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Patricia MC
I'm a Brazilian and long time resident of the US. Patricia Somewhere
I've always been fascinated by cultural diversity and I've had the opportunity to travel overseas over the years. 2005, however, brought me the "wings" to fly solo and further away. I started these new jorneys with Tibet (picture). That's huge for someone who used to panic in airplanes!
I have a passion for exploring and learning about our incredible world and people watching is one of my favorite hobbies. I'm enjoying the opportunity to observe and absorb so much from people in their own environment. I'm particularly drawn to cultures which still preserve their cultural values and environment, or at least try to.
My travels around the world are not from one big trip. I come and go, usually for no more than 2 to 3 weeks at a time, due to work and family responsibilities. The important thing to me is that I go, I see, I taste, and I smell the world, and in the process, I learn and hopefully I give back a little too.
The world simply fascinates me. Sharing is part of the pleasure of discovering. Thus, here I am, sharing some of my experiences and photographs with you.
"Tchau" and Keep in touch.
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Travel Blog Posts
Venturing Beyond Maceio: Foz do São Francisco e Piaçabuçú
Published: January 26th 2013South America » Brazil » Alagoas » Maceió
February 22nd 2013
VENTURING BEYOND MACEIO: Piaçabuçú e Foz do Sao Francisco During my trips to Maceio, I usually visit the same places, where our loved ones are. This time I was determined to start exploring a little beyond my usual surroundings. I had seen a picture of the dunes by where the San Francisco river and the Atlantic ocean meet and was determined to go take a peek during this trip to Maceio. We packed the car and left for the more than 3 hours drive by the coast. Along the way, we see green coconut groves, small fisherman homes. I was very glad to see, that although poverty is still seen, misery is not. Arriving to the town of Piaçabuçú was refreshing: the colorfully painted homes, cobble stone streets, kids playing around, the church towering high. The ... read more
February 1st 2013
Hiking to the cliff-hanging Tiger Nest was one of the items on my Bucket list: Now, scretched off. Yeahhh! On May 2012 I made it to the tiny kingdom of Bhutan, where I spent the first few days exploring a little of its wonders and getting a taste of its culture, while getting used to the high altitude, before embarking on the hike. Paro Taktsang is the popular name of Taktsang Palphug Monastery, also known as The Tiger's Nest, a prominent Himalayan Buddhist sacred site and temple complex, located on a cliffside of the upper Paro valley. A temple complex was built in 1692, around the Taktsang Senge Samdup cave where Guru Padmasambhava is said to have meditated for 3 years, 3 months, 3 weeks, 3 days and 3 hours in the 8th century. Padmasambhava ... read more
January 26th 2013
from my fall 2012 tripWengen Our a delicious breakfast, it was time to hit the road again. Wengen was our destination for the day, to get a more up-close experience of the Swiss Alps. We parked the car and took a scenic train to Kleine Scheidegg. Dazzling alpine views all the way. Kleine Scheidegg: At 2,000m above the town, the magestic snowcapped mountains of Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau (4,158m/13,642ft above sea level). Climbed to viewpoint. Saint Bernard dog at the station. On the way back we got off at Wengernalp, headed to the market called Coop where we bought cheese, crusty bread and chocolate. Had a picnic at the square, in front of train station On our way back... Susten pass ,After Interlaken, the views of the greenish blue lake... read more
BURMA: GLITTER & RITUALS at ICONIC SHWEDAGON PAYA IN YANGON
Published: November 5th 2012Asia » Burma » Yangon Region » Yangon
November 4th 2012
YANGON This is a long overdue blog from my trip to Myanmar last year. On my first entry on Yangon, I talked about the decay on the areas I visited before heading to the northern part of Myanmar. As I returned to Yangon, first I got a glimpse of the another face of Yangon, one enjoyed by few. Heading from the airport to my hotel, I passed by the posh part of the city: mansion like homes, with Rangers and Jaguars parked just outside their gates!!! The taxi driver points to the mansion of the controversial owner of Bagan Airlines. There were 6 cars parked on his huge garage!!! Next came a parade of shops selling golf clubs and western fashion, coffee shops ... all with names in English! "Where did the traditional Myanmar, go?", I ... read more
ISTRIA, CROATIA: on the "Trail of Romance" to CHARMING ROVINJ
Published: October 11th 2012Europe » Croatia » Istria
October 10th 2012
ISTRIA: Istria got my full attention as I saw it listed as one of the "Best of the World Must-see Places for 2012" on an issue of National Geographic Traveler magazine. I became set on reaching the Adriatic Sea from Zagreb, Croatia's capital, where I would be visiting friends. I really wanted to get a taste of at least Rovinj and I ended up getting so much more. My friends arranged for us three to be taken on a road trip with a fellow from Zagreb. So, at 7:30am we left to explore Istria's highlights. We had a lovely drive through the green Istrian interior with bucolic landscape of rolling hills, small hilltop villages with Venetian style church towers pocking the skies, olive tree groves, mountains, and more. PAZIN Once in the Istrian region, Pazin was ... read more
September 29th 2012
CROATIA I wondered through out the former Yoguslavia many years ago, dazzled by the beauty of Dubrovinick, Split and islands on the Adriatic Sea. This was just before the war broke, dividing up the country. Now I return to visit Croatian friends I met in Canada, to explore parts of the country I have not visited before, and to be again delighted by the taste of a cuisine my taste buds have not forgotten. ZAGREB I took a 1.5 hour flight from Zurich to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, where I will be staying at my friends's flats, in two different areas of the city, and also visit another acquaintance. After my first Croatian breakfast with Tanja, sipping a delicious cup of strong coffee and eating toast with homemade jams, I took a tram to the ... read more
September 22nd 2012
In a big contrast to most of my travel destinations, I find myself in one of the richest countries in the world, Switzerland. It is incredibly organized, well behaved, efficient and politically neutral. I had already discovered the bewitching natural beauty of this country a couple of decades ago. So, what brings me back? A chance to visit 5 good friends from the past, who I met in different corners of the world, and now reside in various corners of this tiny country. Along the way, as we hop from city to city, we'll take detours to re-visit some favorite spots and discover new ones as well. Here is the first climpse of the trip. GENEVA: Perfect weekend with friends Picked up at the airport by our friend Roberto, with jet-lag and all, there was no ... read more
BALI, From DEMPASAR to LOVINA: FINDING FULFILMENT IN TRAVELS, BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS
Published: May 27th 2012Asia » Indonesia » Bali
May 16th 2012
BALI, From DEMPASAR to SINGARAJA: FINDING FULFILMENT IN TRAVELS, BEYOND MY EXPECTATIONS The beautiful beaches, amazing snorkeling, picturesque rice terraces, flower-petal offerings, daily traditional ceremonies, cheap and great spas and delicious food: These are all exciting and compelling reasons to come to Bali, and I intended to have a taste of most of them, as I did and will post a little here and more on my subsequent blogs. But this entry is mostly about the REAL REASON I came to Bali: to meet a special little being. (It also explores the sights along the way from Denpasar to Singaraja.) This is not a sad entry, but one of hope and fulfillment. I share it with the intension to hopefully inspire some to take a little time at places being discovered, to search, and possibly find ... read more
MY DAYS IN BHUTAN: WHO WOULDN’T BE CURIOUS ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND FLYING PENISES?
Published: May 30th 2012Asia » Bhutan
May 10th 2012
MY DAYS IN BHTHAN: CURIOSITY ABOUT THE STORY BEHIND FLYING PENISES? Giggles and questions marks must pop into every visitor to Bhutan’s head, as it did to mine, as one sees the happy-and-funny looking ribbon penis painted on the walls of houses and businesses. I hope you won't take offense on focus of this blog, as you read the title. It's not just about the "object", but most importantly, what's behind it. I write about what catches my attention, and this is one of the things in Bhutan which is truly interesting and curious. I'd be writing also if tons of houses had happy cats with ribbons were painted on the walls of most homes, with the intention to mean more than just an interesting animal painting. Only a Divine Madman in Bhutan could be behind ... read more
MY DAYS IN BHUTAN: CONTRAST IN PANAKHA - Beddazzling Panakha Dzong vs Crumbling Village
Published: May 20th 2012Asia » Bhutan » Punakha
May 10th 2012
CONTRAST IN PANAKHA: The Bedazzling Dzong & the Crumbled Village PANAKHA: According to my itinerary, I was to go to Panakah on my second day. The agency, which had already changed my hotels, also changed my itinerary. I insisted on proceeding to Panakan valley on the originally planned date, but this would require a change on my “visa” for the restricted-area travel permit!!! That’s when I realized how tightly controlled every move of tourists here is. The visa office only opened at 9am so I had time to kill before living, we drove up to the unfinished Buddha view point. The 3storey golden statute was made in China and is being donated to Bhutan, I believe by Singapore. STUCK AT THE DOCHU LA PASS: With the late departure from Thimpu, before we reached the Chula Pass, ... read more
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