MGM and Igua�u Falls' Rainbow
MICHAEL GLENN MILLER REPORTS from TOKYO, JAPAN: 06 MAY 2003 (Publication Upcoming)
MICHAEL GLENN MILLER REPORTS
SAO PAULO, BRAZIL: SEPTEMBER, 2001
Dateline-S�o Paulo: Sept 7-10
S�o Paulo is the biggest city in South America, and one of the largest in the world, according to LONELY PLANET. It has a population approaching 20 million, and is a five or six hour bus ride from Rio. Feels kind of like New York to me. Lots of tall buildings and shopping malls. It is a very imposing city for a tourist so it pays to have some locals show you around. I spent several days here with some very kind friends, Fabiana and Karin, that drove me around the whole holiday weekend. Muito Obrigado!! The 7th is independence day in Brazil.
Sept 7 - I didn�t do much today because I am very sick. Only the miracles of modern drugs keep me walking. Arrived from the Bus station, got a cute little hotel room and went to bed early after a nice dinner. God, I would kill for some good Mexican food here!
Sept 8 - Campos do Jord�o: This town is a small German colony in the mountains a few hours from Sao Paulo. I hear there are quite a few of them here in the south of Brazil, where Portuguese isn�t the first language with some of the people. A bit of a surprise to me. The town sits in a beautiful picturesque valley and most of the buildings have German/Swiss architecture complete with the pointy roofs designed to keep the snow from accumulating. It doesn�t snow here though =). Reminds me a little of Solvang in California if you are in those parts.
We took a cute little chair lift up to the top of the nearby hill to get a great view of the town, then went back down to have some fun on some little carnival rides and attractions. The big inflatable bouncy slide was the best in my opinion, lots of fun.
I�m feeling a bit better today. The countryside outside of the city here is beautiful.
Sept 9 - Spent the day back in the big city, having lunch, going to the park, etc. Quite a nice relaxing day. Listened to some live music in the evening.
Sept 10 - Monday - Had lunch with my friends one last time before leaving. We meet at the bank on Paulista avenue where they work. This is one of the main boulevards in SP and is lined by skyscrapers. Big, big, and bigger buildings. After lunch I buy a bus ticket to Foz do Igua�u. The trip will take 15 hours... ugggh! Oh well, I suppose it is an opportunity to get some 'me' time. =).
Sept 11-13 - Cataratas do Igua�u (Iguassu falls) These falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina are some of the largest in the world. There are 275 falls that reach up to 70 meters. I arrive about 10 in the morning with a stiff neck and wrinkled clothes. As I arrive to the hostel in the centro of Foz do Igua�u, I see pictures of buildings burning in �Nova York� on the TV. Looks like a bomb went off just a few minutes ago... we are one hour ahead of NYC ... the newscast is in Portuguese so I cant quite understand what happened. Looks bad but not that serious and I'm exhausted so I go take a nap. I wake up at 1 pm and have a lovely day on the Brazillian side of the falls. Their sheer power is quite amazing. There are several platforms where you can walk out over the water and stand next to the waterfalls only a few meters away. Standing there you get covered and drenched by a very fine mist. Lots and lots of water, wind, and sound that makes you feel small. People that have been to Niagra tell me this blows it away.
I spend the evening watching the newscast about New York in Portuguese. People had mentioned to me before that someone had flown commercial airliners into the WTC but I didn�t really believe them until I saw the pictures. I watch President Bush make a speech but can�t hear what he says.It is on almost every channel, all night, even in Brazil.
Sept 12 - I make a day trip to the Argentine side of the falls. I have to take three buses and a train to get to there, kind of a pain. Customs keeps me for a few minutes...don�t know why...and I have to wait 15 minutes for the next one. Great to see both sides of the falls, though ridiculously expensive in Argentina as is everything. I forget to pack some food from Brazil and am too cheap to buy anything more than a coke here and so I starve most of the day =).
IGUACU
When I return to Brazil in the evening I head straight to the barbeque place (churrascaria) across the street from the hostel I�m staying at. All you can eat-5 reais!! about 2 dollars. Not the best meat I�ve ever had but ok, the salad bar is very good and the price is right. Tonight I realize that the internet cafe down the street has CNN in english.
Sept 13 - I can�t stand the thought of a 20+ hour bus ride to Rio so I buy a plane ticket back even when air travel seems quite dangerous these days... As I check in I see a nice little middle-eastern family in front of me having all their bags opened and searched while I sail right on through. I feel a little bit sad and worried about the future.
Very glad I took the plane, no problems and I can get back to my hectic schedule of going to the beach much more quickly. =). Tchau, Mil Beijos, Mike
Copyright 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Madeline Lucille Felkins
All Rights
Hotsheets.org
Madelinefelkins.com
Kitty Oppenheimer watches her husband shaking hands with Edward Teller after the presentation of the Fermi Award at the White House
02 December, 1963
[email protected]
PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ROCKETDYNE/WORKERS' COMPENSATION NEWS AND $150,000 CLAIM FORMS
FOR MORE THAN 6,000 ELIGIBLE SANTA SUSANA FIELD LABORATORY AND CANOGA PARK EMPLOYEES
MORE THAN 654,000 workers are eligible nationally, including thousands from Cherokee and other Tribal Nations as well as 20 labs throughout California
*Copyright 1997,1998,1999,2000,2001,2002 MF
� Hot Sheets Society of Friends All Rights
Hotsheets.org
Madelinefelkins.com
