[Rhodes22-list] South America

[Steve Alm]

Ben

I've seen City of God and it makes me want to stay home!  The crime in
Brazil, esp. in Rio is bad and getting worse.  On our last trip, we
accidentally got in the middle of a street fight between some teenagers
fighting over a tiny vile of glue they were sniffing.  They were absolutely
crazed and we were lucky to get out of it with only a torn shirt (mine).
At night, you don't stop for stop signs or lights.  You just slow down and
then go.  If you stop and sit there, you might be jumped.  You can't take a
cab at night unless you know the driver.  Otherwise he might take you back
into the favelas (slums) and rob you--if you're lucky!  The favelas are
massive and horrible.  City of God is a very real depiction.

That said, I love Brazil.  It's not too hard to just stay out of the way of
the crime.  When we got in that fight, we were being stupid--walking around
a funky neighborhood late at night.  (other than that, Mrs. Kennedy, how did
you like Dallas?)  The people are very warm and friendly and the food is the
greatest!  They live to eat, drink and be merry.  They're party fiends.  The
Carnival in Rio makes the Macy's parade look like a high school homecoming.
The music is fantastic and the night life is filled with dancing.  If you're
a drummer, Brazil is the holy land.  Not only are the beaches the prettiest
in the world, but most of the girls go topless, and what they wear on their
bottoms is called dental floss.  8-)  As for the economy, everything is very
inexpensive.  In the US I'm just a lowly piano player, but in Brazil I'm
practically a millionaire!

I can't wait to go back!
Slim

On 3/18/04 9:32 AM, "Ben Schultz" <BenS at ApproSystems.com> wrote:

> Lloyd, I would love to hear your South American stories too.  Hopefully Slim
> will have some good ones from his June trip too.
> 
> I have a movie recommendation, which is unrelated to this thread, other than
> that it is set and filmed in Brazil:  City of God.  It's the story of a gang
> war in a Brizilian slum.  I thought it was one of the best crime movies that
> I've seen.  It's right there with The Godfather, in my opinion.  It just
> left the theaters here a few weeks ago, so I'm not sure if it is rentable
> yet, but keep an eye out for it.
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Alm [mailto:salm at mn.rr.com]
> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 01:12
> To: Rhodes
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] South America
> 
> Lloyd,
> This sounds fascinating.  Do tell!!!  Send me the story "back channel" if
> you wish (I know this ain't got nothin' to do with sailing) but I'll bet
> others here would find it interesting.
> Slim
> 
> On 3/18/04 12:15 AM, "Steve Alm" <salm at mn.rr.com> wrote:
> 
>> Wow, Lloyd,
>> You were there during the dictatorship?
>> Slim
>> 
>> On 3/17/04 10:37 PM, "Lloyd Crowther" <lcrowther at cox.net> wrote:
>> 
>>> Steve,
>>> 
>>> I did the route survey through Matto Grosso to Porto Vello (the port at
> the
>>> headwater for Amazon River Navigation) in 1965, quite a while ago now.
> Was
>>> the first American in that area in several years.  Of a party of about 75
> I
>>> was the only non-Brazil guy, and consequently the big squeeze, in that
>>> original route investigation.  I'll try to send you a little background
> at
>>> salm at mn.rr.com tomorrow but its beddy-bye for me right now.
>>> 
>>> Lloyd
>>> 
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Steve Alm" <salm at mn.rr.com>
>>> To: "Rhodes" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 8:23 PM
>>> Subject: [Rhodes22-list] South America
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> Hello Lloyd,
>>>> 
>>>> In a recent post, you mentioned you did some work in South America--as
>>> well
>>>> as many far-off places elsewhere--sounds fascinating!  I love collecting
>>>> stories and info from people like yourself who have traveled the world,
>>> and
>>>> I'm especially interested in Brazil.  Mary Ann and I are planning our
> next
>>>> visit to Brazil in June and I was just wondering what comments you might
>>>> share of your experience, if any.
>>>> 
>>>> You didn't mention Brazil specifically, but you said you've worked in
> the
>>>> area of "dirt roads"  and I'm just curious.  We may find ourselves
>>> investing
>>>> in some business ventures with some of our close Brazilian friends who
>>> have
>>>> been building a growing import/export business in honey and limestone.
> I
>>>> know--that's a funny combination, but it is what it is.  When we make
> our
>>>> trip in June, we plan to visit the Brazilian interior and see the
>>> limestone
>>>> quarry and hopefully the honey facilities as well.  One of the big
> issues
>>>> we're dealing with is the sorry state of the roads.  It's pretty damn
> hard
>>>> to get out there!  Not just the roads, but also the Banditos--but that's
>>>> another issue.  It's really the wild, wild west out there.
>>>> 
>>>> Brazil also has a growing soy bean industry that's fast surpassing the
> US!
>>>> The main hindrance is transportation across the hundreds of miles of
> dirt
>>>> roads.  In the state of Matto Grosso, (central Brazil) they're trucking
>>> the
>>>> soy beans to an Amazon River port many miles to the north.  From there,
>>> once
>>>> they hit the water, it's no problem.  They ship out the river, up
> through
>>>> the Panama Canal and across to China--their biggest buyer--ours too, I
>>>> think.
>>>> 
>>>> I was just wondering if you've worked in Brazil and care to share any
>>>> thoughts.
>>>> 
>>>> Muinto Obrigado,
>>>> Esteban
>>>> 
>>>> __________________________________________________
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>>> 
>>> 
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