Let’s analyze: while the mass culture of the last century was marked by traditional media, the Internet is going in the opposite direction. Instead of a single transmitter channel for millions of citizens, the virtual universe is committed to its main content provider: you. The difference is that blogs are conversations like whispers, without prior censorship. It is the public work of a single person, without political or commercial interference. Except for the author’s own. And that is priceless.
After three years, the Matraca family grew. It was Raul and I. Traveling when we could, blogging when we had the chance. During my planned and desired pregnancy, the question lingered: what will it be like after Mariana is born? Will we settle for the shallow world of resorts? Will we start appreciating the horse rides at farm-hotels? Will we never go to the beach again? What about our trip to the Atacama Desert? To India? To Lençóis Maranhenses… let it be.
In May of last year Matraquinha arrived – who already has a Lilica backpack (a gift from Grandpa Pedro), a travel toiletry bag for babies, and a size 19 Puma sneaker… for long walks, of course. I was away from here for months, posting once in a while. I was lost among diapers, baths, and breastfeeding. Little by little, everything became clearer. And despite the limitations imposed by our newest collaborator, I assure you: there is life for travelers after the first child. Twenty days ago, we took our first tour without our baby, who turns 11 months next week. And as you can see, we all survived.
Now enjoy our best moments in these 1095 days of friendship! Sincerely, thank you!
BEST MOMENTS 2006
Venice was our first international post, the only city built on an ocean, with an amphibious daily life, untouched for over 16 centuries.
We spent several weekends in Lapa, a city in Paraná along the mythical drover’s road from Viamão-Sorocaba. We visited Theatro São João, which served as a hospital during the Federalist Revolution.
Later, I landed in Morocco. I brought back some green shot glasses, very typical, only to later realize that “Korea” was written at the bottom of the crystals.
We ended the year with a surprising trip: we visited the Museum of the Portuguese Language in São Paulo – the only one of its kind in the world.
BEST MOMENTS 2007
Early in the year, you understood why I am so pobremática. My father and mother – doing rafting and rappelling in the rapids of the Tibagi River.
Egypt. I could talk about it here, eight years after the trip. And it felt like it was just yesterday.
Debut of “Matraca in the Kitchen” with Cheese and Basil Risotto. And later, Festivity Gnocchi. Total success!
I shared here my cleansed soul, a week before leaving for Seville and going through my doctoral qualification. This year also saw the birth of our Top 10 posts: The seven deadly sins of tourists and The 10 commandments of travelers.
BEST MOMENTS 2008
We landed in the Holy Land, narrating a trip taken years ago and only now being published. As you can see, I am still learning to use the scanner.
I shared here about our first Halloween in the United States. At the very least, it was fun.
On my first group tour to Europe (with my dad, mom, Aunt Esperança, Raul, and me!), the highlight was Barcelona, my favorite city. But in the photo, we are in Paris – where we almost ran out of a hotel but ate wines and cheeses… from the supermarket. The best experience of our trip!
Memorable moment: Mariana’s debut at the beach, our Miss Bombinhas.