[Rhodes22-list] South America

Thu Mar 18 16:35:50 EST 2004

Ben,
Have a great trip!  I'll expect a full report when you get back.

On 3/18/04 4:22 PM, "Ben Schultz" <BenS at ApproSystems.com> wrote:

> Hmm, Big Carnival, good food, big nightlife, get killed in the wrong
> neighborhood.  Are you sure you weren't in New Orleans?
> 
> Seriously though, it does sound like a great trip.  I've never been to
> Central or South America, but I look forward to the chance to go (whenever
> that might be).
> 
> It is nice to have your savings in American dollars when you travel.  I'm
> going to Thailand in a couple of weeks.  I was there a couple of years ago,
> and it's amazing that you will haggle for 50 baht or so, only to realize
> that you've saved yourself one dollar on something that was already
> rediculously cheap.
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Steve Alm [mailto:salm at mn.rr.com]
> Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 13:45
> To: Rhodes
> Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] South America
> 
> 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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