columbus_foodie (![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} columbus_foodie) wrote,@ 2008-01-04 06:08:00 |
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Welcome to Brazil!
Well, after a VERY long trip down here, during which I didn't get one iota of sleep, we've finally arrived in Curitiba, Brazil.
The flights down were uncomfortable, but do-able. We got stuck on the ground for two hours in Columbus at the very beginning, so we missed the connecting flight in Atlanta, but they upgraded us to first class for the next plane out to Miami, and got to Miami with hours to spare. The international flight was unremarkable for the most part - the 90" or so of space between seats in business class was a welcome change from the cattle car of coach. The TSA agents were especially nazi-istic in Miami, yelling at us because we weren't moving fast enough.
We got to Brazil, and were surpised between the difference in customs/security here vs. in the good 'ole US. No shoe carnival, unloading every single thing you own, quart bags, etc. We were expecting to be fingerprinted/photographed but none of that happened. We filled out two customs forms, got waved through, passports stamped and that was that.
The airport in Sao Paulo was a bit intimidating, to say the least. Definitely not handicapped friendly. HUGE. The elevators weren't working, and there were about twice as many people waiting for flights as there were seats in the waiting area. There is no such thing as lines there - people pretty much push you along in a throng. There is especially no patience for the elderly/infirm/children, etc. If you're in their way, they'll literally push you aside or climb over you. Not fun. Especially when you don't know a lick of Portugese and can't understand what people are saying to you. Not that many people speak English here (not that I expect them to, mind you - no more than I would expect people in the US to be bi/tri/quadlingual to accomodate tourists). I'm picking up a bit of Portugese (i.e. obrigado "thank you", bom dias "good morning", desculpe "pardon me", etc. and I can understand a good deal of the written langauge but when people speak it to me, it's much more fast than I can process it. I guess that's true for many non-native speakers of a language.
The plane to Curitiba was...interesting. Think Skybus as far as boarding - you get bussed to the tarmac where you board on stairs. All of the announcements were in Portugese, but we've discovered that flights are pretty much universal in safety instructions, processes, etc. no matter where you go.
It is beautiful here in Curitiba. The man who picked up at the airport, Gilberto, speaks fluent English and has been invaluable thus far in getting us the stuff that we need. My throat was raw from the dry air, and the doctor prescribed benzocaine lozenges (over the counter here, vs. being a prescribed drug in the US, go figure) which have helped immensely.
The doctor is one of those rare people that make you feel completely at ease the moment you meet them. He comes across as very grandfatherly, and I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have elbows deep in my guts. On a serious note, I think we made the right decision in coming here to have surgery, no matter how ill-advised it sounded in theory.
The hotel room (it's more of a suite) will be just dandy for the three weeks we're here. Great water pressure, a little kitchen area, separate living and sleeping areas - it comes out to about $100US per night, but that also includes a pretty nice breakfast buffet in the morning at the attached restaurant.
The food here is...well, different. Not bad, just different than our American palates are used to. They season food much differently here. The thing that has been most agreeing with my stomach is salami/meat, cheese, and fruit. We got some beautiful strawberries at Super Walmart (yes, they have them here too) for like $1.25 US.
More later, we've got an appointment with the doctor in just a little while. Just wanted to post to let you all know we got here in one piece.
Well, after a VERY long trip down here, during which I didn't get one iota of sleep, we've finally arrived in Curitiba, Brazil.
The flights down were uncomfortable, but do-able. We got stuck on the ground for two hours in Columbus at the very beginning, so we missed the connecting flight in Atlanta, but they upgraded us to first class for the next plane out to Miami, and got to Miami with hours to spare. The international flight was unremarkable for the most part - the 90" or so of space between seats in business class was a welcome change from the cattle car of coach. The TSA agents were especially nazi-istic in Miami, yelling at us because we weren't moving fast enough.
We got to Brazil, and were surpised between the difference in customs/security here vs. in the good 'ole US. No shoe carnival, unloading every single thing you own, quart bags, etc. We were expecting to be fingerprinted/photographed but none of that happened. We filled out two customs forms, got waved through, passports stamped and that was that.
The airport in Sao Paulo was a bit intimidating, to say the least. Definitely not handicapped friendly. HUGE. The elevators weren't working, and there were about twice as many people waiting for flights as there were seats in the waiting area. There is no such thing as lines there - people pretty much push you along in a throng. There is especially no patience for the elderly/infirm/children, etc. If you're in their way, they'll literally push you aside or climb over you. Not fun. Especially when you don't know a lick of Portugese and can't understand what people are saying to you. Not that many people speak English here (not that I expect them to, mind you - no more than I would expect people in the US to be bi/tri/quadlingual to accomodate tourists). I'm picking up a bit of Portugese (i.e. obrigado "thank you", bom dias "good morning", desculpe "pardon me", etc. and I can understand a good deal of the written langauge but when people speak it to me, it's much more fast than I can process it. I guess that's true for many non-native speakers of a language.
The plane to Curitiba was...interesting. Think Skybus as far as boarding - you get bussed to the tarmac where you board on stairs. All of the announcements were in Portugese, but we've discovered that flights are pretty much universal in safety instructions, processes, etc. no matter where you go.
It is beautiful here in Curitiba. The man who picked up at the airport, Gilberto, speaks fluent English and has been invaluable thus far in getting us the stuff that we need. My throat was raw from the dry air, and the doctor prescribed benzocaine lozenges (over the counter here, vs. being a prescribed drug in the US, go figure) which have helped immensely.
The doctor is one of those rare people that make you feel completely at ease the moment you meet them. He comes across as very grandfatherly, and I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have elbows deep in my guts. On a serious note, I think we made the right decision in coming here to have surgery, no matter how ill-advised it sounded in theory.
The hotel room (it's more of a suite) will be just dandy for the three weeks we're here. Great water pressure, a little kitchen area, separate living and sleeping areas - it comes out to about $100US per night, but that also includes a pretty nice breakfast buffet in the morning at the attached restaurant.
The food here is...well, different. Not bad, just different than our American palates are used to. They season food much differently here. The thing that has been most agreeing with my stomach is salami/meat, cheese, and fruit. We got some beautiful strawberries at Super Walmart (yes, they have them here too) for like $1.25 US.
More later, we've got an appointment with the doctor in just a little while. Just wanted to post to let you all know we got here in one piece.
