendship!

Ai ai ai ui ui ui

2010-06-10T20:41:00.002-05:00

Ai ai ai ui ui ui... the Football World Cup is about to start and oh gosh, the hearts are already palpitating with such a passion that I'm not sure I'll be able to take yet again, one more time!

The streets of Panama City are a huge big green and yellow. They are all supporting Brazil, so cute! Cars, home windows, shops, radio stations, TV channels... everywhere you look, you see something pointing to a Brazilian team fan. Oh well, let me be honest with you all who are not here... yes yes yes, every now and again, we do get to see Spanish, German and Argentinian flags lost here and there, but the vast majority is for Brazil... ouch what a responsibly!

Yesterday, I was inside the car, on the driver's seat waiting for Joel when a walking by policeman stopped for a chat. He had seen the Brazilian flag waiving on the back window. At first he thought I was Panamanian (I wonder about his hearing skills... where did my accent go?) but later I had that cleared by telling him that I was Brazilian and he went on and on about what wonderful people our team players are. Comfortable feeling to say the least!

Let's see how it all turns out. A repetition of the 2002 world cup would be more than fabulous! Tomorrow is the kick off, Mexico X South Africa. I really don't know who to support in this game. With all the history we have with Africa and yet more, with SA, I would be inclined to go for SA. But, because I'm now so close to Mexico, have wonderful Mexican friends and have this long lived passion for Mexican pre Colombian history, I'm a bit lost... hope it's a draw, ha ha ha.

Good luck to us all!

Being a Brazilian in Panama

2010-05-31T09:31:00.007-05:00

Ha ha ha... things that one doesn't understand why, but just enjoys the result.

Joel and I are still loving being in Panama, enjoying thoroughly the Latin atmosphere, the weather, the rhythm of life, the general kindness around and all the rest... However, one thing that we just don't get it, that we just don't understand where it comes from, that just amazes us to a surprising point: the selfishness of the Panamanians drivers.

Pedestrian Panamanians are as sweet as one can be, but as drivers they have this feeling of having to get there (wherever "there" is) first, the "me first" attitude. I have the impression that when they get hold of their driving wheels, a huge cloud of unkindness comes upon them... I don't know... The use of blinkers is unknown to them so when you use it, it doesn't really matter, because they don't know what you mean. The use of a hand to thank you for giving way is so completely not used. This is a pain, we haven't got used to it yet and are trying to do a bit of "act locally and change globally" kind of thing... let's see til when.

But anyway, as most of you probably know, the football world cup is about to start, so of course, Brazilian hearts are getting ready for yet again, one more batch of fast beating and happy (or not) suffering. To get in a bit of a mood, I got a Brazilian flag, one of those that attach to your car window and have been going around the city with my flag waving high and you know what? I have received so many more smiles and road kindness than I ever experienced here in Panama... LOL!

The other day, I had a very minor minor accident in a parking lot. It was more a kiss than an accident. The guy was leaving his parking space and didn't see me and went ahead and hit the side of my car. So we both had to call our insurances, the police etc etc etc. When the other driver's insurance person arrived on the scene, he opened a bit fat smile to me and asked: "are you Brazilian"? I said yes and he said that he was a big fan of Brazil and as Panama is not sending a football team to the world cup, he was fully supporting the Brazilian team for the world cup. So cute!

I haven't convinced Joel yet, but my plan is to add to the car 1 flag per game we win. Hope my car becomes a mobile mast, ha ha ha.

So here is to our flag and what it means to be Brazilian! Cheers!

San Blas, the Adventure and the Paradise!

2010-05-23T14:50:00.028-05:00

Apologies, I had promised a second and a third posting on our trip to San Blas, but so much water ran under our bridges, that I ended up never posting anything else. This means that today, you'll get both together.

First the Adventure: the last island we went for photos, was "Isla Aguja". Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous. Completely tiny. One would take only about 20 minutes to walk its perimeter, but let me tell you, what a perimeter!! After a while wondering and shooting around Isla Aguja, Elias, the local Indian who was piloting our boat between the islands and owner of the hotel we had stayed in,

(Elias waving "hello" to us upon his arrival.)

came up to say he had heard it would be better if we left about 1 hour earlier than previously planned because the river was filling up fast and if not, we could may be encounter some trouble to cross the river. Of course, needless to say, that we quickly took his suggestion, put together our equipment and off we started our return which actually meant a 20, 30 min ride on Elia's boat to the mainland and from there we would split ourselves between the two 4 x 4 cars back to Panama City.

By the way, in case you have visited my blog back in February... it's the same river we got stuck in, ok? ( http://odilabraga.blogspot.com/2010/02/from-lunch-in-caribbean-to-sandwich-on.html)

For some unknown reason. Joel got to go in the first car, a Land Rover and I got to go in the second car, a Susuki. Off we were, both cars happy ever after, following each other on a narrow, VERY windy and big time 4 x 4 car type of road. After about 20 minutes, we finally reached THE river and yes, it was high. A person, who had just crossed it on his feet, very kindly, re-crossed the river for us, so that we could know exactly how deep it was and babe... it was deep. The water was up to the guy's waist... madre mia madre santa... was the Susuki going to make it?

Happy ending, the Land Rover went first and yes, it made it, yyuuupppiieee and than us, in the Susuki... the amount of prayers sent up heavens was high, so high that at a certain point I had to remind myself that this time we were in skilled hands and surely the car was going to cross the river, ha ha ha... and so it was, the Susuki also crossed the river and we all got re-united on the other side.

The road continued in the best 4 x 4 style, steep ups and of course, steep downs. Joel in the Land Rover going first and me in the Susuki just behind. Windows were closed because of the air conditioner and loads of talking going on, when suddenly, Tamir, who was driving the car I was in, starts shouting out loud; "oh no, fire in their car, their car is on fire" and at the same time, he would blow the horn, flash the lights, scream a bit more, blow the horn harder and harder and super duper scream out loud.

Then me, who was sitting in the back seat, looked towards the car Joel was in and all I could see was the car my husband was in, was on fire. You know how fast thoughts fly by... no one knew at that point how far the fire would go... all we could see was that right bellow the car was on fire ... was it going towards the petrol tank? Was it happy to be fed by whatever and not spread itself towards the tank? Oh, what a horrible sensation... was Joel going to make out of it? Were all the other 3 passengers going to make out of it? Were we going to have any deaths? Oh no, not again... no more deaths in my life... please God, no more...

Joel and the other 3 people started "ejecting" from the car and since people were safe, we than started saving all the equipment that was on board, also kind of "ejecting" all the photo equipment specialized backpacks together with throwing any water, beer and sodas that were left from the weekend on the engine.

Four hours later, we left the scene. The burned car on a toll truck car
and the 8 passengers squeezed inside the Susuki for a few kilometers until a friend arrived with his empty car and took 4 of us in his car. Amen to good friends, hey?

Some of us, killing time waiting for the toll truck

Walking inside this flat at midnight, eight hours after we had left Isla Aguja (instead of 2:30) was a delicious sensation! In spite the big adventure, the weekend was AWESOME! Pure photographic bliss!

The same fallen palm tree in different colors.

Joel taking pole position for...

... this, the sun-set!

Our tribute to Carlota & Siggy, who loved water so much!I tell you... these ancestors of mine... are really cool minded people, no?

Joel in them main Square of Isla Mamitupo

Solitude

Women at work and not at work

San Blas, the Indian Reserve

2010-05-12T21:47:00.016-05:00

Last year's August I was due to go on a Photography workshop in San Blas, which was to take place during a weekend. San Blas is this gorgeous archipelago on the Caribbean Sea, in the North-east side of Panama. The whole of the archipelago is a reserve for the Kuna Yala Indian tribe.

However, that very weekend in August was exactly one week after our darling Carlota passed away... I was completely devastated, canceled going to the workshop and instead, sweet Joel took me to the Dominican Republic for some new and fresh air.

Months later, life is back on the track and voila, I found out there was going to be another workshop and this time we both went. It was just 100% fabulous from any point of view one wishes to look at. Because it was so rich in stories to share, I'll split it in three entries so that we don't get a mega huge entry.

First I'll talk about the feeling of being among Indians. The next entry, I'll dedicate to the Adventure and the last one to the photos of the place.

This was my very first time in an Indian reserve. Never in my life I had been close to one, not to mention, in one! What a feeling... actually, I felt like I was browsing the depths of the pages of my geography books back in school.

All I had studied about the way they live, was happening right before my eyes. The round thatch houses surrounding the main round square, thatch houses built also in circles forming rings around the square, some half naked ladies, the jewelery, their habits... wow... I just could not believe my eyes... what a fulfilling rich experience it was!

Then, when we left the island we were staying at to hop around the different islands to enjoy different photo opportunities, the son of the Indian who owned the Inn we were staying at,

(me at the window of our room)

decided to come with us. His name was Charlie..., actually I suppose his name is still Charlie...

Charlie was a cute little boy who could be any of our own sons. He kept himself busy climbing trees or swimming while we were busy hunting for good photos. At a certain point, I looked at a lying palm tree and there he was being a kid, so... of course... I started to click Charlie.

Later, back at our Inn, after downloading the pictures, I called his parents to show them the pictures. From their reaction, I think they liked..., they were laughing and commenting them. For sure, Charlie loved the fuss around him and I think he was feeling like he was their local "Brad Pitt". So completely cute, I must add.

Then... out of the blue, in the middle of that tiny island lost in an archipelago of 365 islands that are all taken by the Kunas, out of a pitch black night, comes this Indian holding something in his hands, gives it to me and asks me to transfer Charlie's pictures to the MP3 he was giving to me! I was in a total state of shock... an Indian, living in an Indian reserve, with an Indian atmosphere, living an Indian way of life, owns a MP3. Of course, I tried to not show my amazement and did it tout de suite and returned him his MP3 with his son's pictures.

Then, as if that was not enough, about 20 minutes later, out he comes again from that dark dark night, but this time with his LAP TOP, showing me he had already transferred Charlie's pictures... I of course, fainted at the scene, LOL!!

My friends, what a scene... from the pages of my geography books I dived into the cellulose of a film by Fellini, LOL!

The curves of Panamanian ladies!

2010-04-25T01:09:00.011-05:00

Like in many countries around the world, Panama also has designated parking spots for disabled drivers/ passengers and also, in some car parks, designated spots for pregnant ladies. In this case, they usually put a written sign saying "Futura mamá", which is Spanish for "future mom". I find the wording cute and warm, don't know what pregnant ladies think about it.

But today I saw the ultimate sign, very ethnic, and had to share it with you. In this one, the administration of a car park, decided to have a sign with a picture showing that those spaces were designated for pregnant ladies. The sign carried the word "Embarazadas", Spanish for "pregnant ladies" and voila... a drawing that not only shows a lady with a big belly but also with a bigger rear and boobs... hilarious I thought!

Everyone knows that Latin ladies have curves. Not good not bad, just a fact but to put that on a sign is really very funny! Enjoy it.

Publish Post

Bragging miserably!

2010-04-15T22:59:00.008-05:00

Sorry my dear friends, but although I don't like people who go on and on bragging about whatever in their lives, I'll have to brag about my desk view.

If it's a full moon night, I recharge my inspiration from this scene and...

... if I happen to be up early or if some jet-lag is severely striking my veins, this is the sun-rise my retina registers.... just beautiful mother nature, hey?
Funny how situations in life bring back primary and or high school memories. My first "revival" was when I moved to the Far East. I remembered clearly my geography classes when the teacher was teaching the concept of time-zones. In the orient, I was actually living and experiencing all that she had taught us. Then now, here in Panama, the same deja-vu feeling. Again a geography class. Sun-rise and sun-sets take place as quick as a blink of an eye here in Panama, due to its proximity to the Equator line, different from higher longitudes where they take much longer to finish. Cool... it's like you are actually diving into the pages of your school books.

Me, myself and I

2010-04-10T20:02:00.010-05:00

Life is finally settling in and I'm being able to have my own kind of fun. My desk is 100% ready for action (by action please understand 'scrapbooking'). I was invited by a local scrapbooking shop to give a talk on scrapbooking in a art show that will take place here in October... so exciting!

Yesterday, I took some ladies for a "photo safari" to Casco Viejo, the neighborhood I love best in Panama City. It was really great. We met early here at home, 8 PM, so that we could go together and manage better lighting. From Casco Viejo, we went straight to lunch in a Brazilian cuisine restaurant. We will sure have a second shooting and may be, who knows, perhaps... I'll start a "photo club". Let's see.

Having been asking around for cooking classes. It will be a wonderful way to dive into my new hobby as well as practice my Spanish that could surely do with some heavy practice. Actually, this week, I will go stove hunting. Our current one is kind of horrible.

So, here is to you, me myself and I at my desk!

My inspiration to create, comes from this view I have from my desk.

Introducing you, Levi, our Godchild.

2010-04-05T21:09:00.011-05:00

Last Wednesday we received the visit of dear cousins who moved to Southeast China about 2 years before we left Hong Kong. It was a great feeling for Joel and I to have family near us. Now they are back in Brazil and came to spend Easter with us. Loads to catch up and we are indeed doing so!!
Last night, when we were all in the kitchen preparing dinner, they sweetly invited us to be their young son, Levi, Godparents! Wow, thank you... what a delicious responsibility... so gorgeous he is... what do you think?
Thank you dear Anders, huge honor this is... be sure to count on us for ANYTHING and also be sure that Joel and I will alwasy be there for Levi and for you too.

Maridos de Alquiler

2010-03-30T20:14:00.013-05:00

The other day we were 5 people in the car coming from the East part of Panama towards the West part, therefore on the road just about to cross the Bridge of the Americas that goes over the Pacific Ocean end of the Canal. Out of the blue we all saw this sign saying: "MARIDOS DE ALQUILER" (Spanish for "Husband for rent") and a phone number. Of course, kind of simultaneously, we exploded into a laughter and started wondering in a rather naughty way, what kind of services this business could offer.

I must say that I was rather surprised with the idea that Panama would be so not conservative to the point of offering men's services in an out loud manner wide open to the public. I think that, naughty or not, the ad was funny. After a long useless but amusing debate, we came to no conclusions about it at all.

Today, I was stuck in a huge traffic jam therefore had loads of time to check all stores and ads on the streets and voila... the very shop of "Maridos de Alquiler" was right there by my side. I was alone in the car and felt like calling everybody who was in the car with me when we first saw the ad. Any guesses what it's all about?? Anyone?... It's a company that offers handyman services for your house, LOL!!! And there we were thinking all sorts of naughty things about the guy's business!! You see, the proverb that says "don't judge a book by its cover" does have a point, hey?

These last two weeks I have been thoroughly living a new "moment" in my life. It's a moment which I had never experienced and am trying to grade it as a good, ok or weird. It's the feeling of total freedom! I think I'm enjoying it but am not yet sure about it. It's the first time in my life that I don't have children to take care of, don't have dogs to take care of, don't have a job and have a husband who is busy doing his trading in office hours. Situations like going to try a new grocery market (remember that I am starting to be into cooking) and bumping into a museum on the way and being able to freely visit the museum without a time limit is quite cool after all! The thought that I have to come back home to walk Carlota (who died some 7 months ago) still comes to my mind but it's quickly phased out by reality.

I'm being able to go back to places I quickly saw when we first arrived, but then had no time to check then out carefully. Knowing the fine corners of your new place, is a great way to get well interacted with it. Affording this little "research" will also be very helpful to guide me on what I want to choose to do with my time here in Panama. Checking what might be missing here in the market is good. I am not saying that I'll go into some sort of business but it's good to know what exists and what doesn't. Let's see how it all unfolds.

What's wrong with humans?

2010-03-20T05:41:00.006-05:00

Now you tell me, what's wrong with human race? Why is it that people save, or not, for their holidays, plan a trip, study all the museums, historical facts, sites, best restaurants and hotels in the places they are visiting and when they get there, they add a city tour that includes visits to local shanty towns and alike?

I've been sick, got a gastroenteritis that took me to the hospital and out of life for a while. When I got back home, I was really slow and down, therefore with loads of thinking time... and even with all this free time to think, I still did not get the point why exposing poor people as if they were residents of a zoo? Are the tourists going to do something about it or just shoot photos/ videos, pretend they got impressed with the conditions and once they get back home, forget all about it?

With the traveling mileage I have, I don't get the point of doing such visits... maybe as I gain more experience in traveling, I will get it one day. For now, I think it's an appalling attitude of 1st world travelers.

A month and almost 2,000 photos later...

2010-03-08T13:36:00.006-05:00

A walk in the Park with Princess Misty

… my days in the UK came to an end…. hard to say the least… and the only reason why it’s being hard is because it was a “lovely” stay (and please pronounce “lovely” with the proper British accent, the one us foreigners like to imitate the Brits, right Territa?), truly a lovely one. Alice, David and of course Misty too,

went out of their way to spoil us (and later, just me) with uncountable every day cute treats as well as big treats such as Christmas and birthday pressies, Newton Falkner’s show, flowers and a very funny Sports’ Day raising funds for the charity Alice and David founded , “One Home Many Hopes”. Everything brilliant, cozy… carrying a solid touch of family warmthness. Thank you dearest ones.

Life goes round and round thus the different cycle of our lives come back to us every now and again, so we fortunately get to re-experience past seasons of our lives. So, after this quick philosophical introduction, I would also like to say how cool it was the fact that this “UK visiting season” brought me the big satisfaction of seeing and chatting with two very dear old friends. One was Lorraine from Seamil, Scotland, who is our very good friend from HK days.

The other one was Liz and her husband Ben. Liz is a friend from my days living in the UK back in the early 70’s. She and I went to secondary school together and we’ve kept in touch, on and off, since then.

Thank you thank you for coming all the way to Bristol for chats and cups of coffee. LOVED seeing and hearing all your stories.

We also had a great time in an extended family day with David’s parents, who very sweetly, came all the way from their town to spend a Sunday with us. Many thanks indeed.

A month and almost 2,000 photos later, I start my way back home, sunny and hot Panama City. It’s always really difficult to leave darling “queridos” behind, eyes are wet, hearts are heavy…. but on the other hand my soul is floating around with the WONDERFUL and very rich one off memories it saw, experienced and heard these last three weeks. Life is indeed beautiful!

Saturday morning is not only good for sleeping in as well as for tuck-in-bed with mom and dog, no?

Rajasthan, India

2010-03-02T03:14:00.019-05:00

To say "I am positively impressed with India" would not truly express the thoughts that went through my mind these last 10 days. Our trip was, on purpose, mostly in the State of Rajasthan and oh my goodness, is it beautiful or what? I felt like I was diving into the pages of History books.. I couldn't believe that there I was, finally walking, riding elephants...

Climbing up the hill to see the Amber Fort in Jaipur

...and driving through the lands of the famous Maharajahs and Maharanis... me in India after so many decades of buying and wearing Indian dresses and costume jewelry... every now and again I'd pinch myself to make sure I was not sleeping... to make sure that it was really happening... that me, myself and I were actually breathing (and loving it) and living the atmosphere I've tried to extract from books and stories for so many years.

Sipping a cup of coffee as we experienced Amber Fort

Only in India I had the guts to play for a cobra!

Riya, my Indian Friend who double acted as a tour operator, put this trip together, chose the right places for us to visit, including rooms with a view to the Taj Mahal...,

... lunches in Palaces...,

Lunch at the Rambagh Palace in Jaipur

... a stay in a semi Palace...

The Shiv Villas Hotel in Jaipur

... and another stay in a TRUE palace. Just so awesome!!

The Lake Palace Hotel in Udaipur

Because honestly, we all know that India has made the religious option of giving the cow total freedom, so we all know that when traveling in India, we will bump into cows or other big animals for that matter. We also know that poverty still hangs around a bit more than our human side would like to see. So, I chose not to make this feature of India my central point, but rather, the flawless beauty of the architecture of Rajasthan as my central point of attention.

Also, a trip to Rajasthan that starts in Mumbay with 4 good friends ...

coming from different parts of the world to meet in India for a wedding, just doesn't go wrong, does it? It was fabulous meeting the three ladies, getting ready for the wedding, where I felt just like I was a Maharani. Riya made sure we all had the henna done to our hands...,

hair and make up, proper India outfits, car with driver at our disposal and all the rest that comes with a true Maharani's way of life! Thank you Riya, just perfect! Of course, I can't afford not mentioning my astonishment in seeing SO MANY diamonds and other stones, all gathered in that one spot, a banquet for 1,200 guests. Security was at its full power... dear readers, the number of carats in that party was something no mine in my good old Brazil has ever produced, LOL!! The ladies really brought it all out... fingers, necks and ears were exposed to a level waaayy beyond anything a sophisticated banquet in the West offers. Just amazing!!

On a side note here, cheers to the Indian men... when the dance floor was opened, they all came down and danced like crazy...and I thought Brazilians were good at parting, hey?

Besides my own personal desire to visit India being accomplished, this trip also meant that plans and dreams DO COME TRUE. The idea of this trip started some 4 to 5 years ago, around a scrapbooking table. For all these years we much planned and talked about a trip to India. We had no specific date in mind and when this wedding came up, the four of us cleared our diaries and voila, a plan/ dream came true. Just fab!

City Palace in Jaipur

... and so my little one became a Doctor!

2010-02-19T18:21:00.006-05:00

February 16th, 2010, certainly a wonderful day for me or for any parent for that matter. Our little one, now no longer a little one, was being called up on stage to receive her Doctor's degree. Wow, what a good feeling that was! I've been thinking how to describe it for the ones who were not there, but have failed to come up with words that could perfectly describe the emotions and thoughts that went round and round in my mind while she was going up the few steps, walking towards the Chancellor, away from the Chancellor and down the other few steps... just so difficult, so thrilling so wow... and as I have not come up with any words, I thought that posting the "extremely sharp and perfect picture" I took right at the moment she was being greeted by the chancellor would express my feelings. Enjoy it!

The festive and celebratory week is unfortunately over. Joel is on his way back to Panama, Anna in London going to Dublin, Alice and David getting on with their lives and as for me, taking off to Bombay tomorrow for a wedding, where I will meet 3 very dear friends from Hong Kong. After the wedding we will enjoy a trip to some parts of India. Looking forward for that too!

It's tomorrow, am I ironing her white shirt? ?

2010-02-15T13:35:00.011-05:00

Alice's big day is tomorrow. We are all in Bristol, UK, staying with Alice and David. Just wonderful. It has been quite sometime since the 5 of us last met, something like 3 years or so... I'm loving it. This time we have an addition, Misty, their dog.

We came to the UK to be at Alice's PhD's graduation that is happening tomorrow and this time, I was smart enough to ask her in advance:
- do you have anything to be ironed for tomorrow?
- yes, sure, a white shirt to be worn under the robe. Would you like to do it for me?

I had to laugh... Alice did not remember the incident that happened back in July 2005, when she graduated from her Biochemistry undergrad course. In a way, I am happy she did not have that engraved in her mind, as it was, most probably, one of my most embarrassing "motherhood" oments. The story goes like this.

It was July 2005 in the UK. The sky was beautifully pure blue, the temperature was a delicious summery thing, breezes were erratic and comfortable, friends from other areas of the UK and Belgium had come over to Bristol to be with us, mom and dad were here, we had gone picnicking by the bridge, laughs, stories, relief from one more step accomplished and so on. We were all staying at Alice's place, as her house mates were away enjoying their summer holidays. The atmosphere was great and all seemed to be running smooth when ... Alice came down running from the upstairs part of the house, saying in a loud voice;
- mom, mom, can you please iron my shirt? I totally forgot I had to wear a white shirt under my robe.... please please...

I, who was beginning my make up, came out of the room as I heard her words and saw this beautiful girl rushing down the stairs holding a white shirt on one hand and an iron the other. All I could think was:
- oh my Lord, help me here... I have no idea how to do this ironing or any other ironing for that matter... but in my mind there was no room for a "no" type of reply.

So, trying to be a wonderful mother, I said a quick:
- sure, give it to me, but... how long do I have?

However... Alice saw this desperate look in my face and without a snap, she said:
- mom, just follow the dots like David taught me.
and I thought:
- what dots is she going on about? What could she mean by "dots"? What is she talking about?

Anyway, 40 minutes later, I was able to return her an ironed white shirt and off she went, rushing out through the door of her house, walking towards the centennial building (is anything in this Country younger than 100 years of age?) where the ceremony was to take place in a couple of hours.

So, loads of water has ran under my bridge since that story and here we are, back in Bristol for her second graduation. This time I am better prepared and ready to iron her white shirt!

INVICTUS, have you seen it?

2010-02-13T16:29:00.006-05:00

This week, Joel, Anna and I went to the movies to watch "Invictus". We decided to go to a VIP movie theatre, just to add a bit more comfort to this magnificent outing that going to the movies can be. In these VIP movie houses, the chairs, at your choice, can go almost 100% flat, leaving the back up just right enough for one to watch the movie in an impeccable position. The icing on top comes with a very discreet light one can use to call a waiter and order stuff ... all that for just US$ 8. How about that?

Anyway, Invictus, the movie. Have you already seen it? If not, I so completely recommend you doing your best to see it. Morgan Freeman's performance as Nelson Mandela is beyond words. Of course that it helped him the fact that he was surfacing one of the many beautiful chapters of Nelson Mandela's life. What a man Mandela is, what a will, what a purpose in life... what a Person & Soul!!

Tears, not sad ones but rather pure history's beauty, came to my face on a couple of moments of the film. The fact we lived in Johannesburg and have been to some of the sights of the movie added a touch too.

Joel had the honour of actually meeting Mandela. Needless to say that his hands were not washed for a good couple of weeks after shaking Mandela's hands, ha ha ha. Joel went back home that day SO proud and in owe with the day he had had and as for me, it's for sure one of the top moments of my life to have lived in a Country under his presidential leadership.

On a side note, we are still waiting to see if insurance will pay to repair our car from the "river stuck incident", as the final quotation to repair it reached only US$ 8,300.00... can you believe it?

From lunch in the Caribbean to sandwich on a river!!

2010-02-06T16:38:00.026-05:00

Life is definitely full of surprise corners awaiting for us , isn't it? What can we do but enjoy them all, even when it changes your lunch at the Caribbean to a sandwich by an unknown river??

Last night, Joel, Anna and I decided today would be a good day for us to go to San Blas, an Indian reserve spread throughout 365 islands in the eastern Caribbean side of Panama. We got excited with the fun report given by friends we know of different weekends they had enjoyed there, so we fell in love with the idea that a Saturday lunch by a turquoise sea would not be a bad idea.

As a funny note: Panama is a very small Country, so many times when people give you directions to drive to different cities of the Country, they often tell you to get to road towards "Colombia" or "Costa Rica", our neighboring Countries. Looking at a map with this approach, is new for me.

We knew that going to San Blas by car meant a good dose of adventure. Almost half of the road is on a dirt road under construction, with steep hills going up and down. We also knew that at a certain point, there would be a river to be crossed, therefore going there in the dry season and in a 4 x 4 car was a must. None of that sounded like a problem, because we are in the dry season and we have a 4 x 4.

So, 8:17 AM, we were off. The car was loaded with a couple of snacks, some Coke, water, music and gas. The sun was out, the sky was beautifully blue, the road was empty, we had just received a SMS from Alice and David saying they had landed safely in the French Alps for their snow holiday and Joel had just received a call from one of his clients confirming a business he was about to close... so life REALLY seemed to be beautiful, it surely sounded great!!! As for me, I was really excited to be visiting an indian reserve, as I have never seen a real indian, not to mention an indian in his/her own environment. Anna has been to a reserve in the Amazon, but for Joel and I, it would be our debut.

The first half of the trip was over and the bad road had started. Our 4 x 4 was happy to be finally out of the urban asphalt and into some dirt hills. It was performing beautifully and Joel was loving putting the car to its limit. Anna and I occasionally gave birth to a couple of porky pines but nothing too serious. They have been donated to our local zoo!!

Anyway, after a good number of ups and downs, the river finally came up. As we approached it, two other cars were crossing it. We thought it was lucky to get there just in time to catch such a scene, because we then saw the route they had taken and... off we went thinking we were following 100% their path....but... as you have probably guessed... we weren't on the right path ... and... guess what... guess what??? Of course... we got stuck, right in the middle of the river the car died. Oh my Lord, help us here. The mobiles were totally and completely out of service. Now one easily realises the major importance of a harbour pilot.

For some obscure reason that none of the three of us can remember why, I decided to leave the car and go somewhere. Of course, when I opened the car's door... oops, the water level was right there, so closed it at a blink of an eye. The same was happening on Joel's side, so he opened his window, gets half of his little body outside the car and starts shouting for help, trying to attract the attention of some road builders working on both sides of the river.

His shoutings were successful, thus starting a shouting dialogue with one of the workers, where Joel was using his best Spanish to explain the guy that we were not stopped in the middle of the river because we felt like it would be a good spot for lunch, but rather because we were stuck in a dead car!! The man was a sweetie and assured Joel that his friend was able to come to the rescue, but for that Joel would need to pay him something. The shouting carried on as they negotiated the payment for it. Anna and I were literally holding in a huge laughter, because although tragic, the scene was hilarious.

In literally a couple of minutes, this big Caterpillar "earth mover" type of tractor showed up with a driver, an assistant and a thick chain. In less than 3 minutes we were in dry ground again, amen amen.
Next thing was to have the entire car opened trying to get the water out and towel dry the floor as well as leave the hood open to dry the engine, that needless to say, was soaked.

Two and a half hours and many new "friends" from all over the world (every car going to or coming from San Blas would stop to offer help) later, we were able to leave back home. The workers were really cute as they hooted their tractors and raised their arms as in victory, when Joel finally managed to start the car!! I tell you... I have to love this Panamanians!

Family around, always great!

2010-01-25T22:28:00.008-05:00

Joel and I are experiencing a great thing here in Panama... loads more guests than what we had in Hong Kong. Guess it's because Panama is closer to our side of the world, therefore people can easily "pop in".

Anna arrived last Thursday for a three week holiday and then together we will all go to Bristol to enjoy Alice's post-grad graduation.

Than on Friday, my dear Kerr cousins arrived for a 10 day stay. They will be enjoying both sides of Panama, the Pacific and the Atlantic. Again I'll repeat what I said when my parents were over... it's wonderful to be able to have dear visitors around and not share them with their everyday life... sorry for being so selfish, but after such a long time away from my biological family, I am enjoying the "immersions" on family stories.

A canine note on Alice's graduation. Her thesis defense was back in February, which meant she was ready for graduation in July. Taking into consideration that we are talking about an university in the UK, a summer graduation is ideal, much better weather with beautiful garden parties offered by the University. However, back in late May, when she had to let the University know what was choice for a graduation date, July or February, we were stuck in Angola, with no concrete date in the horizon for a home, no helpers in sight and no hotel for dogs. So, because of our Darling Carlota, we had to kindly ask Alice if it would be ok to postpone her graduation for February, when we thought our situation in Angola would have finally been resolved and we would already have a home, a helper... oh life... so much has changed since then! We are not in Angola and Carlota is no longer around.

Something similar happened when Alice was ready to defend her thesis. We had told her that we would like to be in the UK for it, so we asked her to let us know as soon as she had a probable date, in order to organize our absence from Hong Kong.

When Alice called us with two dates in mind - one at the end of January and the other early February, I had to ask her if there would be any chance what is so ever that she could delay it to the end of Feb , because of guess who??? Darling Carlota, of course!! Joel and I would be in Angola early Jan and upon our arrival back, Alpha our helper, was due to leave on her annual leave. Sending Carlota to a hotel was far away from my first choice, so... Alice, very Darling, understood it all and went to her supervisor, explained something that I never had the guts of asking what it was. The supervisor spoke to the outside professor who was coming from London to be part of the board, who then spoke to I don't know who and together they scheduled it to take place in late February. I went back to HK from Angola a week earlier, Alpha went for her vacation earlier and Joel and I left to the UK on the very hour the helper walked back into the flat!!!

I tell you, Carlota was surely part of the Braga Family and we miss her terribly!!

Cooking together through the Meridians

2010-01-15T09:54:00.005-05:00

I’ve never been, I mean, NEVER been into cooking, but always appreciated good food.

I’ve been lucky enough to have had a helper since my day 1 on this Earth, thus never really had the need to go into the kitchen to cook stuff.

However, because of my “sweet tooth” taste, I have accumulated quite a few dessert recipes along my life, mostly in Portuguese. While living in Brazil, that was never a problem, because I would give it to the helper and she was able to follow it. But… this scenario changed when Joel and I moved to South Africa… the helper could only read English or Zulu… so… that meant I had to go into the kitchen for deserts, which was ok. I was cooking things I liked and it wasn’t the whole time. Carlota (oh gosh, have been missing her so much!!) and later Siggy, would always be right there, on the way, by my feet just hoping something would fall… so adorable they were!

However, as we learned in physics, every action calls for a reaction, in this case, a consequence - sending the girls off to college with very little knowledge of cooking (they both did a “basic college cooking” course at the end of their high school). I did send them off with some other skills (or so I hope, LOL!) but surely not cooking skills.

Well, this is now all history! At the end of last year, Alice decided to change this scenario and… and … went out and got two copies of the same recipe book. One copy she gave herself and the other one she gave it to me. I LOVED the idea!!

Her suggestion is that we cook together, the same recipes, in spite the fact we live in different countries. Every time one of us cooks one of its recipe, we’ll exchange comments about it, like on how it came out, on anything we could add or whatever… I’m in awe with her plan! We'll try to cook at least one recipe a week.

So, in order to have a triumphant entry into this new hobby, while in the States now over Christmas, we went into a “Williams - Sonoma” and I got myself a gorgeous bright yellow (to match this colorful Panama) apron.

My mother heard about this plan and is sending us some of her newest recipes… just great!

Where is the diet? Anyone said diet? … no worries, Alice’s book is all on low fat cooking!!! Bon appetite and good luck to Joel’s stomach, my test pilot.

Gee, how good it's to have a home!

2010-01-06T12:08:00.014-05:00

I know my title is so cliche and obvious, but how true it is! You know when you don't realize you are missing something until you have it? Right, that is exactly how I am feeling right now. I have a fixed home and that is so good!!!

In this trip to the US, we went to some shops that sell stuff for homes, like the wonderful "Bed Bath & Beyond". For those who know the shop (and if you don't but like home stuff, I suggest you add it to your next trip to the US. You won't regret it LOL), you can easily picture the many alleys selling all those little bits and pieces we "really need" for our home, right?

So, we went into a really big one in Houston and I asked Joel as we entered that terrestrial paradise:
- Darling husby, can you please do me a big favor?
- Sure, what's up?
- Can you please forget I ever existed in your life, just for the next 3 hours?

The poor man, being married to me for more than a decade, got it immediately, gave me a big smile, hugged me strong and whispered in my ears:
- Go for it Babe!
And being the very obedient wife that I am, I went!!

But all this long story to say that as I was leisurely strolling by the alleys and loving it all, I tried to fit in our home or life all those gadgets and here is where I had the comfortable feeling of "yes, I now have a home,"coming to my head.

Every time I saw something potentially usable, I would try to place it in whatever room it was suitable for and a long film with the different places I've actually had or almost had in these two years would pass before my eyes until it finally stopped here in Panama City. I felt like my brain was doing its best trying to find where was home in that very day. It was like old time researchers going quickly through indexes cards looking for the information of whatever it was they were looking for... ... Oh, what a relief and cozy sensation it was to find our flat here in Panama sitting at the end of my thoughts.

Our flight back to Panama City (PTY) was at night and as the pilot announced our final descend into PTY I looked out in the window. It was a very clear night, the lights of the city were flickering, the Bridge of the Americas was beautifully lit, the Causeway strip laying peacefully on the Pacific, the many ships heading to the Caribbean waiting for their turn to enter the Canal or ships having just come from the Caribbean, helped giving the picture a comfortable feeling of "home sweet home"... it felt good to be welcomed to Panama and be able to go to the "Residents booths at immigration"!

New Orleans, what can I say?

2010-01-01T21:38:00.011-05:00

What can I say or for that matter, what can one say about New Orleans? What is left to be said about her? Wow, wow, wow... just fantastic! What a great mood the town has, even when you are outside the French Quarter.

I had never been there, so can't compare to what it was like before Katrina. Some people say that Bourbon St. now has more rock and roll than jazz ... I don't know... all I can say is that historical charm is still the name of the game in NOLA!

The whole French Quarter is adorable, with it's charming restaurants, shops and galleries. The markets by the Mississippi are very picturesque... actually they have no choice but be picturesque... THE Mississippi river is behind them, THE Mississippi River Boat is whistling and the sudden hospitality is in force. Awesome, awesome!

The last day of the year was specially remarkable for us. It was dry, the sun was beautifully out, not a single cloud was to be seen in that perfect blue sky, the cold weather was mild and easy to be endured. Joel and I wondered for hours along the many streets of NOLA, having a coffee here and there. In the afternoon, Joel took me to a hidden corner, the Preservation Hall, where jazz is well revered... The "Hall" actually consists of an entrance on the side, kind of a wide hallway that leads you to a room with about 2 dozens chairs positioned in a row, some pillows making the first row and twice that space of standing area. Near the pillows, there is an insinuation of a stage with drums, chairs and the typical brass instruments that jazz musicians enchant our ears with. The walls have some genuine aged texture showing quite a bit of bricks and any resembling to paint, indicates that they were once painted in terracotta.

All this mood is perfect... when the jazz players come on stage, it's as if they were the last piece of the puzzle and it blends it all in ... you can't help but believe they were born and raised as one big family as they quickly take you into a delicious jazz journey! Impeccable!!

We were very happy to wave good bye to 2009. It was a hard year for us, with some very nasty moments. I think we managed to welcome 2010 in big time style (apologies for the lack of humbleness here, LOL). It arrived with a fun and warm dinner chez friends from Panama who were in New Orleans visiting family or simply "re-grouping" as my friend says and with fireworks by the Mississippi with adorable New Orleans behind us!

Happy New Year to you, dear friends and family! May you enjoy all the plans God has in store for your 2010!

Janis Joplin, Bobby Magee and us

2009-12-31T18:26:00.004-05:00

After a whole lot of the much needed "nothing mode" in Houston, Joel and I got the car and headed East to New Orleans. It's a 5:30 hour drive on an absolute straight line. It's kind of a boring drive, as the view is dull and due to the winter, all trees are naked.

The radio was on and all the sudden,... breaking that rather monotonous drive, Janis Joplin strikes in singing "Me and Bobby Magee"... such perfect timing... we were also driving down to New Orleans.

All I had in that moment was time in my hands, so I asked Joel if it would be ok to turn the volume up really high (to which he cutely agreed so) and off I went on a time travel, back to the 70's. After the decibels' level in the car were back to normal, I carried on my private little journey trying to agree, disagree, add a bit more or whatever to one of the sentences of the song: "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to loose".

My life now, is clearly at a whole different stage than it was when I first heard the song back then and it was cool comparing my freedom parameters than to the current ones.

Already missing Mama & Papa and Misty... so loyal!!

2009-12-23T22:23:00.007-05:00

So mama and papa are gone... sniff sniff... I had truly wonderful days with them around. So much togetherness, so many things done together, so much accomplished around the flat, so much help,... so much of everything!! Thank you dearest mamasita & papasito for coming and for enduring endless hours of "home organizing", I loved it all! Please come back at anytime and I promise it won't be so busy, ok?

Mom and dad took off back to Rio and Joel and I to Houston, where our "nothing box" has been opened and is being thoroughly enjoyed, LOL! Christmas is two days away and either Americans in Houston are very organized and all Christmas shopping was done way in advance, or the world financial crises is still strong around here or everything here is really huge... because the expected crowded shops and streets is not happening... pure bliss!!

Talking about Christmas, let me tell you this absolute delicious story of Misty's (Alice and David's dog) loyalty.

Alice had a conference in London, therefore would be away from home for a couple of days. So David, took the opportunity to bring home her Christmas present that he had ordered in advance and was keeping in his office. After getting home with it, he did all the installation that it required, placed it back in its box and hid it under their bed.

Misty, very cute that she is, was just watching it all, following his steps around the house while he was doing all the job.

The following day, Alice arrived back from London and after all the "hellos, hugs, kisses and pats, Misty started barking upstairs. As she just wouldn't stop, Alice goes upstairs to check what is going on and finds Misty barking at their bed at the same time as her eyes were flipping back and forth between Alice, who according to Misty is the "pack leader" and their bed.

For Alice, it was a real "deja vu", as our recent past dogs, Candy, Siggy and Carlota often hid their toys or treats and later went back to the location and attracted us there with loads of barking.

So Alice, thinking that Misty was doing the same thing, bent down to look for Misty's toy/ treat only to find her own Christmas present under the bed! I loved the story, loved Misty's loyalty, loved it!

You see, that is just one of the reasons why I SO LOVE DOGS!! They are just phenomenal!!

Houston, we have a problem!

2009-12-15T22:10:00.004-05:00

The last time I had a white Christmas was in 1995 with Alice and my parents in New York. It was just so magical! Yes, New York does get muddy and slippery with all those people walking and having a life in the snow, but never mind, Central Park was gorgeously white! Our Christmas dinner was at Tavern on the Green, which of course, was more like "Tavern on the White" than on the Green. Their Christmas decoration was absolutely the best, " La crème de la crême"!

So, as it has been more than a decade since I last had a white Christmas, Joel has for the past couple of Christmas, tried very hard to fulfill my dream of renewing this magical feeling. With global warming in the hit parade, our geographical choices were less and less available, but still possible.

However, for a variety of reasons, the White Christmas dream did not come true in the last two years and when we did the maths of all our events this year end, we came to the conclusion that it could happen this year. 2009 would be the year! Hurray!

We than started our world search when our good old friends, the V. D. K. invited us over to their place up in Canada. Just perfect I thought, they are good old friends, Canada is right up the America's hill, practically no jet-lag... life is beautiful... oh great, it's all coming together!

Plane reservations were made and when the day to pay for them came up, our travel agent called us asking if she could go straight ahead with issuing the tickets and just as a by the way she asked Joel in a confirming tone of voice, if we had visas for Canada. Ouch, that sentence did not sound right. Next day I went on trying to find out how to proceed with my visa (Joel has a French passport, therefore doesn't need a visa for Canada) only to find out that Panama being the small country it is and clearly not having enough business with Canada, does not deserve a whole embassy/ consulate here. All matters have to be dealt in Guatemala through a tiny business office here in Panama. That meant a waiting period for the visa from 2 to 3 weeks. Issuing the tickets without the certainty that I would get a visa was not an option and waiting til December 22nd was also not an option, because if it didn't come through it would be too late for us to get tickets to go anywhere.

We than trying hiring a cottage a friend has in Colorado, where we can go in and out with no problems, but... it was already hired for that week... white Christmas dream postponed for some other time.

However, although completely different from what we had originally thought, I am quite looking for plan C - "From a white Christmas to a Gulf Christmas". We are going to a dear and old friend's place (he went to college with Joel) in Houston for Christmas and New Year's in New Orleans.

It's a pity the animosity between countries just gets bigger and bigger. I so pray and wish for a more friendly relationship between all countries!

Chatting away!

2009-12-08T21:25:00.007-05:00

Since I left Rio, this has been for sure one of the very best time I've had with my parents! The reason is simple... nobody else or nothing else to share them with, LOL!

Every time I am in Rio, I like to see other people too and of course, do some shopping. Both are great and also enjoyable, but they take me away from Darling parents. Here in Panama, we're always together, doing stuff, which can be either stuff for our new place, touristic stuff, meals with our new friends or simply chatting around the flat ... I've been enjoying it thoroughly!

You know that curiosity one always has about that auntie who did this or that? Or solving curiosities that have grown on me about my grandmother, who died way before I was born and who I am named after... or just realizing that with age and maturity, I now share some of their points of view too !! Despite my serious "saga-ending" exhaustion, I am having a fabulous time!

Today it was mother's day here in Panama and we celebrated it with a cozy pic-nic in a small park near our place. It faces the Ocean where we can see in the horizon the ships lined up to enter the Canal.

The end of a long saga!

2009-11-18T08:07:00.003-05:00

Hello my dear family and friends

It has been quite a long time since I last wrote you, just because the end of a two year saga doesn't happen everyday and I just had to thoroughly enjoy it, live it, before I could sit here and write to you.

October 29th 2009, was definitely a big day for us. Packers started bringing in our stuff into our newly bought flat (my 23rd home) and Alice and David arrived... it was a touchable proof, with witnesses, our saga was coming to an end! Halleluia! Amen amen! It was a truly beyond belief sensation!

It has been two years exactly to the month that Joel and I have been walking on a fine line, between the many decisions we had to take and constantly dealing with changes that kept coming, but were actually just nominal changes rather than actual changes. Now that it's all over, it's a relief to look back to a Saturday in October 2007, when I was in the our kitchen in Hong Kong preparing us a dessert and the phone rang, kicking off all these changes that ended last October 29th here in Panama City. With the sun out, the Pacific Ocean waters slightly crispy and an immense load of satisfaction, happiness and excitement, Joel and I entered our new "home sweet home" ... and I must say... we were so thrilled, that it was not even funny!!

Alice and David... poor things... came for what they probably thought it was going to be a good holiday and ended up working their butts off ... but... weather or not they worked like crazy, Joel and I LOVED having them here. They were not only a huge muscular help, I mean, a really HUGE help, carrying this and that, as well as big shoulders for the times of pure exhaustion.

Mom and Dad arrived from Rio on the night of Monday 9th. As planned, we gave a break on "settling in" and went off doing the touristic sites of Panama City, all together (except for Joel, because after all, someone has to work, right?), absolutely fantastic, I add! Three generations wondering about, chit chatting about our lives and missed family events, laughing about bits and pieces of life ... fabulous!

So, from my old desk now sitting in its new place (that hopefully will be reasonably long) I officially close our two year saga! What a pleasant feeling of relief!!

It's today!!

2009-10-29T07:28:00.009-05:00

Ai ai ai ui ui ui, it's today... it's ALL happening today! Oh my Lord, give us a smooth day and tranquility! The language barrier... oh no, so much Spanish packed in a single day only!!

After uncountable problems, I mean, endless problems or put in other words, loads of trouble, the delivery of the first container should start today at around 11 AM!

The obstacles we had to face were SO MANY, SO MANY, that it became normal, laughs...

You know those really cheap terror movies, when the girl is running away from the mean guy, in a cemetery at mid night and she manages to find a knife, kills him and as she turns back to walk away from the crime scene, the supposed dead mean guy jumps and grabs her leg and you, watching the movie, scream out your lungs because you were not prepared for that? Oh well, we had the same thing... last week, we saw Dolores arriving, we saw one of the containers, we scheduled the delivery, and then... we were informed that the fabulous moving company we hired back in Hong Kong, had not yet paid the shipping service in full, therefore the containers were being held until payment being settled!!! Just so freaking unbelievable!!!

Also, way back then, when we though life had brought us all the confusion it could possibly bring, Alice and David, together with us, set a date for their arrival here in Panama. The date was planned in such a way that Joel and I would have had 3 weeks to organize the new place after our stuff had arrived so that the flat would be ready by the time they flew in.

Well, it so happens that they are arriving tonight, on day 1 of the move, poor them!! Instead of walking into a place already with a "home" feel, they are going to walk into a war zone! Thank you dear Alice & David for not changing your travel dates! We are thrilled, but not so sure if you are thrilled with this holiday concept of playing hide and seek behind boxes, LOL!

We welcomed Dolores with tons (literally) of excitement!

2009-10-22T18:45:00.027-05:00

Today was one memorable day in our lives... really a cool day!!

Joel and I went to Miraflores Locks to see "Maersk Dolores" pass the last of three locks of the Canal. On her deck, she brought our two so awaited containers!! What a thrill it was!! Just a few days short of 6 months since we last saw our stuff, Dolores made its way into the locks with its "heavy metal" cargo and sailed out into a gorgeous blue and hot afternoon, heading to the port of Balboa! Her crossing, cost Maersk over US$ 300 thousand.
I hope ship Captains, pilots - both plane and harbour, understand that their job is way more then just the huge technical side of it. They carry on their back people's stories, people's personal belongings, people's dreams and dramas, they unite people and today it was not different... Dolores' Captain and the Panama Canal's pilot brought Joel and I an enormous relief, a vast sense of closure to a confused period of our lives, they brought us satisfaction, peace!

My true wish was to have a band playing while Dolores was passing through the Locks, as well as, a big banner saying something like: "THANK YOU FOR BRINGING HOME OUR STUFF", but was happy enough with the idea of the guy in the loudspeaker who suggested us to shout out loud "hello" and wave for her crew. I waved like crazy as my eyes got wetter and wetter.

Since we didn't get the band playing, at least Joel got to cuddle Dolores!!

A big thank you goes to our dearest friends, R and S v T. Our moving company has given us a VERY bad service. We only chose them because they have the account of the Angolan Embassy, so we thought they would have some Angolan experience. BAD CALL! Just as an example, one day, at the peak of redirecting the containers, they sent Joel and email saying that Maersk, the biggest container shipping line in the world, did not have a service to Panama!?! Honestly, no matter what line of business you're in, can you imagine the No 1 container line in the world not calling Panama??? Honestly!!!!

Anyway, because of their low service standards, we had to cry for help, asking a huge favour to dear R, a big big guy at Maersk who came to our rescue, spoke to the right people and voila, Dolores sailed through bringing our things today!

As she was passing, we were able to spot our smaller container on the deck, so so so cool, I must say!!
I know that when we leave this planet for a much better life, we'll take nothing with us, so why should Joel and I be so looking forward to Dolores' arrival? Oh well, my conclusion is that as we are still very much alive, we enjoy cherishing the things that represent the many blessed and Kodak moments God has allowed us to have!

Plan ZZ

2009-10-14T21:51:00.012-05:00

You know... in life not everything happens the way we first plan things, thus the expression "Plan B" or even "Plan C". Well, today, Ocotber 14th, Joel and I are already in "Plan ZZ", LOL!

NOTHING, absolutely nothing, except for good health and God's guidance, came out as we first planned back in May 10th, when we left Hong Kong.

If you read my last post, you already know that life, as we knew it, is finally showing itself in the horizon and therefore about to happen again. It's a wonderful feeling!

The only missing piece for the above scenario is the arrival of our containers which have, at last, been loaded onto a vessel coming down to Panama. But honestly, this is so so so freaking frustrating that it becomes funny and Joel and I have managed to laugh about this "Plan ZZ".

So, their last chapter goes like this:
- the containers arrived in New York on September 25th.
- missed the first vessel to Panama because.... nobody knows.
- were scheduled to be loaded onto the next vessel, 1 week later
- missed this one too, because they had to be x-rayed by US customs, despite the fact that their final destination is Panama and not the US.
- then... US customs decided to open both containers to inspect them inside and...
- ... because we have so much stuff, and because the containers had been packed in HK in a puzzle-like way, Joel got an email saying that they were having trouble putting it all back inside again, can you believe it??
- then we got another email saying that they had finally managed to fit it all inside and that the containers had been placed at the end of the loading queue. They were not sure there would be enough time to load them onto today's vessel.

So the flavor of the day was something like " hang in there" type of mood, as we didn't know the outcome of this particular soap opera and then voila... Joel has just told me that "YES, THE CONTAINERS ARE FINALLY ON THEIR LAST STRETCH, heading to Panama!!

They have survived Somalian waters infested with pirates, heavy African bureaucracy, the Cape of Good Hope troubled winter waters twice and the strict procedures of US customs!! Hoorray!! Not so sure what the 100 year old plus crystal glasses think about that, LOL, I'll tell you later!

We are getting there... amen!

2009-10-12T12:24:00.013-05:00

These last couple of weeks have certainly gone very well and quite frankly, we were needing some of that!

For me, it started with Al Gore's conference on Global Warming. Again I repeat myself, it was fantastic! I loved every minute of it and every penny spent on my ticket was worth it!

Then, we got our temporary IDs, obaaa, we're now "somebody" here in Panama! It reinforces the feeling that home sweet home is happening here and right now.

We've found a full time helper... big time obaaaa. She starts tomorrow.

We've closed a good deal on a storage unit to keep the many 220 voltage electrical stuff that is coming in our containers.

Another huge big blessing is, because we are so enjoying our new church, "Crossroads International Bible Church", we have applied to become members. It was love at first sight.

And... absolutely best of all... we have at last signed the purchase of our flat here in Panama!! This is unbelievable, this is awesome, this is just too fantastic for words! What a relief to have a place to really finally call "home sweet home".

You might have noticed that none of the good news above relate to the arrival of our containers... just because... oh well... that's another story all together!! After staying in Africa for over 1 month, sitting somewhere doing absolutely NOTHING, they sailed to New York, arriving there on September 26th. However, for some obscure reason, they not only had to be x-rayed by US customs, but they also had to be opened and checked inside. We are hoping they will be released in time for the vessel leaving NY this coming Wednesday, but it hasn't been confirmed yet. Of course, as it has to be in these situations, if they board this next vessel, they will be due to be delivered to us right when Joel has to be in Quito for an important meeting for him and... receiving on my own, 2 fully loaded containers, when they have already been opened and closed without us present elsewhere, is so NOT happening!

In other words, by the time Joel and I get to finally see our stuff again, our clothes will be so out dated that we will have to do the sacrifice and go on a shopping spree, right??

Mercedes Sosa, my first musical reference to go!

2009-10-04T20:58:00.010-05:00

Mercedes, Mercedes... I'm really sorry she is gone. I knew she was sick and that there were big chances that the news would hit the newspapers soon... and so it did...

Mercedes Sosa, an Argentinian woman, with a deep velvet rich voice, a voice that came from the very bottom of her esophagus, gorgeous straight pure black hair - that she made sure to keep beautiful til her last days, who could easily sing acapella, became a symbol fighting, through her music, on behalf of the many political issues the Americas had in the 60's and 70's.

In my particular case, she became more known when I joined UNICAMP, my university back in march 1977. In those days, my political wings were quite wide opened and flying highish. In between classes, I would take part in meetings where us, young students, discussed our dream of a better Brazil, a less censured Brazil, what could be done and what could WE do in order to achieve it.

In those days, Cambodia was way into Pol Pot's regime and I clearly remember meetings we had where her songs would play before and after it and charged up with her music we started our heated discussions of how we could avoid Brazil having its own "Killing Fields". These meetings would carry on later in the day at parties that went on way into the night and of course, there she was again, being played in good old LPs. She became such an icon in the fight for a better society, specially in Argentina of course, that she had to go into exile in Europe for a while.

What a gift she had and me, 2009 Odila, is VERY pleased to have had Mercedes participating in my adulthood formation. I hope my other dear singers from those days, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, wait a bit before going, I still want to see them live.

Here are two You Tube videos of her singing:
- Mercedes and major Brazilian singers singing "Volver a los 17":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYNx1D74mtQ
- Mercedes singing the absolute max "Gracias a la Vida".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyOJ-A5iv5I&feature=related

Obaaaa, Rio 2016!!

2009-10-02T11:58:00.009-05:00

I've been watching "CNN en Espanol" that is showing the Olympic Committee in Copenhagen on its final moments before announcing who will host the 2016 Olympics. I think I've just lost all my nails and have surely gained loads of gray hair, as if I needed any more!

Rio has just made it and it will be hosting the 2016 Olympics!! How cool my friends!

I'm so happy and proud of it! Ok ok ok, I know, I know... I have not done a single little thing towards this moment we, Brazilians, are living this very second, but never the less, it's an awesome feeling!! Good for us and sorry for the complete lack of humbleness here,... good for all those that will be able to make it there, becasue it's a GORGEOUS place of this planet!! God was in such inspired moment when he created that place.... I tell you!!

Photo by Fernanda Coelho
As if that were not enough, Forbes Magazine, has just voted Rio de Janeiro as being the happiest city in the world!

Bravo Cariocas, we made it!! Both photos below by David Scott

Care for some really ice lemon tea?

Old Rio
Spices in a market

A dream came true this afternoon!

2009-09-30T19:33:00.017-05:00

Back in 2003, Alice started seeding amongst us in the family, the realization that Planet Earth had been screaming out loud for help for quite sometime and that it was time we all started recycling, taking our own bags to supermarkets, walking when possible, change lamp bulbs for low energy ones etc etc. Thank you Darling!

I embarked heads down on it. A few months later, I saw the DVD on Al Gore's talk called "An Inconvenient Truth" a talk about global warming. It is very good and it REALLY gets you thinking and changing your habits.

As my passion for taking good care of the environment grew, the more I wanted to "meet" Al Gore and then ... voila... it happened today, here in Panama, Al Gore brought "An Inconvenient Truth" to 3 blocks away from our flat.

It was unbelievably fantastic! The man is

F R E A K I N G - G O O D

at what he does and was sure able to pick a very good team to work with. The talk is amazingly good and very well displayed (by the way, he does his presentation on an Apple - my new passion. It's full of great features). In his talk, he not only brings world facts, as he also inserts a great deal of data and facts about the country he is in - today, Panama. He brings up all the negative stuff that is happening leading to global warming, but he also brilliantly brings us hope by giving various examples of how major events in History took place, simply because people believed in the change. He is one of those people that points out problems and together with it, brings solutions to the problems. He shows how we can change!

... and of course, he left on a Toyota hybrid car!

Oh man... I loved it and please, if you're also passionate about an environmental improvement and ever have the chance to see him, do go! Trust me, you won't regret! The whole things is phenomenal!

Well officer, right now only my word, but tomorrow I can prove it!!

2009-09-27T14:02:00.023-05:00

This morning I had my first encounter with the police here in Panama. It's always been like that, why would it be different here in Panama? Amazing, I always have to have an "encounter" with the local police in my early days in a country... amazing... how boring and predictable and even knowing it, I wasn't prepared for it, can you believe it?

So, after the service this morning I decided to go to a mall near the church to change the strap of my watch. I always leave church very inspired. We have been attending this great church here in Panama. It's a truly bilingual church! Sermons and announcements are in English and hymns and songs switch back and forth between English and Spanish and the beautiful thing is that everybody triumphantly sings in both languages without leaving a single second in the air for adaptation. The pastor is American, but has been in Panama forever, so he too, is completely accent-less, fluent in both languages. The result is that both Joel and I are really enjoying going there and it leaves us very inspired for the rest of the week.

So, loaded up with all the above, I left church and off went to the immensity that Albrook Mall is, parked the car, quickly found the shop I needed, had the straps changed, went back to the car and left the parking lot only to find a police check point. There were some 4 or 5 cars in front of me and as I approached the policeman, I noticed that as drivers approached him, they showed their driver's license. I then immediately remembered what my friend SR had told me...
- "when you come to a police check point, show your driver's license as they stop you."

So, I tried to get mine before it was my turn at THE man, but didn't managed, so as I got face to face with him, he asked for my license, to which I replied:
- "yes sir, in a second" and turned around to get it in my purse. The license that I was reaching for is my Hong Kong license, which does NOT bring a picture in it. But I quickly thought: "let's play blond and don't initiate anything on my own. Rather wait for his request". Of course, as expected, as I handed him a foreign driver's license, he asked for my passport to which I, VERY naughtily, gave him a copy of the only thing I had with me that could perhaps resemble it. A copy of 2 pages of my passport. One had my picture, my parents name, my date of birth, the passport's date of issue and date of expiration. The other showed my Angolan visa on it. At the back, was the document's authentication stamp, done in Angola, therefore in Portuguese.

The policeman then told me that driving in Panama with a foreign driver's license is only allowed for the first three months that you are here. After that, you need to have a local license. So, he continued to say, "I need to see your original passport to see when you came into the Country."

Well, although I knew ALL of the above, I was very lazy this week, and did not care to go to our lawyer's office to get my passport back from him, after he filed our visa papers with Panamanian immigration. So, as soon as the policeman confirmed it to me, I knew I was in deep trouble.

So, doing my very best to remember all that I've been learning at school, trying to use all the freaking pronouns Cervantes thought to be necessary when one speaks Spanish, I told the policeman that my passport was at immigration, therefore I wasn't able to prove him that I was legal and have not been driving here with a foreign driver's license for more than 3 months.

He then kind of rolled his eyes, like all policemen in my previous encounters have done and told me to go and wait on the road shoulders. I don't know what is up with policemen, but when they stop me and I don't have the documents they want me to produce or don't speak the local language, they all roll their eyes up, LOL!!

Anyway, he checked a couple of cars behind me and came to see me again. I knew my situation was a problematic one, I was wrong but not 100% illegal, so that tiny little bit of not being illegal, plus the time at church I had just had, gave me the confidence to talk to him. I knew that I had not been stopped because I was a foreigner. All cars in front and behind me were being stopped and also because here, Joel and I mingle well with the crowds. We don't look foreigners until we open our big fat mouths and a huge accent comes out of it. Until then, we could well be Panamanians, which is great for a change.

Just to give you a picture of what my scenario was like:
- I was driving in Panama with my Hong Kong driver's license that had no pictures in it, showing him a copy of part of my passport that did not give my nationality nor a number and with a visa and a stamp from Angola.... hum... not great to say the least.

He approached me and repeated the story that he needed my passport to make sure I've been here under 3 months and ends by saying that in these cases, the car has to be toll trucked until all is clear. I immediately respond to him something like:
- "oh no sir, please don't. I know that right now, it's only my word that you have, but please, trust me, I have been here for less than 3 months. Right now now, you only have my word, but tomorrow, I can have my passport with the stamp and prove it to you. Alternatively, you can call my lawyer and speak to him"
and I handed him my phone. To this, he replied:

- "You're Brazilian, right? Don't they have similar rules there?"
With a smile on my face, I replied:
- "yes I am, but quite honestly sir, I have no idea what the rules are for foreigners driving in Brazil". To that, he replies:
- "Ok, I'll let you go, but please go back home now and have your passport with you as of tomorrow, ok?"

Phew, that was a close one, have no idea what was the terrestrial turning factor, (as opposed to the divine intervention, clearly from God)... if it were me being straight to the point with the fact that no, I didn't have a passport right there and then to prove it, but yes, I've been here less than 3 months, the smile, being Brazilian or the confusion of the case of a Brazilian national, who had only a partial copy of her passport with an Angolan visa, driving with a Hong Kong license in Panama or... all the above, but baby, be sure, I came back straight home and won't leave it until tomorrow morning when I'll go straight to the lawyer's office!!

A warm canine welcome to Misty!

2009-09-21T11:41:00.007-05:00

Alice and David have just increased their family... what Odila, Alice is pregnant? Wow, you didn't tell me, when is she due? Do you already know if it's a boy or a girl or may be twins? Where are they planning to have the baby? Any names already? How are you and Joel feeling?

LOL ... calm calm none of that... the increase is not a human increase, but... a canine increase, obaaa!! How exciting! They welcomed "MISTY", a cute, curious, playful and normally active rescue dog (or so we all hope, LOL!) into their lives yesterday, Sunday. Misty is about 3 years old and has already shown to them that the best place in the house is their bed, LOL! So cute...

With the fantastic technology available in nowadays, they called me (Joel is in Brazil) and turned on the camera of their computer so that I could follow her whereabouts as she did a thorough and continuous investigation of her new place. When I called her name, she came to the computer screen sniffing it and bringing her toy in her mouth... just so fantastic dogs are!!

Actually, just realized that Joel and I are living quite a great moment in our lives. Both our girls and son in law are in very good company... they all have dogs! Amen to their love for those wonderful creatures!

Christmas already!

2009-09-15T21:55:00.005-05:00

I've got to love this Country!! Can you believe that most department stores are already selling Christmas decoration stuff? I'm in pure awe!!

I love Christmas, I love the meaning of Christmas, I love setting up the house for Christmas, I love planning Christmas so learning that in September the Country is already geared up for Christmas is nothing but a huge Bliss with capital "B", LOL!

A quick visit to the locks of the canal here in Panama City's.

Note how cool and how close the huge ship is behind me.

The Global Village strikes again

2009-09-12T08:05:00.019-05:00

The Spanish school I attend, takes half of the first floor of a building. The classrooms that face the outside have big wide windows from ceiling to floor, which is really very cool, because we can see the trendy "Via Argentina" (it could well be "the trendy Via Brasil", but they had to choose to establish themselves on "Via Argentina" rather than in Via Brazil, hey?) passing by and students can use many things in the view as examples for learning.

Anyway, the other day I was having my class in one of these classrooms with an excellent teacher they have. She not only is a great teacher from the technical point of view, as well as speaks 5 other languages, therefore understands much better what is going on in the student's mind. Also, she is a pocket full of culture. Classes with her are great. So, there we were, "hablando hablando", when I pointed to something out on the street as an example and she turned to see what I was talking about. When she turned to see it, she also saw this man crossing the street and she says to me in Spanish:"there goes Demetrius, my Greek friend. He is Head of a Department at Bristol University in England" to what I replied: "Wow, Bristol University? My older daughter is a Dr from there and works there too". She heard my reply and walks towards the window, opens it and in Greek calls him and invites him up and we had a wonderful friendly chat about it and about his research here in Panama. Of course, from ALL the universities in the world, he had to be from Bristol University in the UK, of course!

If you have been following my thoughts here in this blog for the last two months, you might remember that our lawyer here in Panama, did his master at Cardiff University, where our younger daughter did her studies... it gets even more interesting when you stop to think that because of its history and geography, Panama's connections with the US are much closer than with the UK. So once again I say, of all the universities in the world, he had to have gone to Cardiff University!!

And last but not least for my global village week... a couple of days ago, I woke up with no internet service in my phone, so off I went to my service provider shop to check what was going on. I got there only to find out that some other people must have had similar problems, so had to wait for some 20 minutes to be called. When the number before me was called, I decided to stand up and be extra alert for my number, you know how it goes... foreigners tend to be a bit a stupid when they are not in their cozy comfort zones, so to avoid any whatever, I decided to stand up and get closer to where I would be called.

Then, out of nowhere, comes this man who was also waiting and starts talking to me. Why me I have no idea!! He goes on talking about nails. He was saying how nails have to be soft and smooth with no lines and he continues to say how he had learned that from the Chinese doctor he had consulted with at the "Emperor's clinic" in Beijing. "Great doctors they are", he says and goes on to say: "You know, just looking at my nails, they were able to see that my pancreas and liver were not functioning well, so they gave me this awful tea to drink on a daily basis and now my nails, pancreas and liver are all good. If you ever go to Beijing, you should visit this clinic, really good"... and before I knew, he was called by the person he was with who had finished his enquire and off they went.

And there I stood just thinking, should I had told him that until I get my permanent visa in Panama, my home address is in China? Do I tell him that I have already been to Beijing? Do I tell him that my family and I have also been to that clinic (probably that is where they take all stupid tourists, he he he), do I tell him that my husband has taken those awful teas for many months and has indeed enjoyed the result? Do I tell him that I'm landing on this side of the planet after 9 years living in a Chinese city? No no no, none of that... he was so excited and happy telling me of his travels experiences that stealing his thunder would have been mean and that morning I was not in a mean mood...

Casco Viejo with hugs and kisses

2009-09-05T11:48:00.018-05:00

Two months into our life here in Panama and we are still riding life in high spirits, despite missing Carlota terribly! The sweetness of the Panamanians is amazing, not to mention the many hugs and kisses we get everywhere and mind you, it's me who is surprised with this hugging and kissing thing, me Odila!! While living in HK, I didn't know I was a person who stood out for kissing and hugging until our very dear and great friend PW wrote a very funny and warm Ode for Joel and I, to be read out by him at our farewell party. At a certain point, the Ode goes like this:

"Joel’s big grin extending from here to here.

And Odila approaching with arms as wide as this:

“My dear, how ARE you? Big hugs and a big kiss”

Everybody hugs and kisses here. I am so at home, LOL!! P & J, you must come and check it! We walked into church for the first time, just the two of us and sat down. We knew nobody. A few minutes after the service started, there is that thing of people greeting each other and there you have it... although nobody knew us, we were greeted with hugs and kisses. Than it was time to buy a car. After vising all the dealers, we picked Honda and Joel went back a few times to take care of business. When the car was ready to be collected, the three of us (with Carlota, of course) went to the shop . The dealer had seen us, Carlota and I, only once before but nevertheless, greeted me with a hug and a kiss and a pat on Carlota! The bank people who are dealing with our loan, first a girl and now a man, hugs and kisses every time we meet. Just awesome!

A couple of weekends ago, Joel and I went to see this very old part of town called "Casco Viejo". As I have already mentioned in another entry, it's like Disneyland for photography lovers! This area is not only the berth of Panama City, but of course, Od the Country too. The city was founded back in 1519. It grew rapidly from the moment of its establishment, maintaining its position as chief post of the Pacific and terminus of the first transit route across the Isthmus. The old Panama City saw all the great output of gold and silver from the rich mines of Peru and the mines in the province of Veraguas, as well as the products from the pearl fisheries in the Bay of Panama. The city survived several disastrous fires, but finally was destroyed by a band of pirates under Sir Henry Morgan in 1671. Today, Casco Viejo is an area protected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, so somethings have already been restored, some are being restored and some are still to be restored.

So, walking through the streets of Casco Viejo, you just can't help but let your imagination fly, wishing cobblestone streets could talk, bringing you into the historical picture of then!! Voila, Casco Viejo for you!!

And here, the photos we loved most!

Like father like husband

2009-08-31T11:00:00.010-05:00

You know what they say... a girl will marry a man who is just like her father... well not sure about my other husbands, but darling Joel does indeed have quite a few similarities to my father and that is good. Of course, I would prefer him to have the ones that exalt my father, rather than the ones my mother and I roll our eyes about... but never the less, funny!!

Yesterday, Joel was leaving town really very early in the morning and ideally he would have gone to the airport by taxi, but keeping track of customs I brought from my cradle, I told him I would take him to the airport with all my love. So, at 4:30 AM (lot's of love, hey?) we left the flat. Joel locked the door while I called for the elevator. As he got into the elevator, he gave me the keys saying something like "let me give them to you now before I forget".

For some lazy reason we only have 1 set of keys for this flat here and every time we think that we ought to make a copy of a second set, we think, "oh well, we are about to leave this place, so let's keep as it is" and we end up never making one.

Anyway, when we got to the car, I realized that my Ipod had stayed back in the flat, so I asked Joel if he could come and get it and then meet me downstairs and he, very sweetly did so.

A while later, there I was arriving at the airport and dropping him off. Many kisses and hugs later, I got the road and happy came back to the city, listening a bit loud, to Mama Mia's film CD. Loving the music, singing it together with them, loving to be driving on a free highway, loving not to have anyone on the highway with me and loving the fact that I was going to be able to go back home and sleep some more!!

As I was driving into our driveway, I see the light of my mobile blinking and I thought, there he is wishing me a good week, oh how sweet of him... I lowered the music and answered the phone in a all romantic voice only to hear: "hi honey, please come back to the airport... I kept the flat's key in my pocket and only realized it when I was going through security".

We have had quite a few of those at home with dad. Once, he got to the counter to check in only to find out he had left tickets, passport, the works, everything at home. On another occasion, way way before September 11, dad was flying out and as always, we all took him to the airport and after sending him off through customs, we walked back to the car. On our walk back to the car, my brother, the designated driver, realized the keys were in dad's pocket who was already inside the plane with doors about to be closed. He so totally rushed upstairs and because things were so much peaceful in this world of ours in those days, he was able to get much closer than he would today. Got hold of someone who also ran to the plane and just as they were closing the door, got in, went straight to dad's chair and said: "Admiral Coelho, I believe you car keys are still in your pocket, no? Your son is outside asking for them".

This photo is not so great, it was very windy, their faces are a bit funny, but here with us in this computer, this is the only one I have of the two of them together.

and that is dad receiving a warm kiss on father's day from one of his gorgeous dogs, an Old English Sheep Dog (hello Maggie)

From London to Edinburgh via Prague

2009-08-28T11:16:00.014-05:00

Yesterday, the language school I've been attending, took 16 of us to visit nothing but "La Presidencia" also known as "Palacio de las Garzas" or the Presidential Palace called Palace of the Herons.

Wow, that was really wow and a good surprise. Also cool because it was a normal working day, so we could see the back and forth of people doing stuff. This small Palace, was inaugurated in 1923 and it has this name because herons were given to its first president. They have some 5 or 6 herons wondering about its entrance and a Spanish style courtyard. The Palace is located in the old part of Panama City, called "Casco Viejo" and oh man... that area is like Disneyland for photography lovers. Just fascinating! Joel and I went to Casco Viejo on Saturday and came back home with just over 200 photos. The reason why you haven't seen them yet is because I still don't know how to summarize it in just a few pictures, LOL!! It's now a World Heritage Site and therefore being restored. Some houses have already been restored, some are being and some are still old falling apart! Just magnificent!

Our life here in Panama is doing fine. My real routine has not yet been established but a "plan B routine" is in force. The good, excellent, fantastic and awesome news is that both our containers are finally sailing, they have finally left Namibia, obaaa!! They are now sailing to Cape Town, then NY and finally to Panama so we still have another 7 weeks or so before we can actually see our stuff, but never mind, they are now moving!!

You know, this thing of moving to a country to open an office that will take care of a whole massive big piece of land is really great for your moral and your partner in life, in this case, me, gets really proud of darling husband with loads of back tapping and hugs.

However... letting my steam off a bit here, it's quite demanding because... on top of getting used to a new culture, understanding new customs, new language, new food/ supermarket bla bla bla you don't have, right away, that fairy dearest person, AKA your husband's assistant to help you with all the cultural matters, including here, playing GPS too. You are so alone that it's not even funny!

Last year, I gave Joel a nice little toy, a Tom Tom GPS and to be really the cool wife, I gave him the top of the line model. Well, it so happens that freaking Tom Tom doesn't carry in their library maps of countries outside the "Lancome circuit", so... a lot of street guessing is going on at the moment. I am not a map reading person. Joel and Alice are, but Anna and I are not. Usually, what we do is one of them reads the map and I do the driving. However, as Joel, Alice nor Richard (our nickname for Tom Tom) are not always next to me, I have to get plan B into action. Plan B dictates to always have enough cash on hand to pay a taxi to escort me back to areas I can call home.

On top of plan B, I sometimes have to go for plan C, which is returning home from a trip to a more distance shopping mall at night and not finding a taxi available for plan B. In these circumstances, I inevitably get home via God knows where. Wednesday night was one of those days. I surely got loads of wrong rights and lefts to return home and it felt like going from London to Edinburgh via Prague.

Santo Domingo

2009-08-24T20:27:00.032-05:00

My Darling Joel thought that it would be a good idea to take me away on the weekend following my other darling, Carlota, passed away. He planned us leaving Panama on Friday and spending the weekend and Monday somewhere. He was very right. It was a very good idea, because I was able to re-direct my mind into other shores, into other stuff, into lands never seen before... and off we went to Santo Domingo, capital of The Dominican Republic.

If you want to pronounce it as a Spanish speaker does, you must use any tiny itsibtsy Spanish knowledge you might have in your veins and pronounce it thoroughly, pronounce every letter of both words, have your mouth full and say “Santo Domingo”, as if you really want everybody around you to know you are talking about Santo Domingo!! They all say the city’s full name, no nicknames here, just the full name. Even the pilot, who for sure is not Dominican, pronounces it in a way that hints he is proud to be taking all passengers to Santo Domingo!

Joel was quite clever when he chose our destination, because I was terribly sad, actually still am and only few things can temporarily drive me away from the thought we no longer have Carlotinha with us. Early European History in the Americas is one of them.

For us, people from the New World, Santo Domingo is very important and even if one is not into History, one has to recognize that The Dominican Republic was the door to Europeans in the Americas. That is where Christopher Colombus or “Cristobal Colón” as he is called in Spanish speaking communities, first arrived back in 1492. Christopher did not anchor in Santo Domingo as his very first port of call, but according to the archives, Santo Domingo is where he decided to start a village because it was the prettiest place. So my friends, voilá, in Santo Domingo you can find the first cathedral of the Americas, the first paved street of the Americas, the first university of the Americas, the first house or palace, pharmacy and off they go with a long list of firsts. So completely cool that it’s not even funny! I LOVED it!

Then, after we had done a whole load of History, we went to the beach in the Caribbean for some more suffering, LOL!

It's hurricane season, but we manage to leave the island one day before a hurricane arrived. Phew!!

And to finalize it all, do you know what is the name of the airport at Santo Domingo? Because they can afford it, it is called “Aeropuerto las Americas”! Never mind that there are many other airports throughout North, Central and South America that handle thousands more flights a minute, but… they are not in Santo Domingo therefore they have to settle with a less exciting name and go for “XYZ International Airport”.

The palace where Christopher Columbus's son, Diego Columbus lived

America's first cathedral

The ceiling of the cathedral has never needed any restoration!The official entrance to the cathedral
life on a Saturday afternoon by the
cathedral's plaza!
In nowadays, we rarely go to a bank, but should you need to go to one, how about going to a bank located in this atmosphere?

Flavoring the streets of the Historical
Santo Domingo

Ambar Museum

Fancy a fruit at Las Bocachicas beach?

Mother nature leting people know that a hurricane was on its way.

Governor's palace, built in 1512

The view from our room

Happy tourists

Thank you darling husband, thank you for your sensitivity in realizing that we were going to have difficult days ahead and therefore planning some very interesting distractions. We still miss her, but now, we can add to the sadness, a huge satisfaction for having enjoyed these days in Santo Domingo!

Handcuffs x Wife

2009-08-22T10:17:00.003-05:00

My friends, I am in total shock, I am paralyzed, I am petrified, I still cannot believe that such a beautiful and sexy language like Spanish is, could carry in its dictionaries such a huge inaccuracy and gaffe, not to mention people’s mind!!

This morning, after Joel and I woke up but were still in bed, I turned on the TV to watch some nothing, just to get our daily Spanish exercise going. Before I go any further, let me bring you into the Panamanian TV picture. Here they have many channels with shows ran and produced in Panama, therefore all in Spanish and like everywhere else, we also have cable. The shows through cable channels come in its original language and have Spanish subtitles. These subtitles have been a great source of learning for Joel and I during this "learning Spanish" phase as well as, have been the local channels in Spanish. This way we sometimes hear Spanish and sometimes we read Spanish and it has all been working well.

So, in this morning’s exercise, we learned that the Spanish word for wife and for handcuffs is the SAME, "esposa" for wife and "esposas" for handcuffs and what is worse is that their word for husband is a whole new word, nothing to do with the idea of imprisonment!!

I am in shock... have loads to say should I ever bump into Cervantes!!

A bit of my Panamanian day for you.

2009-08-20T19:23:00.024-05:00

Today was one of those days that really “pinched” my emotions, with plenty of ups and one down. My heart survived it all, so here I am, still alive, talking to you and that is good.

I met new people which was exciting. Four of them were Brazilians and the way I got to them was because they have a hobby… which is… guess… guess…. yes bingo, you got it… scrapbooking! Panama City has three scrapbooking shops. One is actually an art shop that has a small scrapbooking corner. The other is really good for stamps and the third one is pure bliss, pure scrapbooking and that is how I connected with one of these ladies who then introduced me to the other ones… you know how it goes, it’s the domino effect all over, really cool!

The other lady who I also met, is an American married to a Panamanian who has lived in Singapore. There, by chance, they met some good friends we have, who have, via the virtual world, introduced us to them. The chemistry was also a great one, especially when talking to each other, we found out that we had both lost long loving dogs in the same week. We lost gorgeous Carlota and they lost Bobby who was 13 years old. We also discovered that her hobby is photography, that as most of you know, is something very close to my heart too!!

Then, after these ups, along came the low. I went to the vet to collect Carlota’s ashes that came with a nice card from team there and once again, I was able to talk about her passing, confirming that her actual passing was peaceful without any fits nor painful for her. The infection that started in her intestine was already largely showing in her urine, hence the frequent peeing on her last night here with us. Joel and I will take her ashes to a specific Pacific Ocean beache she visited on a weekend outing we had. This way, we will have Siggy, our absolutely cute, gorgeous and so gentle Golden Retriever, who passed away while we were in HK and whose ashes were sprinkled on that extreme of the Pacific Ocean and now Carlota, sprinkled on this side of the vast Pacific. Who knows they meet halfway, hey?

Here are some pictures for you to enjoy.Panama City has quite a few parks. One of them, is right by the sea and it's called "Cinta Costera" or Coastal Belt. It's really nice, loads of space for pedestrians, a bicycle route, playing areas for kids, parking and a wonderful scenery.

The way to Cinta Costera from our place.

Part of Cinta Costera, with the city at the back

Joel and Carlota enjoying the extreme heat (or not!). Punta Paitilla at the back on the right. If plans go as they are now, we'll live in the next Punta along from Paitilla, Punta Pacifica.
Part of old Panama or "Panama Viejo".
Pacific Ocean beaches in and around Coronado

On the way to the beaches, we passed over the famous and indispensable "Puente de las Americas" or Bridge of the Americas, built in 1962. In other words, for many decades, this was the quickest and most used way to cross over the magnificent piece of engineering, The Panama Canal. It connects the two mega huge pieces of land, South America to Central/ North America. Because it has this particular "connecting" feature, in my mind, it would be a massive bridge, with bands playing on either sides, neon signs saying something like "congratulations, you're the Nth car to cross THE Bridge" and a souvenir card would be given to you on the other side", but only in my dreams, LOL!! The Bridge is short, quick with no toll charged to cross it!

... life in the aftermath

2009-08-19T10:49:00.004-05:00

And so life goes on and we just live with it!

It’s hard… it feels weird… it feels something is drastically wrong and it indeed is! Carlotinha is not around and won’t be around any longer… coming back home is just not fun now. For the last 13 years nonstop (to this date) I have arrived home to a dog waiting for me. In those days it used to be gorgeous Candy, an English sheepdog we had. She, like Carlota, had no tail, so her whole body would shake, more than a true salsa lady shakes her hips while dancing, when any of us got home. Then along came Carlota, who was ALWAYS so terribly happy to welcome us home, to the point that lately, we had to disguise our entry after a vacation away to avoid her fainting. Two and half years after Carlota came to us, we got beautiful Siggy, a golden retriever, who passed away prematurely at the age of 5.5 years old. So you see, it’s hard coming home where there is no longer any barking nor hip dancing and the only movement is the air shifting around with the door opening movement.

It’s hard not having to go out late at night for the last pee and poo of the day, it’s hard being out and about and not worried to return home so that Carlota isn’t alone for much longer, it’s hard not having her full one meter body ALWAYS on the way of everything we wanted to do around the house, because she was also checking whatever we were doing, it’s hard not having her to check at night and it’s hard us not being checked by her when she woke up as if she were just making sure we were all fine and not needing any help, it’s hard eating an apple and not having her to give the middle bit or not having her for the last slice of the sliced bread from the supermarket, it’s hard not needing to keep small plastic bags for her poos… it’s tough, really tough… and the reason why it’s tough is because dogs ARE indeed men’s very best friends and as best friends, they are always there, always available for what you might need.. they are there, just there, right by your side, ready to be loved and ready to love you! Such an amazing unconditional love they give us, oh how marvelous!

I never realized how much company these dogs have kept me. In the last years, I was NEVER alone, never, I mean never… even when Joel was away, the girls out of the country and the helper on holiday I had them to talk to, to hug and to worry. I don’t mind being alone, but it’s just a new circumstance that I was not used to and that makes her absence even more obvious.

Carlota’s life was mission accomplished and that is a very comfy feeling we are experiencing. She lived life in full, at its max, at all times and that was very cool!

Although difficult for me, because I re-live the whole thing again and again, it fills my heart with immense satisfaction situations like when I called the driver who picked us up at the airport when we first arrived here in Panama to schedule a new pick up with him and as I start reminding him who I was, he interrupts me and says: “Senora Odila, I don’t remember you but I remember Carlota” and gives me a big laugh, or the child who had a “date” with Carlota every afternoon downstairs and sees me without her and goes “au au?” (Spanish for barking in children’s language) twisting her hands as in “where is it? or the senior gentleman who parks his car right next to us in this building and sees me without her and asks: “where is Princesa Carlota?” or even the valet parking guy from a fancy hair dresser in the neighborhood who used to see Carlota and I walking and now sees just me and asks for my “granny dog”… it really fills my heart with delight… it’s pure bliss!

Once again, thank you very much for ALL your very loving expressions of care towards us. As a friend of ours said when she called: “I am calling but I have nothing to say”, she says… “I just want to be there with you and for you” and that is what happened with all of you. It was like you were here for and with us. Thank you thank you!