Maridos de Alquiler

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?

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...

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

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!

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? ?

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?

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?