Tag Archives: travel

Getting busy living

16 Wednesday Jul 2025

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I am still here, just the usual busyness.

I went to NY for a couple of weeks to pack some more of my stuff.  At the moment, I only have some of my mom’s paintings and mosaic materials left there.

I thought I would be going back to NY more often, but that is not the case.  I rather try to develop a routine here.

Another 2 weeks of routine here, and we are off to ski in Chile.  I am so excited about that!! From there we will be spending a couple of months in Brazil to help out with my aging parents.

The audit my company is going through it is coming to an end.  It has taken 6 months.  I just need to write a couple of pages of answers to their findings, and a couple of late requests, but I am so relieved that this is final.  Hopefully it will be more than a couple of years until they return again. 

 I am still walking on the beach in the mornings and bicycle riding along the river in the afternoons.

I am not sure why, but I haven’t really been finding a lot on the beach, not even garbage.  Perhaps:

  • Someone is getting up earlier than I do and cleans up the beach. I go to walk at 6am.
  • There has been a lot less people on the beach. Less people, less garbage.
  • People are becoming better about picking up after themselves. I wish!!

I still continue to see turtles laying their eggs.  I just look from a distance.  I want to give them their space.   It is a long nesting season for the 3 types of turtles we have here: green turtle, leatherback and the loggerhead.

I have only seen 1 baby so far.  By the prints on the sand, it looked like he was just late leaving the nest.

Clearly by the video I could never be a videographer 😊. In my defense, I was far away so it was not that simple.

I hope you are having an amazing summer (or winter depending in what hemisphere you are). 

Blessings!

BIRD WATCHING

09 Friday May 2025

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Aleijadinho, Brazilian sculptor

25 Wednesday Sep 2024

Posted by in Daily Life, Mosaic and other crafts, travels

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Antonio Francisco Lisboa, better known as Aleijadinho, was a famous sculptor in colonial Brazil. He got the nickname Aleijadinho, which means “little cripple” because of a degenerative disease that caused immense pain,  and his body to be deformed. He lost some fingers and his feet.

His work can be found in many churches around Ouro Preto and the neighboring towns.  The churches that I was able to visit are gorgeous.  Unfortunately, some of the main ones that I wanted to visit were closed.  

Santuario do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinho

Santuario do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinho – an UNESCO recognized construction

In front of the church there are 6 chapels, and inside each there are sculpures describing the Passion Walk. The sculpures are done by he famous Aleijadinho and his team. at Santuario do Senhor Bom Jesus de Matosinho

In front of the church there are 6 chapels, and inside of each there are sculptures describing the Passion of Jesus Walk.

The Last Supper by Aleijadinho, inside one of the chapels

The Last Supper by Aleijadinho, inside one of the chapels

Church of Saint Francis

Church of Saint Francis

Churches in Mariana

Churches in Mariana

Tiradentes and Ouro Preto, sights and tastes

23 Monday Sep 2024

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“The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” ― Eleanor Roosevelt

Posada Casa da Tuta

Posada Casa da Tuta

In Tiradentes we stayed at Pousada Casa da Tuta. Cozy room, delicious breakfast. I would go back there for the chocolate cake alone.

a store in Tiradentes

a store in Tiradentes

In Tiradentes we had a delicious dinner in a restaurant that I cannot remember the name. It had a back patio with a jazz group playing great Brazilian jazz. I remember most the black rice risotto that I had, with fish and vegetables.

Pousada do Arcanjo

Pousada do Arcanjo

In Ouro Preto we stayed at Pousada do Arcanjo – a historical themed bed and breakfast. Great breakfast, comfortable rooms, but I would have prefered a more central location.

Pousada do Arcanjo

Pousada do Arcanjo

We ate at Tropea Cantina Armazen https://www.opassopizzajazz.com.br/tropea and Bene Flauta http://www.benedaflauta.com.br/. Both great restaurants, but I don’t recall exactly what we had. In one Michael had pizza and I had the chicken fried steak with pasta. In the other I had cod fish cakes and salad, and I cannot remember what Michael had.

Bene da Flauta Restaurant

Bene da Flauta Restaurant

Everywhere I went I would choose a drink of passion fruit and cachaça, but at Tropea I tried a drink with gin, passion fruit and ginger foam.  It was delicious.

Tropea Restaurant

Tropea Restaurant

Downtown Ouro Preto

Downtown Ouro Preto

“We should look for someone to eat and drink with before looking for something to eat and drink.” ― Epicurus

Coronavirus is too close for comfort

10 Tuesday Mar 2020

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“Instead of worrying about what you cannot control, shift your energy to what you can create.” ― Roy T. Bennett

My city is in the news and not for a good thing.  New Rochelle has the most cases of coronavirus in NY state.   All the cases are tied to an orthodox Jewish community. An attorney that attends that synagogue first contracted and passed it around.

I am curious to know how he contracted.  It has to come from somewhere.  My co-worker attends that synagogue.  The moment he heard about it he self quarantined. 

Today governor Andrew Cuomo deployed the National Guard and created a 1-mile contained zone around the synagogue in New Rochelle.  I live 2 miles away in the downtown area.

For now, for me, is still business as usual, but should it be?  I have trips scheduled.  I am bringing my mom to the US in about one month.   Should I cancel everything?  Should I stock up food? 

What I am doing is washing my hands more often and cleaning everything in sight with alcohol wipes.

I actually ordered masks for when my mother travels here, but they say that masks don’t really do much.

I go from not caring to being worried.  I will wait and see…and wash my hands again.

“If a problem is fixable, if a situation is such that you can do something about it, then there is no need to worry. If it’s not fixable, then there is no help in worrying. There is no benefit in worrying whatsoever.”― The Dalai Lama

Update on my new friends

04 Friday Oct 2013

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“Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.” 
― Anaïs Nin

Milton. https://blessedwithastarontheforehead.wordpress.com/2013/07/16/milton-my-new-friend/  I haven’t seen him in awhile.  His birthday was September 30 and I was going to bring him a cupcake but again he was not in his usual spot.  They have repair going on that corner and I looked around to see if he had moved to another corner but couldn’t find him.

I am hoping that is a good sign.  He had been waiting on NY City to get him housing, so perhaps that means that they relocated him to some kind of housing.

*****

C, a resident from the Nursing home called me.  https://blessedwithastarontheforehead.wordpress.com/2013/09/11/when-the-right-thing-is-also-the-hardest-thing/

He has a hard time speaking, it takes effort and concentration for the words to come out and when they do is very low and hard to understand.  Even in person I have to keep asking him to repeat, so in the telephone was worse.

I tried my best to understand and I think we were able to get some things understood.  He misses me and wants me to call or visit.  I mentioned that I had sent him a card and he said he didn’t get it.

I hope the Nursing home is not holding on to the cards that I sent.  I bought Halloween cards to some of the residents I used to visit.  For convenience and because I didn’t have everyone’s last name I put it all in a FedEx envelope and sent them to D., the girl that works there and did the visits with em.  I can’t imagine her holding on to it and not handing out.

C.  has an appointment on November 11 with a throat doctor.  He said the doctor will inject Vitamin C on his vocal chords and he will be able to speak better.  I hope that all goes well with that.  It is so hard to watch him speaking.

I am going to see if the nursing home lets me visit him when I return from my trip.

*****

This feels a bit rushed as I am leaving in 5 minutes on my way to the airport. I am going to Brazil to see my family.  I am blessed, and even more blessed for knowing I am blessed! 

Thank you God, Thank you Universe! 🙂

“Reflect upon your present blessings — of which every man has many — not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.” 
― Charles Dickens

My life is a trip and a pain in my hip …

23 Tuesday Apr 2013

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It has been one week since I came back from Brazil and I am already itching to get back on a plane/road somewhere or at least to make plans to.  I was in the Finger Lakes region in January, Colorado in February, Brazil in April, I am ready to plan my next trip, even if it is for a one day getaway on a neighboring town.

I find that one of the best parts of going away is coming back. I always come back tired, but renewed and reenergized, full of ideas and goals.  This time back from Brazil it is no different.  I am full of energy, even if my hip is not willing to go along with the physical aspect of it.  It is exciting to think that there is so much I can do and accomplish it is all a matter of taking the first step and then continuing taking steps.

Mom is in town so I have been spoiled with home cooked meals, I have been over indulging in shopping and casino trips.  When my patience wears thin I remind myself that she is 78 yrs old.  Our major point of contention is the fact that she doesn’t stop. She is either cooking, cleaning, or painting and doing crafts. Right at this moment she is painting me a painting of Brazilian favelas (I will make sure to post the final product) after having done laundry, gone shopping and then she will make dinner and dessert. I guess there are worst things in the world than a mother that doesn’t stop, but the point of her visit here is for her to rest and she is not doing any of that!A bit

My hip has gone from bad to worst.  I am looking forward to seeing a Sports Medicine Orthopedic surgeon on Thursday.  I am hoping he will have answers for me or at least start on the way to answers.

I decided not to date while Mom is here and dedicate my non-working time to her.  It is amazing to me how some men that I didn’t even meet yet already have a problem with my lack of time in this period.  I guess that is a good weeding measure for me.  The right man will understand my limited time with my mom and wait.  With that being said I am having a lunch date today, since I am meeting during the day and not dipping into Mom’s time.  It so happens that a guy I met on e-harmony has an office 3 blocks from my office – what are the odds, right?

I am supposed to pick the place for lunch and now we have hit on one of my flaws (I hardly have any- lol).  I am incapable of making a decision when faced with too many choices on trivial matters.  The more trivial the subject the worst it is.  When facing important decisions I am quick and determined, but with stupid stuff such as a place to eat lunch I freeze. Gosh, it is only lunch! Am I worried what my choice will say about me? Am I afraid of picking an awful place?  I don’t know what it is, but with certain choices such as this I rather somebody else does it.

With important matters and facing problems I leap to action while little, unimportant things have me baffled  and worrying.  I wonder what does it say about me.

 

Feeling Free in Finger Lakes!

30 Wednesday Jan 2013

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A couple of weeks ago I went to the Finger Lakes region in upstate NY.  I took the bus out of Port Authority. To my surprise it was not full of transients as I expected. Even though I work just several blocks away I had never been in it and had all kinds of scary mental images of it.  I was pleasantly surprised that it was quiet, calm and easy to get around. It was a weekday 11am, I am sure that evenings and weekends are much different.

I went skiing at the Greek Peak Mountain and it was so much fun.  I took a couple of lessons and the instructors gave me very good tips and areas to focus in.

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I went to the below waterfall, which I think the name is Taughannock Falls.  It was beautiful and majestic. Nature humbles me!

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Another great stop was the Americana Winery, followed by dinner at the Crystal Lake Cafe.  For some reason all of sudden I am into wine. So it was fun doing the wine tasting.  I love playing wine connoisseur and pretending to detect hints of amber and other stuff.  All I know is if it sweet and if I like it or not. 🙂

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I stayed at this quaint and cozy Bed and Breakfast pictured below. It was built in 1897 and it has been beautifully maintained. It is located in Cincinnatus, NY.

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Other than skiing, the highlight of the trip was the desserts at Madeleine’s in Ithaca, NY.  I wish I could have had them all! If I only lived near…

I love going on trips, but coming home is pretty great too!! Thank you God for my safe haven!

Being able to travel, see new places, meet new people, explore new cultures, even if it is just a few hours from home, is such a blessing! If you have a chance to travel, please do!!