DAY 35 TO 36
THINK I HAVE MESSED UP MY DAYS, BUT IT’S OK IF THE NUMBERS ARE WRONG. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY TODAY. VERY SUNNY, HIGH AROUND 78 – 80. THE TEAM WENT BACK TO THE BEACH SO THEY COULD ACTUALLY ENJOY SOME SUN. I TOOK THE KOMBI DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL AND WALKED WOUTH FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES. THIS TOOK ME TO THE COG TRAIN THAT GOES TO THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN TO THE STATUE OF JESUS. IT TOOK ABOUT 25 MIN TO GET TO THE TOP, AND WHAT A SPECTACULAR VIEW. I STAYED FOR ABOUT 2 HRS AND 30 MINUTES AND HAD LUNCH. WHEN WE GOT BACK DOWN I CAUGHT THE BUS TO THE BOTANICAL GARDEN AND SPENT THE REST OF THE AFTERNOON THERE. GOT TO WATCH SOME CUTE MONKEYS PLAYING AROUND, AND OF COURSE, BEAUTIFUL TREES. MANAGED TO FIND A BUS GOING TO THE METRO STOP. I’VE LEARNED IT DOES NOT MATTER WHICH METRO STOP I GET TO, BECAUSE ONCE I’M ON THE METRO, I CAN FIND MY WAY HOME !!!!!!!!!!
THE METRO HERE IS VERY MODERN AND CLEAN, SO IT IS A JOY TO RIDE. IT COST 2.60 FOR 1 TRIP ($1.50 US) FOR A ONE WAY TICKET. SOME OF THE PLACES GIVE YOU THE TICKET AND IT IS GOOD FOR GETTING ON ONE OF THE CITY BUSES AFTER, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING. I THINK THE MOST I HAVE SPENT IN ONE DAY HAS BEEN $7.00 (US). SO FAR I HAVE USED A BUS, CABLE CAR, TAXI, CAR, KOMBI, VAN, COG CAR, AIR PLANE, BOAT, AND MY FEET TO GET AROUND BRAZIL. TOMORROW I’LL ADD A TROLLY CAR TO THAT LIST.
GOT BACK HOME AROUND 5 OR SO AND FIXED UP A CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP. I REALLY LIKE THIS KIND OF LEFT OVER, SO I MADE SURE I COLLED ENOUGH TO GET ME TO THURSDAY. READ SOME AND WENT TO BED EARLY. WAS READING WHEN SHERRY KNOCKED ON MY DOOR AND I HAD A GREAT SURPRISE- RON CALLED (MY HUSBAND , WHO IS ALSO A ROTARIAN) . IT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE’VE HEARD EACH OTHER’S VOICE SINCE I LEFT. WE ONLY TALKED A FEW MINUTES, BUT IT WAS GREAT.
DAY 35
IT IS ANOTHER POSTCARD PICTURE PERFECT DAY TODAY. CRISTA’S DRIVER (A LOCAL ROTARIAN IN THE CLUB MY ROTARY CLUB HAD DONE 2 PROJECTS WITH HERE IN RIO) PICKED ME UP AT 11 AND THEN WE PICKED UP NELLIE SCHMIDT, A 97 YEAR OLD BRAZILIAN LADY WHO’S HUSBAND WAS A ROTARIAN, BEFORE HIS DEATH. THEN WE PICKED UP CRISTA. IT WAS GREAT MEEING HER FINALLY. HER AND JUNE (BOTH FROM MY CLUB-LINDEN CLUB) HAD VISITED HERE IN THE PAST AND ALSO VISITED THE SCHOOL IN THE FAVELA WE HELP SUPPORT. THEY WERE CERTAINLY RIGHT ABOUT CRISTA,. SHE IS VERY NICE. SHE IS ONE OF A FEW WOMEN IN HER CLUB, AND IS A PAST PRESIDENT. I HAPPENED TO HIT THE ROTARY MEETING WHERE THEY WERE CELEBRATING MOTHER’S DAY. THERE WERE AT LEAST 5 OLDER WOMEN AT THE PRESIDENT’S TABLE OLDER THAN 85. WE (ALL MOTHERS) ALL GOT A FLOWER BOUQUET, WHICH WAS REALLY NICE. I WAS ASKED TO SAY A FEW WORDS , SO STUMBLED THRU SOME BAD PORTUGUESE. ONE OF THE ROTARIANS WAS CELEBRATING HIS 50TH ANNIVERSARY WITH ROTARY, SO WE SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HIM. SAME TUNE, JUST DIFFERENT WORDS. I STAYED DOWNTOWN AND WALKED AROUND THE FINANCIAL DISTRICT. THEN I CAUGHT THE YELLOW TROLLEY HOME AND WHAT A BUMPY RIDE. THE TROLLEY IS RATHER FAMOUS, AND IS REALLY CHEAP, JUST .60 C BRAZILIAN MONEY. I NEED TO HEAD BACK DOWNTOWN TOMORROW TO SEE THE CATHDERAL.
CRISTA HAS ARRANGED FOR THE TEAM TO BE PICKED UP BY A VAN AND WE ARE GOING TO THE FAVELA WHERE “OUR SCHOOL” IS. WE HAD JUST GOTTEN A SECOND PROJECT WITH THE RIO CLUB AND WE ARE COINCIDENTLALLY GOING TO IT’S CELEBRATION-SO THE CLUB WAS VERY HAPPY TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE LINDEN CLUB HERE FOR THIS. BACK HOME AT 4 AND CATCHING UP ON MY JOURNAL ANDPICTURES. IT’S ABOUT TIME TO HAVE SOME CHICKEN SOUP !!!!!
