TAWOMG - The Rain in Spain

Dear Friends,

Yesterday general elections were held in Spain and the voters decided to grant the conservative Partido Popular a solid majority in parliament. It was the worst result for the Socialist Party since the return to democracy. Not really a surprise, considering the miserable economic situation and more than 20% unemployment rate.

* * * * *

In 2008 I wrote here that I was glad that the socialists had won the elections. As you know, I'm not usually a supporter of leftish parties. The Spanish politics is very particular, though. The main conservative party is a direct successor of franquismo. Even if most hardliners have died or retired, it still represents the far right in Spain, and in many cases it is not possible to agree with their political agenda. On top of it, the first term of José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero was not a bad one, and in many areas he adopted modern ideas and brought fresh air into society. But his second term was a disaster. He proved to be far too weak to lead a country during a crisis. In fact, it is a lot easier to be a good president or prime minister with tail wind.

* * * * *

When the crisis began in 2008 many said that it was the end of an era for capitalism and for conservative policies. Time is proving that idea wrong. Voters are ejecting failing politicians, independently of their political affiliation. The socialists lost power in Portugal and Spain recently. In Italy it was a conservative government that fell, only to be replaced by another conservative one. People want answers to their problems, to have the feeling that somebody is doing something somewhere, independently to where they position themselves in the political arch. Probably more heads will fall in the months to come.

* * * * *

Last Friday, in the 89th anniversary of Proust's death, I started to read "Monsieur Proust", by Céleste Albaret, his maid during his final years. I'm enjoying it a lot. After reading the classical biographies available, it is a pleasure to read something unpretentious, the memories of a clever woman that knew the writer in his intimacy. Céleste refused to talk for almost 60 years. She changed her mind in her 80's. In her opinion too many people had said things about Proust that were either not true, or at least not entirely true. She wanted to say what she knew before she also died. Good that she did so, because the book is worth a reading.

* * * * *

Not all is the depressing economical situation in Europe. Thanks God there is also art, literature and other refuges where to wait the storm is over.

Wish you a nice week,

Maurício

TAWOMG - The R word is back to town

Dear Friends,

As of yesterday the rich world is probably back into recession. The odds are that this quarter and next the economy will contract in a number of developed countries, including many European ones. It could even be that the US also follows suit. We are not exactly back to where we were in October 2008, but the old crisis is far from being away.

* * * * *

The good news, this time around, is that the world will probably not come into recession. The emerging countries will probably continue to grow, though at a slower pace, but enough to compensate the decline of the richest economies. The commodity exporters will probably be hit harder, considering that many prices started to go down in the past few weeks. Nevertheless the big stars will continue to shine.

* * * * *

It is still a long way to Tipperary, before debt laden economies deleverage and find the growth path. This will not come without structural reforms. It will be painful for many citizens in the rich countries to adapt to this new reality, but there is no way around it.

* * * * *

Wish you all a good 4Q and let's hope it's not going to be too nasty out there!

Maurício

TAWOMG - Time to Say Goodbye - Again!

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I flew from Bordeaux to Lisbon. This is my last visit to Portugal on a business trip, at least for a long while. On 1 September I will start working in a new project, this time in France.

* * * * *

In the past two and a half years I came regularly to Portugal. I stayed here over many weekends and therefore had the opportunity to visit a lot of places. Today it is one of the countries that I know best in Europe. After all what I saw, people that I met and experiences that I collected, I fell for the place. It had not been the case when I lived here in 1993. I am glad I had this second chance and could find out why Portugal is such an enjoyable country.

* * * * *

Although many times I flew into and out of Lisbon in the past 23 years, I think I had never had such a nice flight as yesterday. The weather was perfect: the day was sunny and bright. From the airplane we had a clear view of the areas that we overflew. Just before landing I could recognise the Castelo do Bode reservoir, Tomar crossed by Nabão river, the Zêzere river and the Tagus. I could see when the Tagus opens up, as if it were a lake, near Vila Franca de Xira. Then we had the view of the new Vasco da Gama bridge, the entire city, 25 de Abril bridge until the river flowed into the ocean. Before the plane made a curve on top of Carcavelos I could see the Costa da Caparica and Arrábida, up to its end in Cabo do Espichel. Then there was a gorgeous view of Sintra. I think I had never seen it as clear and as beautiful as yesterday.

* * * * *

Certainly the fact that I have extensively travelled all these places by car and visited so much of it helped not only to recognise them, but also to look for references. The view from the air was mixed up with memories of the places where I had been, like Tomar and its Monastery Covent of Christ, from the Order of the Knights Templar, or the city of Constância, on the corner where the Zêzere flows into the Tagus and where Camões supposedly lived for some time. Not to mention Sintra and Cascais, where I spent so many weekends and that I consider among my favourite places not only in Portugal, but in Europe.

* * * * *

And then there is Lisbon. Yesterday I stayed at the same hotel, on Avenida da Liberdade, where I stayed 23 years ago, when I first visited the city. In my opinion Lisbon has only improved since then. From the hotel I walked down to Praça do Comércio and stayed for a long time enjoying the view of the river and the city. I am glad that I read so many history books and today I understand how the city developed over the centuries. I recognise the marks of the past and the places that played a key role, both on Portuguese and Brazilian history. Lisbon is just fascinating. At the end of the day I went to the bar at the terrace on the roof of the hotel. What a fantastic view from there! And what a great memory to bring with me to my new home!

* * * * *

It is very sad that Portugal is trapped into so many old ideas dating back to 1974 and the old days of the carnation revolution. They hold the country back and offer no real opportunities for the younger generations. I wish the current crisis will help Portugal get rid of all things that hinder its economic development and very soon the future will seem bright again. As bright as the view that I had from my flight yesterday.

Wish you a nice week,

Maurício

TAWOMG - The Bays is Gone

Dear Friends,

Yesterday I had dinner with a long time friend, Jan. We were both home alone in Barcelona. We went to a restaurant within a walking distance from our places, but before dinner we stopped over at Gimlet, a bar. There we had one Dry Martini each.

* * * * *

It was a very relaxed dinner. We talked about trips, places that we have visited and that we wanted to visit, bars and restaurants where we have been. Many years ago Jan and I made a bet: which of us would be the first to visit seven bars around the world where supposedly the best Dry Martinis were served. One of these places was the Bayswater Brasserie, in Sydney, where I went in March 2008. Although the first Martini I had there was just average, the next one was much better (one may say this always happens, as you keep on drinking...). In general I was very well impressed by the place: it was, at the same time, smart and relaxed, with lots of nice people around. It was definitely a good place to go.

* * * * *

"I will tell you a secret", I told Jan. Sometimes, when I'm fed up and feel like giving up everything and disappearing, just go missing, I think Sydney would be the place to go. It is not only far enough from almost anywhere else, but also a great place to be. "If one day I go missing, be sure that you will find me eating lunch regularly at the Bayswater Brasserie".

* * * * *

No longer so, I have just found out. When I came home yesterday night I checked on google maps whether they had the street view of Bayswater Road. In the search I found out that the Bays has closed down last year. I couldn't find out the reason, but the owner sold it to a restaurant chain and today it is opened under a different name. No more Dry Martinis at the bar, no more endless lunches during the week. A myth was gone.

* * * * *

Nobody lives forever and we are used to the idea that one day we will all be dead. However, and surprisingly enough, we are not used to the idea that companies also come and go, are started and closed, have their heyday and decay. It would be interesting to know what happened to the Bays, but it was not the first great restaurant to be closed. Just to mention three that come to my mind, "Le Café Anglais", "Weber" and "Larue" in Paris also disappeared without leaving a trace. It is difficult to think that the Bays was a victim of the recent crisis, having in mind that Australia is doing quite well, but that could be an explanation. For me, that during years dreamed of going there, that is sad news. And I will have to figure out another place to go, should one day I decide to go missing.

* * * * *

Even though Spain has apparently benefited from the turmoil in the North of Africa, attracting tourists that otherwise would have travelled to Egypt or Tunisia, the crisis is hitting very hard the service sector. Yesterday my friend and I were two of very few customers that dinned at the place that we had chosen. No waiting lists, lots of tables empty! And it was a Saturday night! It bodes very ill for the future of many restaurants in town. That is also sad.

* * * * *

Time goes by and things change. That's how life is. There is nothing that we can do about that, but adapt!

Wish you a nice week,

Maurício

TAWOMG - Compulsive Liars

Dear Friends,

This morning, when I was checking in for my flight to Porto, I realized that in the counter nearby Singapore Airlines was doing something big. I was attracted by their event and went there to ask what was it all about. It was their inaugurating direct flight Barcelona-São Paulo. That was great news indeed! Since the first time that I lived here, in the early nineties, only for a short period of time there was a direct connection between both cities. Now it is a first class airline that is launching it.


* * * * *

There are very few direct overseas flights starting in Barcelona, although the airport has lanes long enough for any airplane to take off or land. Since the inauguration of the new terminal it is even less understandable why this happens. The answer is not economical, but mainly political. The Barcelona area is big and rich enough to generate demand for several routes. However, the central government has always privileged Iberia and Barajas airport in Madrid. Although the local politicians have long argued in favour of intercontinental flights from Barcelona, so far it had not materialised, or very little. The Singapore Airlines flight may augur better days ahead for lucky us, that live in Barcelona and travel abroad.

* * * * *

Although it may seem surprising that an Asian company is offering this connection, instead one of the many local ones, it does make sense. That is a Singapore/São Paulo flight, with two separate legs: Singapore/Barcelona and Barcelona/São Paulo. It serves those wishing to travel between any of those three cities, in any direction. Probably most passengers will only fly one leg of the route, and only few will go all the way from Asia to South America or in the other direction. It doesn't matter. As long as it is profitable and the company keeps it running, it is great news for us living here.


* * * * *

A few weeks ago I wrote about TAP cancelling flights and saying that it was for technical reasons. It happened again this morning. However, this was maybe the first time in my life that I could see from the airport windows that it was true: the airplane was there, it was fully booked, we were already queuing for boarding, when all was cancelled. I have to admit, although airlines are compulsive liars, they do not always lie. Sometimes what they say is true. The opposite of Zsofi and I: we never lie, only when it is absolutely necessary!

Wish you a nice week!

Maurício

TAWOMG - Wrath of God

Dear Friends,

I'm currently reading "Wrath of God" by Edward Paice. It was a present from my brother when we met in Rome in January. It is about Lisbon's earthquake in November 1755. Experts estimate that its magnitude might have been around 9,0 degrees in the Richter scale. At that time it was one of the most devastating quakes on record. A tsunami, two powerful aftershocks and a big fire that lasted for a week followed it. 80% of Lisbon was destroyed. Estimations are that between 30.000 and 40.000 people perished in the disaster. The Royal Family was spared by chance: that morning they were at Belém, not at the Paço da Ribeira, the royal palace. The palace, as the whole neighbourhood by the Tagus River, collapsed due to the shake, was flooded by the tsunami and then caught by the fire. Nothing remained of it.

* * * * *

The book is very well documented and reports vividly what happened that day and how some real people, most of them British citizens living in the Portuguese capital, coped with the events and survived. In 1755 Lisbon was the fourth largest European city and Portugal one of the richest kingdoms (mostly thanks to Brazilian gold). It was also a deeply catholic country. In face of tragedy, many believed that doomsday had come and their reaction was to pray for God's mercy.

* * * * *

Just seven months before Lisbon had opened its new opera house. It was the largest, finest and richest in the whole of Europe. It was one of the megalomaniac projects ordered by late King Dom João V. Nothing of it was left. From all material losses, this is the one that shocks me most. Portugal was never again capable of building anything similar to it. Lisbon, though, was rebuilt under the plans of Sebastião José de Carvalho e Melo (later created Marquis of Pombal) and gained a new and modern urban design.

* * * * *

Although time, place and technology are completely different, "Wrath of God" helps to figure out what happened in Japan last week. The Japanese earthquake was also of magnitude 9,0 in the Richter scale, in a costal area, followed by a tsunami and many aftershocks. In the eighteenth century the news of the disaster took weeks or even months to be known in different parts of the world. Today everywhere in the globe we can see live TV images of the catastrophe unfolding. Another big difference is the present threat of an atomic disaster, depending on what happens in Fukushima

* * * * *

When I read on the papers about Fukushima my first thought is an obvious one: what they tell is probably only part of the truth, masked by some lies. That is not to blame the Japanese government - any government in any place would probably behave so in a similar situation. Will we ever know all that went wrong in the nuclear plant and the real risk involved? Let's hope that the worst can be avoided, but official news is a bad indicator of what is really going on.

* * * * *

I also remember a book that I read three years ago, after visiting Tokio. I wrote about it in the second posting of this blog. It is Alex Kerr's book "Dogs and Demons - The Fall of Modern Japan". One of the chapters is about Japan's nuclear plants. What Kerr describes is almost unbelievable. When you read the book you get the impression that, should one day the Japanese nuclear plants be under a serious threat, the situation would most probably go out of control. Again, let's just hope that in the present situation the Japanese experts will be able to avoid a nuclear disaster and what Kerr writes in his book does not apply to Fukushima.

* * * * *

The earthquake that hit Japan last week is a powerful reminder that, in fact, neither safety nor security does actually exist. Those are an aspiration of our time, but in fact they will never be absolute. You never know when an earthquake, a car accident, a plane crash, a stroke, a kangaroo jumping in front of your car or any other event may happen and change it all.

Wish you a safe week,

Maurício

TAWOMG - The Joys of Modern Society

Dear Friends,


I am sitting at Barcelona's airport, waiting for my flight to Porto that is delayed. That should sound familiar to people used to travel. At checkin the company's representative couldn't tell me whether the early flight from Porto to Barcelona was cancelled or not, meaning that I don't know whether there is an airplane flying in right now or not. So, I have no idea whether the new official estimated boarding time will be met or delayed again.

* * * * *

In the past twenty years I have been through this situation dozens of times. The official explanation is always either "technical problems" or "adverse weather conditions". Sometimes it is indeed, but quite often one realizes that there were not enough passengers booked on the cancelled flight. Was it really technical conditions that determined a flight to be cancelled or cost saving, with absolutely no respect for the passengers? Last time that my flight was cancelled a TAP representative told me that the airplane had technical problems and they had to substitute it by another one arriving later from another European city. When I asked at the lounge I was told that there would be no problem with the new boarding time, because the airplane arrived to Porto the day before...

* * * * *

It is a fact that flying has become an unpleasant thing. Years ago I decided not to fly with a given company anymore. Then I made the same decision about another one. Soon I realized that this was not really an option, because all companies do bad things from time to time and I would end up not flying at all. Today the only company that I refuse to fly is Alitalia, which in my opinion deserved to be let down.

* * * * *

The service level offered by the companies was downgraded, but that is maybe the least of the evils. The airports are almost always full, security controls sometimes are a nightmare and people behave as they behave. Just to mention one example, people wouldn't believe what some idiots do with their mobile phones when going on board. I am very sorry for people that are dependent on them and that cannot turn them off and relax. Only fifteen years ago I was the first among my friends to own a mobile phone in Germany. We could live and work without them. As a matter of fact, I am convinced that we lived better and were less anxious without them. Once in a flight the stewardess had an argument with an imbecile that insisted that he had to finish his conversations before turning off, despite of the fact that we were at the runaway and ready for takeoff!

* * * * *

The other plight is iPod and similar gadgets on board. It is a sign of our time that people are selfish, want to listen to their own music and are not willing to share experiences and emotions. Compare the experience of listening to a concert in a theatre, that you share with others, with the isolation of earrings that build a barrier between a person and the others. However, it wouldn't be that bad if people that listen to their music listened to it alone. The problem is that quite often it is so loud that anybody sitting nearby will be disturbed by the noise. The very few times that I politely asked somebody if he or she could reduce the volume of their music, instead of apologising they treated me as if it were me causing trouble, not them.

* * * * *

When I was a kid I thought that it would be great if I hade to travel (and fly) frequently for work. There is a long time that I have realized that nothing could be farther from reality!

Wish you a nice week,

Maurício

TAWOMG - Salamanca

Dear Friends,

Last week I had to drive from Portugal to Barcelona. On my way home I stopped in Salamanca, where I spent the night.

* * * * *

Salamanca is one of my favourite places in this part of Spain. As so many university cities around the world, it has a fair share of young population. Young people, particularly students, help to make any place a lot livelier. Many years ago I spent a Friday night there and it was big fun. This time I enjoyed strolling in its streets in a cold and clear sky winter night.

* * * * *

The city is beautiful and worth a visit. It has plenty of historical buildings. Some of them, like the Cathedral, Monterrey Palace, Casa de las Conchas or the University Building are quite impressive. Once I was amazed to learn that the Lisbon earthquake was also felt there and left its marks on the Cathedral's tower. When one sees how thick those walls are and think that Lisbon is almost 800 Km away, then we can figure out how devastating the earthquake must have been. We should be thankful that it didn't damage what many consider the most beautiful Plaza Mayor in the country. It is the jewel of the crown.

* * * * *

There, at Plaza Mayor, a new restaurant was opened about two years ago. It is called Plaza 23. By now I have had dinner there in four different occasions. Each time it was an exciting experience. Their Chef, Roberto, is a very creative cook. All that I have tasted there was delicious. Maybe Europeans won't find it surprising that a city the size of Salamanca has such a good restaurant. In fact, in many European countries we can find lots of top restaurants outside the big cities. For somebody coming from the new world, that is always something amazing though.

* * * * *

After dinner, I had the opportunity to chat a bit with Roberto. He is a pleasant young person, with clear ideas about his cuisine. He told me that he worked before in Catalonia and that he is very fond of it, but he preferred to go back to his hometown. I congratulated him and told that I had had an excellent dinner. He was clearly pleased to hear that.

* * * * *

I wish Roberto all the very best for his future. Hope he stays in Salamanca for a long time and continues to create such good dishes. It will be an extra good reason to go back to Salamanca time and again.

Maurício

TAWOMG - In Paris With Proust

Dear Friends,

Last week I was in Paris with my family. Our hotel was between the Opéra and the Madeleine. Being a long time proustien, one of the things that I like to do when in Paris is to visit the places that are connected with the writer's life and that were reflected in his work. This time our location couldn't be better: we were within a walking distance from most places that belonged to his world.

* * * * *

Paris, as many other European cities, pays tribute to their famous former inhabitants. Their homes are usually marked with a plaque in the front wall and there is information about who and when lived there. Proust is not an exception, although there is nothing at 9 Bvd Malesherbes or 45 rue de Courcelles, where he lived half of his life. That is probably because both addresses were his parents'. But after his mother passed away he moved to 102 Bvd Haussmann, to a building that once belonged to his mother's uncle Louis Weil and that he inherited one quarter after her death. Bvd Haussmann is duly marked, as are his two other addresses.

* * * * *

Nowadays the building at 102 Bvd Haussmann belongs to a bank. For some years during last decade Proust's room, where he wrote most of the Recherche, could be visited on Thursdays upon previous appointment. Last summer I tried to do it, only to find out that the visits are no longer allowed. That is a shame, although I have read from different sources that his apartment had been changed so drastically that nothing reminded what it was. The furniture of his room is exposed at Musée Carnavalet and is certainly a lot more interesting than an empty (board) room.

* * * * *

In my opinion the nicest place to visit is Illiers-Combray, a small town at the Beauce, a region worth a visit on its own merits. Proust's father, Dr. Adrien, came from Illiers. The family used to spend Easter's vacation there when Proust was a child. Illiers was transformed into Combray in the book. In 1971, when the author's centenary was celebrated, Illiers added Combray to its name. There you can find "La Maison de Tante Léonie", a small museum built at the house where the family stayed. It was the home of the Amiots. Uncle Jules Amiot also had a garden called Pré-Catelan that inspired the park around Tansonville, Swann's residence. By the way, there is also a property called Tansonville in Illiers-Combray that would fit the description of Swann's way. In the opposite direction there is a château, Villebon that became Guermantes in the book. Most descriptions of Combray correspond exactly to similar places in Illiers.

* * * * *

The trickiest one, however, is tante Léonie's house itself. To start with, the real house is much smaller and simpler than the one described in the book. The reason is probably because Proust used many elements that actually belonged to his grand uncle's Louis Weil countryside house in Auteuil, where he and his brother Robert were born. At the end of the XIX century Auteuil was outside Paris and the family Weil (and then the Prousts) spent many vacations there. What is amazing is that many author's, including biographer George Painter, make a basic mistake when writing about the Amiot's home in Combray: many imagine that the house had a garden exit where the famous bell that announced Swann's arrival was hanging. The present museum has it, but only because it was remodelled when it became a museum, more than half a century after Proust's last visit. All was made to look like the house of tante Léonie, and then losing touch with what actually existed before.

* * * * *

A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu is not a roman à clé. Nevertheless, most characters, places, and even situations were clearly inspired in Proust's life. The beauty of it is how he transformed them, creating something new. Though one thing is remarkable: despite of the fact that the narrator has so many things in common with Marcel, in the book he doesn't have a brother. Kill father and mother is a common cliché for becoming an adult. Proust, instead, erases his brother from his works and sends both father and mother to long absences, not to death. It could hardly tell more about how he felt about his family. The irony is that he only started to write seriously after his father and mother deaths, as if it would be better they never read what he wrote.

* * * * *

In my promenades in Paris last week I went to 11 rue de l'Arcade. One century ago it was a male brothel, managed by Albert Le Cuziat, a former Valet de Pied. He inspired Jupien in the book. I was surprised that it was a six floor building, where today is Hotel de Marigny, a four star hotel. It is amazing that at that time such a business could be run in such a big place. By the way, it is less than three blocks from Proust's apartment. And just next door to Bedford Hotel, where Peter II, Brazilian second and last Emperor died in 1891, when Proust was 20.

Wish you a week to be remembered!

Maurício

TAWOMG - Sleepless in Seattle and Elsewhere

Dear Friends,

Once in a post back in 2008 I wrote that quite often I'm not able to sleep. I cannot say that I have ever been sleepless in Seattle, for the good reason that I never went there. But my sleep troubles date from my young years and I seldom can sleep seven hours non-stop. This maybe happens three or four times in a year. Eight or more hours sounds like unthinkable. The problem is most acute when I'm travelling.

* * * * *

In December Mônica and I had dinner in Lisbon with Márcia, Laerte and a friend of theirs. Márcia is an old school friend. We hadn't met for a very long time. During dinner I asked her about her mother. She told us that Dona Zezé had been through some difficult times. Some doctors suspected that she had symptoms of senility. One doctor, however, considered the possibility that she might be suffering from some sort of sleep disturbance that might be causing the other problems. After a number of tests they found out that she had severe breathing problems during her sleep, awoke many times during the night, and that was the root problem of her ailments. Once treated, she was doing a lot better.

* * * * *

Why am I telling all this? Hopefully none of you will think that my sleeping troubles may be the cause of (apparent) senility. I just wanted to say that almost every night I wake up once or twice. Sometimes I stand up, others I just check what time it is. Almost always I can fall back to sleep until wakeup time. Sometimes I can't. It might be that I also have breathing problems, but have never checked. I just got used to it.

* * * * *

Last Wednesday I woke up at 02:00 in the morning in my hotel room in Oporto. For my big surprise, there was a woman beside me on the bed. She was not there when I went to bed! My first thought was: "I must be dreaming, this can't be true!" But it was. I was awakened and there she was, the unknown woman on my bed.

* * * * *

This is something that might be quite tricky to explain to your wife, girlfriend or relevant others (it is amazing what PC is doing to the English language... never mind, this topic we'll leave for another day). "It's not what you think it is!" has become cliché in such situations. I prefer "This is not me!" It sounds more honest, somehow. Whatever. In this case the fact is that the woman on my bed was not what you may be thinking it was...

* * * * *

Actually the woman disappeared the same way she came in. A few seconds later she was no longer there. And I could go back to Morpheus' arms as if nothing had happened.

* * * * *

Though that was quite amazing!

* * * * *

Wish you a nice week!

Maurício

PS - In case you want the hotel address, don't hesitate to ask.

TAWOMG - The Amazing Week is Back to Town (again...)

Dear Friends,

Long time no news. Last year I often thought it was about time to come back to this blog. That already counts a lot, because intention is the first step and every long march starts by the first step. Unfortunately I never made the second step though. But this morning I said to myself that instead of including things like losing weight or saving money in my wish list for 2011 (more appropriate name than New Year's resolution list) I should make the decision to write every Sunday. As it wouldn't be very inspiring to fail already in the first one, here I am. And hopefully here you will find me every week from now on.

* * * * *

This year due to work reasons I could not make it to South American summer for the holidays. I was home alone in Barcelona. My old friend Jan (this year 40, that is awfully old) was also home alone. We decided to have dinner together on New Year's Eve. Before dinner we went to the Dry Martini, where else of all places? This time I paid heed to the famous lines about my favourite drink: "one is OK, two is too much, three is not enough!" We then ate at the Speakeasy, one of the good places in Barcelona. It was a calm dinner with a long time good friend, without all the fuss of regular New Year celebrations.

* * * * *

Despite being cool about the new year, we couldn't help talking about plans for 2011 and what we intended to do. One of the intentions mentioned was not an easy one. "Do you really intend to do it?" "Well, at least I intend to intend" was the answer. That was pretty realistic.

* * * * *

So now you know it: will I will keep my promise and write something here every Sunday? Let's talk about it on January 1st 2012. For the time being all I can say is that I definitely intend to intend!

* * * * *

Wish you all a happy New Year!

Maurício