Hi Folks:
Haven´t had a chance to up-date the last 2 days as the local internet hotspot was closed. Thanks to all who sent birthday greetings.
Very impressed with Sao Paulo. Before we came here all that I knew was that it was the 4th largest city in the World and very dangerous (according to the guides). We are on one of the main streets, but they do not rely on their horns to drive as was our experience in other South American cities. In fact, the silence is a little eerie, although a low pass by a jet fighter a few nights ago, and the medivac helicopters going to the many hospitals in the area have made up for it. The drivers here yield for pedestrians and signal to change lanes!
The weather here has been consistently in the low 20sC during the day with virtually continuous cloud and rain (usually very light) every day. I have picked up a few (3 so far) mosquito bites thanks to our open window and a late night visitor. I will have to be more careful especially after being handed a brochure on Dengue fever at the bus station yesterday.
I am certain that those who are following Joy´s blog will be given all the details of the galleries that we have been to over the past few days. Suffice to say that I have never seen works by so many famous artists (even Yoko Ono) in such a short time. I couldn´t help but speculate on the value of panels in the Musee de Arte de Sao Paulo (don´t check my Portugese spelling please) where you have a Gainsboroigh next to a Constable, next to Matisse, next to a (I forget, but you get the idea). And so well organized by subject matter (ie portraits, parks, domestic scanes, etc) and then by chronology showing the development of that subject over the years. We kept running into these marvellous galleries all day.
In our search for galleries we also found a great park which was filled with `Paulistas`on Sunday. Apparently everyone here runs, walks, bikes, roller blades or skateboards. It was a beautiful place with covered areas to carry on activities even if it rains. How civilized can you be. I would be remiss if I didn´t mention the spectacular architecture of the buildings and the uniform use of small vehicles (mostly new Fords, Fiats, VWs, Hondas).
Today we head out to Foz de Iguasu which is where Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meet. The falls are supposed to be huge and spectacular. We haven´t decided which country we will stay in tomorrow night, but tonight we sleep on the bus. It is a 15 hour ride, but we do have a `cami` which is either a bed or a chair that reclines. It was an adventure, as it always is, to get the tickets yeterday, but maybe it will get easier when we get to practice our Spanish in the next country.
See you next time.
Jim