Saturday, April 30, 2005
At Last...The Weekend!
Israel was up at 4am!!! Thieny was NOT happy! I, however, didn't wake until MUCH later!!!
After breakfast, Thieny and I took off to look at more houses and apartments. Really interesting. Agua Fria looks most promising. The house we looked at before bore a second look and has not yet been sold. I took pictures and will see if I can get them on-line for you.
Back to Meireles for amoso and then napped for a couple of hours while Thioeny, Daisy and The Kid went to the local beach where Israel can play in the sand and the girls can socialize and drink cervaza!
More later!
After breakfast, Thieny and I took off to look at more houses and apartments. Really interesting. Agua Fria looks most promising. The house we looked at before bore a second look and has not yet been sold. I took pictures and will see if I can get them on-line for you.
Back to Meireles for amoso and then napped for a couple of hours while Thioeny, Daisy and The Kid went to the local beach where Israel can play in the sand and the girls can socialize and drink cervaza!
More later!
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
It's Already Wednesday!
10AM
I am constantly amazed at how fast the time flies while I'm here!
This will be a quick note as I have to leave soon to pick up Thieny from her course.
Yesterday, another in the continuing saga of trying to get money out of a stone...er, Ze! No luck so far!
It seems like a trip to the Policia Civil might be the only way...don't want to do that, but.....
I had an English class with Vera's school yesterday afternoon. It went pretty well as it is basically conversation and these three students are intermediate level. One is a famous painter and sculpter, Ascal! He has been all over the world and his art has been featured in The Louvre in Paris.
If Vera gets a new contract she's after, I might inherit the class, in addition to my other student, Marco.
Branca is here today, looking after meals and Israel, and cleaning while I work.
More later!
Now is the later I was speaking of earlier....well, you get the point!
Had my usual 1 1/2 hour discussion with my English student, Marcos. He's Site Manager here for a company called Fresenius Kabi. It's German and manufactures intravenius nutritional products.
We have hit it off pretty well and are extending into a social thing now. We have lunch set up for Saturday at Gheller.
I am constantly amazed at how fast the time flies while I'm here!
This will be a quick note as I have to leave soon to pick up Thieny from her course.
Yesterday, another in the continuing saga of trying to get money out of a stone...er, Ze! No luck so far!
It seems like a trip to the Policia Civil might be the only way...don't want to do that, but.....
I had an English class with Vera's school yesterday afternoon. It went pretty well as it is basically conversation and these three students are intermediate level. One is a famous painter and sculpter, Ascal! He has been all over the world and his art has been featured in The Louvre in Paris.
If Vera gets a new contract she's after, I might inherit the class, in addition to my other student, Marco.
Branca is here today, looking after meals and Israel, and cleaning while I work.
More later!
Now is the later I was speaking of earlier....well, you get the point!
Had my usual 1 1/2 hour discussion with my English student, Marcos. He's Site Manager here for a company called Fresenius Kabi. It's German and manufactures intravenius nutritional products.
We have hit it off pretty well and are extending into a social thing now. We have lunch set up for Saturday at Gheller.
Monday, April 25, 2005
A House to Die For!
We were supposed to breakfast with Ivan Sunday but he called at around 7.30am and said he got too much sun Saturday afternoon and wanted to do dinner Monday instead.
Thieny and I had a great day...breakfast with Israel at Paderia Ideal...that's an eat in bakery. It's said to be the best in town...been here since 1941.
After that, we took off to look around a little since the traffic was light.
Went out Washington Soares past Iguatemi to Agia Fria and cruised around. Driving down the street past my friend Vera's English School, we saw one of the houses was open with a sign that gave a phone number and other contact information, but no people.
We stopped and went in.
In a word, Gorgeous.
It was just what we would need. Right neighborhood, right size, 4 bedrooms, one for my office, great wood frame windows, well built with ceiling decoration and the whole works.
Later we came back and found a person minding the place who said the sale price was R$220,000 but it was possible to pay per month.
I should explain that in Brazil, most people can't afford mortgages in the North American sense but you can make arrangements to have a sizeable "deposit" and then make monthly payments.
Anyway, this house really got my attention.
In the future, it's just the kind of thing we need.
After that, to pick up Ajamila, Israel's cousin and Daisy's daughter, and then off to the beach. Spent most of Sunday afternoon and had amoso there. The kids had a great time in the pool and I went in the ocean for the first time in months.
Thieny and Ajamila went by taxi to Thieny's old neighborhood where she spent a couple of hours with freiends and I picked her up around 9.30pm.
All in all, a good day.
Thieny and I had a great day...breakfast with Israel at Paderia Ideal...that's an eat in bakery. It's said to be the best in town...been here since 1941.
After that, we took off to look around a little since the traffic was light.
Went out Washington Soares past Iguatemi to Agia Fria and cruised around. Driving down the street past my friend Vera's English School, we saw one of the houses was open with a sign that gave a phone number and other contact information, but no people.
We stopped and went in.
In a word, Gorgeous.
It was just what we would need. Right neighborhood, right size, 4 bedrooms, one for my office, great wood frame windows, well built with ceiling decoration and the whole works.
Later we came back and found a person minding the place who said the sale price was R$220,000 but it was possible to pay per month.
I should explain that in Brazil, most people can't afford mortgages in the North American sense but you can make arrangements to have a sizeable "deposit" and then make monthly payments.
Anyway, this house really got my attention.
In the future, it's just the kind of thing we need.
After that, to pick up Ajamila, Israel's cousin and Daisy's daughter, and then off to the beach. Spent most of Sunday afternoon and had amoso there. The kids had a great time in the pool and I went in the ocean for the first time in months.
Thieny and Ajamila went by taxi to Thieny's old neighborhood where she spent a couple of hours with freiends and I picked her up around 9.30pm.
All in all, a good day.
Saturday, April 23, 2005
In the Middle of a Long Weekend...the Town is Empty!
This would have been my father's 87 birthday.
Our breakfast with Ivan turns out to be Sunday. We'll be taking Israel with us because Daisy doesn't come to the apartment on Sundays.
Thieny and I took the car to a repair place to get the spare fixed. Turns out it was a faulty valve. Cost all of R$2!
After, we drove around Papicu, which is the area to the northwest of Praia do Futuro. That stands for Beach of the Future, but since it was named over ten years ago, it's now Beach of the Present! Lots of barracas and, in-season particularly, lots of touristas!
We had a look at the casa owned by the man who built Iguatemi, the big American style mall here. It's huge by any standards, and we could only see the outside, and some of the roofline.
There are many mansions of different sizes at the top of the dunes behind Futuro because of the view...it's stunning!
In my future, I want to check out more of the housing in two areas, Agua Fria, and Edson Quiroiz. They both are near a main artery not too far from the beach called Washington Soares. My friend and fellow North American Peter Morris says both areas are shaping up to be major developments soon. As a matter of fact, development has already started. My friend and computer geek, Howard and his wife Lucia have a beautiful house in Edson Quiroiz.
Our breakfast with Ivan turns out to be Sunday. We'll be taking Israel with us because Daisy doesn't come to the apartment on Sundays.
Thieny and I took the car to a repair place to get the spare fixed. Turns out it was a faulty valve. Cost all of R$2!
After, we drove around Papicu, which is the area to the northwest of Praia do Futuro. That stands for Beach of the Future, but since it was named over ten years ago, it's now Beach of the Present! Lots of barracas and, in-season particularly, lots of touristas!
We had a look at the casa owned by the man who built Iguatemi, the big American style mall here. It's huge by any standards, and we could only see the outside, and some of the roofline.
There are many mansions of different sizes at the top of the dunes behind Futuro because of the view...it's stunning!
In my future, I want to check out more of the housing in two areas, Agua Fria, and Edson Quiroiz. They both are near a main artery not too far from the beach called Washington Soares. My friend and fellow North American Peter Morris says both areas are shaping up to be major developments soon. As a matter of fact, development has already started. My friend and computer geek, Howard and his wife Lucia have a beautiful house in Edson Quiroiz.
Friday, April 22, 2005
Another Day, Another......well......
I have emailed my friend Ivan, and Americano who lives in the penthouse of the best building on Beira Mar...right along the ocean. His apartment is on the 23rd floor! A view to die for!
We are trying to arrange a meal together before he heads back to the US for about a month.
He lives with his esposa, Fatima and their 8 month old baby girl, Miriam.
We agreed on Saturday morning for breakfast, but when I told Thieny, she reminded me of her modeling course on Saturday at 9am, which was the time Ivan and I agreed on.
We'll try for Saturday night or Sunday morning.
I have to get my flat tire (the spare is on the car now) fixed today. I don't want to take the chance of having another slow leak or blowout with no spare.
I'm also still working on getting PayPal organized for here in Brazil. I'm not sure I can use it from here, but we'll see. I'm looking for a way for my client in Jakarta to pay me. They don't use checks. They would pay using credit card, but I don't have that luxury. It's too expensive in fees for a small business.
Daisy is here but Israel is still staying with his grandmother because there is no school for him today...yesterday was a holiday and Brazil tends to stretch the whole thing out through the weekend. The city is fairly quiet today...there are some people working but not many.
With Israel at his grandmother's last night, I took Thieny to the theater at Iguatemi. The first time she has seen a film in a real theater. The movie was one of the real scary ones she loves, but I don't. I sat through it because it was something I wanted for her to experience. All in all, it was a fun evening.
We are trying to arrange a meal together before he heads back to the US for about a month.
He lives with his esposa, Fatima and their 8 month old baby girl, Miriam.
We agreed on Saturday morning for breakfast, but when I told Thieny, she reminded me of her modeling course on Saturday at 9am, which was the time Ivan and I agreed on.
We'll try for Saturday night or Sunday morning.
I have to get my flat tire (the spare is on the car now) fixed today. I don't want to take the chance of having another slow leak or blowout with no spare.
I'm also still working on getting PayPal organized for here in Brazil. I'm not sure I can use it from here, but we'll see. I'm looking for a way for my client in Jakarta to pay me. They don't use checks. They would pay using credit card, but I don't have that luxury. It's too expensive in fees for a small business.
Daisy is here but Israel is still staying with his grandmother because there is no school for him today...yesterday was a holiday and Brazil tends to stretch the whole thing out through the weekend. The city is fairly quiet today...there are some people working but not many.
With Israel at his grandmother's last night, I took Thieny to the theater at Iguatemi. The first time she has seen a film in a real theater. The movie was one of the real scary ones she loves, but I don't. I sat through it because it was something I wanted for her to experience. All in all, it was a fun evening.
Thursday, April 21, 2005
Hi there!
I new day and my problem is still not resolved.
I drove Thieny to her Mother's neighborhood where she has purchased an apartment. This morning, she is signing a contract with the people renting it. This makes 2 apartments she owns. She will be supporting me in no time this way.
Her older sister, Daisy, is here today to clean and prepare amoso, the midday meal, and take care of Israel. As this is a holiday in Brazil, no school for him and most people are off work today. That will, no doubt, extend till Monday making it a very long weekend.
We won't be going anywhere I don't think, except maybe to the beach on Sunday as usual.
I new day and my problem is still not resolved.
I drove Thieny to her Mother's neighborhood where she has purchased an apartment. This morning, she is signing a contract with the people renting it. This makes 2 apartments she owns. She will be supporting me in no time this way.
Her older sister, Daisy, is here today to clean and prepare amoso, the midday meal, and take care of Israel. As this is a holiday in Brazil, no school for him and most people are off work today. That will, no doubt, extend till Monday making it a very long weekend.
We won't be going anywhere I don't think, except maybe to the beach on Sunday as usual.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
The Legendary Brazilian Bureaucracy
Well, for my second post, let me add a word of warning. I have had the misfortune to run into a Bad Brazilian...I just hope there are not too many more like him out there.
This is a warning to the Gringos in Fortaleza who may not have met this man yet...he is bad news.
His actual name is Jose Braulio...but he styles himself as Ze Braulio.
I was introduced to him by another person in Fortaleza whom I believe to be an innocent bystander in the whole affair.
Ze helped me in getting through the twisted tangled procedures for marriage here.
Then I asked him to help in finding a particular car I was looking for. When he said he had found it, I gave him some money...it doesn't really matter how much, but a lot for me...well time went on and no car. I complained several times and one day he showed up with a beautiful 2003 SUV. He said drive this. He said there's no cost, only gas, so I drove it...for about 5 weeks. I started getting nervous because I was told it was worth around R$30,000 and obviously someone owned the vehicle and would either be driving it or wondering about making the payments.
Well I complained again and asked for my money back and almost immediately, someone showed up to take the SUV and leave me the most terrible little pickup called, in this area, a pampa!
Well now it's been another few weeks, I still don't have all my money, I did find another car and purchased it, and found a couple of "friends" to help me retrieve the balance of the cash.
That's where I am at the moment...working on getting the rest of my money.
So, if you're a Gringo in the Fortaleza area, watch out for this guy...he's bad news!
This is a warning to the Gringos in Fortaleza who may not have met this man yet...he is bad news.
His actual name is Jose Braulio...but he styles himself as Ze Braulio.
I was introduced to him by another person in Fortaleza whom I believe to be an innocent bystander in the whole affair.
Ze helped me in getting through the twisted tangled procedures for marriage here.
Then I asked him to help in finding a particular car I was looking for. When he said he had found it, I gave him some money...it doesn't really matter how much, but a lot for me...well time went on and no car. I complained several times and one day he showed up with a beautiful 2003 SUV. He said drive this. He said there's no cost, only gas, so I drove it...for about 5 weeks. I started getting nervous because I was told it was worth around R$30,000 and obviously someone owned the vehicle and would either be driving it or wondering about making the payments.
Well I complained again and asked for my money back and almost immediately, someone showed up to take the SUV and leave me the most terrible little pickup called, in this area, a pampa!
Well now it's been another few weeks, I still don't have all my money, I did find another car and purchased it, and found a couple of "friends" to help me retrieve the balance of the cash.
That's where I am at the moment...working on getting the rest of my money.
So, if you're a Gringo in the Fortaleza area, watch out for this guy...he's bad news!
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
The Continuing Saga!
Hi there!
Well...here we are...starting a new adventure...blogging!!!
It's just one of many new things in the past few years. If you have read my articles in EscapeArtist.com, you'll have an idea from where I have come.
This is the first of what I hope will be a stream of postings built around everyday life in Brazil, a place that's anything but an everyday place!
Andy
Well...here we are...starting a new adventure...blogging!!!
It's just one of many new things in the past few years. If you have read my articles in EscapeArtist.com, you'll have an idea from where I have come.
This is the first of what I hope will be a stream of postings built around everyday life in Brazil, a place that's anything but an everyday place!
Andy
