Brazil, with its first female president, seemed like a good place to be based for International Women’s Day in March 2012.
If I’m honest, as with so many celebrations and important days when you’re travelling, I really had no idea that anything special was meant to be happening.
But I arrived back into my hotel room after a busy day sightseeing in Taubaté (yes, the hard life of a traveller) and there, on the coffee table, was a big, balloon modelled flower along with a little note.
A nice and colourful surprise that got me thinking about the many strong and influential women out there doing all sorts of things to ensure a better, safer and more equal future for us all.