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Pipoca PMC - Patricia M-Cali

Where I have been... so far:

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Maroon

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I'm a Brazilian resident in the USA.
I've always been fascinated by cultural diversity and I've had the opportunity to travel overseas. 2005, however, brought me the "wings" to fly solo and further away. That's huge for someone who used to panic in airplanes!
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.
My travels around the world are not from one big trip. I come and go, usually for no more that 3 weeks at a time, due to work and family responsibilities. The important thing is that " I go" and see the world, as often as I can, because it fascinates me.
Sharing is part of the pleasure of discovering. Thus, here I am, sharing some of my experiences with you.
"Tchau" and Keep in touch.

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Joined on: February 2nd 2006
Last Login: November 21st 2008

Blog Entries: 80
Photos: 935
Recommended by 5

TB Code: [blogger=12020]
Status: BLOGGER

Blogs & Travel Journals

by Pipoca-PMC, order by Date newest first.

By Pipoca PMC
October 28th 2008

Going downtown, to hear Michelle Obama

North America » United States » Florida » Gainesville

Michelle Obama in Gainesville

To my blog readers: No, I am not on the road again, but a few days ago I went somewhere, not far at all. I left my office in the middle of the afternoon, under the Florida heat, to join the democrat crowd and to welcome Michelle Obama to Gainesville. It was very exciting being one of 11,000 enthusiasts ready for change, hopefully helping to make history. Michelle was a very good speaker and she definitely ignited the crowd. The US policies have affected the lives of so many, here in the US and abroad. Even as a traveler, I felt [View Full Entry]

By Pipoca PMC
September 22nd 2008

TURKEY: Sights of Flowers & Balloons in CAPPADOCIA

Middle East » Turkey » Central Anatolia » Cappadocia

My Balloon

Sorry it took long to finaly get to my last entry on Turkey, but here it is. Here in Cappadocia I have: 1- hiked THE SURFACE thru villages, mountains and caves 2- I have gone 8 floor levels BELOW THE SURFACE at an Underground city 3- ... and so, the obvious next move would be have to be going ABOVE THE SURFACE, like 1100 meters above ground, on a... HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE Yeah, I did it! The minute I laid my eyes on the fabulous terrain all around me in Cappadocia, I said: "If I'll ever go on a hot [View Full Entry]

By Pipoca PMC
September 20th 2008

CAPPADOCIA: Incredible natural wonder in Turkey

Middle East » Turkey » Central Anatolia » Cappadocia

Me... Framed

WOW! What a magical place! Cappadocia is UNIQUE, unlike no other place, with its magnificent landscape reveling the curious cones, pyramids, mushrooms and hats of the fairy chimneys. No doubt one have to be here to marvel the place's wonders completely. Pictures fragment the whole scenario and in Cappadocia you are surrounded with 360 degrees of natual beauty. I never had so much trouble selecting pictures for a blog... I took hundreds but they still can't traslate the beauty of the place I experienced. That's it... you need to experience it and a still picture doesn't capture the feeling. [View Full Entry]

By Pipoca PMC
September 13th 2008

Turkish Aegean Coast: Izmir, Foca & Pergamum

Middle East » Turkey » Aegean

Evil Eyes
Believed to protect and bring good luck

IZMIR We did just a quick business stop in Izmir. Just a big city, nothing really special. The highlight was actually staying at a posh hotel with breakfast on the 37th floor, overlooking the Aegean Sea, while trying 11 types of cheese (out of 13!). I also got to try honey with the hive and all, which is common for breakfast, besides more yummy olives and dried fruit. My taste buds loved the experience but my stomach had to handle the bad consequences, probably from all the chesses. Being largely Muslin, the Turks don’t eat or touch pork, but at the [View Full Entry]

By Pipoca PMC
September 11th 2008

BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL ISTANBUL: Turkey at its best

Middle East » Turkey

Turkish Traditional shoes

Istanbul has been named Augusta Antonina and Constantinople, and nicknamed the Paris of the East during the glory days of the Ottoman Empire. Today, I witness a metropolis still reflecting the beauty of the past with added touches of today, as it continues to modernize. I started the second day very early in the morning, while most were still asleep. That’s a wonderful time to wander the quiet streets of any place and get a glimpse of its world without vendors, visitors, traffic. A few locals were starting the day pass by me: kids going to school, old ladies opening [View Full Entry]

By Pipoca PMC
September 11th 2008

TURKEY: the destination İ dreamed of for years

Middle East » Turkey

Turkish Flag & Blue Mosque

The uneasy feeling about Turkey generated by the movie “Midnight Express” has long been replaced about great curiosity about the country. While hopping around the Greek Islands years ago, many were the tourists telling me: “If you like Greece, you will love Turkey”. Surprised, I’d exclaim an astonished “Really!?", followed by a curious “Why?”, to hear answers like: “The people are friendly, the food is delicious, traveling and shopping is a bargain”. Turkey than became my dream destinatıon even though it's no longer a bargain d [View Full Entry]

By Pipoca PMC
July 30th 2008

THE END OF OUR INCREDIBLE JOURNEY IN INDIA

Asia » India » Rajasthan

Henna & Havaianas

LAST LEG OF OUR INDIAN TRIP: How to get back to Dehli from Rishkeshi, for the flight out of India? Train would get us there either too early or too late; there were no tourist buses at this time of the year, and we were determined not to get into another public bus, ever again; taxi was too expensive, but appeared the best option. As we careful weigh our opinions, I got a message sent from a God (later I decided it was probably from Shiva, the God of destruction). The owner of the tour company we hired for the Golden [View Full Entry]

Our car with broken side mirror & wind shield

By Pipoca PMC
July 22nd 2008

India: Witnessing Hinduism in HARIDWAR

Asia » India

Intriguing looking Shadus

HARIDWAR What a nice surprise this holy city by the Ganges was! Spiritually, it's more significant to Hindus than Rishikesh. It's one of the 7 sacred Indian cities, attracting a multitude of pilgrims and shadus to bathe and do "pujas" where the Gange River emerges from the Himalaya. Haridwar has the frantic confusion of the Indian cities, but in a much smaller scale. A huge plus was the fact that we were left alone, without pushy vendors or touts. The crowd was more interested on their pujas than on us. We hired a cycle-rickshaw for 3 hours (just little over one [View Full Entry]

By Pipoca PMC
July 20th 2008

More of India by the River Ganges in RISHKESHI

Asia » India » Uttarakhand » Rishikesh

Hindu Gods by the river bank

LEAVING McLEOD WARNING: Do NOT take the train ride from McLeod to Rishikesh. It's hell! We were told 11.5 hours; it took 24 hours in stinking crowded bus and train. The train station is too far from McLeod, particularly since the bus driver stops too often. The bus ticket was much cheaper, but we were told: "the train is so much more comfortable"! So, we bought an "AC/sleeper ticket"..., or so we thought! The train station is in Pathankot and how to get there was a matter of "math": 90 Rupees for bus versus 1,500 Rupees for a taxi. The bus [View Full Entry]

Paid for air-conditioner, got these non-working fans:

Sniffing bubble gum to buffer the bad smell

By Pipoca PMC
July 16th 2008

McLEOD GANJ: Merging with the Tibetans in exile in the Indian Himalaya

Asia » India

Hinduism and Buddhism side by side in McLeod

QUICK STOP IN NAAGAR Loving the scenery and peace of the Parvati Valley (minus the Israeli crowd), we decided to go to the town of Naagar on the Kullu Valley. Another great breakfast at Moon dance Cafe taking in the mountain views, than another rollercoaster bus ride on the super narrow roads, with the squeeky brakes, the blind curves and the old bus packed beyond capacity. I set by an interesting local man carring a basquet full of fresh roses. He said to pick the flowers from his garden every morning, filling the basquet which he drops at a road side [View Full Entry]

Protest against the Chinese and the Olympic games on the streets...

TravelBlog » Pipoca PMC

Pipoca PMC | Patricia M-Cali | Travel Blog

Pipoca PMC - Patricia M-Cali

Where I have been... so far:

Blogs & Travel Journals

Going downtown, to hear Michelle Obama

TURKEY: Sights of Flowers & Balloons in CAPPADOCIA

CAPPADOCIA: Incredible natural wonder in Turkey

Turkish Aegean Coast: Izmir, Foca & Pergamum

BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL ISTANBUL: Turkey at its best

TURKEY: the destination İ dreamed of for years

THE END OF OUR INCREDIBLE JOURNEY IN INDIA

India: Witnessing Hinduism in HARIDWAR

More of India by the River Ganges in RISHKESHI

McLEOD GANJ: Merging with the Tibetans in exile in the Indian Himalaya