Master Palace Hotel Porto Alegre

6 December 2009

I made a mistake by uploading the entry of 24.11.09 into my travelpod titled 'The Longest Drive'. It is now installed in its rightful place in ‘North to Alaska’ with the correct date. I have also uploaded some extra photos to this entry.

Please see ‘I didn’t hit a cow today’ on 24.11.09

... first purchased his BMW bike, he had to take it to the registrar of motor vehicles to have it registered in his name. He flicked the side stand down with his boot, but unbeknown to him, it had retracted. He said this is the only time in his life, he was very happy to be such a large man. Using all his strength, he managed to stop the bike from falling completely and doing a lot of damage to the new car next to it. The car only sustained a minor scratch ...

... it would have cost more.

After we left the Hypomoto Motorcycle Shop. The driver of the taxi which took us back to the hotel took us on a loop via the airport, which brought the meter up to R$25 and we were a long way from the hotel yet. We then noticed that there was no ID in the taxi. We realized we were being taken for a ride. Des pulled the driver up on the meter reading, shook his finger at him and raised his voice. There was an obvious communication ...

... for example, I went to check out a Gaucho guitarist called Marcello Caminha and was surprised to hear him play many tango songs.

It just so happens that the annual feria do livros (book festival) is taking place while I´m here so I went to check it out. There were all sorts of books as far as the eye can see (but mostly in Portuguese). I was very happy to find a used copy of Catch-22 by Joseph Heller ...

Partindo para Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul. Foi um tempo muito bom que tive com Marcio e Viviane. Um casal muito abençoado que mora em Porto Alegre. Tive a oportunidade de conhacer um pouco Porto Alegre e a cidade de Farroupilhas.
Aproveitei para ir na unviersidade do Rio Grande do Sul encontrar com os estudantes do movimento Alfa e Omega (um ministério da Cruzada Estudantil e Profissional para ...

... things from the market, or jog, or just sit and drink chimarrao with friends and family. It's just such a happy city. Even when it's raining, people are still out and about, and the atmosphere still seems light. Anywho, I'm on my way to Brasilia, right now, and from there, I have one flight to Manaus. I have 2 days in Manaus, and then I'm home. I'm actually looking forward to going home. It will be nice to see people I know, and to get on with the things I need to get going with.

... stamp, and take another bus to Porto Alegre, our final destination. Say what?? Well, we will try. We bought the bus tickets to Porto Alegre in Chui. Two buses actually, first to the nearest town to get the immigration, then onto Porto Alegre. Fortunately I was able to change money easily at Chui, and there is one hour time change in our favour entering Brazil. Our bus left Chui at 11:45am (Brazil time). We got into ...

... ride back to Santa Cruz Do Sul) Today my thoughts are with my country and my people. The constant rain this day only fuels my saudades. I remember where I was that day and all the days that would come after. Today I am the sad clown for so many reasons; one being the actions taken afterwards of my country and our current president. I think of where we have come and what has been done in this day's name, since.

... we had it under control. Good times, friends were made and Brazil's stock further rose!!!! Headed back to the hotel where we hung in the lobby bar and as the night passed into the day the local news on its late broadcast featured the Steel Pulse concert on its segment, at which point several people in the bar did double takes. Wicked day!!! PHOTO_ID_R=local-bredren-of-studio-one. jpg]

... he also has a personal pool and sauna in his home. Living here is such a drastic change to the last couple weeks of my traveling. Frederico's house has a maid and a driver. Frederico insists that this is simply cultural and not out of the ordinary. mmmhmmm. Both of his parents work though, so I kind of believe him. kind of. The driver doesn't really drive them anywhere, he handles all the bills, grocery shopping, and driving the youngest brother to and ...