Brazil

Thanks to my great friend Luana I had one of the best Christmas and New Year. In the midst of cruel, cold and snowy Buffalo winter I had a chance to escape it all to the warmth of Southern Hemisphere and enjoy Brazilian winter. I have to tell you, I take that kind of winter any time! Just see for yourself. We flew to Belo Horizonte where we were greeted by Luana's mother Bel and her beautiful sister Juliana. Drive to Gov. Valadares was picturesque and exciting. Man, I'm on the other side of the world!!! I stayed at Luana's house, which has a breathtaking view of a mountain (that we conquered later). Pool and cold beer helped survive the heat. They have some good beer, I have to say. There I met Luana's wonderful family and Luiz Fernando, whose hospitality and genuineness also must be noted. Then we took a trip to Rio de Janeiro, where Lu and I were hosted by "The Cat Lady" (aka Fernanda). Thank you very much, Fernanda, for your hospitality and help. You are always welcome whereever I'm might be stationed. Rio is Rio. There is the only one. I can say a lot about it nice beaches, beautiful girls (no fatties, none), crazy bars, and ... It is better to experience once that hear it all. Go and you won't be sorry. New Year we celebrated in Vitoria. Then, back the Belo Horisonte and back to NYC.

What can be better than a cold beer in a pool? A nice girls next to me while I'm having a cold beer in a pool!	My great friend Lu, I (read below about hat), Bel (Lu mother, not sister), Luiz Fernando, Juliana, Lu's uncle
I think I can...  On the top of the mountain that can be seen from Bel's house. You can see river and a part of Gov. Valadares.	Help!       Nice background.
Brasilian Santa (Luiz Fernando) Mary Christmas!	Always beautifil and charming Juliana
Rio, Rio	A bit primitive, but 100% natural!
still Rio	Lu and I
I told you can! I'm flying over Rio. Now I know how birds feel. Great! Absolutely great!	After landing

Story of The Hat.

In summer of 1997 my dear sister and I once again toured Europe. In hot Pompeii, Italy I had an opportunity to acquire a white paper or straw (no one can tell now) hat. It fit me well and served me in a good way. Upon my arrival to Buffalo Luana's mother Bil was visiting. During one of numerous get together, somehow that hat ended up in Bel's position and she refused to surrender it. I said that I'd come to Brazil if I have to, to get my hat back. I guess Bel did not believe me at that time. I did. Hat is still in Brazil, and I had a chance to reconcile with it.

Drive Back.

Welcome back to cold reality. New York City was a bit chilly in January (just the way it should be, I guess), especially after Christmas in warm Brazil. For miles my dress code gave away a tourist from a warmer climate.
Problem: I did not have a ticket back to Buffalo. Plan was to get a ticket on Greyhound and relax in a comfort of the ground transportation. Not so fast. Buffalo and the rest of Western NY were under siege of ice storm. Flights were canceled, buses too. Train tickets were sold out for days ahead. I had a place to stay in NYC; however, being "an example employee" the way I'm, I had to be in Buffalo on Monday at work. By the way, work was canceled on that Monday. Douh! At that time it's still Sunday morning. For the lack of dog slides, renting a car was the only possible way to get to Buffalo. Walking would not produce desired result fast enough.
While I was on a payphone researching price and availability situation, guy in a neighboring phone overheard my conversation and introducing himself suggested to split drive. He was going to Toronto. I said that I'm not driving to Toronto, and only can offer drive to Niagara Falls, from where he can take a bus. Deal.
Up to Rochester we had no problems. Clear roads, sunny and pleasant. Then it started. Those who had not experienced horizontal snow may consider themselves lucky. Neither of us wanted to get out and push. Plus no one was prepared for it. My pal flew from sunny Florida, and one look at our foot attire would explain our lack of desire to get out on snow. We drove slowly. Road disappeared completely. I still can't explain how we didn't end up in a ditch. Part of the road that usually crossed in an hour took us four.
Niagara Falls. Border. No one, not a crazy soul left their house. Here we were. Midnight. Either from total boredom, or we really looked suspicious in our t-shirts and sandals, on a rental car from NYC, in any case, they decided to inspect us. Oh, boy... One who decided to open my bag was sorry he did so, I had a wet towel in a plastic bag on top on my dirty underwear laying on top. Sniff of "Irish Spring" killed desire to examine a rest of my bag. My companion was not so lucky. Cars was examined thoroughly and thank you good people for not taking it apart.
Monday morning. Gotta get to work... I'm there. It's a bit lonely. Where's everyone? Snow day! Douh, to me.
Moral of this story: "Don't try too hard, you may get it"