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.
Thursday, 31 December 2009
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Already missing Mama & Papa and Misty... so loyal!!
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!!
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!!
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Houston, we have a problem!
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!
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!
Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Chatting away!
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.
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.
Wednesday, 18 November 2009
The end of a long saga!
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 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!!
Thursday, 29 October 2009
It's today!!
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!
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!
Thursday, 22 October 2009
We welcomed Dolores with tons (literally) of excitement!
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!
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
Plan ZZ
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!
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!
Monday, 12 October 2009
We are getting there... amen!
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??
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??
Sunday, 4 October 2009
Mercedes Sosa, my first musical reference to go!
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
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
Friday, 2 October 2009
Obaaaa, Rio 2016!!
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
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
A dream came true this afternoon!
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
... 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!
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!
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Well officer, right now only my word, but tomorrow I can prove it!!
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!!
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!!
Monday, 21 September 2009
A warm canine welcome to Misty!
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!
Tuesday, 15 September 2009
Christmas already!
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!
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.
Saturday, 12 September 2009
The Global Village strikes again
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...
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...
Saturday, 5 September 2009
Casco Viejo with hugs and kisses
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:
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!
And here, the photos we loved most!
"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!!
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!
Monday, 31 August 2009
Like father like husband
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".
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)
Friday, 28 August 2009
From London to Edinburgh via Prague
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.
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.
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