See you later...

“Finally I’m going to live by myself…I wanted you to come to my inauguration party however given that the neighborhood is a little bit different and I was worry you could get lost…I decided to gather all my friends in a Farewell Cocktail Party…” more or less like this…I called my friends to be with me for a last time before going to China…

…despite being a little bit nervous in the beginning and some absentees …they were nearly 100 people…so I couldn’t be more pleased with that…everyone [or almost everyone] even some that took I while starting liked the sushi and counting for the empty bottles also the excellent red wine “Quinta de Covelos” [Diogo you can pay me later the promotion…]…it last until 4 am…it was a great night and I owe it to the excellent friends I have[this includes family of course]…THANKS TO YOU ALL!

Please meet…

One of the problems when I’m abroad is for people to understand and say my name correctly…if you look to my sisters and brothers´ names you can translate, or at least get close to each one: Catherine or Catharine [for Catarina], Philippe or Phillips [for Filipa], Sophie or Sophia [for Sofia], Diego or James [for Diogo], Richard [for Ricardo] and Peter [for Pedro]…now for translating my name what you get closer is Gonzalo [Spanish] but it still is hard to understand…or I always can say “Speedy Gonzales”…that’s a nice way to start a conversation and “broke the ice” and if that’s not enough, and only in an emergency situation, I can also use Gonzo [one of the Muppets]…

…to write it down it’s a complete new problem…the majority of the languages don’t use “ç”…so, should I choose the “c” or the “s”? I always choose the “c”…but later on I get people calling me Gonkalo…

…so for this new adventure in Asia…I was re-baptized by my Mandarin’s teacher, Mrs. Lin, as Göng Sháo Lòng…that can means Arch (Göng) [like the ones used by Robin Hood or William Tell], Young (Sháo) and Dragon (Lòng) [my favourite…many of you can understand why…it’s the symbol of my Football Club – FC Porto and also one of symbols of my hometown…so I couldn’t be more pleased]…

…by the way, I was told that in Shanghainese…the dialect of Shanghai…it can get much closed to Gonçalo…

…so I’m pleased to present you…Göng Sháo Lòng [only the name changed (and just for I while) the “product” it’s still the same…ah!ah!]

Despite not being in China yet…I had the chance to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Portugal, it was really funny…everyone had to go with a Chinese costume…my brother lent me is rope and a hat that he bought in Thailand in is honeymoon…everyone was extremely nice and the food was great…

…I wish you an excellent Chinese New Year…this is the Rooster's year…known to be a good/lucky year…

Getting in love with and...

I’m the first to admit that it took to long to write a new post…however to be honest…only now I’m “down on earth”...but still floating...

Before going to New York I had never left Europe…so I couldn’t be more excited, and I already knew that this was an unbelievable city…arriving there wasn’t easy…after being held in Paris for one night [yes! of course I took the advantage to visit the city…do you remember the last post…“Shanghai was or still is the Paris of Asia”…so imagine the coincidence]…

..the plain was about to land and I already could see the City not far away…arriving into New York couldn’t be easier, I went straight to Salsa’s house in East Village…I only had time to take a shower and we went straight off to Duvet [is not like I had another choice…ih!ih!]…it was a French Tuesdays’ party [very appreciate in New York…I can’t imagine why! (I’m with my ironical look, right now)…by the way thanks Rui for putting me in the guest list]; then we went to Cain…at this time I was already in love with New York…after that I start fowling in love in New York…

…being in New York for 15 days…overcome my highest expectations…the city is beyond belief, its life is incredible…“the city that never sleeps”…now imagine this with snow all over…absolutely magical…Central Park, Times Square, Pier 17, Brooklyn Bridge…full of snow couldn’t be more exciting to watch…

I was able to live [or at least I believe I was…] like a New Yorker; so I couldn’t get a more fabulous experience, knowing the city as a tourist is not enough…even like I was, I would need not less than one year…

I definitely want to go back [after Shanghai of course]…I already miss New York…by the way everyone speaks about Chinatown, Little Italy…do you want to know what was my favourite part? “The German part”, however I realize that it’s a very personal point of view…but it’s just like that [this is still my web spot isn’t it? ah! ah!]…

I don’t want to wear you out with all the excitement…so I will stop writing and add some photos so you can get a clue of what I’m talking about…

Thank you Pia, Raquel, Rui and Salsa for the wonderful time…

Porto - New York - Shanghai

…1998 was the happiest year in my life; it’s true that it had a sad start… but it become a year that I will never forget…Not for the same motives but I have a feeling…that this is definitely going to be a great year and who knows maybe overcome 98…ok! I cannot be sure, however I never was so optimistic about my future…I’m a smart guy [please, let me live believing that this is true], and I will be working in a country that as a word that stands for “threat” and “opportunity” at the same time…and I learned that in business if we come across a threat we are not good enough if we don’t change it to an opportunity…so lets see what I capable of…

…some people call Shanghai the “New York of Asia”, I few years ago it was known as “Paris of Asia”, maybe it still is a little of both [I will tell you after 15th February]…I already know Paris [I went there in 97] however I still haven’t been in New York…so that’s why in a few hours I will be leaving to US…as you can imagine I couldn’t be more excited...me in New York…and 15 days later in Shanghai…am I dreaming?

…in my next post I will have lost of amazing stories to tell you…I sure hope!

January 2005…already a “piece of China”

The other day I went to a Chinese grocery…I believe it’s the only one of its kind in Porto…it was hard to find, but after a wile and questioning everyone who passed on Rua de Alegria…no, I didn’t ask to any “lady” [for who doesn’t know this can be quite a tricky street to ask for something] I finally found it…but the difficult part was still to come…the owner [a very nice old lady] couldn’t say a word in Portuguese, and I’m not that close to be an expert in mandarin…so as you can imagine I had some problems expressing my self…and irony of ironies I was looking for a dictionary…however by the end [not far from starting to get insane] I was helped by her grandson who knew some Spanish…

…this episode allowed me to get a tiny view of what I will experience in my everyday life this year…so for “safety reasons” it’s better to take some pictures and avoid some misunderstandings…blessed mobiles with cameras…that will help…where am I going to start?

By the way I already know some words in mandarin and if you remember I promise to give you some lessons…so this is my small contribution for now…

Portuguese / English / Mandarin [Romanized]
Olá /Hi / Nĭ hăo
Como estás? / How are you? / Nĭ hăo ma?
Muito bem. E tu? / Fine. And you? / Wŏ hĕn hăo. Nĭ na?
Eu também estou muito bem! / I’m also fine! / Wŏ yĕ hĕn hăo.
Obrigado / Thank you / Xié xié!
Adeus / Bye / Zài jián

Next Monday I will go to Lisbon…to handle the visa… I’m only leaving next 15th February however I have to get my passport…in my next post you will understand why…

Xmas is back and New Year is coming

After Leonor and Tomás were born, Xmas recovered all its fantasy…like the days we [the 7] were still young with all the mess we made around Xmas tree…looking for our presents…so as you can imagine it was great…next year Matilde will join the “mess”…

I spend Xmas teasing with my mother saying that next year we would have one more person at the table…“my Chinese fiancé”…she couldn’t stop laughing…neither do I…it’s difficult to imagine…however we never know…do we? Can you imagine…little Chinese with blue eyes and blond hair? [Laugh]

Next year is going to be…definitively different…that’s the least I can say…I’m sure I will seize every moment of it!
Jota said that I should always say “yes”…even if I’m tired or not in the mood…“we never know what’s around the corner!” …especially in the beginning and in my situation…alone in Shanghai…scared? No way…looking forward for this adventure!

I take this opportunity to wish you a wonderful 2005…and if you are in the “neighbourhood” please call, you will be more than welcome…you already knew that…

By the way…a little of Chinese culture…next Chinese New Year begins in 9th February, it will be Rooster’s year...unfortunately…it seems I will still be in Portugal…that’s a shame…but I will have more opportunities in the future…then I can invite you...

There are 12 animals in the Chinese horoscope…so each 12 years it goes over…this year [2004] is the Monkey [my sign, I was born in 1980], 2005 the Rooster, 2006 the Dog, 2007 the Pig, 2008 the Rat, 2009 the Buffalo, 2010 the Tiger, 2011 the Hare, 2012 the Dragon, 2013 the Snake, 2014 the Horse, 2015 the Goat…try to guess which is going to be in 2016…yes! the Monkey again…lucky me!

A piece of heaven

Although not being directly related with Shanghai I believe it’s worthy to write about it…yesterday I had one of the best days I can remember…it started with a breakfast at Sheraton Porto – Hotel & SPA with one of the most attractive women I know…oh! I nearly forgot…FC Porto team, the European and World Champions in title were also there…then I went to the SPA centre [now you start to understand the title of this post]…

…choosing the right massage wasn’t an easy task…but after a while and with technical support I managed to decide…for the Full Body Relaxing Treatment with aromatherapy – 1h50 minutes in paradise…I scheduled to 5 pm letting me with 6 hours to enjoy the rest of the equipments…

…I started with the vitality pool a Jacuzzi with 5 different treatments…cannons of water, water cascade, bed and bench of bubbles…an incredible experience as you may imagine…followed by an intensive swimming in the pool…in order to get really tired to fully enjoy the relaxing zone - hot beds with remote control allowing to choose the best position to relax…

…I spent the rest of the time before lunch in the Sauna and the Hamman [Turkish bath], a very “hot” experience…I lunched in the Juice Bar [an amazing salmon sandwich, a natural orange juice and a tropical fruit salad] I was only using a robe and my bath suit …a very posh picture…

…afterwards I continued my heat experience with the 3 saunas treatments - arranged by heat, aroma and humidity…followed by a cold water douche and a deserved rest in the relaxing room…when I was waiting for the therapist I read several magazines and I’m now sure that men should read more woman’s magazines…we can learn lots of “interesting” things…and they will appreciate…

…I don’t know how to express what I felt during the massage…or which part I preferred…I only I can say that I recommend you vividly to do the same…that was my "piece of heaven"…believe or not I already know that in my next girlfriend birthday I will offer her a full day in the double suite - specially prepared for treatments which take a holistic approach - an immersion bath with aromatic oils and rose petals followed by two full body massages…you can imagine who will be the second person…it can me quite romantic and all the rest…you know what I mean…

…the day at Sheraton Hotel finished with a hot chocolate and a toast…I spend 9 hours and 95.00 € [not much for "cloud nine"]…I look forward to experience the Asian SPAs [hopefully they will be cheaper]…Thailand here I come [I’m sure C+D understand]…and next massage will be the hot stones one…