Chegamos Vivos no Brasil

Driving in from Guarulhos International Airport you´ll see a bunch of vendedor de rue selling products to cars, trucks and taxi stranded in traffic waiting to change lanes. The vendors sell cell phone chargers, seat beads, steering wheel grips, jumper cables for your car as well as candies and munchies for your stomach. Our taxi drivers tells us the current São Paulo Mayor is cracking down on the vendedors, sending the polícia out to confiscate their product inventory.

Motorcycle messangers speed between the lanes of stalled traffic in acts of daring that leave us with shock and awe. Our taxi driver also tells us that deft motorcycle thieves drive by the car windows slowly trying to spot any bag that looks like it might contain a compuiter. If stranded in traffic, the thief will point a gun in the window and demand the computer bag be handed out and then speed away. I will test my theory that I can negotitate with them, if the opportunity presents itself, and if it works. Standby for proof of theory.

São Paulo has one of the highest crime rates in the world.

The roads this Friday morning in December are hectic. São Paulo has just experienced one of its legendary downfalls of rain that causes traffic crisis and locks up the highways and city streets. Drivers trying to get across the city are very aggressive. Motocycles messangers live an extremely dangerous life under the best conditions. Patricia´s father Mauro tells us 3 are killed everyday in São Paulo.

After bringing Mauro back to his newstand business, we arrive safely in Taboão de Serra at Odelva e Mauro´s casa and, of course, Odelva has prepared a banquet of food.

Carne (meat) is prepared in a roll and roasted with vegetables and bacon rolled inside. Arroz (rice) is served with every meal including those already heavy in starch like pasta and potatoes. Fruta is kept aside for the dessert course.