Brasil - SP&Pantanal Day 2
Brasil - SP&Pantanal
Day 02 - Wednesday, July 29, 2009 - Flight - Atlanta to São Paulo, Brasil
Atlanta was covered in a torrential downpour when we boarded our flight DL105 to Sao Paulo at 8:45pm. The gate agent had alerted us to the procedures and we were lucky to be whisked through the jet way and we were the first to enter the plane.
We found our seats, settled in, and we were welcomed by our Delta flight attendant. The plane was full – vacation is ending and Brazilian students are going back to school on August 3rd!
Our flight attendant was excellent and personable. After serving our dinners and Gennie’s chocolate sundae, she wished us a good night. Gennie read for awhile and I was able to sleep for about six hours.
About 90 minutes out of Sao Paulo we had juice and freshened up for our arrival. Although we landed at 7:30 am, our jet way was occupied and we had to wait on the tarmac for 30 minutes until our scheduled arrival time. We had filled out all of our paperwork last evening so our entry through immigration was very easy.
The Brazilian government is asking every one to fill out a wellness card certifying that we were in good health and fit to enter the country. Many of the airport employees wore masks and gloves as a universal precaution because it is flu season here in the Southern Hemisphere.
We were directed to Baggage Claim and then after 45 minutes of watching thousands of bags go by, we finally received our luggage. There were huge bags; all of them marked HEAVY, boxes of electronics, and even four new tires! Brazilians are certainly helping our economy!
After we passed through the “Nothing to Declare” line quickly we just gave our customs card to the official. There is no longer a red light/green light system and we were waved on with no questions.
Our cousins Bob and Susan from Seattle did not make the space available flight and were stuck in Dallas. So we proceeded alone to the ATM and then on to the Taxi kiosk.
The system here is very logical. I gave the attendant my Aunt’s address, gave her my credit card, and she gave me a receipt. An assigner at the curb showed us to a small van and we were ready for our next adventure at 9:00 am.
The drive from the largest airport in South America on the northern part of the city of over 21 million people to the western suburbs was as congested as we remembered.
Private cars, huge trucks, taxis, and mosquito like “moto-boys” all challenge each other for the five lanes of traffic. During the stop and go journey, I practiced my Portuguese with our friendly and competent driver.
The city itself has changed little since we were last here for Christmas in 2004. We drove in and out of heavy rain and road repair and we noted that the majority of the state’s traffic still goes directly through the center of the city.
We passed familiar buildings and then through Alphaville, a western suburb that appears to have doubled its skyscrapers and huge office complexes in the past five years. Our turn-off to the town of Jandira began our ascent up into the hills of Aldeia da Serra.
Calling ahead from the security station, our arrival was announced and Tia Isa, Renata, Patricia, and Thomas met us at the front door. First things first; we had a cup of coffee and then caught up on a little family news.
Our noon meal was a traditional family affair and then we marveled at the youngsters’ joy at seeing hail during another rain storm after lunch. When Gennie and I describe a hard rain, we always say it is raining as hard as Brazil Rain! We are getting accustomed to winter in the Mother Land!
We spent the afternoon unpacking and getting comfortable. Gennie typed the journal while I looked at photos and got our GPS maps in order for our second day’s journey.
Lia and Oswaldo joined us for dinner and we shared a few gifts we had brought from the States. The evening went quickly as the conversations were joyous - family is such a good thing!
By the time it was 10:00pm we had finished the journal, selected the photos, and were ready to get a real night’s sleep!
Comments
Post a Comment!Sounds like you are having fun. I look forward to more adventures and pictures.
São Paulo as we Flew in
Guarulhos Airport
Rain and Hail in the Aldeia
Orchid in Winter
Cousins
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